Mr Doan, the Hanoi bartender

When you travel, most of the locals you connect with are people providing some kind of service - hotel staff, taxi drivers, waiters and waitresses, tour guides. I’m always intrigued by the lives of these people and last night I had a chat with Mr Doan at a bar in Hanoi. At 22 - he looks much younger - he’s already married and has his first child on the way. When I suggested his marriage was early (anyone who knows me knows I am not one cast judgement in these matters), he told me he’d already been in love for seven years. Impressive. Mr Doan has travelled with his pregnant wife from rural northern Vietnam to make a go of life in the capital. He joins hundreds of thousands of others. He seemed unfazed by the challenges ahead. Doan earns 5million dong a month (around $250USD) and his wife is still studying. His monthly rent bill is 2 million dong - leaving 3 million (less than $150USD) to feed and clothe his new family. This is a typical story both in Saigon and Hanoi. It's likely that the people you meet in your travels find themselves facing similar financial challenges. In rural parts of Vietnam, salaries are far lower. Life for most people is very tough. The Rolls Royces and BMWs don’t tell the story. Salaries are higher in the city than in rural areas - so is the cost of living. But the city offers hope - hope of change. And these young kids have spirit in spades. Doan told me he’s very keen to make time to study English - but he’s too busy now preparing for the birth of his first child.