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FRIDAY 22 MAY, 2009 |

Cu Chi tunnels – one of Vietnam’s most popular tourist attractions

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“The sound of gunshots pierce the thick jungle air. I’m on my hands and knees, crawling through the subterranean darkness, sweating in places I didn’t know I had sweat glands”, that was what Lori felt when he was inside the tunnels, a network of secret underground passageways - dug by hand - at one time measured more than 120 miles, stretching from the Cambodian border to the outskirts of what was then Saigon.

The web of tunnels, which used to be home to local villagers seeking shelter from bomb raids, plus thousands of North Vietnamese Army-backed guerrillas, these days welcomes some 1,000 visitors daily but only a few short sessions of the tunnels are accessible today.

The author confided, “Before I arrived in Vietnam , I was a little worried that I might face lingering animosity over the American War, as they call it. When you carpet bomb a country and spray its landscape with Agent Orange, people might hold a grudge.”

“But the only accosting this Yank got was from overeager Vietnamese street vendors desperate to sell their bamboo bowls and other tchotchkes.”

Lori concluded his article by quoting his Vietnamese guide, Nguyen Cao Van, whose uncle was a colonel for the South Vietnamese army and wife is from North Vietnam , saying that “What happened has happened. We don't look to the past, we look to the future."

VietNamNet/VNA

Green Phu Quoc Island

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 Phu Quoc is the largest island of Vietnam. Situated in the Gulf of Thailand, the island is part of Kien Giang province. The district of Phu Quoc includes the island proper and 21 smaller islets. The district seat, Duong Dong, which is located on the west coast, is also the largest town on this island, whose total area is 574 km².

Phu Quoc island lies 115 km from Rach Gia Town. Roughly triangular in shape the island is 50 km long north to south and 25 km east to west in the north at its widest.

A mountainous ridge of "99 peaks" runs the length of Phu Quoc with Chua Mountain (603m) being the tallest.

The island’s monsoonal sub-equatorial climate is characterized by distinct rainy (June to November) and dry seasons (December to May). The annual rainfall is high averaging 2,879 mm. In the northern mountains up to 4,000 mm have been recorded. April and May are the hottest months with temperature reaching 35 °C. 

Sunset on Sao beach by Dinh Hong Ky.

A dog and a monkey on the island by Dinh Hong Ky.

Sunset on Truong beach by Dinh Hong Ky.

Sao beach by Hoang Phuong.

Clear water by Hoang Phuong.

Drying cuttle-fish by Hoang Phuong.

A fishing village by Hoang Phuong.

A fishing village by Pham Van Nam.

A resort on Phu Quoc by Pham Van Nam.

VietNamNet/VNE

News for Thursday 21 May, 2009

• Vietnam Amateur Open to tee off in June
• Nha Trang beach to throw annual party
• Wandering around Ha Tien Town

View all news for Thursday 21 May, 2009 on one page

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