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Vietnam - History
Vietnam's history is a history of war, colonization and rebellion. Occupied by China no less than four times, the Vietnamese managed to beat off the invaders just as often. Vietnam's last emperors were the Nguyen Dynasty, who ruled from their capital at Hue from 1802 to 1945, although France exploited the succession crisis after the fall of T? ??c to de facto colonize Vietnam after 1884.
After a brief Japanese occupation in World War II, the Communist Viet Minh under the leadership of Ho Chí Minh continued the insurgency against the French, with the last Emperor Bao Dai abdicating in 1945 and a proclamation of independence following soon after. The majority of French had left by 1930, but in 1948 they returned to continue the fight until their decisive defeat at Dien Bien Phu in 1954. The Geneva Conference partitioned the country into two at 17th parallel, with a Communist-led North and Ngo Dinh Diem declaring himself President of the Republic of Vietnam in the South.
US economic and military aid to South Vietnam grew through the 1960s in an attempt to bolster the Southern Vietnam government, escalating into the dispatch of 500,000 American troops in 1966 and what became known as the Vietnam War - although the Vietnamese refer to it as the American War. What was supposed to be a quick and decisive action soon degenerated into a quagmire, and US armed forces were withdrawn following a cease-fire agreement in 1973. Two years later, on April 30, 1975, a North Vietnamese tank drove into the South's Presidential Palace in Ho Chi Minh City and the war ended. Over 50,000 Americans and an estimated 3 million Vietnamese were killed.
The American Vietnamese war was only one of many that the Vietnamese have fought, but it was the most brutal in its history. Over two thirds of the current population was born after 1975. American tourists will receive a particularly friendly welcome in Vietnam, as many young Vietnamese aspire to American culture.
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Cities
Hanoi (Hà Nội) - the capital
Haiphong (Hải Phòng)
Can Tho (Cần Thơ)
Dalat (Đà Lạt) - the largest city in the highlands
Da Nang (Đà Nẵng) - major port in central Vietnam.
Ho Chi Minh City (Thành phố Hồ Chí Minh) - Vietnam's largest city and the economic centre of the south, formerly Saigon (Sài Gòn)
Hoi An (Hội An) - delightfully well-preserved ancient port, near the ruins of Mỹ Sơn
Hue (Huế) - former home of Vietnam's emperors
Nha Trang - burgeoning beach resort
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Weather
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Because of its geography, the climate in Vietnam varies greatly from north to south. Tropical monsoons occur from May to October in the north and south and from September to January in the centre. It is almost totally dry throughout the rest of the year. |
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To do
• Start with the capital, Hanoi, which retains an air of French colonial elegance, with pretty yellow stucco buildings lining leafy streets. Wander round the Old Quarter, a fascinating maze of tiny shops, markets and cafes. Pay respects at the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum.
• Sail through Halong Bay and be amazed by the 3,000 limestone islands rising out of the South China Sea. The area is strange, eerie and very beautiful. Many of the islands contain bizarre cave formations and grottoes.
• Savour the alpine scenery around Sapa, home to several hill tribes whose way of life has changed very little and who still wear colourful traditional costumes.
• Discover the architecture of Hué, the former capital of the emperors of Vietnam, and the remains of the Imperial Citadel (largely destroyed during the Tet offensive in 1968). Tour the nearby mausoleums of several of Vietnam's emperors, including Khai Dinh and Tu Duc, each unique in style.
• To escape the heat of the plains, head for Dalat, a former colonial hill station, reminiscent of a French town, with faded, elegant villas evocative of another era. The romantic lakes and alpine scenery are magnets for Vietnamese honeymooners.
• Savour the hustle and bustle of life on the streets of Ho Chi Minh City, with tiny temples and faded French colonial buildings overshadowed by gleaming high rises. Visit the Reunification Palace and the War Remnants Museum to learn about the realities of war.
• Attend the midday service at the unique Cao Dai Temple in Tay Ninh. En route, scramble through the tunnels at Cu Chi, from where the Viet Cong successfully launched attacks against US forces.
• Watch the river markets on the Mekong Delta, where life is dominated by the mighty Mekong and much of Vietnam's rice crop is grown. |
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Map
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Photo gallery
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