Promoting Vietnamese tourism in Morocco .

The Vietnamese Embassy in Morocco exempted visa fees for tours of Vietnam from October 10 to December 31, 2010.

The Vietnamese Embassy in Morocco, in coordination with the Morocco Tourism Agency, organised talks on Vietnamese tourism entitled “Vietnam – the hidden charm”.
Present at the talks were representatives from the Vietnamese Embassy, and the Moroccan Foreign Ministry, as well as nearly 50 Morocco tourism businesses and journalists.
The talks introduced Vietnam’s people and land along with prospects, potential and the tourism environment. It provided a good chance for the two sides to understand tourism markets and attract Moroccan visitors to Vietnam.
Vietnamese Ambassador to Morocco, Cao Xuan Than affirmed that Vietnam has always considered an attractive and safe destination for international visitors. The Vietnamese Government always creates favourable conditions and support tourism businesses to ensure safety for visitors.
President of the Casablanca Tourism Agents Association, A. Bokhomet said Vietnam will become a favoured destination for high incomers and foreigners in Morocco. He expressed his hope that the Vietnamese Embassy will help Moroccan travel agents to seek information and business opportunities in Vietnam.

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Celebration the relationship between Vietnam and Cuba by Photos.

Photo exhibition on Vietnam – Cuba ties opens in Hanoi

A photo exhibition themed “Vietnam – Cuba, 50 years of solidarity, cooperation and development” opened in Hanoi on December 30 to mark the 50th anniversary of diplomatic ties between Vietnam and Cuba (Dec. 2, 1960 - Dec. 2, 2010).

Attending the opening ceremony were Deputy Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Le Tien Tho, Cuban Ambassador to Vietnam Fredesman Turroz Gonzalez and representatives of the Embassies of Cuba, Thailand, France, the Vietnam-Cuba Friendship Association and news agencies.
On display are almost 100 photos depicting the friendly cooperation between Vietnam and Cuba and as well as the Cuban people, land and culture.
Addressing the event, Deputy Minister Tho described the exhibition as a chance to review the traditional friendship and bilateral cooperation between the two nations in the fields of politics, economy, culture and education since the two countries established their diplomatic ties in 1960.
He said he believed that the exhibition would contribute to strengthening the bilateral friendship and boosting the comprehensive partnership between the two nations.

For his part, Cuban ambassador Fredesman Turroz Gonzalez expressed his thanks for the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism’s participants in the event and affirmed that this year was important in exchanging bilateral culture between Vietnam and Cuba, especially the exchange visits by the two nations’ culture ministers and the signing of cultural exchange programme in the 2011-2013 period.
The exhibition, which is co-organised by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and the Cuban Embassy to Vietnam, will last until January 3, 2011.

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Vietnamese girl placed among world top 50 beauties

Vietnamese girl placed among world top 50 beauties

Miss Vietnam Global Diem Huong has made her way into the 2010 world 50 most beautiful women list for the Miss Grand Slam title.

There were a total of 87 candidates picked for the contest conducted by the Global Beauties website.
Others in the Miss Grand Slam 50 include beauties from Venezuela, Brazil, Ecuador, Mexico and the Philippines.
Global Beauties is working to select the 20 most beautiful women in the world and Miss Grand Slam 2010.

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Vietnam traditional folk singing .

   Every year,there is a festival that attracts singers from all over the country,specially BacNinh province to gather and they have chance to singe and get rewards.
    Participants in the festival will include artists aged between 18-30 (from both professional and amateur art troupes) who are capable of rendering different original folk tunes, and artisans aged 18-80. The People’s and Eminent Artists are ineligible for the contest.
Each province or city is permitted to submit two or three typical performances; each province in mountainous areas or primarily inhabited by ethnic minorities can send in up to five entries.
The final of the festival will take place in six regions: the northern delta and midland, the northern mountainous areas, the north central region, the Central Highlands, the south central region, and the southern region.

   

         

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The "YourSingapore" Competition.

There is a competition that YourSingapore program is holding . This is for visitors know more about travel in Singapore.  

Singapore is a secular city state but thanks to its multicultural population, Singapore celebrates Chinese, Muslim, Indian, and Christian holidays. The year kicks off with a bang on January 1st and New Year, celebrated in Singapore just as in the West with a fireworks show and parties at every nightspot in town. Particularly famous are the wet and wild foam parties on the beaches of resort island Sentosa — at least those years when the authorities deign to permit such relative debauchery. Due to the influence of the Chinese majority, the largest event by far is Chinese New Year (农历新年) or, more politically correctly, Lunar New Year, usually held in February. The whole festival stretches out for no less than 42 days, but the frenzied buildup to the peak occurs just before the night of the new moon, with exhortations of gong xi fa cai (恭喜发财 "congratulations and prosper"), red tinsel, mandarin oranges and the year's zodiac animal emblazoned everywhere and crowds of shoppers queuing in Chinatown, where there are also extensive street decorations to add spice to the festive mood. The two following days are spent with family and most of the island comes to a standstill, and then life returns to normal... except for the final burst of Chingay, a colorful parade down Orchard Road held ten days later. On the fifth day of the fifth month of the Chinese calendar, the Dragon Boat Festival  is celebrated to commemorate a Chinese folk hero. As part of the celebrations, rice dumplings, which in Singapore are sometimes wrapped in pandan leaves instead of the original bamboo leaves, are usually eaten. In addition, dragon boat races are often held at the Singapore River on this day. The seventh month of the Chinese lunar calendar — usually August — starts off with a puff of smoke, as "hell money" is burned and food offerings are made to please the spirits of ancestors who are said to return to earth at this time. The climax on the 15th day of the lunar calendar is the Hungry Ghost Festival, when the living get together to stuff themselves and watch plays and Chinese opera performances. Following soon afterwards, the Mid-Autumn Festival on the 15th day of the 8th lunar month (Sep/Oct) is also a major event, with elaborate lantern decorations — particularly in Jurong's Chinese Garden — and moon cakes filled with red bean paste, nuts, and more consumed merrily. The Hindu festival of lights, Diwali, known locally as Deepavali, is celebrated around October or November and Little India is brightly decorated for the occasion. At around January-February, one may witness the celebration of Thaipusam, a Tamil Hindu festival in which male devotees would carry a kavadi, an elaborate structure which pierces through various parts of his body, and join a procession from the Sri Srinivasa Perumal Temple in Little India to the Sri Thandayuthapani Temple in Tank Road. Female devotees usually join the procession carrying pots of milk instead. About one week before Deepavali is Thimithi, the fire-walking festival where one can see male devotees walking on burning coals at the Sri Mariamman Temple in Chinatown.

Singapore - colorful in festival   Ion by night An active and friendly city   Helix bright   Tropical Islets      Pum Pum

New Year .

  It is going to be the end of the year 2010,people are eager to see New Year 2011 with hopes and dreams. Wishing people all over the world are rich in mental and physical life !
  In Vietnam,there are 12 animals that according to our belief is the year animal. This year, Cat will be the one that we trust and think of before doing something huge and important like to find a new job,to get married,build a new house....

 

  Hopes that Cats will be cute to us and bring luck to us in life also in works.

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Christmas History .

Father Christmas

     Modern scholars have argued that the festival was placed on the date of the solstice because this was on this day that the Sun reversed its southward retreat and proved itself to be "unconquered". Some early Christian writers connected the rebirth of the sun to the birth of Jesus."O, how wonderfully acted Providence that on that day on which that Sun was born...Christ should be born", Cyprian wrote. John Chrysostom also commented on the connection: "They call it the 'Birthday of the Unconquered'. Who indeed is so unconquered as Our Lord . . .?"

Although Dies Natalis Solis Invicti has been the subject of a great deal of scholarly speculation, the only ancient source for it is a single mention in the Chronography of 354, and modern Sol scholar Steven Hijmans argues that there is no evidence that the celebration precedes that of Christmas: "[While the winter solstice on or around the 25th of December was well established in the Roman imperial calendar, there is no evidence that a religious celebration of Sol on that day antedated the celebration of Christmas, and none that indicates that Aurelian had a hand in its institution."

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Santa Claus ,who is that?

       Santa Claus, also known as Saint Nicholas, Father Christmas, Kris Kringle, or simply "Santa", is a folklore figure who, in many Western cultures, is said to bring gifts to the homes of the good children during the late evening and overnight hours of Christmas Eve, December 24. The modern figure was derived from the Dutch  figure of , which, in turn, may have part of its basis in hagiographer tales concerning the historical figure of gift giver Saint Nicholas. A nearly identical story is attributed by Greek and Byzantine folklore to Basil of Caesarea. Basil's feast day on January 1 is considered the time of exchanging gifts in Greece.

Santa Claus is generally depicted as a plump, jolly, white-bearded man wearing a red coat with white collar and cuffs, white-cuffed red trousers, and black leather belt and boots (images of him rarely have a beard with no moustache). This image became popular in the United States and Canada in the 19th century due to the significant influence of caricaturist and political cartoonist Thomas Nast. This image has been maintained and reinforced through song, radio, television, children's books and films. In the United Kingdom and Europe, he is often depicted in a manner identical to the American Santa Claus, but he is commonly called Father Christmas.
A well-known folktale associated with Santa Claus says that he lives in the far north, in a land of perpetual snow. The American version of Santa Claus says that he lives at his house on the North Pole, while Father Christmas is often said to reside in the mountains of Korvatunturi in Lapland Province, Finland. Santa Claus lives with his wife Mrs. Claus, an unspecified but large number number of magical elves, and at least eight or nine flying reindeer. Another folktale, popularized in the song "Santa Claus Is Coming to Town", says that he makes a list of children throughout the world, categorizing them according to their behavior ("naughty" or "nice") and that he delivers presents, including toys, candy, and other gifts to all of the good boys and girls in the world, and sometimes coal to the naughty children, on the single night of Christmas Eve. He accomplishes this feat with the aid of the elves who make the toys in the workshop and the reindeer who pull his sleigh
       Merry Christmas !
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Hue Festival 2010 .

"Hue-My Love" is a song that almost all Vietnamese people know. Why is that ? It is simple answer that when you come back home from Hue,you are difficult to forget it.

 

Hue Festival 2010

Cultural Heritage with Integration and Development

With the theme “Cultural Heritage with Integration and Development” and in celebrating the Millennium Anniversary of Thang Long - Hanoi, Hue Festival 2010 held from June 5 to 13, 2010 is to enhance the unique cultural values of Vietnam and Hue ancient capital.

Hue Festival 2010 will be a show place for the most exceptional art performances in Vietnam, especially Hue royal arts and other exotic performances from different Vietnamese sub-cultures; arts performances with cultural nuances of the five continents represented by many countries and territories from around the world.

Hue Festival 2010 will continue the tradition of re-enacting unique royal festivities of Hue Ancient Capital with large scale, well-staged and interesting performances. The Festival will include the participation of a great number of artists, actors and the public in the Nam Giao Offering Ritual, Royal Palace by Night, and Legend of Huong River.

The charming and alluring space of Hue Citadel by night will continue to serve as the centre of Hue Festival. Here, visitors will be able to admire diverse arts performances, the royal palace by night, attend banquets, watch exciting and smart royal games. In addition to the Citadel, the countryside and many other places within Hue City, including An Dinh Palace, Ngo Mon square, and other suburb regions.

Some places such as Nguyen Van Troi Park, Thuong Bac Park, 3-2 Park, Nguyen Dinh Chieu Pedestrian path, Thuan An Resort, Lang Co Beach, Thanh Toan Tile Roofed Bridge, Phuoc Tich Pottery Village in Phong Dien District, Nam Dong Town, A Luoi District, the Memorial Park of the nation’s hero Quang Trung - Nguyen Hue, the Huyen Tran Princess sacred precinct, and other locations will also serve as festival venues with splendid, magnificent and lively arts performances, traditional playgrounds, gastronomy areas from early morning until late at night.

Lang Co -Hue

Lang Co-Hue

Hue Festival 2010 opening ceremony will be on June 5, 2010 at the Ngo Mon Square and the closing ceremony on June 13, 2010 on the Huong River with innovative and impressive performances. In order to warm up and welcome Hue Festival 2010, the most fascinating, interesting and diverse forms of fringe activities will take place prior to the opening ceremony, including The Ao Dai Fashion Show, The Oriental Night…

On the occasion of the Millennium Anniversary of Thang Long and the historical event where Nguyen Phuc Lan Lord selected Kim Long to be the capital city of the Southern Kingdom, Hue Festival 2010 will include a performance of the ‘Itinerary to reclaim the country’s land to the South’ on stage, and re-enact the ‘Demonstration of navy forces under the dynasty of Nguyen Phuc Lan Lord’, and others.

Tourists will have a chance to discover diversified living arts of the Hue people, enjoy fantastic tours to communities and lagoons such as ‘One day, one night, one adventure’, ‘Tam Giang, Sun and Wind’, ‘Discovering Green Nam Dong’, and others. They can make pilgrimages to Hue’s famous pagodas, wallow in traditional and folk festivals, visit the mysterious tombs of Kings, poetic landscapes of the ancient capital, and enjoy Hue’s delicious food and beautiful music on the romantic Huong river.

Many scientific conferences and “Science with community” Festivals will firstly be held by Hue University of Medicine in corporation with Embassy of Italia and Sassari University in Hue Festival 2010. A diverse festival activities will take place, including badminton, kite competition, ‘Hue traditional wedding’ which connects to the gastronomy festival serving ‘Hue vegetarian dishes’, and much more, with an aim to entice tourists to try Hue cuisine.

Hue Festival 2010 promises to be a season of festivities with new, special, impressive and charming activities for tourists from far and near.

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Halong Bay Tour 3 days/2 nights.

  I would like to offer you the tour to Halong Bay,one of the most beautiful natural world site. Coming here,you will have chance to discover the Sea,Mountains in different shapes on the sea,sleeping on the boat and looking the sky at daytime or at night from the boat desks.

HALONG BAY - CAT BA PRIVATE TOUR (3 DAYS / 2 NIGHTS)

This trip to Halong Bay is unique! because you have your own private boat with captain available. Here you can enjoy a sail in self-owned pace in Halong and Lan Ha Bay’s emerald green water with the famous limestone formations, beautiful beaches, moving caves and caves.

Detail Itinerary

Day 1: Hanoi - Halong - Cat Ba. (-, L, D) Departure in the morning from your hotel in Hanoi with a private car/minibus to Halong City. Here you go on board on a beautiful boat, which sails you out in Halong bugten's green water, which reflects the fancy limestone formations. The lunch is served on board. The boat makes stop's during the sail, where you can visit the impressive Thien Cung and Dau Do caves. After that, the boat continues to the Cat Ba island. On the way, if you like you can jump into the clear water and take a bath. Staying over night at Holiday View hotel (***).  Day 2: Cat Ba island - National park. (B, L, D) After having breakfast, at 8:30 you'll be fetched in a car or minibus and driven to Cat Ba National Park. During the visit in the park you'll have a chance to take a short trek to the top of Ngu Lam Peak. The ascent is a little steep, and the path may be smooth. The hiking tour to the top takes about 40 minutes, and you'll be rewarded with a beautiful view over the island and Halong bugten. Later you have a chance to visit the Quan Y cave, which was used as military hospital during Vietnam war. Back to Cat Ba town to have lunch. In the afternoon, you can spend your time for relaxing and sunbathing on one of the island's three beaches. Staying over night at Holiday View hotel (***).  Day 3: Cat Ba - Hai Phong - Hanoi. (B, L, -) After breakfast at the hotel, you have a chance to explore more of Cat Ba town and see a local market. In the afternoon, you take a hydrofoil express boat to Hai Phong city, where a car/minibus is waiting for driving you back to Hanoi. Arrival in Hanoi at about 18:00. (B: breakfast, L: lunch, D: dinner) Including: - Transportation by car/mini bus - English speaking tour guide - Entrance fees - Boat trip on Halong Bay and fast boat from Cat Ba to Hai Phong - 2 nights at Holiday View hotel (3 stars standard) - All meals Excluding: Insurance, drinks, personal expenses and tips to the tour guide.      Pum Pum.

Tour to Ba Ba Lake in Vietnam .

   Welcome to Vietnam . I would like to introduce to you -Dear Tourists, a Tour to one of the best lakes in vietnam.

BA BE LAKE PRIVATE TOUR (3 DAYS / 2 NIGHTS)

From Hanoi you are driving through a beautiful mountainous landscape to Ba Be National Park which consists of rain-forest and the connecting lakes.

Detail Itinerary

Day 1 : Hanoi – Ba Be Lake (250km) We depart at around 08:00 in the morning from Hanoi and drive to Ba Be National Park. On the way we make several stops wherever you want to take photos and visit sightseeing places and villages along the way. We also pay a visit to the Thai Nguyen Minority and Culture Museum where we can learn something about the culture and traditions of the different minority groups in Vietnam. We have lunch on the way in a local restaurant. We arrive in Ba Be Lake late in the afternoon and will have dinner and stay overnight with a local Tay minority family in their traditional wooden stilt house. (L, D) Day 2 : Ba Be Lake After breakfast we are going on a boat trip for about 4 hours to visit Ba Be Lake. On the way we stop at Dau Dang waterfall and the impressive giant Poong grotto with hundreds of bats.We take our lunch Ba Be lake in a Tay village. In the National Park you can discover spectacular high waterfall, rivers, deep valleys, natural caves and small lakes. Steep mountains surround the lakes up to 1.745m high. In the afternoon you have the possibility to go on a short trek with our guide to one of the small Tay villages scattered around the lakes on the land. Dinner and stay overnight in the same home stay at Ba Be Lake.(B, L , D) Day 3 : Ba Be Lake - Hanoi After breakfast, we leave our home stay and Ba Be Lake for the drive back to Hanoi. Lunch in a local restaurant on the way. We arrive in Hanoi at about 16:00 in the afternoon. The trip ends where it started at your hotel. (B, L) (B: breakfast, L: lunch, D: dinner) Including:   Private transportation, boat trip, home stays, meals as mentioned, entrance fees and English-speaking tour guide. Excluding: Insurance, drinks, personal expenses and tips to the tour guide!

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Halong Vietnam-Come and Enjoy It !

   There is one bay in Vietnam that,nowadays,becomes one of the best places for travel.

Mountains on the Sea

Ha Long Bay (literally: "Descending Dragon Bay"; Vietnamese: Vịnh Hạ Long) is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and a popular travel destination, located in Quang Ninh Province, Vietnam. Administratively, the bay belongs to Ha Long City, Cam Pha town, and part of  district. The bay features thousands of limestone karsts and isles in various sizes and shapes. Ha Long Bay is a center of a larger zone which includes Bai Tu Long bay to the northeast, and Cat Ba islands to the southwest. These larger zones share similar geological, geographical, geomorphology, climate, and cultural characters.
Ha Long Bay has an area of around 1,553 km², including 1,960 islets, most of which are limestone. The core of the bay has an area of 334 km² with a high density of 775 islets. The limestone in this bay has gone through 500 million years of formation in different conditions and environments. The evolution of the kart in this bay has taken 20 million years under the impact of the tropical wet climate. The Geo-diversity of the environment in the area has created biodiversity, including a tropical evergreen bio-system , oceanic and sea shore bio-system. Ha Long Bay is home to 14 endemic floral species and 60 endemic faunal species.

The kissing Cocks

Historical research surveys have shown the presence of prehistorical human beings in this area tens of thousands years ago. The successive ancient cultures are the Soi Nhụ culture around 18,000-7000 BC, the Cái Bèo culture 7000-5000 BC and the Hạ Long culture 5,000-3,500 years ago. Ha Long Bay also marked important events in the history of Vietnam with many artifacts found in Bài Thơ Mout, Đầu Gỗ Cave, Bãi Cháy.
500 years ago, Nguyen Trai praised the beauty of Ha Long Bay in his verse Lộ nhập Vân Đồn, in which he called it "rock wonder in the sky". In 1962, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism of Vietnam listed Ha Long Bay in the National Relics and Landscapes publication. In 1994, the core zone of Ha Long Bay was listed by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site according to criteria vii, and listed for a second time according to criteria.
      
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Ba Be Lake.

   Besides some famous lakes in Vietnam,Ba Be is fantastic place to come.
Ba Bể Lake (Vietnamese: Hồ Ba Bể; Ba means Three, Bể is from the Tay language word pé, meaning "lake") is the largest natural lake in Vietnam. It is located in Nam Mẫu commune, Bac Kan distrcit, Bac Kan provice, in the northeastern region of the country.
Having been formed approximately 200 million years ago, the lake is surrounded by limestone cliffs, which in turn are covered by primary forests. The lake comprises three zones named Pé Lầm, Pé Lù, and Pé Lèng. Three rivers, named Năng, Tả Han, and Nam Cường, are the main inflows of the lake. The Năng river enters the lake through a large waterfall called Đầu Đẳng. In the lake there are also three island, named Án Mã, Khẩu Cúm, and Po Gia Mải (literally "Widow's Island").

Visiting  Waterfall

Ba Bể Lake is a featured geographical science and is a biodiversity reservoir. It is a part of the Ba Be National Park

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   An individual trying to do something to help himself.

Hanoi Pictures.

         Hoan Kiem Lake and West Lake.

   Every morning,visitors can go to the Hoan Kiem lake to breathe new fresh air,also see people doing exercise . Or you can run around the lake for your health with your headphone. If you stay in Jysk Guesthouse,it is easy to get to the lake. 

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A Sapa in Vietnam

Sa Pa Rice Field  Sa Pa tourism trademark to be promoted

Representatives from travel agencies, hotels and restaurants and experts from the Netherlands Development Organisation (SNV) gathered in Lao Cai province’s Sa Pa resort town on August 18 discussing measures to promote Sa Pa tourism services and products.
The participants cited cultural identities, natural conditions and agricultural cultivation methods, as well as the State management as major factors in efforts to promote the trademark. They agreed that it is necessary to define unique souvenir products of Sa Pa. Sa Pa is one of Vietnam 's top holiday and relaxation destinations a t the height of 1,600m above sea level, the average temperature of the area is 15-18°C. It is cool in summer and cold in winter. Visitors to Sa Pa in summer can feel the climate of four seasons in one day. The best time to witness the scenic beauty of Sa Pa is in April and May. Before that period, the weather might be cold and foggy; after that period is the rainy season. In April and May, Sa Pa is blooming with flowers and green pastures. The clouds that settle in the valley in early morning quickly disappear into thin air.  Sa Pa has many natural sites such as Ham Rong Mountain, Silver Waterfall, Rattan Bridge, Bamboo Forest and Ta Phin Cave.  Sa Pa is also the starting point for many climbers and scientists who want to reach the top of Fansipan Mountain , the highest mountain in Vietnam at 3,143m. Hoang Lien Mountain Range is also called the Alps of the North Sea area since Fansipan Mountain is not only the highest peak in Vietnam , but also in the Indochina Peninsula . The pyramid-shaped mountain is covered with clouds all year round and temperatures often drop below zero, especially at high elevations.   Sa Pa is home to various families of flowers of captivating colours, which can be found nowhere else in the country.   Sa Pa is most beautiful in spring. Apricot, plum and cherry flowers are splendidly beautiful. Markets are crowded and merry, and are especially attractive to visitors. Minority groups come here to exchange and trade goods and products. A trekking tour to Sapa in this time will be very interesting! Cloudy Sa Pa Visitors to Sa Pa will have opportunities to discover the unique customs of the local residents. That is the reason why tourists should come to Sa Pa.

vietnam History

Countryside

The history of Vietnam begins around 2,700 years ago. Successive dynasties based in China ruled Vietnam directly for most of the period from 207 BC until 938 when Vietnam regained its independence.^[1] Vietnam remained a tributary state to its larger neighbor China for much of its history but repelled invasions by the Chinese as well as three invasions by the Mongols between 1255 and 1285.^[2] Emperor Trần Nhân Tông later diplomatically submitted Vietnam to a tributary of the Yuan to avoid further conflicts. The independent period temporarily ended in the middle to late 19th century, when the country was colonized by France (see French Indochina). During World War II, Imperial Japan expelled the French to occupy Vietnam, though they retained French administrators during their occupation. After the war, France attempted to re-establish its colonial rule but ultimately failed in the First Indochina War. The Geneva Accords partitioned the country in two with a promise of democratic election to reunite the country.
However, rather than peaceful reunification, partition led to the Vietnam War. During this time, the People's Republic of China and the Soviet Union supported the North while the United States supported the South. After millions of Vietnamese deaths, the war ended with the fall of Saigon to the North in April 1975. The reunified Vietnam suffered further internal repression and was isolated internationally due to the continuing Cold War and the Vietnamese invasion of Cambodia. In 1986, the Communist Party of Vietnam changed its economic policy and began reforms of the private sector similar to those in China. Since the mid-1980s, Vietnam has enjoyed substantial economic growth and some reduction in political repression, though reports of corruption have also risen.
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Vietnam Football .

Vietnam Country

Vietnam the Country

An introduction to the fascinating country of Vietnam.

Vietnam's Name

Vietnam is officially known in English as the "Socialist Republic of Vietnam", sometimes abbreviated as SRV. The full name in Vietnamese is Cong Hoa Xa Hoi Chu Nghia Viet Nam.
In common usage, Vietnamese use two words "Viet Nam", and Americans use a single word "Vietnam".

Vietnam's Location

Vietnam is part of South East Asia, bordered by ocean on the west and south, with China to the north and Cambodia and Laos to the west. Vietnam is about the size of New Mexico (329,560 sq km), but shaped in a long, narrow "S".

Vietnam's Weather

Vietnam has a hot tropical climate in the south and a monsoon climate in the north. The hot, rainy season lasts May to September and warm, dry season is October to March. (More on Vietnam weather).

Vietnam Politics

Vietnam is a communist country. Religion, speech, press and other aspects of society remain under central control. Since Vietnam's "doi moi" (renovation) in 1986, Vietnam's economy and, to some extent, policies have become increasingly modernized and less restrictive.

Vietnam Flag

Vietnam's flag is bright red with a yellow star. The red represents blood spilt during the country's fight for independence. The star represents Vietnam's unity and the points on the star represent the union of the people working together in building socialism. (Vietnam flag craft for children.)
South Vietnam's flag had three red stripes on a yellow background. Originally based on a design from the last Emperor of Viet Nam (Bao Dai), the red stripes represent the blood line of three regions of Vietnam and the yellow background represents the earth or skin color. This flag is still used by many Vietnamese American organizations, first generation Vietnamese immigrants, and Vietnam Veterans, symbolizing their sacrifices and the ideal of freedom.
Both flags call forth deep emotions for what they represent in Vietnam and in the Vietnamese American communities.

Vietnamese People

Vietnam is a populated country of over 85 million people. Although the villages have played a key role in Vietnam's psyche and social order, most people now live in the major cities where jobs are more plentiful. Due to the war, there are fewer older men in Vietnam (although they still are predominant in the government) and many younger people. Military service is still compulsory for 2 years.
The literacy rate is impressively high (over 90% are able to read). However, Vietnam is still a relatively poor and less healthy country.

Vietnamese Language

Vietnamese is the primary language. It is a tonal language, relatively easy to read but difficult to speak. Luckily, English is growing in popularity. Some French is spoken in the North. Khmer and related languages are spoken in some areas. The 65 tribes speak their own languages Mon-Khmer and Malayo-Polynesian. (More on Vietnamese language.)

Vietnam Trade

Trade agreements and increased modernization are making a great improvement in quality of life for Vietnamese and Vietnam's visitors. Tourism is increasing with better transportation, services and accomadations. Major exports are crude oil, marine products, rice, coffee and tea, rubber and clothing.

Vietnam's Three Regions

Vietnam is traditionally divided into three regions (North, South and Central) based on years of history, occupation and geopolitical settlement. These regions are known among Vietnamese for differences in dialect, food, history, culture and temperament of the people.

Vietnam Cities and Provinces

Hanoi is Vietnam's capitol, and the location of Vietnam's central government. Hanoi was the former capitol of North Vietnam under the French and during the war. It is an older gracious city. Ho Chi Minh City (aka Saigon) was the capital of South Vietnam. It is the second largest city, and is a leader in business. Ho Chi Minh city is sprawling and vibrant, with a large Chinese center. (More on Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City.)
Vietnam has 5 major cities or municipalities (city-provinces): Can Tho, Da Nang, Hai Phong, Ha Noi, and Ho Chi Minh and 59 provinces. Most of these allow international adoption.

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