Location: South East Asia

Full Country Name: Socialist Republic of Vietnam,

Total Area: 329,566 sq. km (128, 527 square miles).

Population: More than 80 million (Growth Rate 1.2%).

Capital City: Hanoi (population 4 million).

People: 85% ethnic Vietnamese, 3% ethnic Chinese, also Khmer, Cham (a remnant of the once great Indianised Champa Kingdom) and members of some 55 ethno-linguistic groups.

Languages: Vietnamese, French, Chinese, English and a variety of Mon-Khmer and Malayo-Polynesian local dialects.

Religions: Buddhism is the principal religion but there are also sizeable Taoist, Confucian, Hoa Hao, Cao Dai, Muslim and Christian minorities.

President: Mr. Nguyen Minh Triet.

Prime Minister: Mr. Nguyen Tan Dung

A Brief History of Kings, Dynasties and the Name of Vietnam;

At the beginning of the Bronze Age, the Viet tribe groups had settled in the North and North-Centre Vietnam. There were about 15 groups of Lac Viet tribesmen living mainly in the northern highlands and delta, and a dozen Au Viet groups living in Viet Bac, the northern region of old Vietnam. At that time, the two ethnic tribes of the Lac Viet and Au Viet lived together in many areas with other inhabitants.

Due to the increasing needs to control floods, fight against invaders, and exchange culture and economy, these tribes living near each other tended to gather and integrate into a larger mixed groups. Among these Lac Viet tribes was the Van Lang, also the most powerful tribe. The leader of this tribe joined all the Lac Viet tribes together to found Van Lang Nation, addressing himself as Hung King.

The next generations followed in their father’s footsteps and kept this appellation. Based on historical documents, researchers correlatively delineated the location of Van Lang Nation to the present day regions of North and North-Central Vietnam, as well as, the South of present-day Kwangsi (China). The Van Lang Nation lasted approximately from the beginning of the first millennium B.C. to the 3rd century B.C.

In 221 BC, Tan Thuy Hoang, King of Tan (China), invaded the land of the Viet tribes. Thuc Phan, the leader of the alliance of Au-Viet tribes was respected as the chief of the resistance war against the Tan enemy that later, in 208 BC, was forced to withdraw. With his imposing power, Thuc Phan nominated himself as King An Duong Vuong and founded Au Lac Nation with groups of Lac Viet and Au Viet tribes.

In 179 BC, Trieu Da, King of Nam Viet (China), invaded Au Lac country. The resistance of An Duong Vuong failed soon after this invasion. As a result, the northern feudalist took turns dominating the country over the next seven centuries, establishing their harsh regime in the country and dividing the country into administrative regions and districts with unfamiliar names. However, the country’s name of Au Lac would not be erased from the people’s minds or their everyday life.

In the spring of 542, Ly Bi rose up in arms and swept away the Chinese administration, liberating the territory. He declared himself King of Van Xuan Kingdom in February 544, acknowledging the national superiority complex of the independent spirits to live in eternal peace. However, the existence of Ly Bi’s administration was very brief. He was defeated by the Chinese imperial army, and the country returned to feudal Chinese domination again in 602. The name Van Xuan was restored only after the victory over the Han army at the Bach Dang River led by General Ngo Quyen in 938. This victory marked the end of the Chinese domination period in Vietnam.

In 968, Dinh Bo Linh defeated the twelve lords and unified the country. He declared himself King and named the country Dai Co Viet. This name remained throughout the Dinh dynasty (868-979), Pre-Le dynasty (980-1009) and the beginning of Ly dynasty (1010-1053).

In 1054, a flaming bright star appeared in the sky for many days, which was considered a good omen. As a result, the Ly King changed the name of the country to Dai Viet. This name remained until the end of Tran dynasty.

In March 1400, Ho Quy Ly usurped the throne of King Tran Thieu De, founded the Ho dynasty and changed the country’s name to Dai Ngu, meaning peace in the ancient language. This name only lasted for very short time, until April 1407, when the Minh enemy invaded Dai Ngu and defeated the Ho dynasty.

After 10 years of resistance against the Ming (Chinese) occupation (1418-1427), Le Loi had achieved a victorious triumph. In 1428, Le Loi declared himself King of Le dynasty and changed the name of the country back to Dai Viet. At this time, the territory of Vietnam had expanded to the region of present-day Hue. The name Dai Viet remained under the Le dynasty (1428-1787) and the Tay Son dynasty (1788-1810).

In 1802, Nguyen Anh claimed his coronation to become the first Nguyen King, starting the Nguyen dynasty and changing the country’s name to Vietnam. This name was officially recognized in many diplomatic missions in 1804. However, the words "Vietnam" had already appeared very early in history.

First, in the 14th century, in a book of code entitled "Vietnam The Chi", edited by Doctor Ho Tong Thoc. Then in the book by scholar Nguyen Trai entitled "Du Dia Chi" at the beginning of 15th century, the words "Vietnam" were repeated several times. Doctor Trinh Nguyen Binh Khiem (1491-1585) had written on the first page of his work "Trinh Tien Sinh Quoc Ngu" the following: "... Vietnam has constructed its foundation..." The words "Vietnam" were also found in some carved stelae of the 16th - 17th century in Bao Lam Pagoda, Haiphong (1558), in Cam Lo Pagoda, Ha Tay (1590), in Phuc Thanh Pagoda, Bac Ninh (1664), etc. In particular, in the first sentence on the stele Thuy Mon Dinh (1670) at the landmark on the border at Lang Son, it was written: "This is the gateway of Vietnam that guards the northern frontiers..."

In terms of meaning, there are many theories that prove the words "Vietnam" are created by combining two racial and geographic elements, which is understood as "Viet people from the south". During the reign of King Minh Mang (1820-1840), the name of the country was changed to Dai Nam, but Vietnam was still widely used in many literary works, civil business affairs, and social relations.

Following the triumph of the August Revolution on August 19, 1945, which had entirely swept away Vietnamese feudal and French colonial oppression and began a new era in the country, President Ho Chi Minh proclaimed the nation’s independence and the national name Democratic Republic of Vietnam was born on September 2, 1945. Although Vietnam suffered from war and separation in the following 30 years, the sacred words "Vietnam" were very popularily used from the north to the south, and were deeply imprinted in the hearts of the Vietnamese people.

Following the liberation of Southern Vietnam on April 30, 1975, the entire country of Vietnam was completely unified. In the first meeting of the national assembly of the unified Vietnam on July 2, 1976, the assembly decided to name the country The Socialist Republic of Vietnam. The constitution of 1980, and 1992, continued its affirmation of the country’s official name, legally and actually.

An oversea writer said that "water puppetry is the soul of Vietnamese fields." How right he is! At a water puppet show, the audience lives in an atmosphere of a village festival; the audience watches boat races, buffalo fights, fox hunts and other rustic scenes amidst the beating of drums and gongs. The characters plough, plant rice seedlings, fish in a pond with a rod and line, scoop water with a bamboo basket hung from a tripod, etc. The show is interspersed with such items as a 'Dance by the Four Mythical Animals: Dragon, Unicorn, Tortoise, and Phoenix "and the 'Dance by the Eight Fairies', in which supernatural beings enjoy festivities alongside people of this world.
Vietnamese water puppeteers have been touring a number of countries from Euroupe to Asia such as France, Italy, the Netherlands, Australia, Japan, India, etc, with great successes. The director of the World Cultural House said that Vietnamese water puppetry is never far from its roots in rural Vietnam. Vietnamese water puppeteers are masters of an unequalled means of expression. Their art has enriched the world's cultural heritage. A French magazine wrote that the puppets "are manipulated with unimaginable skill, as if by magic."
In fact, Vietnamese water puppetry has a very long history. An inscription on a stone stele in Doi pagoda, Duy Tien district, Nam Ha province (2 hours drive from Hanoi), relates a water puppet show staged in the year 1121 to mark a birthday of King Ly Nhan Tong in 4036 words.
In the water puppet shows there is a very effective combination of visual effects provided by fire, water, and the movements of the marionettes. The whole control system of the show is under the surface of the water, concealed from the audience . When fairy figures appear to sing and dance, it is calm and serene; then, the water is agitated by stormy waves in scenes of battle, with the participation of fire-spitting dragons.
There are many contributing factors to the art of water puppetry, including such handicrafts as woodern sculpture and lacquer work. The factors all work well together to bring out charming glimpses of the Vietnamese psyche, as well as typical landscapes of Vietnam.

The Xam song is one kind of song that was created by the Vietnamese from a very long time ago, and which is considered a very special performance. People used to walk in a group of two to three or four to five and sing, mainly in residential areas such as a parking lot, a ferry-landing, or a market gate.
The beauty of the Xam song is expressed in the rhythms and tones of the music. Its attractive and lively drum rhythms and numerous rules of song application make it an interesting spectacle. The Xam song tells of the fate or unhappiness of the poor. Besides theses common themes, there are funny songs with satirical implications about wrong doings, the condemnation of outdated customs, the crimes of rulers, and the deeds of heroes. These stories attracts lots of people.
The instruments traditionally used for the Xam song are a two-stringed violin, bamboo castanets, and two Xam drums. Today, Xam singers no longer exist, but their ancient art is still kept alive and respected.

Classical Opera of Tuong, also called hat boi in the south, is a stage performance that came about during the Ly-Tran dynasties and that became very popular nationwide during the following centuries.

During the dynasty of Nguyen in the 19th century, Tuong occupied a good position in the cultural lives of the royals. In tuong, space and time are captured by songs, dancing, and simple music. In the past, Tuong did not require any elaborate stage accessories. Now, however backdrops and make-up are more elaborate and sophisticated.

Cai luong or Renovated Opera is a kind of folk music that developed in the early 20th century. It was first played by amateurs in the south. Thanks to their soft voices, southerners sing cai luong very romantically.
The performance includes dances, music and songs; the music originally drew its influences from southern folk music. Since then, the music of cai luong has been enriched with hundreds of new tunes. A cai luong orchestra consists mainly of guitars with concave frets and danakim.
Over time, cai luong has experienced a number of changes to become a very highly appreciated type of stage performance.

Encountering other cultures, you often find that things that appear different
are often the same. After all, people have more in common than not. On other
occasions, though, you may find that things that look the same are actually
different.

This is what happened with certain bits of symbology I saw while travelling
around Vietnam. There were certain symbols that kept popping up wherever we
travelled – shockingly familiar, but somehow out of place. They definitely
caught my attention, and this was one of those instances where the meaning of
things was completely different.

The symbol is actually a neat little logo. It's an auspicious sign, and means
good fortune, though extra meanings have grown up with its use, like the course
of the sun, or the footsteps of the Buddha.

It
originated in India, and came to Vietnam with Hinduism. It graduated to
Buddhism, and lately, it's used by the Cao Đài as well. You see it on temples,
but mostly at funerals and on graves. Though it was recently misappropriated, no
one here seems to have taken any notice at all.

	Behind the Cao Đài Great Temple
	A temple on the road
	At a Buddhist monastery in Đà Lạt Glass bricks to keep things light
	At a monastery in Saigon An invitation to enter.
	Seen from the road
	At the monastery in Saigon
	At the florist shop For funerals. Perhaps there's a good use for those armbands after all.

One of the things that struck me as a Westerner, is what people do when
they're hanging around. Where I come from, people stand around, or lean, or sit.
Sometimes they whistle to amuse themselves.

In Vietnam, they perch. I don't know if anyone there has a name for it, but
"perching" is as good a term as any. You kneel down so that your
bottom touches your heels, and to my eye, this looks kind of birdlike. People
must find this very comfortable and natural, since everyone seems to do it for
hours on end.

I've tried to do it, but I only get half of the way down, and there are some
terrible crunching noises. I thought that perhaps Asian people have a different
center of gravity, but my Russian teacher told me that people in the Caucasus
also perch. So perhaps if I start practising now, maybe I'll be able to do it by
the time I'm 75.

I had seen this behavior in China, but didn't consider it noteworthy until I
saw everyone doing it in Vietnam. I had a few hours to walk around during my
last day in Saigon, so I used my time – wisely, you'll agree – for a photo
essay on perching.

	Perching position In the park.
	Among friends Just in case you thought this was a solitary activity. The sign in back, by the way, says not to park your vehicles. But it doesn't say not to park.
	Inspecting groceries
	At the market
	Fixing a cyclo
	Hanging around
	Caught you!
	Breakfast on the street
	And, my favorite... The penguin position. Very comfortable.

The hớt tóc, or barber shop, is an institution in Vietnam. Wherever
you go in Vietnam, guys seem to love getting their hair cut. It's one of those
"guy" things to do – it's recreational, it's good company, and
they seem to eat up all the attention that they get. More often than not, they fall
asleep in the chair.

The hớt tóc is a bit more than a barber shop – it's a full-service
institution. At no extra charge, the barber takes a close look to make sure that
the rest of your head is as it should be. He has the eyes
of a surgeon and the tools to match. And in a pinch, he can administer some
traditional medicine, if no one else on the street can do it for you.

In the city, the barber shop is outdoors, against a building wall. The mirror
hangs by a nail, and everything is done in the open. In the towns, the shop is a
small shack. Guys hang around there, usually shirtless, spending the entire
afternoon exchanging news and views. It's the hot tóc of the town.

	In Hanoi's old quarter I thought to enhance the picture by having the light come out the other ear.
	In the country Interesting, the sign offers "Ép" or a permanent. "Ép" means "to press", and is also used to describe printing. The Chinese character for "press" looks like "Ép", though of course, it's not a spelling. Maybe someone saw it and assumed it was a word. Or, alternately, it's an incredible coincidence. They've been known to happen.
	A wall of barbers in Chợ Lớn, Saigon's Chinatown
	Definitely more than a haircut It's a happening.
	Steady concentration
	Super service
	A natural rinse?
	Sleeping beauty

The Cao Đài Great Temple is located in Long Hua in Tay Ninh province, about
26 kilometers from the Cambodian border. Cao Đài temples are gleefully colorful,
and the ceremonies have costumes and music to match.

At the time
of these photos, the Great temple was under renovation.

	Main Gate
	Bleechers for outdoor audiences The women sit in one set, and the men sit opposite. The four colors symbolize branches of Cao Đài: Buddhist is yellow, Taoist is blue, Confucian is red. Everyone else is represented by white, which combines all colors.
	Statue The rider looks exhausted, even though the horse is doing all the work.
	Unicorns
	Unicorn, close-up Reminded me of Krusty the Clown
	The Main Temple In the middle is the all-seeing eye, and the globe dome with stars represents revelation.
	Inside the temple. There are nine steps representing the cycle of reincarnation and achievement.
	Temple interior The gallery above is for visitors
	More of the interior Under major renovation, the place smells from fresh paint.
	The service
	During the service Note that even the fans in the gallery are multi-colored
	Lay Clergy
	More of the service
	And more
	Musicians and choir upstairs who played beautifully. Unfortunately, there don't seem to be any recordings of their music.

Like Hanoi, Saigon is not for those seeking a bucolic holiday.

	Saigon traffic Though people obey the traffic lights, it's still not for the chicken-hearted. The contraption in the middle is a cyclo. Here it's hauling freight, but that's where the person(s) sit. Theres only one cycle in the picture with a single person.
	A family outing
	Beauty secret If the woman on the left is beautiful, it's a secret. Many women cover up to avoid the sun, wearing hats, scarves and shoulder-height gloves.
	The only man in all of Vietnam who wears a helmet. Doesn't he look dashing. Most other Vietnamese are more sanguine about their safety. Many car owners snip out the seat belts to make the ride more comfortable.
	Café Next to our hotel. People bring their birds in the morning. When it's time to go, they cover them and get on the motorcycle.
	Pawnbroker shop The name means "happiness"
	The famous Phở Hòa
	The empty Phở Bình
	Buddhist temple
	Inside the temple One of those "mysterious East" Photos
	Also inside the temple
	Water puppets
	Street in Chợ Lớn This is Saigon's Chinatown
	Chinese hearses
	Instrument builder's workshop Against the wall are zithers
	Duyên (3rd from left), brother and family After some utterly sumptuous dining at Qúy Thành
	Simon Says in the park Wholesome, group entertainment. The last day in Saigon we took a walk in the park. They invited me to join, but luckily, I had a plane to catch.
	A miniature Cham tower Also in the park. Like the water puppets in the museum, there for people who wouldn't see the rest of Vietnam
	Relaxation Coffee, cigarettes and conversation on little chairs. What could be better? Birds.
	Social occasion Bird owners often introduce their birds to see what will happen.