More than 1000 years of colonisation and decades of war have not stopped Vietnam from progressing.
Vietnam has something to offer for everyone, for the tourists yearning for green landscapes or the history buffs looking for a story. There is so much more to this country than Vietnam war history.
Vietnam’s rich history and diversity are things that intrigue historians around the world.
Vietnam shares its borders with three countries. Cambodia stands on the southwest, China on the north, and Laos northwest. Though once there was a situation of unrest among the three, currently, the countries maintain diplomatic relations.
The Soviet Republic of Vietnam has a socialist government run by the Communist party with the president as the head of the state. Ho Chi Minh is one of the most popular cities here, and Hanoi is the capital city of this small country in southeast Asia.
Over 54 ethnic groups in this country are known for their rich cultural and religious diversity. Today, this country is also part of the United Nations.
But the history, the stories about Chinese domination and the Vietnam war make this country all the more interesting and worth a read.
With such a long history of wars and internal conflicts, the country and Vietnamese people have consistently fought and emerged as a developing country. The Indochina region consisting of Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia occurred from exploitations in the past and Japanese invasion during World War II.
There were scenes of civil unrest for several 'years, but now these regions maintain diplomatic relations. This is one of the most intriguing communist countries with several historical events that you would love to learn.
Once you finish reading about Vietnam history and facts, why not find out about some South Korea history facts and Washington state history facts.
Impact Of U.S. Withdrawal On South Vietnam
Saigon's glory days ended when the US withdrew its armed forces from the South Vietnamese region.
There are numerous theories behind why the US came forward to take the South Vietnamese side when the Indochina war was about to happen. The communist troops in the north Vietnamese region were among the triggers for this union.
Viet Minh, led by Ho Chi Minh, was one of the strongest troops that played a pivotal role in helping the country gain independence from Japanese rule. This troop's plan for the country's future was to unite South and North Vietnam with a communist government. The US involvement was partly to stop the domination of the communist north.
During the presidency of US President Lyndon Johnson, the US officially stationed its troops in South Vietnam, reiterating its support and involvement in the civil war between communist forces in the north Vietnamese region and the South Vietnamese region. This was partly retaliation to the northern Vietnam attack on US troops in the Gulf of Tonkin.
This was the reason behind the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution, post which more than half of US troops were moved to the South Vietnamese region.
Viet Cong or the north Vietnam communist party's supporters were not an easy contender for the US to defeat. Though the support was valuable, the strategies that the US troops adopted made them lose the help of the Vietnamese people.
My Lai Massacre of 1968 came as a massive blow to the US troops. This made the Vietnamese population give up their trust in US combat forces.
The communist rebels were famous for their innovative war tactics during these times. The support they had from the Soviet Union also added to their strength. Viet Cong attacks were too strong for the US army to tackle.
Some of the brutal measures that the US forces resorted to and the retaliation that followed were not favorable for any involved parties. Parts of South Vietnam and Viet Cong together targeted the US troops.
They were losing more soldiers than they had imagined. Even most Americans were against the country's involvement in the Vietnamese civil war. This came mainly after the invasion of the troops into Cambodia.
Finally, giving in to the tremendous opposition in every direction and the excessive amount of US funds spent in the Vietnamese civil war, the US withdrew its army from South Vietnam with its reputation at stake.
The historic loss of the American troops on Vietnamese soil is called the Fall of Saigon. Viet Cong troops bombarded the gates of the Independence Palace on April 30, 1975.
This officially marked the end of the Vietnam war. This is also how Vietnam became a single communist nation. And from then on, South and north Vietnam have been getting along, progressing as a rapidly developing country in Southeast Asia.
To understand the background of the US withdrawal, you should also know that this was only a part of the main proceedings of the Vietnam war. Like the support for troops of Ho Chi Minh from the Soviet Union, South Vietnam had the support of South Korea.
Government And Politics
Vietnam's name is a combination of Viet Nam, meaning 'beyond' and 'south'. The name came from the fact that this was a region beyond the southern China region, and this Chinese origin name was given way back when China reigned over this region.
After the Chinese dynasties, French colonisation was an issue until 1883. After nearly a century of peace, Japanese colonisation caused turbulence, but Ho Chi Minh helped the country became independent in 1945.
This was short-lived as the French invasion started posing problems again post World War II, and the civil war between Northern and Southern Vietnam regions emerged. Throughout these invasions, the governments here have been changing.
The current day legislature of this country is referred to as the National Assembly of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam. This is also the assembly responsible for bringing to power the Vietnamese president, prime minister and other political leaders of the Vietnamese Government.
The constitution the country follows today drew a lot of inspiration from the times of Ho Chi Minh.
The style of the Communist Party government here is a combination of Ho Chi Minh principles and Marxism-Leninism. The central Vietnam community holds a special place in this government and is responsible for various critical delegations. Besides the central government, there are the local provincial governments as well.
Even though the bad days of war are over for the country, political peace for the Vietnamese people is a far cry. There are ongoing frictions between China and Vietnam regarding the south China sea territorial claims. Because this is a critical sea route, there have been intense disputes regarding borders close to the south China sea.
Among the countries that Vietnam maintains strong cordial relationships, Korea is one. The involvement of South Korea back in the Indochina war initiated the relationships between these countries and continues to date.
The country has been progressing steadily in terms of economic growth. Đổi Mới introduced in 1986 as a step towards economic reforms has been beneficial to the country. There has also been a steady rise in foreign capital investments in the recent years.
Vietnam's Art And Architecture
Chinese emperors invaded the region back in 111 BC up to 980 AD. The Chinese rule has left a lasting impact here. Chữ Nôm, the writing system of the Vietnamese official language, has Chinese characters. Vietnam's population is over 92 million, and most people talk Vietnamese.
Stilt roof, symmetry in floor plan, plenty of colors and ethnic motifs constitute the lively Vietnamese traditional architecture. Today you will find a mix of historic buildings and some modern skyscrapers as well.
Vietnamese architecture tells a lot about the rich cultural heritage of the country. You will also see the influence of the countries that invaded Vietnam in the past. Buddhist elements in architecture come mainly from the Ly Dynasty that reigned back in the 11th century.
Very intriguing tower temples in the country are from the Tran Dynasty. More dragon accents came during the times of the Nguyen Dynasty. If you look at the posh buildings like the Opera House of Hanoi, you will notice the French Colonial style.
The evolving architectural styles here also have led to the country's many UNESCO world heritage sites. One example is the Forbidden City replica resembling the one in Beijing. This site is called the Imperial City and is a popular tourist destination today.
There is no shortage of ultra-modern architecture in Vietnam. The Reunification Palace and the many skyscrapers of Ho Chi Minh are perfect examples of this country's modern architecture and infrastructural development.
Similar to the architecture of this country, its art has also continuously evolved from the traditional pottery dating back to the Stone Age to the ceramics of the Nguyen Dynasty and the modern-day wooden artwork in Buddhist themes.
To date, pottery in the Vietnamese style has a special place in the art world. The famous Đông Sơn pottery became popular in the Neolithic age, and these were aesthetically enhanced versions of the Stone Age pottery.
The penetration of silk and lush lacquer came in during the French colonisation era. Silk painting and other techniques were also famous. When it comes to paintings, the use of natural materials for colors made Dong Ho paintings famous. Today, the country also has contemporary artists who create abstract art and surrealism artworks.
Capital And Major Cities
Hanoi, the capital city of Vietnam was one among the few to quickly bounce back to shape after the wrath of Vietnam war. Today this is one of the most popular hangout spots for tourists who are looking to enjoy the diversity of the country. From museums to street activities, this city interests people of all age groups.
Ho Chi Minh City is the largest and one of the most developed cities in Vietnam. Today, it is the country's critical economic hub. This is also the place that draws a majority of tourists visiting the country.
Da Nang is one of the rapidly evolving cities. Today, it might still be in the early stages of development, but from archaeological studies here it is believed that this was a bustling city for trade around 1000 'years ago.
Da Nang is also popular as one of the most picturesque cities in the country with its beaches and mountains.
People who love the beaches will fall in love with the city of Vung Tau. It is a popular vacationing spot for the locals. As a result of Central coastal explorations Vung Tau started becoming popular. Its proximity to Ho Chi Minh city makes it even more favorable for tourism.
Ninh Binh might be a city that is only a few 'years old but it is already a big hit with tourists. It is the biodiversity of this place that makes it so special.
It has grown to become a major contributor to the country's tourism-based economy. The province of Ninh Binh was the capital of many dynasties in the past and there is no dearth of economic growth here.
Phan Thiet is noted for its relatively uniform terrain unlike the hilly regions in the rest of the country. It is a scenic city close to Ho Chi Minh city and is also one of the best places to try Vietnamese food especially its seafood varieties.
Jon Tum is one of those cities that have managed to preserve the traditions and history of the country without the influence of modernisation or touristy transformations. Its location on the Dakbla River banks and the serene atmosphere make it a unique spot in Vietnam.
To learn about Vietnamese people and to explore the lively street markets and the many quirks of this country, Ha Giang is a city that you cannot miss. It is also beautifully surrounded by dense mountains that give this city a wonderful climate throughout the year.
Dong Hoi city has been a prominent spot in history. During the Vietnam war, the civil war took a toll on the city because of its location close to the border between North and South Vietnam. But today the city has bounced back and has emerged to become a lively coastal town with plenty of things to try.
Vietnam Animals
Wildlife in Vietnam is an interesting subject on its own. There are more than 16000 species of plants here in the lush green landscapes.
While there are several species of birds, the most popular is the Edward's Pheasant found mostly in central Vietnam. It is a rare species native to this country. This is also among the endemic birds in the country. The local birds alone account for nearly 10% of the total bird population here.
The second rarest primate in the world, Eastern black crested gibbon, is found in Vietnam. There are several other species of common and rare primates including varieties of apes, gibbons and monkeys.
The Sunda Pangolin found in this country is a species that is threatened mainly due to extensive poaching. It is mainly found only in some parts of Vietnam and its neighboring countries like Laos and Thailand.
This country is home to some of the most exotic snake varieties like Oriental Pit Viper and Rhinoceros snake. There are also other intriguing reptiles like the Vietnamese leopard gecko.
The Mekong river region is one that is particularly known for the rich wildlife reserves. Thousands of new species of reptiles, birds and mammals have been identified in this region within the past few decades.
With unique wildlife, rich ecological diversity and strong political background Vietnam is definitely a country worth learning about.
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