Last week, Sarah and I received some disappointing news.
With the Vietnam Rivers Network’s work being very concentrated on the Mekong River Delta in Southern Vietnam, we were curious about the nature of the area: the river, the people, the culture. Sure, we could vacation there, but without the help of our coworkers’ knowledge and connections, we would never be able to holistically understand life in and around the Mekong.
We’ve traveled into the field before. We took a 12-hour train to Hue and a 6-hour minibus to Na Hang, but we weren’t able to go South. A return ticket to Saigon, planned well in advance, costs at least $100 (funds WARECOD/VRN do not have).
And then possibility came knocking.
At the midterm, we were informed that the University could potentially fund our flight. We were ecstatic. Thoughts of this two-pronged trip ran rapidly through my mind: a vacation, floating slowly down the river, snatching dragon fruit and eating river-side candy, and a learning experience, seeing first hand the impacts of climate change (my current greatest interest) and the flooding season on agri and aquaculture.
Our coworkers, members of the VRN, had no set schedule for the trip. We waited patiently, providing subtle reminders as we ourselves were reminded—pictures of the Mekong are prominent around the office.
We became more persistent. We asked for specifics, and although not definite, we received answers: we would go there in April, and we would learn about life adapting to the dry and flooding seasons.
The good news didn’t last long. In Vietnam, foreigners are often unwelcome in areas considered ‘sensitive’. This wasn’t the first time I heard this. Sitting in on a meeting with Rosa Luxemburg-Stiftung, I listened to the organization ask WARECOD to include the possibility of reluctance by the authorities of the project area (a dam project) to involve foreigners as a potential risk to the success of the project within the proposal. This experience helped me understand my role as a misfit within the Delta.
Money is often the greatest hindrance in development, especially for the small organizations chosen for our placements; however, in countries like Vietnam, avoiding international attention and critique, there are so many more factors at play.
Although I’ve missed out on the Mekong, I wholeheartedly thank WARECOD for the opportunities I’ve had in the field. I’ve enjoyed the out-of-office air, and was able to gain a deeper understanding of Vietnamese culture and livelihood. Thanks!
