Vietnam
Known for its compelling history, lush landscape and fast-paced lifestyle, Vietnam is a country whose identity has been defined by incessant turmoil—few other countries invoke such strong recollections of America’s past conflicts. Having overcome colonial occupation and weathered many wars, Vietnam is awakening from its economic slumber and is on a path to becoming one of the world’s fastest growing economies. This resilience is a testament to the pride and indomitable spirit of the Vietnamese people and their culture.
In 111 B.C., China’s Han Dynasty conquered Vietnam’s Red River Delta, which was home to the ancestors of the contemporary Vietnamese. The next 1,000 years were marked by Chinese dynastic rule that fostered a complex political culture as well as a tradition of resistance to foreign occupation.
As China’s dynasties and political power became increasingly fragmented, Vietnam achieved independence under the rule of its own native dynasty in 939 A.D. The Ly Dynasty began to pursue a southward expansion; this goal was finally realized after 1471 when Vietnam conquered the Champa Kingdom, in what is now central Vietnam. The gradual movement southward continued all the way to the agriculturally bountiful Mekong Delta.
In 1858, the French began their colonization of Vietnam until the entire country was annexed in 1885; together with Cambodia and Laos, the region became known as French Indochina. Japan’s military occupation of Vietnam during World War II served to inflame already evolving nationalist sentiments and anger towards the French Vichy colonial regime, which only remained in place as a puppet government for the Japanese. The Viet Minh, led by Ho Chi Minh, emerged as an organized coalition of anti-colonial groups which took control of Hanoi and much of northern Vietnam during the politically uncertain weeks that followed Japan’s surrender to Allied forces.
In December 1961, South Vietnamese President Ngo Dinh Diem requested assistance from U.S. military advisors in their struggle against Viet Cong force—eventually leading to the infamous Vietnam War. The U.S. military presence peaked in 1969 with an established force of 534,000 personnel. In April 1975, North Vietnamese forces took Saigon and announced their intentions for reunification. The Vietnam War remains one of the most tumultuous periods of American history and is an enduring topic of debate for people throughout the world. Most of today’s Vietnamese people, however, are too young to remember the war and do not harbor resentment about it. Though the Vietnamese are stalwart in their independence and national pride, they are very receptive to visitors who appreciate all that their country has to offer.
Cambodia
The Kingdom of Cambodia is a country with a rich historical tapestry that spans millennia. The region was once home to the Khmer Empire—a kingdom that flourished from the 9th to the 13th centuries and whose capital city of Angkor is thought to have been the largest pre-industrial urban center in the world. The remnants of the Khmer Empire continue to provide Cambodia with an invaluable tourist destination—tourism being its fastest-growing industry.
In 1863, Cambodia became a protectorate of France under the Thai-installed King Norodom, who sought French protection amidst rising tensions with Thailand. The French colonial presence can still be seen, particularly in Siem Reap—an important province that was initially ceded by France to the Thai in the 1867 treaty that officially made Cambodia a vassal state. A 1906 border treaty between France and Thailand returned the Siem Reap province to Cambodian control. Eventually, Cambodia was able to gain independence from France and it became a constitutional monarchy in 1953.
Although a time of peace and prosperity followed their independence, Cambodia was soon swept into the chaos of the Vietnam War that gripped Indochina in the late 1960s and into the 1970s. The Khmer Rouge, led by the merciless Pol Pot, usurped the Cambodian throne in 1975; the era that followed was one of the darkest in human history, resulting in the death of an estimated 2 million Cambodians. Various sites where large numbers of people were killed and buried by the Khmer Rouge are collectively known as “The Killing Fields.”
Cambodia remained in a deconstructed state plagued with poverty until the 1990s when the constitutional monarchy was restored and a peace settlement was reached. Stability was in sight and reconstruction efforts could finally progress, leading Cambodia to a new age of potential economic growth. The current king, Norodom Sihamoni, was a delegate to UNESCO prior to his appointment as monarch by the nine-member throne council.
Cambodia’s economy continues to suffer from the effects of war and internal strife. However, recent years have seen significant economic expansion, driven by the garment and tourism industries. Through all the turmoil, Cambodia has retained a rich culture that encompasses all aspects of society. The Khmer people are resilient and have made a valiant effort to retain its distinct styles of dance, architecture and culture, all of which can still be clearly seen in contemporary Cambodian society. The people are typically very friendly and welcoming—Cambodia is known for its laid-back atmosphere and relaxed way of life.