On first traveling around Vietnam, I began to notice that Americans were conspicuously absent.  Many other peoples from countries in Europe to Asia were traveling about Vietnam.  But, Americans are few and far between.   After giving it some thought and talking to the few Americans I could find I came to four conclusions.

Number one.
    Vietnam is 10,000 miles away and as during our long war there, it is just a long ways away.  Even with more efficient travel and a world where boarders are increasingly moot, I think Americans are just weary of the arduous long journey. 

Number two.
   Americans still have a bug up their back sides about the war.  Thirty years of movies and documentaries about the war still circulate the movie shops and late night television.  If you base your information on 30 year old war movies (many of them made poorly) you should expect the "Charlie Cong" to jump out and get you at every turn in 'Nam.

Number three.
   This reason implies the weary traveler has some savvy about Asia.  The Vietnamese love to herd their guests and micro manage their transportation via convenient inefficiency often landing the traveler in places advantageous to the tour guide (like a relative’s hotel or restaurant or tour boat).  Some Americans anyway, still like to call their own shots when it comes to traveling about a country.

Number four.
   Americans, unlike citizens of some other countries often only get two weeks vacation a year.  And now, with the 24 hour service industry jobs, they may be lucky if they get that much.  A trip that involves at least two or three days travel to just get there, barring any delays, is just not good use of a 14 day vacation.