Vietnam

The Vietnamese trace the origins of their culture and nation to the fertile plains of the Red River Delta in northern Vietnam. The area now known as Vietnam has been inhabited since Paleolithic times, with some archaeological sites in Thanh Hoa Province reportedly dating back several thousand years. After centuries of developing a civilization and economy based on the cultivation of irrigated rice, the Vietnamese began expanding southward in search of new ricelands. Moving down the narrow coastal plain of the Indochina Peninsula, through conquest and pioneering settlement they eventually reached and occupied the broad Mekong River Delta. Vietnamese

history is the story of the struggle to develop a sense of nationhood throughout this narrow 1,500-kilometer stretch of land and to maintain it against internal and external pressures.

According to the earliest Vietnamese traditions, the founder of the Vietnamese nation was Hung Vuong, the first ruler of the semi-legendary Hung dynasty (2879-258 BC, mythological dates) of the kingdom of Van Lang. Hung Vuong. Lac Long Quan, a Vietnamese cultural hero, is credited with teaching the people how to cultivate rice. Vietnamese scholars with Dong Sonian culture associate the Hung dynasty, which according to tradition ruled Van Lang for eighteen generations. An important aspect of this culture is that by the sixth century B.C. was the tidal irrigation of rice fields through an elaborate system of canals and dikes. The fields were called Lac fields, and Lac, mentioned in Chinese annals, is the earliest recorded name for the Vietnamese people.

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China was the chief source of Vietnam's foreign ideas and the earliest threat to its national sovereignty. Beginning in the first century B.C., China's Han dynasty (206 B.C.-A.D. 220) imposed Chinese rule that endured for ten centuries despite repeated Vietnamese uprisings and acts of rebellion. Only the collapse of the Tang dynasty (618-907) in the early tenth century enabled Vietnamese national hero Ngo Quyen to reestablish Vietnam's independence a generation later. The Vietnamese subsequently were able to fend off further invasion attempts for 900 years.

France occupied all of Vietnam by 1884. Independence was declared after World War II, but the French continued to rule until 1954 when they were defeated by Communist forces under Ho Chi Minh, who took control of the north. U.S. economic and military aid to South Vietnam grew through the 1960s in an attempt to bolster the government, but U.S. armed forces were withdrawn following a cease-fire agreement in 1973.

French colonial rule was, for the most part, politically repressive and economically exploitative. Vietnamese resistance in the early years was led by members of the scholar-official class, many of whom refused to cooperate with the French and left their positions in the bureaucracy. The early nationalists involved themselves in study groups, demonstrations, production and dissemination of anti-colonialist literature, and acts of terrorism.

After World War I, another Vietnamese independence leader arose who understood the need to involve the masses in order to stage a successful anticolonial revolt. Ho Chi Minh, schooled in Confucianism, Vietnamese nationalism, and Marxism-Leninism, patiently set about organizing the Vietnamese peasantry according to Communist theories, particularly those of Chinese leader Mao Zedong. While in Paris from 1919-23, Ho Chi Minh took the name Nguyen Ai Quoc (Nguyen the Patriot). In 1919 he attempted to meet with United States President Woodrow Wilson at the Versailles Peace Conference in order to present a proposal for Vietnam's independence, but he was turned away and the proposal was never officially acknowledged.

The defeat of the Japanese, who had occupied Vietnam during World War II, left a power vacuum, which the Communists rushed to fill. After nine years of armed struggle, France relinquished its colonies in Indochina. The 1954 Geneva Conference left Vietnam a divided nation, however, with Ho Chi Minh's communist government ruling the northern half from Hanoi and Ngo Dinh Diem's regime, supported by the United States, ruling the south from Saigon (later Ho Chi Minh City).

The victory of communist forces in Vietnam in April 1975 ranks as one of the most politically significant occurrences of the post - World War II era in Asia. The events of April 1975 prepared the way for the official reunification of North and South in 1976.

Vietnam is a poor, densely populated country that has had to recover from the ravages of war, the loss of financial support from the old Soviet Bloc, and the rigidities of a centrally planned economy. Substantial progress was achieved from 1986 to 1996 in moving forward from an extremely low starting point - growth averaged around nine percent per year from 1993 to 1997. A predominantly rural society with more than half of its work force committed to agriculture, Vietnam's standard of living remains one of the poorest in the world. A series of harvest shortfalls that reduced food supplies and a scarcity of foreign exchange that made it difficult to replenish food reserves contributed to this condition. Shortages of raw materials and energy forced production facilities to operate at considerably less than full capacity and the party bureaucracy remained incapable of acting quickly enough to reduce shortages

Visitors are not permitted to invite Vietnamese nationals of the opposite sex to their hotel rooms and police may raid hotels without notice or consent. An American traveling with a spouse who is a U.S. citizen of Vietnamese origin may be asked to present a Marriage Certificate to local authorities in order to stay together in a hotel or family's residence. Involvement in politics, possession of political material, business activities that have not been licensed by appropriate authorities, or non-sanctioned religious activities (including proselytizing) can result in detention. Sponsors of small, informal religious gatherings such as bible-study groups in hotel rooms, as well as distributors of religious materials, have been detained, fined and expelled.

Increasing numbers of U.S. military personnel who served in the armed forces during the Vietnam War have returned to Vietnam on personal travel. Neither the U.S. Embassy in Hanoi nor the U.S. Consulate General in Ho Chi Minh City is aware of any Vietnamese government restrictions on former U.S. military personnel visiting Vietnam. Neither the Embassy nor the Consulate General provides special assistance in reaching battlefield sites. Visitors should understand that some battle sites are relatively inaccessible, and access to battle sites may be denied by the Vietnamese government.

The U.S. Government has stated that accounting for U.S. armed forces personnel reported missing in action or killed in action during the Vietnam War is one of its highest priorities.

Location: Southeastern Asia, bordering the Gulf of Thailand, Gulf of Tonkin, and South China Sea, alongside China, Laos, and Cambodia Capital: Hanoi Area: 329,560 sq km; slightly larger than New Mexico Population: 81,624,716 (July 2003 est.) Ethnic Groups: Vietnamese 85 - 90 percent, Chinese, Hmong, Thai, Khmer, Cham, Montagnards and other mountain groups Religion: Buddhist, Hoa Hao, Cao Dai, Christian (predominantly Roman Catholic, some Protestant), indigenous beliefs, Muslim Industries: Food processing, garments, shoes, machine building, mining, cement, chemical fertilizer, glass, tires, oil, coal, steel, paper Aid to Vietnam: Economic Aid - $2.1 billion in credits and grants pledged by international donors for 2000; External debt - $14.1 billion (2002 est.)

Festivals and events of Vietnam are considered a major part of the lives of the Vietnamese. Since rural population prevails over the urban population, community spirit is highly maintained among the villagers. The festivals are more agricultural based, which each new generation tries to maintain and improve year after year.

The month of January and February are seen as International New Year's Day in accordance to their traditional Lunar Calendar, along with the Foundation of Communist Party by Ho Chi Minh in Hong Kong, on February 3rd. Other events like Hai Ba Trung Day, Liberation Day, International Labor Day, Ho Chi Minh's Birthday, Buddha's Birthday are celebrated between the month of March and May.

In the month of August a day is seen as the 'Day of the Wandering Souls', when the Vietnamese offer foods to their deceased relatives who are believed to come and visit them. September 2nd is their Independence Day, followed by Ho Chi Minh's Death Anniversary on September 3rd. Also in the same month the Trung Thu is celebrated where the children parade along with lanterns and Chinese pastries are eaten. Birthday of Confucius is in November.

Vietnam's traditional events:
Vietnam experiences agricultural festivals throughout the year. The festivals are held mainly in the time of spring and autumn, reflecting the farmers' hopes for a good crop at the end of the

During these festivals all taboos, community differences, rules and social barriers are overlooked. Free mixing between men and women are allowed. Various games are played like overturning of the palanquins, tug-of-war, cockfights, buffalo-fights, rope pulling and climbing, pigeon race, wrestling, rowing, fishing, etc.

Events like Dong Ky Festival, Huong Pagoda Festival, Thay Pagoda Festival, Keo Pagoda Festival, Dau Pagoda Festivals, Dong Festival, the Festival of Trung Sisters Pagoda are considered very auspicious among the villagers. During these festivals the neighboring villages also take part. These festivals are considered as historical events, which are full of religious rites and beliefs. But these events also reflect the Vietnamese' effort to hold on to their roots. Folk songs are sung along with the traditional music and dance mixed with drumbeats. Almost all the entertainment and enjoyment made during these festivals are dedicated to the natural powers like rain, lightning, cloud, which are associated with the production of agricultural crops. The peasants are always looking for means to improve their lives and these festivals are among them.

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Visa Entry and Exit Procedures

Any foreigner or overseas Vietnamese wishing to visit Vietnam must fill out one 1 entry visa application form. The paperwork must be sent to a Vietnamese diplomatic representative office (the embassies), or consulate general of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, in the most convenient country.

This rule may not be applied for citizens of countries with which Vietnam has bilateral agreements for visa exemption. (Please contact the Embassy of Vietnam for more information)

Customs

• All visitors to Vietnam should fill in declaration forms and show their luggage to Customs officials on request.
• Luggage, personal possessions and goods brought to Vietnam in amounts sufficient for personal use only, and not listed among noncommercial goods not to be imported, are exempt from tax.
• Travelers' luggage as declared at Customs offices on arrival must be shown again at Customs when leaving Vietnam, except for articles which have been consumed or given as gifts.
• Visitors to Vietnam can bring with them unlimited amounts of foreign currency, objects made of gold, silver, precious metals and gemstones or plated with silver or gold, but these must be declared in detail on their customs forms. Travelers can change their money for Vietnamese dong (VND) at the banks, hotels and jewelry shops throughout the country. Foreign currency must be changed into Vietnamese dong for shopping.
• Travelers can take with them unlimited amounts of souvenirs bought with receipts.