Vietnam's a mere two-hour flight from Singapore, but they're two centuries apart in development. it's not a simple task to find things in which Vietnam fares as well as Singapore. but in 2007, there're at least two fields that see Vietnam on par with Singapore. or even better.

let's first talk inflation. in Vietnam, fuel prices are just increased by VND 1,700 per litre, thereby "fuelling" even further food prices. even salarymen of VND 3 million a month are feeling the crunch. well, sympathy aside, i should be happy i'm gonna live in a more expensive neighbourhood without having to move when i return home this December.

so as Singapore's roaring to its all-time high inflation rate of 5%, Vietnam's galloping to 10% odd. this is ridiculous. everybody needs to spend more on everything, especially when i think we need to save money. well, in case it becomes valuable again in the future. inflated hope?

next comes the economics of traffic jam: in Hanoi and HCMC, demand outstrips supply, thus unit price must increase. and so the ladies and gentlemen up above decide to impose annual vehicle usage fee, and increase new registration charges. sounds like best-practice policies to streamline the humongous traffic volumes as world-class Singapore has it too. a lot of it.

but ladies and gentlemen, please mind the 198-year divide. in Singapore, people can rely on convenient public transport to avoid the high cost of driving. but it's a mission impossible alternative for the million motorists in Vietnam.

just my late-night scribble. maybe the hours on my macroeconomics revision for tomorrow exam have been exciting enough for me to spot the similarities between the different Vietnam and Singapore. but please, don't gimme more of this.