Chess maintaining strong popularity in Vietnam

Here is a nice story about the state of chess in Vietnam:

http://www.nhandan.com.vn/english/life/061107/life_chess.htm

Everyday there are at least 100 players who gather by the local lake to play chess and observe the interesting games. Many of the players even relate the game of chess to life.

“The chessboard represents our way of life,” Phuc says. “If you carefully observe players’ gestures, moves and their ways of holding the pieces, you can find out what kind of person they are. Whoever is narrow-minded moves their pieces with only immediate benefits. Whoever is cunning has a box full of tricks. Whoever is insightful and well-tempered has a balance of offense and defense.”

Turns out it was chinese chess.

I'm definitely interested in learning.

 in vietnam chinese chess is more popular than chess; nowadays go-game spreads out in hcm city.

:thinker