July 11, 2014
Vietnam!
Alright, I got this information from The Primary Source Guide to Vietnam by Elizabeth Rose, Welcome to Vietnam by Yuma NG/Amy Condra, Cultures of the World: Vietnam, and Soldiers of Fortune by Jim Morris
–Vietnam also has a history of oppression. The Chinese took over Vietnam around 111 B.C, and were driven out in A.D 939. France claimed Vietnam in the 1800’s, then Japan won it in 1940. Japan lost the country in World War II and then came the Vietnam War! Sheesh.
–So instead of going into the sad parts of the Vietnam War, I decided to share a story I found this past week! The true story deals with a request made of Special Forces by to move four elephants by helicopter from Ban Me Thuot to a sawmill in Tra Bong and to Kham Duc to assist a group of Montagnards, their allies. The Montagnards had cut the lumber down in areas that were too rough and hilly for machinery to haul it out, so they would use elephants. Their elephants died and their livelihood was on the line. The mission was called “Operation Barroom”.
“Many people in the States, perhaps most, believed the U.S was killing off thousands of innocent people, that Vietnam was an eroding wasteland…we had stringent rules of engagement designed to avoid civilian casualties. We lost a lot of guys because of those rules, tens of thousands. It was my hope that this elephant story would give us the hook we needed to make the point that the U.S was going to elaborate lengths to help the Vietnamese.”(Mills, pg 65)
The mission was indeed accomplished. Disney made a children’s movie out of it called Operation Dumbo Drop—a movie I grew up watching!
!
–Two heroes that are commonly celebrated in literature, song, and dance in Vietnam are the Trung Sisters. In A.D 40, sisters Trung Trac and Trung Nhi rode elephants as they led Vietnamese forces in pushing the Chinese out of Vietnam. In A.D 43, the Chinese recaptures the country. Legend says that the sisters drowned themselves in a river to avoid surrendering to the Chinese.
–Vietnam is 50% Buddhist
–It is world’s second largest exporter of rice and the third largest exporter of coffee.
–Vietnam is one of the most populated nations in the world.
–The red in Vietnam’s flag stands for war and bloodshed, and the five points of the star stand for the unity of farmers, intellectuals, soldiers, workers, and youths
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–Vietnamese culture values dignity and politeness, so its people try not to show strong emotions in public.
–More than 90% of the population can read and write.
–Mother-of-pearl Inlay is a craft that has been practiced for thousands of years.
–Da Cau is a favorite children’s game in Vietnam.
–They hold their elders in high regard.
–In 1938, Nguyen Loc created a form of martial arts called Vovinam. It develops endurance, strength, and speed. It became “Vovinam-Viet Vo Dao” or “The Philosophy of Vietnamese Martial Arts,” and became popular in many parts of the world.
–Three of the most popular holidays in Vietnam are “Independence Day”, which celebrates Ho Chi Minh’s declaration of Vietnam’s independence in 1945, “Wandering Souls Day”, which is held to honor family members who have died, and “Mid-Autumn Festival”, which takes place in September and have colorful lanterns shaped like dragons, butterflies, and other figures.
–When I was in Saipan, there was an amazing Vietnamese restaurant called Troungs, and they made one of my now favorite things in the world—fried Lumpia. If you ever get a chance to try authentic Lumpia, don’t hesitate!
–Vietnam’s god of marriage is the “Man on the Moon.” Couples pay homage to him in every wedding.
–Vietnamese is a tonal, monosyllabic language and can be very difficult to master. The most common example of tonal differences is the word ma. Depending on how the syllable is pronounced, ma can mean cheek, horse, tomb, ghost, bottom, or rice seedling. In a culture that stresses the importance of correct forms of address, using the incorrect tone may be something of a social disaster. I can efficiently mess up of the English language quite often so this language
–A popular instrument is the Dan Bau, which is made from a dried calabash or gourd with a curved stick has been attached. A single copper wire is stretched across the gourd and along the length of the stick.
–One entertaining dramatic form of theater that is uniquely Vietnamese is the Water-puppet show.
–One pass time that the Vietnamese enjoy is café videos. They are more or less cinema-style but with tables where patrons can purchase food and drink, enjoy a movie, and talk with their friends. I think most Americans would hate the “talking with your friends” part in a movie theater. 
That’s it for fun facts on Vietnam. Next time I’ll write about the more serious aspects of Vietnam and what I’m praying about this week! If any of you want to add anything else, feel free!!!
God Bless!
~Tori
