RSS Feed (xml)I was driving down Hai Ba Truong Street in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam and came upon this cute little Vespa with "Vespa Care" on it's side.
Personally, I don't get the whole Vespa thing. Why would I want to drive a motorbike every day that is noisy, heavy, slow, uncomfortable, high-maintenance, and in addition has a negative social stigma? People who drive old motorbikes in Vietnam, besides foreigners, are generally believed to be either poor or gay.
The whole concept of the value of antiques is lost on the Vietnamese. They generally figure that someone buys or has or rides something old because they can't afford anything better. I've tried to explain the value of vintage items to classes many times; there's a unit in our textbook that has characters shopping in a vintage clothing store. My students end up just shaking their heads in disbelief: why would anyone pay a premium for old stuff?
But I know why foreigners like Vespas: it's a macho thing. Driving a "scooter" makes you a wimp, so you drive an antique in hopes of looking hip instead. I've also seen foreign guys who drive motocross bikes like the Yamaha Enduro- it's all about image. Their masculinity is threatened by driving a scooter.
The whole concept of the value of antiques is lost on the Vietnamese. They generally figure that someone buys or has or rides something old because they can't afford anything better. I've tried to explain the value of vintage items to classes many times; there's a unit in our textbook that has characters shopping in a vintage clothing store. My students end up just shaking their heads in disbelief: why would anyone pay a premium for old stuff?
But I know why foreigners like Vespas: it's a macho thing. Driving a "scooter" makes you a wimp, so you drive an antique in hopes of looking hip instead. I've also seen foreign guys who drive motocross bikes like the Yamaha Enduro- it's all about image. Their masculinity is threatened by driving a scooter.
But if it's macho enough for Brad Pitt, then it's macho enough for me: when Brangelina sped around Saigon on a motorbike a couple years ago (chased by paparazzi of course), it wasn't on a vintage Vespa; they drove a sleek black modern Yamaha Nouvo.
My Honda Wave is comfortable, dependable, quiet, quick, and blends in.
My Honda Wave is comfortable, dependable, quiet, quick, and blends in.
It's not just a Vespa store it's a Vespa Boutique. Unfortunate that the sign is hardly visible behind the tree and power lines.
The Vespa Boutique is across the street from the United States Consulate and after I snapped this photo I heard a whistle and looked up to find an agitated gun-toting guard waving at me to move along. Looking back, I wish I had taken a photo of him, but I moved on instead.
source: livinginsaigonvietnam blog
No comments:
Post a Comment