Vietnam
is all these things and more, a country with a past as rich as the
Soil in the blazing green deltas. This past reads like a romantic
legend full of heroic struggles and astounding victories, whereby
this small country retained its culture, absorbing and adapting
the strengths of its foes but never losing its traditions or its
sense of history. In Vietnam, traditions carry real
meaning. Ancient heroes are still venerated at colorful temple
festivals, people honor their ancestors, and village elders teach
values of hard work, hospitality, and filial loyalty. With 54
ethnic groups, most of whom live in remote areas and follow
age-old customs, Vietnam offers unparalleled opportunities
for cultural exploration in Asia.
It is beautiful country, a long, hourglass of land, stretching
over 900 miles up the eastern coast of the Indochinese
Peninsula. Vietnamese people describe their country as
a bamboo shoulder pole slung with two baskets of rice - the
fertile southern Mekong Delta and the northern Red River
Delta. From these lowland paddy Fields stretch vast rubber
plantations, rolling hills covered with thick jungle, and jagged
mountains rising more than 10,000 feet in height. Vietnam
is an incredibly exotic Asian jewel, with over 1900 miles
of coastline features the endless stretches of empty, serene white
sand beaches of Phanthiet, Nhatrang, Phuquoc
and others. And Vietnam can accommodate the seasoned world
traveler in everything from five star Vietnamese resorts
and Asian expats can find even the most modest of
Vietnam housing for long term stays. |