VIETNAM:
Travelling in Vietnam is an incredibly rewarding experience. Vietnamese people have a deep sense of pride stemming from their country’s long history of resilience and overcoming foreign domination, whilst preserving its distinct identity. They go about daily life with a quiet, understated self-assurance, realist pragmatism and a positive, forward-looking attitude. I visited over Christmas and New Years 1996/97 and explored the south and north, which are both so different from each other; all the while exploring, immersing, learning, admiring and having fun. Without a doubt I preferred Hanoi over Ho Chi Minh City, and loved the rural and coastal environments and the daily way of life.
Proud and free: Vietnam is loving life today
For the past 50 years, Vietnam has enjoyed being an independent sovereign nation. To achieve this the nation had to go to hell and back. As you look back through Vietnam’s history it has been dominated by several foreign powers; Chinese rule, French colonization, Japan (briefly) and a quasi attempt by the United States. This is because of its direct land border with China, its long strategic coastline along major maritime trade routes, its position as a gateway to Indochina and its socialist political stance. This journey has led to the unique character of the resilient and pragmatic Vietnamese people and its East-meets-West culture.
Follow my timeline of places, activities and photos in the Asia Region during 1996/97
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