A crashed B52 bomber in a small suburban lake in Vietnam
The Vietnam war may be over but its aftermath is omnipresent. From rusty bullets for sale on street corners to the politics of international relations, the war’s impact can still be felt. Vietnam travel
In the years following the war with the US, Vietnam survived largely in isolation. From 1975 until 1994 it was illegal for US firms to trade with Vietnam, with the only form of help coming from Soviet quarters. But by the early 1990s relations with America were thawing and in 1995 formal diplomatic relations were restored by the then US president Bill Clinton. A raft of trade deals has since been signed that has catapulted Vietnam’s economy forwards. By the end of 2011 the Vietnam Trade Commission predicted that bilateral trade would reach US$20 billion, a 10 percent rise on 2010’s figures. Jasmine Cruise – Halong Bay
In addition to economics, it is in the USA’s strategic interests to have Vietnam close, even if only to help keep rivals China in check. In turn, Vietnam values its relationship with the US for financial reasons, but it walks a fine line as it must be careful not to allow its growing US links to damage its ties with China. DAY TRIP CRUISE
Not forgotten...
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| The Legacy of the Vietnam War |
Despite the healthy trade relations and Vietnam’s welcoming attitude to tourists – be they American, British or French – it would be a mistake to think that all is forgotten and forgiven. The war is still within living memory of many Vietnamese and Americans and there are scars on both sides. Still, most Vietnamese have few qualms about discussing the war and tourists should not consider it a taboo subject. Indeed, it would be virtually impossible to visit Vietnam and not have a conversation about the country's recent history.
The war has an influence on nearly everyone. Its effects on the physical landscape are clear, from the devastating impact of Agent Orange on the country’s fields to the still-visible bomb craters and, more significantly, the thousands of landmines that still lie undiscovered. For some, the war remnants offer an entrepreneurial edge as they sell allegedly genuine war medals and memorabilia to tourists – and some war sites (notably the Cu Chi Tunnels near Ho Chi Minh City) are full-scale tourist attractions.
Interest in the war is inevitable, and Vietnam does its best to oblige, even toning down some of the jingoistic propaganda. A case in point is the museum in Ho Chi Minh City originally known as “The House for Displaying War Crimes of American Imperialism and the Puppet Government”. This was later changed to the slightly less inflammatory “Museum of American War Crimes” and today it’s known far more euphemistically as the War Remnants Museum.
Another factor is the inevitable change as the country develops and new generations grow up. Younger citizens seem happy to embrace Western ideals. Ask Vietnamese teenagers whom they most admire today and they are more likely to name an English Premier League footballer than Uncle Ho (Chi Minh).
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