Wednesday, November 30, 2011

National ca tru singing festival held in Hanoi

The National Ca Tru Festival in Hanoi from October 13-16,2011.More than 100 artists from 15 ca tru (ceremonial singing) clubs from across the country are attending
The National Ca Tru Festival in Hanoi from October 13-16,2011.More than 100 artists from 15 ca tru (ceremonial singing) clubs from across the country are attending.Ho Anh Tuan, Deputy Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism, said ca tru is of great value to both Vietnamese and international music.The festival aims to review the practices of ca tru in 15 provinces nationwide as mentioned in their 2009 profile submitted to UNESCO for recognition of ca tru as Intangible Cultural Heritage of Mankind.
Participation have the chance to exchange experience in preserving and developing the art of ca tru over the year.

Thursday, November 17, 2011

Saigon & Surrounds

 
(vietnam tours operator) Explore the busy city streets of Saigon ( Ho Chi Minh city) and visit its many bustling markets. Venture outside the city to experience the Cu Chi Tunnels, known as a hideout for the Viet Cong. You can go further more to explore the maze of canals on the Mekong delta or to relax on amazing beaches in Mui Ne or Nha Trang.
we has many more to offer travelers to highlight Saigon and its Surrounds. Start with one day trip to Cao Dai temple and Cu Chi tunnels then explore further a field with 2-day trip to Mekong delta, or Nam Cat Tien national park 2 days, or 3-day trip to Mui Ne, or 5-day trip to Dalat and Nha Trang. For longer and refresher take a 4-day trip to Phu Quoc island or 4-day trip to Con Dao island. 

Saturday, November 12, 2011

Halong bay new 7 wonders of nature

Ha Long Bay in Vietnam’s northern Quang Ninh has been named among the world’s new seven wonders of nature, according to the global poll’s provisional results announced this morning by New Open World Corporation, an associate of the New 7 Wonders Foundation.

At 2:07 am Vietnamese time today, November 12, the global poll organizers announced the provisional list of the world’s new seven wonders of nature, including, in the alphabet order, the Amazon rainforest in South America, Vietnam’s Ha Long Bay, the Iguazu waterfall of Argentina and Brazil, South Korea’s Jeju Island, Indonesia’s Komodo Island, Puerto Princesca Underground River of the Philippines, and the Table Mountain in South Africa.

The list was made based on the provision results of the voting for 400 wonders from more than 200 countries and territories that ended at 11:11 pm November 11, 2011.

Final results will be announced early next year, said the Swiss foundation, warning however that there may yet be changes between the provisional winners and the final list.

Earlier on September 27, Ha Long was placed among the 28 finalist candidates for the voting.



Ha Long Bay, which was recognized by UNESCO as a World Natural Heritage site in 1994, is seated on an area of around 1,553 square meters, including 1,969 islets, most of which are limestone.

The core of the bay has an area of 334 square meters 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 bay, with a coastline of 120 km, is home to 14 endemic floral species and about 60 endemic faunal species.

Wednesday, November 9, 2011

Hanoi & Surrounds

(vietnam tours operator) Hanoi ranks among the world's most attractive and interesting cities. The city is dotted with dozens of lakes - small and large - around which you can usually find a cafe, a pagoda or two, and absorbing vignettes of street life.

There are a number of tours available to highlight Hanoi and its surrounding area.  Most tours are either half day or one day.  Start with the Hanoi City tour then explore further a field with the Traditional Villages and the Perfume Pagoda, the cycling tour of Hoa Lu - Tam Coc or Trekking at Cuc Phuong National park. All tours are in small groups, with a guide and air conditioned car or van.

Monday, October 31, 2011

Mekong Delta Guide

(vietnam tours operator) Considered as Amazon of Vietnam, Mekong Delta is the region of immense rivers, interlaced canals and windy oceans. In water seasons, people from Dong Thap Muoi, Long Xuyen quadrangle, Ca Mau, Bac Lieu, Soc Trang, Can Tho, Vinh Long, Ben Tre ... use their boats, junks for shelter, just as housing, means to avoid flooding and make a living. Among the flooding water, the boats become multi-purposes, people go fishing, selling stuff such as fruits, food and everything.

The boats are also used to transport rice, gasoline, medicines, to the end of the alleys, exchange everything in daily life. At night time, in the moon light over the water, some boats gather together, sipping the Delta's special rice wine, chatting and singing the traditional folk songs.

No one can count how many family, how many people living on canal boat across the river in the Delta. Since the rich have all the dozen passenger ships, carrying rice, sand stone, brick and tile, cement, steel trading in every corner of the area, to a fisherman catching shrimp, hunting and scratching for oysters, ladies selling fruit and young girls rowing passenger boats... The sights of people and boats can be seen everywhere, but no where can match the famous floating market in Phung Hiep - Can Tho, Soc Trang or Ca Mau.

Landscape ghe, canoe busiest station on the boat which also has countryside, Where the song may not be the "floating market" fell seven Phung Hiep (Can Tho), falls in Thanh Tri (Soc Trang), Tac Thu (Ca Mau).

Besides the water life, Mekong Delta is also seen as the rice bowl of Vietnam, the typical image of the region is the immense yellow rice fields, waving in the wind. Here is also known as fruit bowl of the country with a full range of fruit as mango, grapefruit, oranges, tangerines, jack fruit, strawberry, banana, longan, pineapple, rambutan, mangosteen, durian, papaya...

Friday, October 28, 2011

Vote for Ha Long bay by telephone

(vietnam tours operator) The New Open World Corporation released a new voting method for the New 7 Wonders of the World – including Vietnam's Ha long bay– via telephone from March 9, according to an official announcement on its website http://www.new7wonders.com.
The international telephone line is available 24 hours a day for voting.


To vote for Ha Long Bay, please dial one of these international telephone numbers:
+23 9220 1055
+1 869 760 5990
+1 649 339 8080
+44 758 900 1290


( + is the symbol for international access code. At the end of the message, after the tone, insert the code 7712 for Ha Long Bay. When you hear the thank you message, you are all done – you have voted for Ha long by telephone.)
At present, Ha long is ranked fourth in the New 7 Wonders of the World voting among 28 natural wonders, and is currently behind the Amazon Rainforest, the Dead Sea and the Grand Canyon.

The New Open World will announce the final list of the world’s new natural wonders on November 11.

More halong bay info.

Let’s vote for Ha Long Bay

(vietnam tours operator) The vote for the new seven wonders of the world will come to an end in the next 20 days.



Ha Long Bay is among 28 candidates which have qualified for the third round of the vote.

This is a good opportunity not only to make it become the world’s new wonder but also promote the image of the country’s land and people to international friends.

The Chairman of the Quang Ninh Provincial People’s Committee, Nguyen Van Doc, has asked people from other cities and provinces across the country to vote for Ha Long Bay so that it will remain in the leading group.

Voters can show their support for Ha Long Bay via the Internet or by sending SMS from their mobile phones.

The New7World organisation will announce the list of the new seven wonders on November 11.

More halong bay info.

Thursday, October 27, 2011

Phan Thiet and Mui Ne in my eyes

(vietnam tours operator) The town of Phan Thiet, more than 200 km Northeast of Saigon, is an old Cham outpost of 75,000 people and has been a fishing village for centuries. The Town is famous not only for its Nuoc mam or fish sauce but also for its multinational culture. Vietnamese, Chams, Southern Chinese, Malays, and Indonesians have lived together for so long and have created a colorful spiritual life of the Town. In this beautiful city, Mui Ne is one of the most popular attractions for tourism

 

Mui Ne General Information

Located 200 km away from Sai Gon, Mui Ne is a stunning beach in the central coastal province of Binh Thuan. With convenient conditions for developing tourism, this is a more and more popular beach destination with millions of tourists nationwide and worldwide in recent years.  
It is always cool and sunny with a limited rainfall in August and September (rainy season may last from June to September) while the local people are very friendly and warm. With more or less hundreds of resort, it is called “Vietnam Resort Capital” and there are more and more others resorts, restaurants and entertainment places built to meet guests’ increasing demands yearly. The best time to travel here is in January and February; however, you could go any time due that the season difference is not so big at the moment.
Things to enjoy
Though there are not many excursion and entertainment places, Mui Ne has its unique destinations that tourists should enjoy:  
  • Having a jeep ride to visit beautiful sand dunes with different colors. 
  • Seeing the real life of the local people in Mui Ne fishing village.
  • Visiting local fish sauce factories.
  • Visiting Takou Mountain with the biggest lying Buddha in the South East Asia.
  • Taking some photos of local destinations and people.
  • Tasting dishes made with lizard (Dong). Also, try “Banh Xeo” or Rice pancake, a unique local specialty.
  • Playing water sports at beautiful Mui Ne bay.
Phan Thiet beaches

Mui ne resort

Phan Thiet

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Nha Trang beaches



(vietnam tours operator) Nha Trang a small town in Vietnam, located in the Khanh Hoa province is widely recognized because of it gorgeous beaches. In fact, Nha Trang is often referred to as the ‘Seaside Resort’ of Vietnam. Having vast tranquil beaches and the finest climatic conditions, the Nha Trang Beaches, Vietnam are perfect for a lovely holiday.
Of the 6 major Nha Trang Beaches in Vietnam, Tran Phu is the most popular one. It is one of the most activities filled of the various Nha Trang beaches. There is also the Tran Phu Street running parallel to the beach for its entire span, which is a beautiful avenue adorned with a lush green centre and pretty street lamps. Many key hotels, eateries and bars are lined along the street. Being the most frequented one the Tran Phu Beach is also the most crowed of all the Nha Trang beaches.

The other Nha Trang beaches, Vietnam though less popular than Tran Phu are perhaps lovelier and more soothing. The Northern part of Nha Trang and some of its islands flaunt beaches like Hong Chong beach and Dai Lanh Beach. With lovely scenic beauty, these beaches are amongst the finest beaches in Vietnam and are surely a treat for the eye.

Apart from unwinding yourself in the midst of nature, you can also indulge yourself in some of the various outdoor activities that the Nha Trang Beaches, Vietnam has to offer. Here you can go for a swim in the sea, play football or badminton, perform Tai Chi, a kind of Chinese meditation popular in Vietnam and many other activities. Sun bathing is another favorite pastime popular among the tourists. The Nha Trang Beaches in Vietnam also invites long leisurely walks. It is no wonder that the Nha Trang beaches, Vietnam are recognized as the most frequented of the Vietnam popular destinations.




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Wednesday, September 7, 2011

Victory Cruise - Halong Bay

(vietnam tours operator) Our 42 meter junk boast 21 luxurious cabins with private bath, air conditioning, linen sheets with all the amenities and services you would expect from a four-star hotel.

On board is our full service restaurant for 42 guests, sun deck with comfortable lounge chairs, massage service and an attentive staff to cater to your every need.

Along with the great facilities we have special activities: small boats to explore the caves, sea kayaking, cooking classes, international wine tasting, and we can arrange special events from 2 to 42 people.



Junk in Details
Length: 42m
Width: 9m
Boat material: Aromas wooden
Total number of cabins: 21 cabins
Deluxe cabin: 02 Double
Superior family connecting: 02 cabins
Superior cabin: 15 (10 double , 05 twin)
Restaurant: 01 for 42 Guests
Restaurant Bar: 01
Open Sundeck Bar: 01



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Thursday, June 16, 2011

Exploration journey the world's largest cave in Vietnam

(vietnam tours operator) On the road to the grotto Son Doong, the British expedition was blocked by a towering limestone walls, an estimated 60 meters. Titus overhead, they see the light shine down, but not the other side know what the stone wall.

Exploration journey largest cave in the world - for many years and the great photos of the cave has launched the world. Later this month, Son Doong will again distinguish the Japanese company NHK scientific presentation of the first 3D movies of the cave to 60 countries.

Son Doong cave attract attention and amazement of the scientists inside the cave by the forests, the world's longest underground river, and so far the explorers did not know what is the end of the cave.

This cave is part of the system of about 150 caves, hidden in the park of Phong Nha - Ke Bang in Quang Binh province. Many cave systems explorer has not been to, contains within him the mysterious beauty.

Limber Howard heads a team of cave explorers Caves Association in Britain, to be told that Vietnam was predestined. After applying, he and his wife allowed the expedition in 1990 and since then they started the journey to conquer the mysterious cave.

In 2009, the expedition started conquering Son Doong. They discovered more than 4 km in the cave before being stopped by a wall of mud and limestone to over 60 meters high. They named it the Great Wall of Vietnam. High above, the expedition saw only an empty space and light but does not know the other side of the wall is.


A year later, the British explorer 7 with some scientists and porters union workers back to climb over the wall if possible, measure the way in the cave and go forward, if possible, to the end of the cave. They position of the limestone wall above the nearby witnessed a large pile of broken limestone, probably from the high ceiling down.

Mark Jenkins, a member of the expedition, including the NatGeo: "The path before me appeared a huge debris, stones in the building had to work from the ceiling down to the cave. I look back neck but the vast space of the cave swallow the flickering light from the flashlight on my head, as if I were looking at the night sky without stars such. They told me to stand in that space enough for a Boeing 747 song I have no way to be sure. The darkness around me like my head was so covered by a sleeping bag.

"A major highlight overflows into the cave-like waterfalls. The light passes through a hole in the ceiling at least 90 meters wide," Jenkins told to. "Light - len deep inside the cave - reveal the enormous of Son Doong. Sugar in the cave is probably to 90 feet wide, nearly 250 meter high ceiling: enough space to accommodate a 40-storey high building like in New York. Near the ceiling also the light clouds. " 


Through expeditions later, the laser surveying instrument with precision, the cave explorer said Son Doong 200m wide rows, higher than 150 m, a length of at least 6.5 km. In the grotto is the height to 250 m.


Caves Association has recognized the Royal announced Son Doong is natural caves with the largest dome, the title is from a cave in Malaysia.

However, the expedition will not find a cave mouth, if not the help of local people. Mr. Limbert said: "Mr. Khanh worked with us from the beginning. Will not find anything without him. "

Ho Khanh wrote on Nat Geo: "I live in a village near the cave. My father died in war making as a child I had to seek a living in the jungle. For years I have been hunting over the Vietnam-Laos border, hiding in caves to avoid or evade the storm rain bomb ". 

"Make three expeditions I find this Son Doong cave. Mr.Khanh found from a young door but forgot to know where it is. He find it in 2009 and reported to us, "Limbert said. 

Expert Howard Limbert said: "We have 13 trips in 20 years of collaboration with the University of Natural Sciences in Hanoi (now) and just over 100 miles explored caves are found. It's just a small part of massive limestone blocks, as well as an area we arrived just a fraction of the entire massif. The potential caves here enormous. with speed as the current discovery, we it will remain impossible to know all the caves here. " 

 

Tags: ke bep, tu bep, noi that phong ngu, noi that phong khach

Wednesday, June 15, 2011

Son Doong cave received Viet Nam record.

Day 11/6, Centre for the record books of Vietnam - recognized Vietkings world's largest cave paint line (Quang Binh) is a cave with the largest dome of water. On this occasion, Quang Binh province received 10 different record.
Before being awarded a record in Vietnam, Son Doong Cave was known line in the world. Sites located in the cave systems, Phong Nha - Ke Bang was discovered in 1992.

Dated 22/04/2009, the Association caves Royal Limbirt led by Mr Howard has acknowledged this is a natural cave has the largest dome. With a width of 200 m, length 6.5 km, higher than 150 m, flow through the cave Son Deer Cave in Mulu National Park of Malaysia Gunnung to position the largest natural cave. In addition, the caves have some larger size, including stone columns as high as 14 m.

This record was given to 20h on 11 / 6 at The Eco Resort Paradise, in the closing ceremony of the "Week of Culture - Tourism in Quang Binh in 2011. "

On this occasion, Quang Binh Province has received 10 different record. The first is the title of Local largest cave system, with cave systems, Phong Nha - Ke Bang has more than 300 known caves, big and small. Next is the record such as: Local system has many underground rivers best: the Son River, river flowing river with a length of 20 km Trooc, Local Ho Chi Minh trail system (including the East Branch and West Branch ) Going through the longest of Quang Binh province, hot water stream cast is the highest temperature: Bang Mineral Springs, is a natural source of hot water injection on a 250 m long valley 600 m long distributed into three regions not equally, in which the center has 36 nozzles clear.


Son River, an underground river system meandering of Phong Nha - Ke Bang
Quang Binh provinces also: sand beach and the longest, narrowest width terrain, dry cave with a length of one: The Paradise of the dome of the cave system, located in sub-regional ecological restoration of cell production Phong Nha - Ke Bang, the Association of British royal cave discovered in 2005.

In addition, The Paradise also received the title of the record: the longest wooden bridge (path corridor system in the cave of Heaven is made of wood near the ship has a length of 1,000 m, width 2.1 m. ), The long dry stalactites system unique ...






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Monday, May 23, 2011

SAPA TOUR BY TRAIN (3 DAYS / 3 NIGHTS)

Vietnam has 54 ethnic groups and the area around Sapa is an exciting place to see the lives, culture and costumes of some of Vietnam’s ethnic minorities. In this part of the country the minorities still dress in their traditional colorful clothing – especially the women. Each group has its own distinct color and style of dress.

Day 1: Night train Hanoi - Lao Cai.
You will be picked up from your hotel at 20:00 for transfer to the train station. Take a night train to Lao Cai. The night train leaves at 21:10. O/N on train (soft sleeper, deluxe cabin).

Day 2: Lao Cai - Sapa - Cat Cat village - Sapa.
You arrive at Lao Cai train station early in the morning (around 05:30). Pick up and transfer to Sapa by bus(35km - about 1 hour drive). Check-in at Cat Cat Hotel. In the morning, you will have time on your own to enjoy the view of Fansipan (3.143m) on the other side of the Sapa valley and to explore the market where some of the different ethnic minority groups come into town to sell their products. In the afternoon, you will walk down to visit Cat Cat village and the beautiful valley, which is home of the Black H’Mong people. Black H’Mong is one of the biggest and poorest minority groups in the Sapa area. But they are proud of their culture and stick to their traditions and way of living. They have their own language and wear traditional indigio blue clothing.
Stay overnight at Cat Cat Hotel, Sapa.

Day 3: Sapa - Ta Phin village - Sapa - Lao Cai - Hanoi.
Today a jeep or motorbike will take you to Ta Phin village where you will experience the customs and life of Red Dao people. The Red Dao women have very colourful red embroideries and coins on their clothing. On the head they wear a deep red scarf. Some of the women have shaved off their eyebrows because a hairless face is considered to be very beautiful by the Red Dao.
Return to Sapa town. You have time to relax before the bus take you to Lao Cai train station. From here, you take a night train back to Hanoi. Sleep overnight on train.(B)
Arrive in Hanoi next morning, at around 05:00. The trip ends at Hanoi train station.

(B: Breakfast)

What to bring:
- Trekking shoes or boots
- Rainwear
- Warm fleece jacket in the winter
- Camera and film
- Passport

Including:
- Transportation from Hanoi to Sapa and return to Hanoi (deluxe trains in wooden cabin)
- Shared public bus Lao Cai - Sapa - Lao Cai;
- Accommodation as mentioned above;
- Admission fee at any sights;
- Food mentioned above;
- English - speaking guide.

Excluding: Drink, travel insurance, personal expenses and tips!

HALONG BAY CRUISE - CAT BA NATIONAL PARK (3 DAYS / 2 NIGHTS)

Halong Bay is a natural wonder of the world and one of Vietnam’s five UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Halong is made up of 1969 islands of various sizes. There are two kinds of islands: limestone and schist with over 3000 limestone islands emerge from emerald green water of Halong. 

 Day 1: Hanoi - Halong Bay. 
08:00 AM pick up at your hotel. Drive to Halong city with a 3 hour driving trip. Have a short break on the way. On arrival, drop off at Fantasea Adventures office (Halong city) for a welcome drink. At 12:00 PM board a beautiful wooden boat and start cruising on the bay. Lunch will be served on the boat while we cruise around the bay. Now you have time to enjoy the beauty of Halong Bay and take photos. Drop off for a guided visit of Sung Sot cave. Discover Titop area (or Luon cave area). Weather permitting you will be able to hike up Titop mountain as well as kayak and swim in the bay’s emerald waters. A Vietnamese dinner will be served on the boat. Stay overnight on boat. 

Day 2: Halong Bay Cruise - Cat Ba island.
Rise early for another chance to swim or rise later and have breakfast at your leisure. The boat will drop you off at Gia Luan pier on Cat Ba island. From here, a bus will take you to Cat Ba National park for some hiking and cycling. After the excursion, you will head towards Cat Ba town to check – in at the hotel on Cat Ba. Lunch will be served at the hotel. In the afternoon, you can relax at the hotel, shop along the sea-side strip, visit Cat Co beaches or go for a trip to Monkey Island with your tour guide. Free time to explore the town in the evening. Stay overnight at Holiday View Hotel (***)

Day 3: Cat Ba island - Halong Bay- Hanoi.
Rise early to enjoy the sunrise or sleep a little longer, but check out is at 8:45 AM. You will head back to Gia Luan pier by bus and board the boat to cruise back to Halong harbor. Lunch will be served on the boat. You will have more chances to admire Halong Bay before the boat returns to the habor. Pick up and drive to Hanoi. Have a short break on the way before you arrive in Hanoi city at around 16:00.
(Group size: maximum 16 pax)

PRICE: 100 USD/person
Including: Buses and drivers, English-speaking tour guide, Halong bay registration, boat cruise in Halong Bay, clean air-conditioned rooms with private washrooms on boat (first night), plate of fresh fruit and 2 water bottles per room on the boat, meals (3 lunches, 2 dinners and 2 breakfasts), cave entry fee, kayaks, bicycles, Cat Ba National Park entry fee and a room at Holiday View Hotel (second night).
Excluding: Insurance, drinks, tips and other private services
NOTE: 15 USD extra for a single room on the boat; and 15 USD extra for single room in hotel.

Hanoi Brief History

Human habitation of Northern Vietnam goes back about 500,000 years according to archaeological evidence. The site of present-day Hanoi has been populated for at least 10,000 years. These first inhabitants formed a feudally organized society that first relied on hunting, fishing and gathering, later developing animal husbandry and agriculture. These tribes developed in relative isolation until about 2000 years ago.

The Han Chinese set up a military garrison near present-day Hanoi in 214 BC, using it as a base of operations that would eventually control most of modern Vietnam. The next 1000 years of Chinese rule introduced important technological innovations to the Vietnamese, including ploughs and irrigation systems. But rebellion simmered in every town, and the millennium was punctuated by revolution and resistance. This tradition of rebellion shaped Vietnam’s national character.

Vietnamese rebels saw their chance when China’s Tang dynasty collapsed. In 938, revolutionary leader Ngo Quyen gave the Chinese a sound whipping and established an independent Vietnamese state, but after his death the region fell into anarchy. In 980, Vietnam became a semi-independent client state of China, stabilizing the situation all for the cost of a biannual tribute.

For the next 400 years, the site of present-day Hanoi served as the administrative seat for all of Vietnam. The Grand Royal enclosure, now the city’s Old Quarter, was constructed and the nation’s first university, the Temple of Literature, was founded during the first century of home rule. Attacks by the Khmers, Chinese and even Kublai Khan were repelled by national forces. All this was done with little Chinese interference.



The Chinese never forgot their plum province, however, and in 1400 they captured Hanoi again. National hero Le Loi’s guerrilla tactics and peasant support eventually reclaimed Vietnamese independence. A period of nationalism and renewed interest in Confucianism followed, a reaction to increased discontent with Europeans, their values and their missionaries.
The missionaries didn’t take the hint, however, and in 1858 several were killed. The French had an excuse to invade, and by 1867 south Vietnam was a French colony. Hanoi was captured in 1874. The impotent imperial court was allowed to remain, indulging itself in various coups and capers, but the French controlled the nation.

Modern History

As it had under Chinese rule, Vietnamese nationalism simmered quietly throughout the country, waiting for an opportunity. Young Nguyen Tat Thanh, better known by his alias Ho Chi Minh, thought that the end of WWI was a good opening, so he tried to present a plan for an independent Vietnam to US president Woodrow Wilson at the 1919 Versailles Peace Conference. Evidently, self-determination was for Europeans alone.
When France fell to Nazi Germany in 1940, the Vichy government allowed the Japanese to put troops in Vietnam. The United States knew enough not to count on any French resistance, instead opting to pump arms and funding into the communist-dominated Viet Minh forces. Their leader, Ho Chi Minh, graciously accepted and began harassing the Japanese mercilessly.

After the bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, Ho called for a general uprising known as the August Revolution, and on September 2, 1945, Ho and his National Liberation Committee (with US officials at his side) declared the Democratic Republic of Vietnam independent at a rally in Ba Dinh Square.
The French were not pleased, and fought the Viet Minh tooth and nail for eight years, despite a massive military aid package from the USA and formal recognition by both China and the USSR. On May 7, 1954, the French threw in the towel and surrendered North Vietnam to the Viet Minh. Fiercely anti-communist leader Ngo Dinh Diem was elected (more or less; a lot of dead people voted in that election) president of South Vietnam. Soon afterward, the USA closed its consulate in Hanoi.
In 1959, Southern cadres asked that the North Vietnamese join them in ‘armed struggle’ against the Diem regime. Hanoi responded by agreeing to help the National Liberation Front (NLF), also known as the Viet Cong, who were mainly communist South Vietnamese resisters with little training. Without French troops, however, the South Vietnamese army was incredibly weak, and the Western world looked on nervously as Diem began losing control of the situation.

The USA sent 2000 ‘military advisers’ to South Vietnam in 1961, the number swelling to 23,000 by 1964. By then, Hanoi was no longer helping the NLF out with guns and training; they were sending trained North Vietnamese troops across the border. Despite small victories, Hanoi’s war didn’t seem winnable until the 1968 Tet Offensive, when Hanoi gained the upper hand.
The USA continued to throw warm bodies – to the tune of 3.14 million men and women – at the increasingly bloody conflict until the 1973 cease-fire. The USA evacuated almost all troops out of Vietnam in return for Hanoi’s commitment to keep communism above the 17th Parallel. They also cut off most financial and other aid to South Vietnam. By 1975, the southern half of the country was running on fumes.
North Vietnam launched a massive attack on the South on January 1975; Saigon surrendered in April. No one, least of all the leadership in Hanoi, was prepared for reunification. At least two million Vietnamese had died in the conflict and scars ran deep; the environment and economy were a shambles. The violence wasn’t over, either: In 1979, answering for Vietnam’s 1978 invasion of Cambodia, China attacked Hanoi. The Chinese were repelled within 17 brutal days.

The 1980s witnessed a devastating famine that left Hanoi with rice shortages and strict rations, a continuing guerrilla war with the Khmer Rouge in Cambodia and the opening of European communism. Surprisingly, Vietnam finished the decade in much better shape than it started.
In February 1990, the government called for more ‘openness and criticism’, but was unprepared for the seething discontent behind the floodgates. Hanoi backtracked, but began allowing more economic openness while keeping government structure (and media access) in a lockbox. In 1992 Vietnam signed a peace treaty with Cambodia, and in 1994, the USA lifted economic sanctions on the country. The two former enemies now maintain diplomatic relations.

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