Background: The conquest of Vietnam by France began in 1858 and was completed by 1884. It became part of French Indochina in 1887. Independence was declared after World War II, but the French continued to rule until 1954 when they were defeated by Communist forces under Ho Chi Minh, who took control of the North. 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military aid to South Vietnam grew through the 1960s in an attempt to bolster the government, but US armed forces were withdrawn following a cease-fire agreement in 1973.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. Despite the return of peace, for over two decades the country experienced little economic growth because of conservative leadership policies. Since 2001, Vietnamese authorities have committed to economic liberalization and enacted structural reforms needed to modernize the economy and to produce more competitive, export-driven industries. The country continues to experience protests from the Montagnard ethnic minority population of the Central Highlands over loss of land to Vietnamese settlers and religious persecution.
July 17th 2008Asia » Vietnam » Northeast » Sapa Ser viajero independiente, a diferencia del turista que compra todo el paquete incluido, tiene sus ventajas como también su lado oscuro. Cuando se viaja como turista, usualmente sólo ve el lado cómodo ... 28 photos[full story]
May 19th 2008Asia » Vietnam » Northeast » Sapa Ich hatte eigentlich nicht vorgehabt lange in Sapa zu bleiben, wollte eigentlich nur die traumhaften Blicke genießen, einen Spaziergang machen und etwas gutes essen, aber da es drei Tage am Stück unun ... [full story]
July 1st 2008Asia » Vietnam » Northeast » Sapa Greetings from Vietnam!
This is now the 5th country we have visited on our trip and so far it certainly been one of the best.
We started our vietnam adventure in the Northern town of Dien Bien Phu, ... 38 photos[full story]
July 11th 2008Asia » Vietnam » Northeast » Sapa Dear, dear friends,
So much has transpired... so much.
We headed to Halong Bay, Vietnam's bid for Seventh Wonder of the World. Google it, and you may just be able to vote for it. Who knows. ... 15 photos[full story]
July 5th 2008Asia » Vietnam » Northeast » Sapa Vietnam is absolutely AMAZING. How is is different from CHina?? Oh, so different! Its cleaner, friendlier, wilder, less developed, less western, less loud, less smoky, more green, more tropical, more ... [full story]
May 16th 2008Asia » Vietnam » Northeast » Sapa Hello all, we have just arrived back in Bangkok after about 4 weeks in Vietnam and Cambodia. Today is May 16 and we are in an internet kiosk booking plans for Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai. I will cover o ... 19 photos[full story]
July 3rd 2008Asia » Vietnam » Northeast » Sapa It rained in China and now it's raining in Vietnam. Not sure this travelling lark is all it's cracked up to be. Could have stayed in the UK if it was rain I was after! I exaggerate really, we're in th ... [full story]
October 29th 2007Asia » Vietnam » Northeast » Sapa SAPA for the weekend!
A market town and a the main meeting place for local tribes who come to trade every weekend. Some excellent handicrafts can be got here and for watching the passing parade o ... 22 photos[full story]
June 27th 2008Asia » Vietnam » Northeast » Sapa In Sapa at the Moment. It's in North Vietnam near China. Got here from Hanoi on the overnight sleeper. 20 dollar for a hard sleeper. There is nothing to do here tonight. Walked around the town ... [full story]
June 16th 2008Asia » Vietnam » Northeast » Sapa We arrived into the Northern capital of Vietnam, Hanoi, on the 5th June. The city is extremely noisy and busy - it appears that you don't need breaks when you have a perfectly working horn!
Our ho ... 16 photos[full story]
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