Vietnam in Perspective - Orientation Guide and Vietnamese Cultural Orientation: Geography, History, Economy, Security, Customs, Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon), Khmer, Montagnards, Hmong, Mahayana Buddhism

These unique guides produced by the Department of Defense provide comprehensive information about all aspects of life in Vietnam, with a special emphasis on geography, history, the economy, society, security and military matters, religion, traditions, urban and rural life, ethnic groups, crime, the environment, government, holidays, gender issues and much more.

CHAPTER 1 * PROFILE * Introduction * Facts and Figures * CHAPTER 2 * GEOGRAPHY * Introduction * Climate * Geographic Divisions * The Northern Highlands * Red River Delta * The Central Highlands * The Coastal Lowlands * Mekong Delta * Topographical Features * Truong Son * Hoang Lien * Major Cities * Hanoi * Ho Chi Minh City * Haiphong * Hue * Major Rivers * Red River * Huong River * Mekong River * Wildlife and Biodiversity * Environmental Hazards * Natural Disasters * CHAPTER 3 * HISTORY * Introduction * Ancient History * An Independent Vietnamese Kingdom is Founded * Ly Dynasty * Tran Dynasty * Le Dynasty * Nguyen Dynasty * French Colonial Rule * The Consolidation of Power * The Rise of Ho Chi Minh * World War II and Japanese Occupation * Vietnam Divided * The Establishment of Two Different Systems * The Fall of Ngo Dinh Diem * Deepening American Involvement in the Vietnam War * Vietnamization and the Paris Peace Accords * National Reunification * Recent Developments * CHAPTER 4 * ECONOMY * Introduction * Standard of Living * Agriculture * Rice * Coffee * Cocoa * Aquaculture * Shrimp * Catfish * Industry * Foreign Investment * Trade * Tourism * Banking * Transportation * Energy * Economic Outlook * CHAPTER 5 * SOCIETY * Introduction * Ethnic Groups * Religion * Gender Issues * Clothing * Women * Men * Cuisine * The Arts * Literature * Music * Water Puppets * Sports * CHAPTER 6 * SECURITY * Introduction * U.S.-Vietnamese Relations * Relations with Neighboring Countries * China * Cambodia * Laos * Vietnamese Armed Forces * Police * Issues Affecting Security * Religious Freedom * Terrorist Groups * Poverty * Corruption * Geopolitics of Water Resources * CHAPTER 1 * PROFILE * Climate * Major Cities * Hanoi * Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) * Haiphong * Hue * Danang * History * The Origins of the Vietnamese People * System of Imperial Governance Adopted * French Colonial Rule * Vietnam Divided Into North and South * Counterinsurgency and the Strategic Hamlet Program * The Republic of Vietnam Under Siege * The Establishment of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam * Government * Economy * MEDIA * Ethnic Groups and Languages * Vietnamese * Chinese * Khmer * Montagnards * Hmong * CHAPTER 2 * RELIGION * Introduction * Influence of Religion on Daily Life * Mahayana Buddhism * Taoism * Catholicism * Buddhist Sects * Cao Dai * Hoa Hao * Religion and the Modern State * Buddhist Places of Worship * Religious Holidays and Festivals * Buddha's Birthday * Ghost Festival * Christmas * CHAPTER 3 * TRADITIONS * Introduction * Honor and Values * Greetings * Dress Codes * Hospitality and Gift Giving * Social Events * Marriage * Funerals * Non-religious Holidays * Lunar New Year * Reunification Day * Ho Chi Minh's Birthday * National Day * Mid-Autumn Festival * Do's and Don'ts * CHAPTER 4 * URBAN LIFE * Introduction * Telecommunications * Traffic and transportation * Health Care * Education * Restaurants and Dining * The Marketplace * Beggars and Hawkers * CHAPTER 5 * RURAL LIFE * Introduction * Land Use and the Rural Economy * Transportation and Lodging * Health Care in Rural Areas * Education in Rural Areas * A Different Way of Life * Household Registration and Identity Cards * Checkpoints * Landmines * CHAPTER 6 * FAMILY LIFE * Introduction * Elderly * Family Formation * Childbirth * Childhood * HOUSEHOLD AUTHORITY * STATUS OF WOMEN * DIVORCE