I just got back from a 2-week trip to Vietnam (Hanoi, Hue, Ha Long, Da Nang, Can Tho and Saigon), and took a few shots of the bamboo I found there. I didn't see anything unusual (although I can't say I was able to identify all of the large, green clumpers I saw). There was a fair amount of B. vulgaris "Vittata" and/or B. multiplex "Alphonse Karr," growing wild, as well as B. vulgaris 'Wamin' used for ornamental purposes. Here are a few random pictures that I thought might be of interest:

Bamboo decorated for Tet (New Year):



Roadside planter:



Serious pruning:



Buddha's Belly growing next to a pond:



Bamboo pole used to provide water for hand-washing:



Closeup of same pole attempting to put out leaves:



Bamboo growing out of a 10' deep B-52 bomb crater at the Cu Chi tunnel complex near Saigon:

Love all the photos you have taken. Any stories you would like to share?

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M

It was an amazing trip where we were busy from early morning until late at night. Too many stories to pick out just one, and many impressions. One of my favorites is the motor bikes:

Typical intersection:



Transportation for a family of four:



Delivery service:




It's the most colorful and vibrant place I've visited in the world. And for a "communist" country they seem to have totally figured out how to have a dynamic, healthy, capitalist economy. Those of us on the trip who came of age in the Vietnam War era were particularly touched by how forgiving and sincerely welcoming people were, including those whose lives had been deeply affected by that war.

I love vietnam...the food, the culture, and the natural environment that is sadly disappearing quickly.

I once lived in a village (a refugee camp actually) that was green with all kinds of trees, vegetation, ponds (albeit created by B52 bombs). We had to get water from a well, and our house was made with clay, but that didn't matter. It was all natural.
There was hardly any vehicle, garbage or pollution around. I didn't know it at the time, but I was living in a very nice oasis. And like any body there, we envy those who live in developed countries like the USA.

When I revisited the place after two decades, all have changed. It is not worth visiting no more, aside from the warm tropical weather.

Pokenei-
I understand what you are saying. It's clear how much development has occurred, even if -- like me -- you've never seen the country before. Saigon has the look, feel, and size of New York City...but fascinating nonetheless. I'm glad I went now...I'm not sure what the next ten years will bring.

What's with the face masks on all of them?

I would guess that, like many urban areas, the air is full of particulate contamination. May be a lot of other smells as well.

I was told that the face masks were to protect against breathing pollution: there are so many motorbikes, many of Chinese origin, and they may not have many, if any, emission limits to comply with. However, the air did not [i]appear[/i] visibly polluted. The masks are also used to supposedly protect against air-borne disease prevention, so many people were walking around with them on, too. There was no need to try to protect against smells, as it was pretty clean.