Vietnam in

foreigners’ eyes
Bitter or sweet, quotes and comments
could speak a lot better than
thousands of praises.

Now, let’s listen to what our foreign

friends feel about our lovely
motherland…
 Vietnam in foreigners’ eyes

“I feel privileged to be here, it is an incredible place;

the value of society, the quality of life here is
extraordinary. I don’t feel any different from a
Vietnamese person. We were just talking about
international integration and I think Vietnamese
people are changing a lot in the way that they
interact with foreigners and the differences are
melting away. We are much more of the same world
than we ever were.”

Matthew Frey – Chief Representative of Save Children USA

 Vietnam in foreigners’ eyes

“Vietnam is politically stable and has many other things

necessary for development. I have been to many areas in
Vietnam. I can see that Vietnamese people are keen on
learning and learn very fast as well as have a desire for better
development to keep pace with other countries in the region
and the world.
Many places here are beautiful and have potential for
economic development. The nation has been successful in
developing and introducing products like coffee, pepper,
coconut to the world market. Vietnamese seafood is also very
good quality as Vietnam has a long coastline. Unfortunately,
in Switzerland, we don’t have beaches.”

Bénédict de Cerjat - The ambassador of Switzerland to Vietnam

 Vietnam in foreigners’ eyes

“I have always been interested in Vietnam,

because of Vietnam’s thousands of years of
history in maintaining its identity and the
national integrity.”

Prof. Malcom Gillis - member of the Management Board of

Vietnam Education Foundation
*Note: VEF is the Education Fund set up by American
government to sponsor for Vietnamese talents in Technology
and Science Studies
 Vietnam in foreigners’ eyes

“Vietnamese people are believed to be clever and

eager to knowledge, and Vietnam is believed to be the
right address for co-operations…I’ve realised that
the country is peaceful and the environment in
Vietnam is safe. Vietnamese people are mild but
enthusiastic, which helps generate wonderful
harmonisation. Political stability is considered one of
the most important factors that attracts the
investors.”

Katsuto Momii, President and Chief Executive Officer of

Nihon Unysis - Japan
 Vietnam in foreigners’ eyes

“I really love the life here. The relations

between Vietnam and Germany are very
special… I have met Vietnamese people who
have studied in Germany and I see many
similar things between the two countries, for
example, hard-work, diligence and
discipline.”

Christian-Ludwig Weber-Lortsch – The Ambassador of

Germany
 Vietnam in foreigners’ eyes

“Any war would make writers who write about it

subjective. Vietnam has been known to the world as a
country of war. Just a few know about the country as
a peaceful country as it is now. I think readers
around the world want to explore a new Vietnam.
That is why I prefer to introduce a modern Vietnam to
the world through Vietnamese stories.”

Rosemary Nguyen - foreign translators translating Vietnamese

short stories and novels to English.
 Vietnam in foreigners’ eyes

“For those of us who were here during the

war, and who have had the opportunity to
come back on mission of peace, Vietnam will
always be a place and a people that we will
think about everyday no matter where we are
in the world.”
Tom Leckinger - Country Manager, VVAF Vietnam(Vietnam
– US Magazine)
 Vietnam in foreigners’ eyes

“It is difficult for Vietnam to compete with

Thailand in terms of beautiful beaches and to
be compared with Cambodia with all its Wats,
but Vietnam has the advantage to competing
with other countries in terms of food”

Graham Holliday - Consolation Prize Winner for Bloggies

Competition a.k.a Oscar for Personal Blogger (
www.noodlepie.com)
 Vietnam in foreigners’ eyes

"I have been deeply moved by my visit here. I

came here in part because I believe America
and Vietnam are linked not just by a shared
and often tragic past that must be honored and
remembered, but because we have a bright
future that we can build together."

Bill Clinton – 42nd President of The United States

(http://www.davifo.dk/Clinton.htm)
 Vietnam in foreigners’ eyes

“The dynamic and vitality I feel on the road,

when I see the Vietnamese people. That’s the
impression from discussions with Vietnamese
leaders. They prove to be dynamic and flexible
in making economic decisions. I also met with
a group of women’s leaders of Vietnam, who
are very dynamic and intelligent”

Kofi Annan – Secretary of United Nations

 Vietnam in foreigners’ eyes

“The Vietnamese people are known for their

tremendous industry,… They're very
hardworking and entrepreneurial.”

Condoleezza Rice – Secretary of President of The United States

(Roundtable with Asia Print Journalists – Jan 2006)
http://beijing.usembassy-china.org.cn/072106rice.html
 Vietnam in foreigners’ eyes

"Of the 30 or so countries I have been to,

Vietnam is easily the most beautiful. I saw
more shade of green then I knew existed. Rice
fields manually tended from dawn to dusk
were always in view as were forest covered
mountains. I also frequently caught glimpses
of pristine deserted beaches from the train
window as we made our way along the
coast..".
David Fisher – Former Deputy US Trade Representative
(By Robert Storey & Daniel Robinson - Lonely Planet book)
 Vietnam in foreigners’ eyes

“I found that my Vietnamese friends are very open-minded,

sincere and kind. I am usually surprised about how quickly
people make friends with each other. It seems like some
friends always have a spare room to welcome you even if you
are an American. I love the country. Vietnamese language is
hard to pronounce but the sound is beautiful. Vietnam also has
a rich culture. Family relations here are important and very
close. I think we Americans may learn something from
Vietnamese about how to make the family relation closer.”

Dan Perskins
Dean of the Faculty of Concert at Plymouth State University,
music director of New Hampshire Master Chorale
Founder of the Educational Theatre Collaborative
the pianist of Ruggieri Chamber Soloist Theatre
 Vietnam in foreigners’ eyes

“Your country is unique with its fine art and

landscapes, and it can open new horizons for
artists who come from the exterior.”

Rene Lemay
Canadian Painter
Exhibition “Happy Days in Vietnam” - Viet Fine Arts Gallery
(Hanoi)