Vietnam is a country once elaborated with destruction and war; now blossomed into an almost dreamlike, equatorial landscape of forgiveness, warmth and natural and cultural rebirth. Despite the ongoing economic liberalization and the pressures of rapid development, this imperial country has managed to preserve its rich civilization and highly cultured society.
It can be said that during the history of Vietnam there were three cultures overlying each other; these are local culture of the country, the culture that mixed with those of China and other countries in the region, and the culture that interacted with Western culture. Vietnam is a tropical country with many rivers and the confluence of great cultures.
The history of Vietnam has evolved through diverse fortunes, sometimes progressing, sometimes not, like that of other nations. Having endured the hardship that the Vietnam War brought in the 1960s and 1970s, most Vietnamese people are keen to get on with life, living with a sense of optimism and timidity. Vietnam today stands at a crossroads and their history has been extremely influenced by their contact with other, often more powerful, groups.
The second Indochina War created wide-scale desolation and anxiety for the people of Vietnam, leading to mass migration to other parts of the world as safety seekers tried to escape the conflict that ravaged their homeland. More recently, Vietnam has benefited from the free market economy and its economy continues to expand, with agriculture and industry providing the backbone, and the contribution in the tourism sector.
The story of the origin of Vietnam's name captures several prominent themes that have run throughout the nation's history. The Vietnamese have a sense of the distinctiveness of their society and culture. Its ancient culture can be traced back centuries and over the years and it has been influenced in different ways by the Chinese, Khmer, French and American cultures. For most Vietnamese people, connection to family and community is predominant whether they are from rural villages or living in the fast-paced cities. Most festivals and holidays are spent with the extended family participating in rituals, feasting on special foods, giving symbolic gifts and paying respects to ancestors and elders.
The country’s religion has exerted a deep influence on Vietnamese culture and the Vietnamese concept of life. Most Vietnamese people practice a form of religion that is an interesting mix of Buddhism, Confucianism and Taoism.
Most visitors to Vietnam are overwhelmed by the glorious beauty of the country's natural beauty: the Red River Delta in the north, the Mekong Delta in the south and almost the entire coastal strip are a patchwork of brilliant green rice paddies leaned by women in conical hats. There are some divine beaches along the coast, while inland there are soaring mountains, some of which are screened by dense, cloud forests. Vietnam tour also offers an opportunity to see a country of traditional charm and extraordinary beauty rapidly opening up to the outside world.
All the tour guides of Indochinavalue.com are excellent with a wide knowledge of the area of visiting, a great sense of humor and all spoke good English. The Vietnam tour packages are very reasonable and certainly a lot better value for money than others. Another attraction is that you can book all the tours online before you travel. It also allows you to take in some of the exotic local flavor of other countries on your way. It enriches your travel experience and will leave you refreshed and ready to take on the adventurous continent of Southeast Asia.