October 22 | Vietnam: Rebuilding Vietnam
The history of Vietnam is so much bigger than the “war.” In 1858, the French took over the area we call Vietnam, and by 1887 called the entire area French Indochina. After World War II, the nation was declared independent, but the French didn’t leave. In 1954, Ho Chi Minh defeated the French government, which resulted in North and South Vietnam being divided into two countries. One part chose communism; the other did not; this division ultimately lead to war. In 1975, the war ended and Vietnam was reunited, but the land was destroyed. Now the government wants to rebuild and reorganize the country, and modernize the economy. They have few natural resources and many depend on agriculture for their well-being. Natural disasters, like typhoons, cause a lot of damage. Not only do the people here have to deal with natural disasters, they also have to confront many environmental issues, including deforestation and water pollution.