A Tale of Two Worlds

Welcome to our new blog series, Perspectives Beyond by Madeleine Farmer. Madeleine is a 3^rd year law student at the University of Bristol and an avid explorer. In this blog series she shares glimpses of the insights and discoveries made during her travels and the people and places she encountered along the way.

At Emerging World, we value curiosity and continuous learning. Being open to new perspectives and ways of seeing things allows us to reflect on what we can do differently and what no longer serves us. We hope you will find this blog series helpful in expanding your sight of the world.

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The South of Vietnam: A Tale of Two Worlds

In the vibrant tapestry of Southeast Asia, Vietnam stands out as a country of captivating contrasts. Over ten days, I journeyed through the South of Vietnam and witnessed firsthand the delicate balance between tradition and modernity.

I began on Phu Quoc island and it’s remote beaches, continued through Can Tho’s rhythmic Mekong life, and culminated in Ho Chi Minh City’s urbanity. Each destination offered a distinct facet of Vietnam’s complex identity.

As I moved from countryside to city, the stark differences were palpable—it felt as though we were crossing invisible borders within the same nation. This journey, while compact, offered insights into Vietnam’s intricate dance with progress, tradition, and the forces of global migration shaping its future.

The Urban Experience: Ho Chi Minh City

As our taxi wove through the bustling streets of Ho Chi Minh City, you could feel its radiating energy. This metropolis, home to over 9 million people, has an energy that is both familiar and uniquely Vietnamese.

In a dimly lit speakeasy, a bartender confided his vision of Ho Chi Minh City becoming “the next New York.” His words, though ambitious, didn’t seem far-fetched as I observed the city’s rapid transformation. With the urban population growing at a staggering 2.7% annually, change here isn’t just visible—it’s tangible.

This transformation is perhaps most evident in the city’s culinary landscape. On one corner, you might find yourself savouring a perfectly flaky French croissant; on the next, the aromatic spices of a Turkish kebab beckon. Yet, amidst this global food scene, the humble banh mi stand remains, a steadfast reminder of Vietnam’s culinary (and delicious) heritage.

The juxtaposition is striking: ‘Instagrammable’ cafes with artisanal coffees share the same block as decades-old food stalls, their weathered awnings telling stories of a different era. It’s a visual representation of Vietnam’s rapid development, with Ho Chi Minh City at its epicentre.

The South East region, of which Ho Chi Minh City is the centre, draws 50.3% of Vietnam’s employment-seeking migrants. They come with dreams of prosperity, fuelling the city’s growth and adding new dimensions to its already rich mosaic.

As I navigated this urban labyrinth, I couldn’t help but wonder: in this race towards the future, which parts of Ho Chi Minh City will be preserved? In this city, caught between tradition and a relentless march towards modernity, what will be lost and what will remain? The answer, I suspect, lies in the delicate balance the city strikes every day and will likely continue to strike in the future—between the old and the new, between the local and the global, and between preserving the traditional and embracing the modern.

The Countryside: A Different Pace

Life in the rural areas however, seems to operate at an entirely different pace. Gliding along the Mekong Delta the muddy waters of the river dictated the rhythm of life, while on Phu Quoc, the ebb and flow of fishing defined daily existence.

One afternoon in a Phu Quoc fishing village, where homes perch on stilts above water, my host chuckled over a lavish spread of freshly caught fish, “You know what we do here all day? We eat!” His jest carried truth—meals here were unhurried celebrations of community and tradition.

Yet Phu Quoc itself embodied Vietnam’s rapid development in microcosm. On one side, pristine beaches groomed for tourists stretched alongside luxury resorts. Minutes away, a bustling local market pulsed with sounds, smells, and colours that felt worlds apart from the curated beach experience. This contrast couldn’t go unnoticed. The traditional and the modern, the local and the global, all jostling for space on this small island.

On the Mekong, I met Nee, a young woman whose eyes sparkled with both hope and hesitation. “Life here is changing,” she confided. She shared an intriguing insight into the generational divide she navigates daily. “My grandparents are always talking about what year everyone was born in,” she explained, a mix of affection and exasperation in her voice. “They take the Chinese zodiac animals so seriously.” Her words painted a vivid picture of a culture in transition.

This generational gap mirrors broader changes sweeping through rural Vietnam. While only 39.5% of Vietnam’s total population lives in urban areas, many young people, lured by economic opportunities, are leaving their ancestral lands. Indeed, 61.8% of migrants are aged 20-39 years old, reflecting a significant shift in the country’s demographic landscape.

This countryside, though changing, remains the heartbeat of Vietnam. It’s a place where the past and future coexist, sometimes in harmony, sometimes in tension.

Ending thoughts

As my journey through Vietnam concluded, I was struck by the nation’s delicate balance between tradition and progress–from Phu Quoc’s serene fishing villages to Ho Chi Minh City’s pulsating energy. This trip revealed a country where generational divides and rapid urbanization create a complex tapestry of experiences.

Links:
https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/vietnam/#people-and-society
https://vietnam.unfpa.org/sites/default/files/pub-pdf/migration_and_urbanization_factsheet_eng_final_0.pdf

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At Emerging World, one of the elements of our North Star is Regenerative Thinking—the notion that in order to achieve a better future we need to break old systems of doing things and challenge the status quo; to create cultures that embrace change and ensure our future is better than our past. And while advocating for change and upending systems that have not served us well is important, one of the things we learn from observing the mosaic of the Vietnamese context, is that there are often elements of tradition that are also valuable and worth holding on to.

In a world that is often increasingly fragmented and impersonal, the humanity of old, the community spirit and collaborative nature of many traditional cultures remains valuable. In job contexts where an ongoing aspiration for success that often leads to burnout exists, embracing opportunities for a slower unhurried pace is essential.

This balance is key to ensuring leaders remain self-aware and have the space to embrace continuous learning. Learn more about our work in leadership development and the ways we help to support leaders to embrace this balance and navigate challenges with confidence here. And if you’d like to chat about how to equip the leaders at your company, get in touch!