Modern Girl in Ho Chi Minh City (formerly Saigon)

Modern Girl
Originally uploaded by J Catlett.

The traveler J Catlett says, "A school girl on lunch break in Saigon. The contrast of this girl wearing an ao dai (traditional Vietnamese dress) with her long hair in a pony tail (also traditional Vietnamese style), but sitting on a new, sporty bike, and with multiple earrings in her ear, this is what I see in Saigon."

The Communist government of Vietnam is liberalizing, says the NY Times. It is allowing more freedom for touristic and trading businesses. Viet people are impatient for their economy to provide comfortable wages and opportunities.