White Like Koreans: The Skin of the New Vietnam

My first visit to Vietnam was in December 2000, a trip to escape the New York winter but, in retrospect, well-timed in many other ways. Just a decade had passed since the country had instituted its economic reforms and it had been only a month since President Clinton’s visit, the first by a US president since the war. During my six-week stay, I lived in Saigon but traveled throughout the country. Americans—and I was surely one despite being born in Vietnam—were still an uncommon sight, especially outside of the city. Where we traveled, my partner and I inspired