One Party. One Nation.

In the Shadow of One: Life's Rhythm under Single-Party Rule.

I’ve seen nearly every point of this country I’ve called home the last five years. From the most northern peaks of Lũng Cú gazing over into the rolling mountains of southern China (中国) just a stone throw away.

All the way to the southern beaches on the island of Phú Quốc looking out into the vast Gulf of Thailand for as far as the eye can see and every kilometer in between. I’ve driven this country from top to bottom, all on two wheels.

I’ve ventured through dense jungles, through submerged mountain villages during the monsoons, and traversed paths once scattered with mines laid by the Americans. I’ve been to places that will go unseen by most locals and others.

The Socialist Republic of Vietnam or its official name, Cộng hòa Xã hội chủ nghĩa Việt Nam. Or as I like to call it, home.

This is one of my favorite photographs which I took in the last frontier zone between Đồng Văn on my way to Mèo Vạc along the Mã Pí Lèng pass. I became one with the clouds on that early morning. Hands down one of the most beautiful drives of my life.

All along the border region is where this river (Sông Nho Quế) pierces between the cliff sides of northern Vietnam, showing it will stop at nothing. This river began its journey far away in Yunnan (云南省) China, flowing here to me.

This was one of those profound, speechless moments in my life. No words.

When I first moved here all those years ago in 2019, I remember a phone call I had with my grandparents, both of them in their 80’s now. One of the first questions from my grandmother was to ask if we had electricity over here.

Yes. Yes we do, thank you for asking. Honestly many reading this probably asked the same question, and that’s okay. What other questions does one have?

I mentioned in my first article, I do not know what I am doing with these. Some may be shorter, others may be longer. Some may be viewed as controversial while others a fantasy. I do not care and neither should you.

I’m just writing what I want, when I want surrounding the real truths and views that have shaped me into the person I am today. Who is that person? I still do not know.

What comes to mind when I say, Vietnam? Most people would immediately say the Vietnam war. Well here it’s called the American war. A shift in perspective.

Most know nothing of this beautiful place, and that is not their fault. It’s the fault of the media, and the education system both of which teach nothing. Vietnam is a thriving, developing nation that holds nothing but beauty, joy and kindness by many.

The reaction of so many who never travel is how awful it must be to live in a communist society, under a sole party rule. The exact opposite is true. While in these last few years that has never crossed my mind as it’s all I know now.

What does that truly mean? One party?

For a người nước ngoài (foreigner) like me, it’s slightly different compared to the locals. But after all these years here, I share many similarities and have seen the daily effects, if any at all.

Born and raised in America but spending nearly my entire adult life in Asia. You can see how my mentality and views have shifted immensely. This only gives me a more worldly perspective in global affairs and beyond.

I have never felt safer or more free in my entire life. Most world dramas don’t make it past our borders, while in these borders the people I surround myself with go about their lives, living day by day just as anyone would around the world.

All without the stress and worries that come from abroad.

There are no elections. There are no protests. There are no mass shootings. There are no guns. There is nothing, and it’s a truly calming feeling. Yes, there is crime here but nothing compared to the crime of first world countries.

The only difference I face is the once a year knock on my door by state security asking for my documents. This is normal, it doesn’t even phase me at this point, it never has.

If that were to happen in the US, so many people would kick off complaining it was a breach of their first amendment or some other bullsh*t. Get over it.

While driving on the streets there are obvious signs of propaganda. From national flags to flags of the iron sickle that so many know from the “red scare”. The only thing these represent is unity, unlike western society where propaganda is focused on division.

Division of the people. Well guess what, it’s division that kills.

The propaganda here says things like “The party and the people are determined to protect the sovereignty of the nation” or “Promote learning and lead by moral example set by Hồ Chí Minh”

They are literally stating facts that most Americans would also agree with.

What do you talk about while sat around the dinner table? Politics? News?

When you can remove the politics and political correctness, you will find so much that unites us. I do not have a single American friend here, and that’s how I like it.

My friends come from all around the globe. From England to South Africa, from Korea to Thailand. These are the people that I feel more at home with as not once do petty beliefs or ideologies interfere with each other.

For 99.9% of the population here, politics do not matter. They go about their daily lives and many find time to smile no matter the day. They find time to put family first and have a greater sense of community. All while knowing how to have a good time.

I’ve lived in Indonesia in a muslim society and Thailand under a monarchy frequented by military coups. Now I live in a society with a sole party, the communist party. I’ve had more general freedoms while living here and in those places, than I ever had in the US of A.

There are so many different ways to live, while each style of government or religion shapes the minds of the people. It’s fascinating seeing the different perspectives through the eyes of people around the world.

Life is a bitch, but sometimes it can also be beautiful. The more you know, the more beauty you will find in this world. I struggle daily but I still try to see the light.

All this is showing that the way you know, may not be the right way or there may be other ways that lead to a better society for the future generations.

“A society grows great when old men plant trees, the shade of which they know they'll never sit in.” ~ Greek Proverb

Don’t believe many of the things you see on the news, it’s literal propaganda for the first world.

For you.

The propaganda to push so much information into the minds of the people from platforms like Facebook, TikTok and YouTube to major outlets such as Fox, CNN, BBC, and so many more.

This only leads to mass confusion, thus creating mass division of the people.

This is exactly what the first world wants.

This is the modern weapon within the borders of America and her allies.

---

Thank you for taking the time to read this one!

Share this with those who’d enjoy a good read.

👉 If you enjoyed this article, please leave it a ❤️. This helps more people discover this on Substack, which helps me out and shows me you enjoy content like this! The button is located right below here! ⤵️