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The word `Vietnam’ means `the Viet people in the south’- a fitting term for the country that occupies the southern part of Eastern Asia. Vietnam remained for many years a country associated with bloodshed and strife- the Vietnam War is still etched in many minds, especially American and Vietnamese. The aftermath of the war is still evident in the poverty and underdevelopment; in the number of amputees and in the faces of the children of mixed American -Vietnamese parentage.

The present has been kinder to Vietnam than the past ever was – the socialist government is easing its hold over the economy, allowing an increasing level of interaction with foreign investors and making efforts to heal the wounds of war with the Americans. But there’s more to Vietnam than blood and gore, war and wounds.

There are beautiful mountains, lovely quiet beaches, a rich cultural heritage, and the wonderful old-world charm of colonial cities like Hanoi. This is the country with a wonderful cuisine; this is the country that produces beautiful handicrafts including some of the best embroidery and lacquer ware in South Asia. Vietnam

is well worth a visit- it may not be the hottest tourist destination in South East Asia, but it has a uniqueness that makes it a must-see for anyone who’s interested in the Orient.

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War torn Vietnam has a lot of history and natural beauty to be proud of. Not only is it home to the historic city of Hue- one of the ancient wonders of the world but Ha Long Bay with its turquoise waters, 1,969 islands, scenic landscape and limestone pillars has been recognized as a World Natural Heritage Site by UNESCO.

Historically Speaking

The earliest recorded dynasty in what is now known as Vietnam was that of the Hung kings, which ruled the area during the Bronze Age. The Hungs were followed by the Indian kingdom of Funan and later by the Hindu kingdom of Champa. The country was annexed by the Chinese Han Empire sometime in the first millennium B.C. and the Chinese continued to invade Vietnam for quite a few centuries, even after they had actually been ousted from power in Vietnam. The Chinese stayed in this country for close to ten centuries, and were only expelled in 939 A.D after a major victory by the Vietnamese at the Bach Dang River.

Over the next few centuries, Vietnam under a succession of kings, gradually spread southwards, occupying most of the Mekong Delta. By 1802, the Nguyen (the last royal dynasty) were in power and the Europeans had arrived in Vietnam. In 1858, French and Spanish forces attacked Da Nang, following it up with the annexation, subjugation and colonization over the next two decades of the rest of the country. By 1884, Vietnam was a French protectorate; the French, though, faced active resistance from the Vietnamese. A general

insurrection finally spread throughout the country under the leadership of Ho Chih Minh. Ho Chih Minh had declared Vietnam’s independence in 1945 - a declaration that led to war with the French till they were finally defeated at Dien Bien Phu.

In 1954, the Geneva Accord divided Vietnam into North and South Vietnam, sparking off the war into which the USA quickly joined to prevent the communists from coming to power in Vietnam. Fierce warfare continued till the ceasefire almost a decade later in 1973. Saigon (now Ho Chih Minh City) fell to the Communists and the US withdrew its forces after a war that cost it a lot in terms of men, money and prestige. But after the fall of the USSR in 1991 and the subsequent end of the Cold War, Vietnam too has softened its hard line Communist stance. Most significantly, it has re-established diplomatic ties (in 1995) with the USA, and is now working towards a less rigid and more open political and economic system.

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Habitat

Vietnam extends over 1600 km along the eastern coast of the Indochina Peninsula, and lies almost entirely within the inter-tropical zone. However, the topography of the country varies considerably, and so does climate: nearly three-fourths of the country is alpine -the highest peak is Fansipan, at 3143 m, where winters can get quite cold. To the north and the south of the Vietnamese central highlands lie deltas: the fertile Red River Delta covers.

15000 sq km in the north and the Mekong Delta covers four times that area in the south. The hot, humid climate makes the fertile river fed plains ideal for paddy cultivation and also create an ecosystem in which thrive substantial forests of hardwoods like teak, golden teak and rosewood.

Vietnam currently faces a number of ecological problems, all of which, if not controlled, have the potential to lead to a major ecological disaster. Slash-and-burn agriculture (shifting agriculture), logging and industrialization are resulting in rapid deforestation; water contamination and overfishing have caused severe depletions in marine life populations and there are areas

where soil erosion and degradation pose a big potential danger.

Flora and Fauna

Vietnam has one of the richest reserves of wildlife in South East Asia; the forests of the country mainly composed of tropical hardwoods- along with a wide range of shrubs and flowering plants harbour a number of animal species, many now on the endangered list. Amongst Vietnam’s most prominent forms of wildlife are black bears, tigers, rhinos, elephants, crocodiles, leopards, snub-nosed monkeys and turtles, besides a large number of bird species.

Vietnam currently has five national parks; but the government has (thankfully) realized that something needs to be done to save the country’s fast-disappearing forest cover (only 20% of Vietnam is still forested) and its wildlife. Plans are now afoot to set up another 87 national parks and forest reserves.

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