Vietnam what is it like

Many who fought in Vietnam returned to the U. April 30 marked the year anniversary of the fall of Saigon. I asked my supervisors at News4 if I could take a small camera to Vietnam during a personal tour I took with my wife, Debbie. They agreed, and I gave myself this assignment: To report on what Vietnam is like today under communism and how the Vietnamese people treat Americans and returning U.

I filed this report from Ho Chi Minh City. Some Vietnamese, especially those in South Vietnam who fought alongside Americans, told me they still call it Saigon. Vietnam was my generation's war. Tens of thousands of Americans were killed or wounded. There were supporters of the war and vocal opponents. Large numbers of protesters participated in demonstrations demanding the U. Phat told me, "They understand that American people did not make war in Vietnam. Just the government. President Nixon.

The United States fought to stop the spread of communism in Southeast Asia. It was the first war the U. Small groups of Viet Cong fighters would ambush U. It's a real jungle battleground that is now an American tourist destination.

He was a middle class college student who volunteered for Vietnam because he felt the draft was unfair, putting the burden of fighting on poor minorities. But his idealism soon disappeared. A lot of people died for nothing. I experienced first hand how hard a time U. I took my camera and crawled through a small, hot, dark section of tunnel.

I was soon disoriented. By the time I got out my shirt was soaked with sweat and I was losing my voice. Now more than 12 million people live and work in Ho Chi Minh City.

Roads are crowded with scooters. Everywhere you look people are doing business. They sell food, fruit, vegetables, clothes, and jewelry. Why is the South China Sea contentious? Vietnam's new breed of dissident. Microfinance in Vietnam. Cambodia closes refugee facility.

BBC: Vietnam Direct. Vietnam War- History. Vietnamese government. Travel Episodes - Lost in Vietnam. Socialist Republic of Vietnam Capital: Hanoi. Image source, Getty Images. The Communist Party has a strong grip on the media. Read full media profile. For example:. Peculiar practices and poetic humour aside, one thing that connects all Vietnamese is our resilience. Vietnam has seen its fair share of hardship, but we persevere.

We seem to have a knack for bouncing back from adversity. Now that is something we can all relate to. Tram Bui has been a Vietnamese long before she became a writer.

Already have an account? Click here to sign in. By clicking submit, you agree to our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use. Forgot password? Click here to get it back. Don't have an account? Sign up here. What are the Vietnamese like? All photos by Aaron Joel Santos. For many travellers, the Vietnamese way of life remains a compelling mystery. To have an authentic Vietnamese experience is to get to know the Vietnamese.

Read on to find out what makes one Vietnamese, and why we always seem to be full of surprises. Life on the sidewalk Vietnamese spend a lot of time on the sidewalk. Hiding from the sun Most Vietnamese like having fairer skin, so we cover up when the sun is out.