6 Comments
Jun 21Liked by Postcards from Vietnam

Immigrants are the backbone of this country, they all work hard to make a better life for themselves and their family and in the main succeed. The Vietnamese took a little while to settle in, but have now integrated very well, as you said, they are to be admired. There are probably more Vietnamese businesses here than any other nationality.

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I believe I read somewhere that the Vietnamese have emerged as the wealthiest group per person in the U.S. as of this most recent generation. Poorest to wealthiest in three generations.

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A great insight, thank you. You are absolutely right about the amount of planning done for a new business here and the resulting failure rate. But at least they're trying.

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Pretty much nailed it Bro.

Wifey doesn't want to make money as much as just keeping busy. Everyone needs a purpose.

There is a bakery near the market in Phan Theit that always has fresh bread. Someone opened a bahn mi shop next door that doesn't but their bread next do

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next door. Now both have to compete and have hawkers in the road flagging people down. The bakery also sells bahn mi. Their profit is now diluted by half.

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George, I have really missed you. I haven't seen you comment here in a while. Welcome back!!

I am always sad when a business starts competing on price and they ruin their quality product. My local Bò Né place went from two eggs, down to one and all of the customers left. It has been a downward spiral ever since. There have been two businesses in that building since then.

My local chicken noodle place is 50% higher priced than the area, but is always packed.

Too many people compete on price here, but quality usually wins.

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