VIETNAM 2006

VIETNAM 2006

QQQQQQQQQQQQQQ

NGUYEN KINH DOANH

At 12:51 PM on Sunday November 12, 2006 we were on board of an Asiana Airlines jet heading for Seoul, Korea from Los Angeles. The distance is 10,233 km. Scheduled flight time is 13 hours. The airplane was without any empty seat.

At 2:16 PM lunch was served. We had a choice of Western or Korean food. Western meal includes smoked salmon, mixed salad, beef tenderloin steak served with shallot sauce, presented with roast potato, carrot and green bean plus apple tart as dessert. The Korean food encompasses Japanese noodle soba, steamed rice mixed with various kinds of vegetables, accompanied by hot pepper paste and sesame oil, kimchi. In addition, fresh fruit cocktail was added for dessert.

As for drinks, we have, of course, tea, coffee, soft drinks, red and white wine, Cass or OB beer, orange juice…The foods were delicious. The flight attendants were friendly and cordial.

Three hours later, snack was offered with varieties: shrimp salad, stir fried beef served with oyster sauce, accompanied by steamed rice, broccoli and carrot or deep fried codfish served with Oriental sauce, accompanied by steamed rice.

Then at a little bit after 8 PM we had dinner again. Flying at the 37,000 feet altitude and outside temperature was 63 degree C below 0, however, we felt so comfortable with excellent air conditioner inside.

We arrived 7:22 PM Seoul time on Monday November 13, 2006. The Korean time is 17 hours ahead of Los Angeles. It means 7:22PM in Korea at the time is 2:22 AM on Monday in Los Angeles.

Because we departured nearly one hour late in Los Angeles and arrived late in Seoul, there was no time for us to rest between this flight and the next one going from Seoul to Saigon.

The distance between Seoul and Saigon is 4,073 km with scheduled flight time is 5 hours 38 minutes. The airbus from Seoul to Saigon was accelerating to the sky at 8:39PM and arrived in Saigon City at 11:34 PM. It was earlier than the scheduled arrival. The time in Korea is ahead of Vietnam time 2 hours. At 11:34 PM in Saigon on Monday November 13 is Tuesday 1:34 AM in Seoul and 8:34 AM on Monday in Los Angeles.

It was an exhausting jouney with exciting experiences. We were dozed on and off in the cabin. The Korea Herald dated November13, 2006 we picked up at the gate to the airplane from Seoul to Saigon mentions FOREIGN EMBASSIES FAIL TO PAY TRAFFIC FINES, The National Police Agency reports, Russian diplomats were worst offenders in terms of traffic violations in September. They were slapped with 16 million won ($17,140) in 214 cases.

Chinese diplomats received 121 tickets worth 8.7 million won. American diplomats got 101 tickets worth 6.47 million won. However, the Russian and Chinese embassies did not pay any of their fines.

We were out of the airport with only 3 out of our 4 checked luggages in Los Angeles. Waiting for us were anh Nhan, chi Hieu, Loc Dan, Loc Cuc, Trinh, Tin…

At 1 AM on Tuesday November 14, 2006 we were sitting together in a nice home drinking and eating. I thanked everyone for staying up that late to be with us.

Vietnam, a country of 84 million people that has emerged from post-war isolation to become the second fastest-growing economy after China in East Asia, is preparing for the November 18-19 Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation Summit. Leaders from 22 countries will attend the conference at the National Convention Center in Hanoi.

NGUYEN KINH DOANH

AND DA DAT

DOANH AND HELEN AT BEN THANH MARKET IN SAIGON