Some history: after defeating the South Vietnamese government in 1975 and finally reunifying the country, the Vietnamese Communist Party set about running the economy under orthodox Marxist principles.
It didn't work out terribly well, and a scant eleven years later they introduced the doi moi (open door) policy, liberalizing the economy to a great extent.
However, one thing that has definitely not changed since 1986 is the musical taste of the Vietnamese people.
Last Saturday I met up with a Vietnamese girl of my acquaintance and several of her friends to go to the Acoustic Cafe, a rock cafe/bar in District 3. She insisted that we get there two hours before the band was set to play, and it soon became apparent why: the cafe was jammed, you couldn't turn around in there. So what was the occasion?
Stick it to the Man, a Bon Jovi cover band.
I wish I were kidding, but no. The place was full of young, hip, well-off Vietnamese who yelled out their favorite 80's stadium rock ballads and sang along (in English) to 'Every Rose has its Thorn'.
Afterward I took an informal poll of the English-speakers as to who was their favorite singer/musical group. I heard:
- Duran Duran
- N'Sync
- Sublime
- Celine Dion
- the Backstreet Boys
This place has a long way to go.
