Contradicting Happiness

by Ivan Tong

Was I… in a dream?

As I zoomed through the empty streets of Grand World on my rented electric motorbike, the fresh Phú Quốc air rushed past me, providing a contradictory sensation of tranquility and thrill. In that moment, there was nothing else in the world that mattered. No worries disturbed my peace. No people needed my attention. No problems needed to be solved. Just me, my bike, and this beautiful city I had all to myself.

You see, Grand World isn’t just any town in Vietnam; it’s an extensive area designed to model the architecture, atmosphere, and culture of Venice, Italy. Countless shops lined either side of the road, a large canal full of gondolas ran through the center of the town, and colorful lights seemed to drag you into the future. Best of all, because of the relatively low number of tourists, it almost felt like I owned the entire town. To me, there was no better place to unwind from the previous week composed of nonstop painting and grueling physical labor in the Vietnamese heat.

This experience was ethereal.

However, as much as I selfishly wanted to enjoy the present moment, I couldn’t help but feel a sting of sadness and empathy toward the Vietnamese workers here. It was nearing peak tourist season, yet this extravagant town (an understatement) seemed less populated than the mall near my house. Every day, the people work hard to provide good food, drinks, and services to incoming tourists only to be disappointed by the sheer lack of visitors. Furthermore, only half of the buildings had shops, leaving the other half vacant like a ghost town. Although I enjoyed the peace of riding through those empty sections, it became clear to me how much this issue negatively affected the town’s economy.

The other side of Grand World with no people or shops.

This isn’t the first time I noticed the trend of dying tourism in Vietnam. For example, earlier that week, we went to Phú Quốc’s Aquatopia Water Park where I faced the same conflicting emotions; I was happy that the emptiness meant no wait lines for the rides but disappointed that the attraction wasn’t receiving the attention it deserved. This story brings me back to a message I wrote about in a previous journal entry:

“In the U.S., if you work hard while working smart, you will succeed. It’s as simple as that (except in reality, it doesn’t feel that simple). That’s not the case in Vietnam. At every corner, you see men, women, couples, and families all pouring their heart into trying to improve their lives, only to receive diminishing returns for their efforts.”

As a Vietnamese foreigner, or Việt kiều, I first believed that there was a huge difference - a huge wall - between the locals and me. After all, I’m from the States studying to become a doctor while this is and will continue to be the locals’ lifestyle until they grow old. However, as I began to reflect, I realized that this seemingly gigantic wall between them and me is, in reality, quite thin. I could’ve easily been just like them, working early in the morning and late at night with little opportunity to advance in my career. The only reason why I am fortunate enough to have the opportunity to pursue my dreams is not because of anything I have done but rather because of a difficult decision my parents made to emigrate to the U.S. several decades ago. As harsh as it sounds, there is nothing I have done in my entire life that has deemed me more worthy of these opportunities than my local brothers and sisters.

And as much as I want to change these disparities, I know that helping an entire country is not within my control. Nonetheless, I can still play my part in changing lives one step at a time. This is why I’m so grateful to Sunflower Mission and all the people who made it possible for me to join this cause. Although I recognize that there are limits to my influence, it provides me reassurance knowing that I can help change the lives of children in Rạch Giá and wherever else Sunflower Mission decides to visit next. For the first time in my life, I have truly felt like I am a part of something bigger, which has induced a strong sense of fulfillment compared to nothing else I have ever done before. I greatly look forward to continuing to support the cause in upcoming years, and once again, thank you, Sunflower Mission.