Vietnam, or the old way of writing Viet Nam, the country of “rosy dawn” was already a long time a favourite destination on our travel list, because we had seen and heard so much about the unique landscapes and the rich civilization and friendly people. In addition we were very interested at the old and new history of this war-disable country. Our journey there was more than as stop over between the times. The Vietnamese People often describe the shape of its country with a bamboo bar, which carries a rice bowl at each end. Vietnam, more largely as Italy and smaller than Japan with its approximately 80 million inhabitants extends over 1600 km along the east coast of the Chinese peninsula. This strategically important situation at the south Chinese sea was always the reason for the long warlike history of the country. Earlier border wars with Laos, Cambodia, Thailand or China and in former times the Indochina and Vietnam war left here their cruel scars and you can feel it all over the country. The catastrophic effects of the Vietnam war, which destroyed systematically the natural resources of humans, are still visible and the damage in nature nearly irreparable. But beside of this cruel past Vietnam inspires by the variety of its landscapes. Imposing, rugged mountains, bright green rice fields, endless lonely beaches, dunes, steppes and an enormous fruitfulness at the river deltas. On our tour from north to south we came along small quiet villages, sleepy provincial towns and bustling cities. Again and again we were shocked by the horrible traffic but also fascinated. Thousands and thousands of motor bikes drive nearly uncontrolled crosswise at the streets. The slogan here is called “who brakes is cowardly”. A very special spectacle. The people in the north are mostly reserved. In the south they are openly and curiously. The Vietnamese People welcome each stranger or Tourist in their country, which don’t come as a conqueror. We saw a fascinating fusion from traditional Vietnamese culture, French-colonial past, communist inheritance and the transition to a modern nation of Asia. It was really a visit between the times. Vivien’s und Erhard’s Blog