Go as FAR as you can SEE, and when you get THERE you see FURTHER ...

Tuesday, June 5, 2007

The Vietnamese Flag: red with a large yellow five-pointed star in the center

Hey everyone,

Recently, I went on a humanities fieldtrip with 29 other Sec 3 students and 3 colleagues (Ms Kam, Mrs Agnes Tan and Mdm Kaur) to Ho Chi Minh City (aka Saigon before 1975) in Vietnam from 26 to 29 May 2007.

Group Photo @ Notre Dome Church at Ho Chi Minh City

It was my maiden trip to Vietnam and I had always wanted to visit the country. During the 4-day trip, I immersed myself with plentiful of authentic Vietnamese culture and experiences on the local streets and from the environment (Saigon river, mangrove forest and so on). I also noted the infusion of Chinese-French traditions and architectural designs into the unique local culture which took many years to develop. The churches, temples, traditional practices, shophouses and buildings. It’s amazing to witness how a local culture changes with external influences over time.

Notre Dome Church

General Post Office

A Catholic Church in the City

A Buddhist Temple

Australasia Secondary Academy

The City Hall with Founder Ho Chi Minh

The Famous Ben Thanh Central Market

Furthermore, the country had lots of genuine war stories of the past which begins from the conquest by France in 1858. Vietnam later became part of French Indochina in 1887. After World War II, Vietnam declared independence but France continued to rule until its 1954 defeat by Communist forces under Ho Chi MINH. Under the Geneva Accords of 1954, Vietnam was divided into the Communist North and anti-Communist South.

We are at the jungle of Cu Chi (Viet=Thong Bao) Village.

Watching and listening attentively to the Video on Vietnam War

I'm giving OPS order at the Command Post of the VietCong in the Guerilla Base.

Benjamin pledging allegiance to the VietCong at the Guerilla Base in a mangrove swamp.

Vietcong in actions.

In 1959, the Vietnam War (also known as the Second Indochina War, the American War in Vietnam and the Vietnam Conflict) occurred. The Vietnam War concluded on 30 April 1975, with the Fall of Saigon. The war claimed 58,000 U.S. combat dead and the lives of between 2 and 5.1 million Vietnamese, a large number of whom were civilians. Although exact numbers are difficult to verify, the disparity in deaths illustrated the overwhelming superiority of U.S. firepower.

Vietcong getting ready to ambush American boats.

US economic and military aid to South Vietnam grew through the 1960s in an attempt to bolster the government, but US armed forces were withdrawn following a cease-fire agreement in 1973. Two years later, North Vietnamese forces overran the South reuniting the country under Communist rule. Despite the return of peace, for over a decade the country experienced little economic growth because of conservative leadership policies.

However, since the enactment of Vietnam's "doi moi" (renovation) policy in 1986, Vietnamese authorities have committed to increased economic liberalization and enacted structural reforms needed to modernize the economy and to produce more competitive, export-driven industries.

The tormentful events of the past wars and the necessary attempts for economic reforms to develop the country had indeed given me a deep and lingering impression of Vietnam and had ignited my curiosity to want to find out more about the country. I promised I will definitely go back to visit the place again one fine day.
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Just imagine ourselves like Vietnam, a country which can withstand the ups and downs of life and always remain tough and sturdy, resistance and resilience to problems and challenges, we will always live a better life each day and excel in whatever we do. Have faith in ourselves always and we will live better each day!

Wow....what a long posting....hope u guys enjoy the readings! Good Luck!

by daniel

Some light-hearted facts about Vietnam:

Geography of Vietnam:

Southeastern Asia - Bordering the Gulf of Thailand, Gulf of Tonkin, and South China Sea, alongside with three countries China, Laos, and Cambodia

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