Vietnam, is a vibrant and rapidly developing country, recovering from 30 years of war, which is poised to become a new “tiger” of Asia.  Vietnam had been subject to Chinese influences and sometimes control for hundreds of years and shares the Chinese Confucian family system and other values. Colonized by France in the 19^th century, Vietnam declared itself the Democratic Republic of Vietnam in 1945. However, it was forced to engage in a 30 year struggle for independence, first against French forces, resulting in their defeat in 1954 and the division of Vietnam into North and South, and then against the US until its defeat in 1975.  Today, Vietnam is run by a Communist government that is committed to modernizing and achieving a better standard of living for its people. Vietnam is a long and thin country, bordering the Sea on two sides, Cambodia, Laos and China on the others with good agricultural land and, abundant resources.  For more information on Vietnam, please click on the above buttons.