Fast-food giant McDonald’s, often seen as a symbol of American capitalism, opened its first communist-controlled restaurant in Vietnam.
AFP said hundreds of people lined up to open the Ho Chi Minh City restaurant in the south.
The US-backed government was in Ho Chi Minh City, known as Saigon during the Vietnam War, until it was a victim of communist forces 38 years ago.
The restaurant is run by the Prime Minister’s son-in-law.
Henry Nguyen transformed burgers as a teenager at a McDonald’s restaurant in the United States, where his family fled at the end of the war.
He said that last July, after winning the franchise, his dream was to open a McDonald’s since he returned to Vietnam more than a decade ago.
The move underscores Vietnam’s hunger for western consumer brands and attractions for foreign investors, observers said.
Despite the recent slowdown in the Vietnamese economy, foreign brands are popular with the young population, whose parents in the country had few food and lifestyle options.
Starbucks, Subway, Burger King and KFC are present.
Mr. Nguyen is the founder of the travel and catering group Good Day Hospitality and general partner of the investment company IDG Ventures Vietnam.
He is married to the daughter of Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung.
Let us hope that all goes well with each and every outlet of McDonald’s. McDonald’s always strives to make sure that the people enjoy their meals to the fullest on their premises. Thus, it is necessary to support them in this crisis and making sure that may the right one win.
