(No.11,
Vol.2, Nov 2012 Vietnam Heritage Magazine)
Text and photos by Srimal Fernando*
Vietnamese women in wooden boats at Halong
Bay
Perfume River
A boat lady and tourists on a canal in
the Mekong
Vietnam is known as the “Land of Dragons.” It is one
destination for which any amount of praise seems inadequate. The country’s
natural and historical attractions appeal to many visitors from all parts of the
globe. Today, the largely agrarian country is shifting towards a more
multi-sector economy. The country has a wealth of dialects spoken in different
regions. There is almost no end to the breath-taking sites visitors can see in
this fascinating country.
The great theme of modern Vietnamese history is
the Vietnam’s war of independence and reunification. The Vietnam War proved to
be an extremely sobering experience that caused so much suffering for the
Vietnamese people. The people of the country have a well-deserved reputation for
being hard workers, but they enjoy their leisure as much as anyone else. Ho Chi
Minh’s name comes to mind when we remember the recent history of Vietnam. He is
the best-loved and famous political figure in the country. Ho Chi Minh the
founder of the Vietnamese Communist Party and, as leader of the revolution,
carried the torch of Vietnam’s independence movement for over half a century. As
a revolutionary he made great contributions to the victorious Viet Minh and Viet
Cong forces that unified the country. Mausoleum Ho Chi Minh, a monumental marble
edifice at Ba Dinh Square in Hanoi, was built to show the deep gratitude of the
countrymen to their great leader. His remains are displayed inside the chamber
of the mausoleum. Hanoi, the capital city known as “city of lakes,” is a
thriving metropolis with cloud-tickling skyscrapers, numerous specialty shops,
boutiques and colourful markets that unhesitatingly leap into the future. A
visit to the country would remain incomplete if one doesn’t drive a 3½-hour
journey on road from Hanoi to Halong Bay port. The five- hour cruise in a
double-deck wooden boat in the bluish green waters can be an enjoyable boat
excursion. The UNESCO world Heritage site Halong (or "Descending Dragon) Bay is
situated amidst a splendid panorama. The bay covers an area of
1500-square-kilometres dotted with a cluster of 1,960 limestone islands.
Hue
is in the central part of the country. It is studded with many archaeological
sites. Among these are the feudal capital city with fortresses, temples,
mausoleums, pagodas and bridges that attract thousands daily. The Perfume River
is famed for offering a river cruise in a traditional wooden boat.
Travelling from the North to the South of Vietnam can be a fantastic
experience for a tourist. Ho Chi Minh City (HCMC) is the largest city in Vietnam
and is situated nearly 1,700 kilometres south of Hanoi. After the end of war,
Saigon was renamed Ho Chi Minh City in honour of the great Leader. It is a city
of rapid development, where modern buildings are raised right beside
19th-century buildings. An array of giant cranes shows the development fever in
the city. Among its highest-esteemed attractions are the Notre Dame Cathedral,
the Municipal Theatre, the re-unification palace, the Mekong river cruise, the
Củ Chi tunnels and the Vietnam War Memorial Museum. The Vietnam War memorial
museum is one of the most recognizable places to visit in the city. It is a
living testimony to the history of the Vietnam’s war of independence and
re-unification. It is a place preserving the memories and relics of the Vietnam
War.
The country has tended to preserve its traditional music, theatre and
dance offering visitors the opportunity to experience an ancient forms much as
they were hundreds of years ago. Vietnamese art possesses several distinctive
characteristics that give it its own unique style. There are grottos, temples
and pagodas that are still there for the young generation understand their roots
and origin. If one is to understand and experience the surprises of the cultures
of the world, Vietnam surely is a voyage not to be missed.
Srimal
Fernando, a journalist and an Asia Correspondent based in Colombo, visited
Vietnam on an invitation from the Vietnam Embassy in Colombo, Sri Lanka in
August, 2012)
Cruise
boats anchored in the Halong Bay
Panoramic view of HCMC from Saigon
A religious site in
Hue |
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