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Vietnam Seasons
Source: Manila Bulletin
Author: Salavdor T. Duque, M.D.
Date: 2001-12-07
 
Vietnam, bounded west by Cambodia and Laos, north by China, East

by South China sea and Pacific ocean was ruled by colonial powers

for centuries. Like the Philippines, Vietnam was invaded and ruled by many foreign powers. In 200’s A.D., King of China invaded and ruled her. In 1400’s, Ho Quy Ly usurped throne, founded Ho dynasty and changed her name to “Dai Ngu”, ending Chinese rule. Country’s names were Dai Viet, Dai Nam, and Vietnam, used in literature, gov’t and social relations.





In 1885, France colonized Vietnam, and for years, went through alternate nationalist rebellions and eras of peace. Vietnam was considered “jewel of the French empire” although France had difficulty governing her from a distance. In 1940, Japan gained foothold, after French gov’t signed agreement giving Japan control of rice, rubber and mineral exports. Japan occupied Saigon in 1941, as military base for her southeast Asian expansion. In 1943, while Japan supported Vietnamese independence, the French strengthened their hold after Japan surrendered. Chinese nationalist Kuomintang, united with Communists in fight against Japanese rule. As both struggled for supremacy, Vietnamese Independence League, or Vietminh was organized, and became Nationalist Vietnam Liberation movement. In 1942, Nguyen Ai Quoc, with communist support, lived and educated in France, emerged as the leader, Ho Chi Minh to lead Vietnamese forces. In mid-fifties after battle of Dien Bien Phu, when French army was defeated, French rule of Vietnam ended as she left Vietnam. Many Vietnamese however, lived and were educated in France.

After French defeat, American presence started, as a Cold War policy to prevent communist takeover of the country. In early 60’s, US Presidents Kennedy and Johnson, increased US military presence against Communism as the Vietnam war started. After a decade of bloody guerrilla fighting, limited air bombings, deployment of increased US ground troops, with huge losses on both sides, US suddenly left, ending the war. While many thought that US lost, there was no treaty of surrender, and US refrained from using her full military arsenal and power she used against Japan. In effect, Vietnam war ended as a stalemate with no clear winner as many Americans opposed war. In earlier years, Vietnam adhered to Confucian beliefs of conservatism, parochialism, with weakness in organization, slowing industrialization, modernization and integration into global community. A demure and humble people, Vietnamese are simply attired, as “ao-dai” for women, a 4-piece long dress, and Chinese trousers for men. Geomancy is followed, a building faces southeast, over a river, thick roof that curves sharply at 4 corners, decorated with statues of fish, dragons and phoenixes. Rural folks live in stilt houses with curved roofs made of bamboo, wood and clay walls to avoid hot or cold weather, courtyard and pond. Food consist mainly of rice, vegetables, and fish. Lifestyle is governed by belief that “virtue is more important than appearance”. 54 ethnic groups are spread in 64 provinces and cities. Viet or Kinh people live along Red and Mekong rivers, coastal deltas, and major cities. Traditional village has a pagoda, a temple, a communal house, a banyan tree, and bamboo fences. Temples are for national heroes, Taoist saints, or a native Blessed Mother, while pagodas are for Buddha. Villages, dedicated to a patron saint or founder, have a meeting hall or administrative center with a communal public house. Northern people live in feudal communes, in farmsteads, and have their own customs, habits, and administrative set-up, divided into classes of scholars, farmers, crafts, people, merchants, or common folks. Hue, once capital city during earlier dynasties, has a large center of architectural relics and picturesque elegance, recognized as world heritage site by UNESCO. Language is Vietnamese, while old-timers, gov’t, teachers and diplomats still speak French, as young people try to learn English for global linkages. Literature, historic and patriotic, is multi-lingual and expresses humane sentiments.

Cultures overlap, a mix of Chinese and other Asian countries, with strong but restrained western and US influence. Foreign cultures, Buddhism, Confucianism, Taoism and religions, enrich local culture. Vietnamese beliefs were typified by yin and yang doctrine and basic elements for harmonious life. Confucianism urges farming and education, restrained trade, commerce and urban concepts. Hanoi, the capital, and Ho Chi Minh, formerly Saigon, are bustling, progressive cities with lush greenery integrated in city planning. In Hanoi, a huge monument of Ho Chi Minh, her hero, stands as tourist attraction, almost like Lincoln memorial in Washington, D.C. or Lenin Mausoleum in Moscow. New modern buildings are rising as 5-star hotels like Daewoo, Hilton, local plush hotels, McDonald’s and Jollibee, concreted roads and highways connect the South to the North all the way to borders of China, to Laos, Cambodia and Thailand. Transportation is through waterways in ships of all kinds. Trains, buses and 3 airports in Hanoi and Saigon ferry foreign and local tourists. Bicycles are common sights. Hanoi or St. Joseph’s Cathedral, one of many old Christian churches, is a replica of Notre Dame in Paris. Tet Festival and spring festival are held at vast Thong Nhat or Lenin park with old trees and flowers. Hanoi Opera House, French designed old theater, largest in Vietnam, has gothic and mosaic features on door domes and glassed rooms, is tourist attraction as venue for ballets, plays, symphonies, opera, and concerts. Halong bay, dotted with many islets arising like buildings from the sea, is a romantic cove. Do Son is beautiful beach resort, shaded by sandalwood trees, mountains and pine hills. In Ba Vi ancestral mountain according to legends, a deity reside among 3 temples to honor their gods. Ngu Dong Son, with 5 grottoes in Cam mountain, can house a thousand people. Stalagmites and stalactites abound in caves. Royal Citadel, built along Perfume river, with high walls and a moat, has 10 gates to the center, the Imperial Enclosure. Forbidden Purple city includes palaces, temples, Khon Thai, Royal library and theater. Cau Hai is a 10-thousand hectare lagoon that grow fish and shrimps, attract visitors. Festivities include lunar new year, mid-autumn festival, Tet, and Ong Tao, in Spring when there is little farming.

One of more pleasant twist and ironies of history learned, is that, after America walked away from the Vietnam war and left the country in mid-seventies, her noble war aims to institute freedom and democracy, to protect Vietnam from clutches of Communism, was achieved, albeit, slowly after 25 years. Vietnam today is evolving into a strong, vibrant republic, just like many former communist states as Russia, China and Eastern European countries. Basic freedoms of assembly, religion, speech, press, travel, and freedom of trade and commerce, subject to their laws are enjoyed as individual rights with socialist and capitalist moorings. Legal processes are carried out in courts of justice. Now elections are held every 4 years for members of Parliament and local gov’t known as “Committees”, provincial and city heads are called “chairman” instead of governor, or mayor. President Tran Duc Luong was on a recent successful State Visit to our country. And tourists and travelers are welcomed. From today’s point of view, Vietnam is a vibrant, democratic country by her people’s own accord and freedom, not by force of arms or wars, but by force of lasting peace and humanity.

The world awaits Vietnam’s full blossoming in the fullness of God’s Time and Grace.

 

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