Golf

(PICTURE: A common site in Hanoi.)

If there is one thing I can say for sure, it's that a heck of a lot of rich people like golfing. This is as true in Asia as it is in America. Recently in Hanoi, I've seen a ton of golf bags. At first I started to only see golf bags around Korea Town making me think that only Koreans loved golf. However, over the last six months or so, every single affluent house I've been to has had a golf bag in the front hall of the house. I'm not sure if these people play golf or just consider the bag to be a decorative item or a household necessity like the family altar.

Back in April, I meant to write a blog about the golf courses that are springing up around northern Vietnam. There are so many golf courses now that there's a stretch of country road where the women -- who used to sell fruits and vegetables -- only sell golf balls. It's bizarre.

I'm no economist but I'm pretty sure that the increase in golf shops, courses and players is a tell tale sign that a country's economy is booming.