Friendly people

How can one identify a Vietnamese in a crowd? He's the one wearing a conical straw hat. If you have never seen one of these hats, then go to the Vietnamese pavilion at the Global Village. Hundreds of visitors are buying these hats as souvenirs.

Amid the relaxed atmosphere, colourful lighting, music and laughter at the Global Village one will encounter some hardworking people who reflect the hardships of life and who woo visitors with smiles at the Vietnam pavilion.

In sharp contrast to the gaiety elsewhere, these Vietnamese farmers remind visitors of the other side of life - the hard, uncompromising existence that is largely forgotten. Their chiseled jaws say it all - a nation still struggling to recover from decades of war and come to grips with the Western prescription for economic progress - privatisation, tourism and development.

Vietnam is being called the next Asian Tiger. Its economy is growing and the country is tackling liberalisation and reforms.

Vietnam is gradually opening up its economy to outsiders. As a result, its exporters are taking a global approach in their search for markets.

Vietnam first participated in the Dubai Shopping Festival (DSF) last year in a modest way. This year it has set up 35 stalls.

The pavilion displays ethnic products, among them the famous straw hats, handicrafts, traditional attire, garments, colourful scarfs, wooden crafts, gift items, wall-hangings, decorative pieces, souvenirs and footwear.