Vietnam

DVD. Globe Trekker Video. Situated on the eastern coast of the Indochinese peninsula, Vietnam stretches 1,000 miles from Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh City. A socialist republic, it opened its doors to travelers only a few years ago and now offers an intriguing mix of traditional charm and emerging development. Traveler Justine Shapiro starts her journey by celebrating the New Year at the TET Festival in Ho Chi Minh City. From there she ventures up the coast taking in the unspoiled beaches of Lang Co and the city of Hu?. After a bicycle tour of the capital, Hanoi, she ends her journey in the remote highlands near the Chinese border. 47 minutes Along the Way - $_$_START_LIST ? Descend into subterranean tunnels once inhabited by the Viet Cong. ? Sail beautiful Halong Bay. ? Take a day trip down the Perfume River on a converted barge. ? Drink the blood of a snake to ward off sickness. ? Ride the Reunification Express. $_$_END_LIST

DVD. Cities of the World. 60 Minutes. Vietnam has had its own share of wars, so it is no wonder that the country appears on the map of international tourism. More and more people are interested in the heritage of the 2700 years old country and its natural beauties. Besides the two large cities, Hanoi and Ho Shi Minh city, one can find the remnants of imperial times and the beautiful pagodas in Hue. The ruins of My Son are similar to the ruins of the temples of Angkor. Besides the tribes living here, the mountains around Sapa are well known for the Silver Waterfall and rice fields. The most well known sight of the country is the wild Bay of the Descending Dragon. The exotic Mekong delta is famous for the water city of My Tho, the canals, and the swimming market.

DVD. Cosmos Global Documentaries. 52 Minutes. Vietnam is one of the most fascinating countries in South East Asia and it contains a large number of cultural treasures as well as much remarkable scenery. Due to its exceptional buildings of both past and present, as well as its magnificent natural scenery, Vietnam surprises everyone that travels to this region of Asia. Vietnam's former capital of Thang Long, that means `Rising Dragon', is now known as Hanoi. Like all cities in South East Asia, Hanoi has an increasing traffic problem but to compensate for this it also contains several parks. Early in the morning a number of Tai Chi enthusiasts are to be found within a park that surrounds the Hoan Kiem Lake in the centre of the city. The picturesque lake and park are the green lungs of Hanoi and are a relaxing contrast to the lively atmosphere of the city and its three million inhabitants. According to ancient records the imperial area of Hu? once consisted of one hundred and thirty six buildings. The rapid rise of what had once been a rather unimportant town to a new and magnificent imperial city has always been indelibly associated with Vietnam's Nguyen royal family who were to influence the country for several centuries. Both architecturally and culturally Hoi An has been influenced by two countries, China and Japan. The influence of the Chinese is clearly visible even today and they bequeathed a large number of magnificent buildings such as temples and meeting halls. On the western shores of the Saigon River is Ho Chi Minh City, the former capital of Saigon. This, the largest and most populated city in Vietnam, has around six million inhabitants a fact well substantiated by the exceptionally busy streets of this southern metropolis. Vietnam's people are both amicable and extremely hospitable and now it is surely time that they deserve to see their Land Of The Rising Dragon enjoy a further epoch of peace and prosperity.

VHS/NTSC. Globe Trekker Video. Situated on the eastern coast of the Indochinese peninsula, Vietnam stretches 1,000 miles from Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh City. A socialist republic, it opened its doors to travelers only a few years ago and now offers an intriguing mix of traditional charm and emerging development. Traveler Justine Shapiro starts her journey by celebrating the New Year at the TET Festival in Ho Chi Minh City. From there she ventures up the coast taking in the unspoiled beaches of Lang Co and the city of Hu?. After a bicycle tour of the capital, Hanoi, she ends her journey in the remote highlands near the Chinese border. 47 minutes Along the Way - $_$_START_LIST ? Descend into subterranean tunnels once inhabited by the Viet Cong. ? Sail beautiful Halong Bay. ? Take a day trip down the Perfume River on a converted barge. ? Drink the blood of a snake to ward off sickness. ? Ride the Reunification Express. $_$_END_LIST

VHS/NTSC. 2-Volume Set. Martin Sheen narrates this 2-volume collection with a tour of Vietnam, Burma and Cambodia that focuses on the history and culture of these ancient, enduring civilizations and their developing state today. Although reminders of war are still evident, this is a story about the people, their culture, history, heritage and desire to move forward. Titles include: AWAKENING VIETNAM, EMERGING BURMA, and CAMBODIA. 60 minutes.

DVD. Vista Point. 26 Minutes. Hanoi is North Vietnam's lively capital city located in the north of the country and set amid the delta plains of the Red River. Compared to other southeast Asian cities that have developed into modern metropolis' at breathtaking speed, Hanoi could be described as being a provincial city. In 1882 the French built their government offices around the city's large Ho Hoan Kiem Lake. The city became the capital of French Indo China. The lake is surrounded by splendid old villas and public buildings. In the early morning several of the city's inhabitants arrive to go about their traditional exercises. The Chua Mot Cot Pagoda is one of the oldest religious buildings in Hanoi, a temple built upon a single column in the centre of a small pond. Legend has it that the childless king, Ly Thai To, saw the goddess of mercy in a dream in which she presented him with a son. Soon afterwards an heir to the throne was born and thus the king ordered the construction of this pagoda and the future of the dynasty was assured. Den Dao Quan is one of the most beautiful Taoist temples in Vietnam and is located close to the national library south east of the Temple Of Literature. Inaugurated in 1993, the Thang Long Water Puppet Theatre is one of the finest examples of its kind in Vietnam and is so popular that its twice daily performances are completely sold out. Den Quan Than is the richly adorned Temple Of The Great God that dates back to the 11th century and is dedicated to the Vietnamese god of war. Than Vu, who is also the patron saint of the north, has guarded the city for thousands of years. His temple is located on the banks of Lake West. Over the centuries Hanoi has frequently been conquered, lost its status as a capital city and also changed its name several times. But it has survived and is still full of timeless charm. It is most assuredly the pearl of North Vietnam!

DVD. Global Treasures. 10 Minutes. Today it is difficult to believe that three hundred years ago the tiny dreamy harbour of Hoi An was one of the most important seaports in Vietnam. Now only small fishing boats lie at anchor in the harbour yet in former times Hoi An experienced a flourishing trade with Europe. Whether on the riverbanks of the Thu Bon, the narrow streets or the fascinating shops, Hoi An has retained the colorful atmosphere of bygone times. Life continued here as normal until in the early 1990's the tourist industry began to develop in Vietnam. The city's new found prosperity has not yet reached the entire city but it is reflected in some of its buildings. Many of the city's meeting halls, temples and homes are of typical Chinese design. Both the Quan Am Temple and the Quang-Cong Temple date back to the 17th century. Toward the end of the 17th century an increasing number of Chinese merchants settled in the city and this gave rise to the construction of several splendid meeting halls. Business relationships were cultivated in these traditional communal buildings and new friendships made, information exchanged and ancestors and gods worshipped. Once again the town is beginning to prosper and the historic ambience of this intriguing city may well mark a new beginning to the inhabitants of Hoi An.

DVD. Global Treasures. 10 Minutes. On the shores of the `Perfume River', the Song Huong Giang in the heart of Vietnam, is the former royal city and today's provincial capital of Hu?. Nine mighty canon are the symbolic guards of the historic citadel and beyond its defensive walls are five hundred hectares that contain the Imperial City and also the Forbidden Purple City, a veritable city within a city. The rise of Hu? into a magnificent residence is closely associated with the Nguyen royal family who influenced the city for many centuries. A short boat trip on the Perfume River leads to another of the city's attractions. Located on a hill, legend has it that the Thien Mu Pagoda owes its existence to the appearance of a god disguised as an old woman. The story goes that the woman made a prophecy that a new king would come and build an important pagoda for the gods. King Nyguen Hoang interpreted this prophecy as a religious symbol and thus had a pagoda built in honour of the divine old woman. Despite all the destruction of the Vietnam War the resplendent old capital city on Perfume River is still a remarkable place to be.

DVD. Vista Point. 26 Minutes. In colonial times the Europeans referred to North Vietnam as Tongking. Today the Vietnamese people call it, Bac Bo. Hanoi is North Vietnam's lively capital city. It was here that in 1882 the French created their administrative headquarters and main capital city. Compared to other southeast Asian cities that have developed into modern metropolis' at breathtaking speed, Hanoi could be described as being a provincial city. The Hoh Chi Minh Museum, a three storey concrete building, was inaugurated in May 1990 to commemorate Hoh's one hundredth birthday. Den Dao Quan is one of the most beautiful Taoist temples in Vietnam and an oasis of tranquillity. It is a place dedicated to the worship of benevolent spirits and for those who believe in divine and spiritual natural powers. Haiphong is the most important industrial harbour town in North Vietnam and has a population of one and a half million. Under French rule thousands of workers built this city at record speed and the harbour was enlarged, making it the largest in Indo China. Hoa Binh is one of the north's less attractive provincial towns but this, the former centre of a prehistoric Bronze Age culture on the Black River, is the gateway to the mountains of the north. Located within a remote and mountainous landscape, the village of Ban Lac Thai is a peaceful place set within an elevated and fertile valley. It is believed that the Viet are related to the Thai people and originally separated from the Muong tribe when they cultivated the Red River Delta. Everywhere the Thai folk offer hand made arts and crafts for sale such as knitted blankets, woven cloth and numerous bags. From the nostalgic capital of Hanoi as far as the mountain tribes of the north, North Vietnam is a country of charm and beauty with natural wonders and ancient cultures full of age-old traditions and new hope for the future!

DVD. Vista Point. 26 Minutes. Saigon, an exotic trading post of bygone times, derived its name from the banks of the river upon which it is located. In 1859 the French arrived and transformed it into the capital of French colonial Indochina. With nearly six million inhabitants Saigon is also known as Ho Chi Minh City and, although large, is no longer the capital of Vietnam. Following the eventual withdrawal of both the French and the Americans the city has prospered once again with a lively trading spirit and a special flair that has helped it to become known as, The Paris Of The East. The Post Office, a mighty colonial building of 1883, highlights the splendour of old Europe and with its colourful glass windows and cast iron gratings and balustrades it is more like a European train station. The History Museum was built in 1929 according to Neo-Vietnamese design and features a large range of fascinating exhibits from each epoch of the country's history. Statues, pottery and other artefacts of various epochs are on display in various atmospheric rooms and they range from the Bronze Age culture of the Dong Son to the Funan, Chenla, Khmer and Cham periods as well as various Vietnamese dynasties. Although past, present and future live side-by-side in this richly cosmopolitan city, today Saigon is experiencing a massive property boom and its city centre premiums now match those of both Singapore and Jakarta. Saigon's dramatic past began with it being a small fishing village followed by its development as the `Paris Of The East' and then as an American garrison city until it eventually became South Vietnam's modern metropolis of today.