The New Economy
This area was once dense jungle teeming with elephants, tigers, panthers, black bears and other wild animals. Many species disappeared due to over-hunting in the 1950s, and the jungle was destroyed due to chemicals and bombing by American forces during the war. Huan said the Vietnamese government provided incentives for various hill tribes from the north to re-settle in this area long after the war to yield new crops and vegetation like coffee beans, silk and rice. This government initiative was called “The New Economy.”
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 forc... ... read more 
