The chancery is in the third year of reconstruction, and before the project is completed, the search is already on for a site for a new embassy. The embassy's housing pool includes apartments and single-family homes. Only seven employees reside at the diplomatic compound built by the host government. In the urban European tradition, the houses are tall rather than sprawling. Much of Hanoi has an almost medieval flavor.
Different guilds have different streets on which they hawk their wares.
The full range of what's available is within one block, and the proximity keeps the prices in check. There are also Western incursions, such as the Czech crystal stores with Western prices and local supermarkets with counterfeit electronic goods. Although most Americans' images of Vietnam are of a nation at war 20 years ago, today's Vietnam is a dynamic, changing young nation. Sixty percent of its 77 million citizens were born after 1975. Vietnamese youth frequent discos with names like Metal and Roxy, speak or are studying English and cruise the streets on Honda Dream motorbikes.