The
Vietnam War was proved to be an extremely sobering experience which caused so
much suffering for the Vietnamese people. The people of the country have a
well-deserved reputation for being hard workers, but they enjoy their leisure
as much as anyone else. Today the largely agrarian society of the country is
shifting towards a more multi-sector economy. The country has a population of
91.5 million (estimates 2011) with a wealth of dialects spoken in different
regions.
President
Ho Chi Minh’s name comes to mind when we remember the recent history of Vietnam.
He is the best-loved and famous political figure in the country. Ho Chi Minh
the founder of the Vietnamese Communist Party and leader of the revolution
carried the torch of Vietnam’s independence movement for over half a century. As a revolutionist he made great contribution
to the victorious Viet Minh that unified the country. Mausoleum Ho Chi Minh a
monumental marble edifice at Ba Dinh Square in Hanoi was built to show the deep
gratitude of the countrymen to their great leader. His remains are displayed
inside the chamber of the mausoleum.
Hanoi
the capital city, known as “city of lakes” is one destination for which any
number of praising words seems inadequate. It is a thriving metropolis with
cloud-tickling skyscrapers, numerous specialty shops, │boutiques and colorful
markets that unhesitatingly leap into the future.
A
visit to the country would remain incomplete if one doesn’t drive a 3½-hour
journey on road from Hanoi to Halong Bay port. The five hour cruise in a double
deck wooden boat on the bluish green waters, one can enjoy the beauty of the bay. The UNESCO world Heritage site
Halong (or "Descending Dragon) Bay is situated amidst a splendid panorama.
The bay covers an area of 1500-square-kilometres dotted with a cluster of 1960
lime stone islands.
Hue
in the center of the country is studded with many archeological sites. There is
no end to the breath-taking sites visitors can see in Hue. Among those sites,
feudal capital city with fortresses, temples, mausoleums, pagodas, bridges
attract thousands daily. The area also offers the tourist to enjoy the
riverside beauty. The Perfume River is famed for breathtaking river cruise in a
traditional wooden boat.
Traveling
from North to South of Vietnam can be a fantastic experience for a tourist.
Ho
Chi Minh City is the largest city in Vietnam and is situated nearly 1,700
kilometers south of Hanoi. After the end of war in 1975 the Saigon city was
renamed Ho Chi Minh City in honor of this great Leader. It is a city with a
rapid development, where modern buildings are rising besides the 19th century buildings. An array of giant cranes show the development
fever in the city.
Among
its highest-esteemed attractions are the Notre Dame Cathedral, Municipal
Theater, the Re-unification palace, the Mekong River cruise, the Cu Chi tunnels
and the Vietnam War Memorial Museum. The Vietnam War memorial museum is one of
the most recognizable places to visit in the city. It is a living testimony to
the history of the Vietnam’s war of
independence and re-unification of North and South Vietnam. It is a place preserving the memories and
relics of the Vietnam war.
Vietnam
culture possesses several distinctive characteristics that give its own unique
style. Today, the mixture of influences is apparent in art, music, dance and
literature. Moreover, the fast growing tourism sector is another major pillar
in the overall economic field of the country Vietnam is emerging as a strong
tourist destination with number of visitors to the country climbing to 6.0
million in 2011.
Traveling
to the country can be done in different ways .However the experience that a
visitor gains is unforgettable. The country is home to a wide range of domestic
and international airports. Hanoi’s Noi Bai Airport, Da Nang and Tan Son Nhat
Airport of Ho Chi Minh City are the major stop over points for many
international airlines. Vietnam has a great deal to offer and is worth
visiting.
Srimal
Fernando
(A
journalist and a correspondent based in Colombo, Sri Lanka)
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