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    The Glossary
    Ruou de - "A Vietnamese liquor distilled either glutinous or non-glutinous rice."
    From Vietnam Glossary

Vietnam flagVietnam Travel Guide

/ Asia / Vietnam / Introduction
Vietnam
Photograph by:
Robin - Vietnam

Vietnam is a brave and strong nation, having survived several wars in pursuit of their country's independence. Despite the scars from colonialism and communism, the Vietnamese display diversity in their Buddhist, Christian, Confucian, and Tam Giao (literally translated as "triple" religion) beliefs. The nation's compelling identity flourishes in a stunning landscape of mountains, beaches, and rice fields.

History of Struggle

Vietnam experienced ten centuries of rule under the Chinese. Their presence built the foundations for Buddhism, which even became a state religion. They eventually conquered their invaders, with the Nguyen Dynasty ruling from 1802 to 1945. The Nguyen Dynasty had claimed power with the help of the French, who were also influential in forming Vietnamese social etiquette and cuisine. The country's most famous war is the Vietnam War, referred to by locals as the American war. Over five-hundred thousand troops were dispatched in 1966, resulting in the death of 55,000 Americans and 3 million Vietnamese.

All Natural Paradise

The entire nation is divided into the north, central, and south regions. The north region is mainly around Hanoi, starting from the Red River Delta until the alpine peaks towards China. The Central area is divided into the Central Coast and the Central Highlands, where many ethnic minorities reside. The quaint, ancient seacoast towns of Hoi An are found in the Central Coast. The Central Highlands offer the best of Vietnam's land elements, featuring forests home to diverse wildlife and fauna. The Southern region revolves around the Ho Chi Minh City, the center of Vietnam's economy.

Delicious Delights

Food plays a central role in Vietnamese culture. Each important holiday of the nation's calendar is marked with special dishes. Families find great value in the time they spend preparing and eating food together. The best and most genuine Vietnamese dishes are prepared in restaurant stalls lining the streets.

Vietnam Landmarks:

  • Airports (1)
  • Amusement Park (3)
  • Bars (44)
  • Beaches (13)
  • Churches (10)
  • Cinemas (2)
  • Clubs (7)
  • Galleries (1)
  • Historical Spots (5)
  • Hotels (2)
  • Internet cafes (4)
  • Markets (11)
  • Mosques (3)
  • Museums (28)
  • Operas (1)
  • Parks (1)
  • Restaurants (6)
  • Sights (26)
  • Temples (47)
  • Theatres (1)
  • Universities (1)
  • Zoos (1)

Vietnam Traveler Advice

Accommodation (1)Food (4)Itineraries (7)
On a budget (1)Shopping (2)Transportation (1)
Warnings (11)With Kids (1)

Vietnam photography

Po Cham Nagar Po Cham Nagar by treenich
Sand Dunes Sand Dunes by treenich
no title no title by treenich
Red Sand Dunes Red Sand Dunes by treenich
view from Po Cham Nagar Temple view from Po Cham Nagar Temple by treenich
Cu Chi Tunnels Cu Chi Tunnels by treenich

User blogs:

Climate change has silver lining for English vineyards

Global warming: good for winegrowing?

Climate change has silver lining for English vineyards As world leaders grapple with how to tackle climate change in Copenhagen next week, England's winegrowers are embarrassed to admit that global warming is suiting them rather well.   This year's crop has been one of the best yet, with a record three million bottles produced -- twice the average production of the past five ... Read full Blog post

Ati-atihan in Kalibo Aklan

Ati-atihand origins ccan be traced to 1210 when refugees from Borneo would smear their faces with soot in affectionalte immitation of the Filipino natives The island of Panay in the Visayas is where this particular detail of Philipine history took place sometime ih the late 12th or early 13th century. For centuries hence, it has been commemoratged in one specific place - in Kalibo, the capital ... Read full Blog post

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