By Sahra Vang Nguyen, World Post
Starbucks and Kentucky Fried Chicken aren’t the only American brands entering Vietnam and changing the culture. The short film, “The Day Dreamers” by Vietnamese production team, Bluer Vietnam, showcases Vietnam’s own brand of tattooed hipsters hanging out on rooftops, riding fixed gear bikes, skateboarding and fantasizing about crazy ideas. While there is no dialogue, the imagery of these hip Vietnamese youth tells a powerful story about Vietnam’s cultural evolution: it strives to look like America.
Screenshot of the short film “The Day Dreamers.” (Bluer Vietnam)
I visited Vietnam twice in the past two years, and I was overwhelmed by the country’s rapid modernization with rising skyscrapers, the first underground mega mall, luxury brands like Louis Vuitton and emerging youth subcultures in the realms of graffiti, street art, hip hop, BMX bikes, skateboarding, second hand “vintage” stores (yes, really!) and more. It is without a doubt an incredibly exciting time for the country, and especially the youth, who are growing up with access to the internet; the youth are quickly shaping their daily lives by adopting global influences and trends they witness online. By 2010, Vietnam had successfully achieved its global status as a middle-income country after being one of the world’s poorest countries 25 years ago. I am ecstatic for Vietnam’s progress and the infinite resources online that the youth now have access to. More access means more opportunity for everyone.
Read the full article by Sahra Vang Nguyen from World Post.
