Vietnam Communications

In a country with only 100,000 or so computers and a state-controlled media, Vo Dinh Thi's idea was almost revolutionary. Even his mother said he was foolish to throw his money away on such a hare-brained scheme. But Thi went ahead and remodeled his little cafe on Le Duan Street, two blocks from the abandoned U.S. Embassy. He taught his staff to make the best cappuccino in town and he put in three computers, offering customers something that is still rare in Vietnam: e-mail.

In a country with only 100,000 or so computers and a state-controlled media, Vo Dinh Thi's idea was almost revolutionary. Even his mother said he was foolish to throw his money away on such a hare-brained scheme. But Thi went ahead and remodeled his little cafe on Le Duan Street, two blocks from the abandoned U.S. Embassy. He taught his staff to make the best cappuccino in town and he put in three computers, offering customers something that is still rare in Vietnam: e-mail.

Good news travels fast, and Little Saigon travel agent Steve Nguyen was helping to spread it last week. He spent the morning calling clients to share the news: The United States will reopen direct telephone links with Vietnam for the first time in 17 years. "When I heard the news, I was so happy and relieved," beamed the president of Bolsa Travelmart in Westminster. "This will cut my operating costs and make my job a lot easier. Soon, I don't have to go through a third party to call Vietnam."

Good news travels fast, and Little Saigon travel agent Steve Nguyen was helping to spread it last week. He spent the morning calling clients to share the news: The United States will reopen direct telephone links with Vietnam for the first time in 17 years. "When I heard the news, I was so happy and relieved," beamed the president of Bolsa Travelmart in Westminster. "This will cut my operating costs and make my job a lot easier. Soon, I don't have to go through a third party to call Vietnam."