Backpacking from Ho Chi Minh City to Hainan
BACK PACKING TOUR FROM HO CHI MINH CITY TO HAINAN
By Jee Say Hai – May 2012
BRIEF RECENT HISTORY OF VIETNAM 越南近代史简介
In August 1858, the French attacked and captured Da Nang, a seaport north of Hue, the ancient capital of Vietnam. In February the following year the French advanced southward and captured Saigon (the present Ho Chi Minh City). The French then moved northward and colonized the whole Vietnam in the 1880s.
During the Second World War the Japanese invaded Vietnam and the French were forced out. The Vietnamese “August Revolution” Forces, led by Ho Chi Minh, gained control of Hanoi, followed by Saigon and other strategic cities after the Japanese surrendered on 13 August 1945. Tension was up and war between the French and Vietnamese Forces was unavoidable. Between March and May 1954 the French and the Vietnamese engaged in a fierce war in Dien Bien Phu in the north west of Hanoi.
The war (The First Indochina War) ended shortly after the Battle Of Dien Bien Phu with the signing of the 1954 Geneva Accords on 20 July 1954. Under the Accords France agreed to withdraw its forces from Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia. Vietnam was temporarily divided into North Vietnam and South Vietnam at the 17th parallel, about 100 km from Hue.
Neither the U.S. nor South Vietnam signed the Accords. This marked the beginning of a serious involvement of the U.S. in Vietnam and the ensuing Vietnam War or The Second Indochina War (The Vietnamese call “American War”). The Geneva Accords proposed general election by July 1956 to create a unified Vietnamese state was never held.
The U.S. involvement escalated in the early 1960s. Besides Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia were heavily bombed too. The War reached its peak in 1968. Despite the Paris Peace Accords signed by all parties in January 1973, fighting continued. The capture of Saigon by the Vietnam Army in April 1975 marked the end of the War. North Vietnam and South Vietnam were unified July 1976.
MODERN VIETNAM
In 1986 the government initiated a series of economic reforms, which see Vietnam moves towards integration of the world economy. Under the reforms, private ownership of enterprises in industries, commerce and agriculture was permitted and encouraged. Some sectors of its economy have been open to international markets. As a result of several land reforms it has become one of the major exporter of agricultural products such as cashew nuts, black pepper and rice. Its manufacturing, information technology and high-tech industries now form a large and fast-growing economy. It is the third largest petroleum production in Southeast Asia.
It has established diplomatic relations with many countries. Its economic growth is among the highest in the world since 2000. It joined the World Trade Organization in 2007.
Vietnam is currently developing a space program and plans to construct the Vietnam Space Centre by 2018. The first Vietnamese satellite was launched on 18 April 2008. The Satellite provides applied services of radio, television and telephone transmission, internet, weather forecasts and national security. It is the 6th ASEAN and the 93rd country in the world to launch a satellite.
ATTRACTIONS EN ROUTE 途经景点
- Ho Chi Minh City, the biggest city in Vietnam 胡志明市旅游景点 (越南最大城市)
- Hanoi, the capital of Vietnam 河内旅游景点 (越南首都)
- Halong Bay, a UNESCO World Natural Heritage 下龙湾旅游景点 (世界自然文化遗产)
- Dongxing, border town in China 东兴旅游景点 (中越边界城镇)
- Beihai, beach resort town in Guangxi 北海旅游景点 (天下第一滩-银滩,就在此)
- Hainan – Haikou Attraction 海口旅游景点
- Hainan – Sanya Attraction 三亚旅游景点
- Hainan - Other Attraction 海南其它旅游景点
(click to enlarge map) |
(click to enlarge map) Route: Hanoi > Halong Bay > Mong Cai / Dongxing |
(click to enlarge map) Dongxing > Beihai > Haikou (Hainan) |