Techno music blasted as a crowd of hundreds lined up behind velvet ropes, waiting to gain entrance into the city's hottest new attraction. But it wasn't a new nightclub that residents had queued up for in this energetic city of more than 7 million; these lines were for the grand opening of the first McDonald's in Vietnam. By 8 a.m. Saturday, a large throng had gathered. When the doors officially opened two hours later, eager customers surged into the colorful new 350-seat restaurant to sample Big Macs, french fries, Chicken McNuggets and one menu item added specifically for the Vietnamese market — the McPork sandwich. For some of the first customers, it was a welcome taste of home. Joe Shipley, whose company operates a foundry in nearby Binh Duong province, was enjoying lunch on the outdoor terrace with his wife, Sherry, and their three children. The Shipleys are from Fort Wayne, Ind., and have been living in Vietnam for almost a year. Sherry Shipley said their kids had been so excited to come to McDonald's that they woke up at 5:30 a.m. "It's nice to see a little bit of America here," she said.
This was interesting to hear about, because growing up with McDonald's, I'm used to their fatty foods and over salted fries, but it was cool to hear reviews from people who have never had it before. Most of the people who tried it said they really didn't like the food, but were there more for the experience. I will be interested to see if the McDonald's thrives there, once the hype of a McDonald's wears off.
http://www.usatoday.com/story/money/business/2014/02/09/vietnam-mcdonalds-ho-chi-minh-city/5337103/
This is a cool story! it's interesting to see how other cultures view American culture. It's strange to think that a fast food place that is so commonplace in America was so anticipated in Vietnam.
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