This whole school year, Dorsan is in Asia and Oceania with his family. He shares this trip with JDE readers. Where is he this month?
Hello everyone
I am writing my third article to you from another Asian country where there are beaches, mountains and a river called the Mekong. Its name starts with a V and ends with an M. They eat a lot of rice, noodles and spring rolls. Its flag is red with a large yellow star in the center and you pay in Dong.
So where am I?
Hanoi, a real history book
We began our visit to this country with its capital: Hanoi.
We discovered his incredible story there. In summary: This country was part of Indochina ruled by French colonists. Indochina also included Laos and Cambodia. Its people who wanted to be free launched into a struggle for independence led by one man: Ho Chi Min. This independence was proclaimed in 1945. But after a war against France which did not accept this situation, the country was divided into two: the North, led by Ho Chi Minh and the South supported by the United States. A civil war therefore broke out between the two. But in 1975, the North won and the country was reunified.
Ho Chi Minh became a true national hero. He was seen as a grandfather to his people. He even has the familiar nickname “Uncle Ho”. He introduced communism to his country: the idea that nothing belongs to one person and that everything must be shared. He wanted there to be neither rich nor poor.
After his death, a mausoleum was built so that everyone could come and pay their respects. We went to visit it. It is a large marble building, guarded by impressive guards in white uniforms where the embalmed body of Ho Chi Minh is displayed in a glass coffin. It was very strange to see him there, as if we were at his funeral because he had just died. It almost looked like it was made of plastic.
Discovering the mountains and ethnic groups
After Hanoi and its history lesson, we went to the North. There, there are beautiful mountains and different ethnic groups, groups of people who still live in their villages, as in the past, with their customs, their trades, their cuisines and their traditions.
We, among other things, went to see people who make paper, others who dry cinnamon, still others who cultivate rice and corn; women who create cotton thread, dye it and weave it; without forgetting the entire village which makes incense sticks.
The people are super welcoming. One evening, near our accommodation, there was a wedding. We went to see it out of curiosity and we were never able to leave. We were invited to eat at the groom's uncles' table. They served us a lot of food, we had to taste everything. Our parents had to toast rice wine with the bride and groom, friends and families saying “Cuc Cuc Khoe” (which means “cheers” to someone dear). We had an evening that we won't soon forget!
We also did long hikes through rice fields, villages and mountains. It was great! We climbed Mount Fansipan, which is also called “the roof of Indochina” because it is the highest peak in the region. It reaches 3,143 meters above sea level. We saw the Black Buddha there, which is one of the largest Buddha statues in the world! By climbing the 600 steps that lead to the summit, we crossed the clouds: we could say that we ascended to the sky ????
Lan Ha Bay: Splendor and pollution
In our mystery country, there is also the sea. We took a cruise in Lan Ha Bay. There are magnificent landscapes with lots of small islands sticking out of the water like rocks. The sea and its scenery are splendid. We went kayaking, I jumped into the sea from the boat to reach a small sandy beach and we also got to fish (I even caught my first squid!).
But in fact, we didn't feel very good being there because all these boats pollute a lot: they use diesel, they make noise and light even at night, the crews throw their waste into the sea… This sea is oil, literally and figuratively! In reality, these cruises should not exist because they damage precisely what we came to admire! It's not OK!
And finally…
We still have to explore the city of Ho Chi Minh, formerly Saigon, which was the capital of Indochina and was renamed in honor of their first president after reunification. We will also spend a few days in the Mekong Delta. The Mekong is the largest river in Asia and it flows through our country. It seems that there is a whole life around this river and its floating villages that I can't wait to discover.
Did you find it? And yes, this country is indeed the VIETNAM (and the war I was telling you about is the Vietnam War that you have all already heard about). I loved visiting this country, it was a nice surprise.
I'll continue on my way and see you soon!!!
