According to Vietnamese mythology, the Vietnamese people are the offspring of a dragon and a fairy, who fell in love and had a hundred children. The dragon father then ascended to the sky, leaving behind his children and his fairy wife to rule over the land. The dragon is thus a symbol of the origin, strength, and prosperity of the Vietnamese nation. In recent times, Vietnam has also shown its rising power and potential in the region and the world. Vietnam is indeed a land of the ascending dragon, a land of opportunities and adventures for both its people and its visitors. In this book, we will take you on a journey through Vietnam’s amazing attractions and share our exciting experiences during our holiday in Vietnam. As a coastal nation, Vietnam boasts captivating seaside tourist spots that will enchant travelers of all backgrounds. Additionally, Vietnam is home to the mighty Mekong River, the longest in Southeast Asia, offering extraordinary and unique experiences in its riverside cities. Popular destinations like Banana Hills and Mount Fansipan have gained global recognition, further enhancing Vietnam's appeal to a wide range of tourists. Travelers from various countries can take advantage of Vietnam's visa-free policy, allowing them to explore the country for up to 30 days without any hassle. Moreover, the Vietnamese currency, the Dong, offers an advantageous exchange rate, making Vietnam an accessible and affordable destination for travelers from all walks of life. During our first visit to Vietnam, we encountered both unforgettable and challenging situations that resonate with any traveler. On the very first day, we nearly lost our bags containing passports, wallets, and travel money, a thrilling experience that serves as a lesson for everyone. We also fell victim to restaurant scams - not once but twice. We also almost got scammed while paying for a ride-hailing service. Furthermore, our well-intentioned actions sometimes led to unforeseen consequences, creating both humorous and frustrating situations that any traveler can relate to. Vietnam is rapidly emerging as an exciting tourist destination, offering travelers from all corners of the world unique and unforgettable experiences. With its diverse attractions, visa-free entry, and favorable exchange rates, Vietnam presents itself as an enticing choice for anyone seeking adventure and discovery. Our story serves as a reminder that despite challenges, travel experiences can be amusing, enlightening, and resonate with travelers from any background. So, pack your bags and embark on an extraordinary adventure exploring Vietnam!

Two decades after the end of the Indochina War, three celebrated journalists with firsthand knowledge of Vietnam's troubled past remember its rich history, survey its remarkable present and future as Asia's newest economic tiger, and reveal its captivating beauty. 140 color photos. 30 b&w photos.

A firsthand report on contemporary Vietnam presents a portrait of a nation that is struggling under the hold of Communism and places the Vietnam war in the perspective of a four-thousand-year-old history.

In his travels around the globe, National Geographic photojournalist Steve Raymer has often been the first on the scene, recording unfolding events and revealing the connections that tie us together. Raymer's photography captures the magic of beautiful vistas, the joys and struggles of everyday people living everyday lives, and the chaos brought on by natural disasters. Beyond documenting tragedies like the devastating famines in Bangladesh and Ethiopia and exposing the massive corruption crippling the Trans-Alaska Pipeline, his work tells a complex and wide-ranging story about life and human nature. Now, for the first time, Somewhere West of Lonely reveals the stories behind the camera lens in a gorgeous, intimate tour of Steve Raymer's remarkable life and reporting. Bringing together 150 photographs from countries across the globe, this incredible book reveals our world and time as it is—everyday people caught up in life-changing events; acts of resilience and corruption; and, always, lingering moments of transcendence and beauty.

The National Perspectives on the Development of Public Relations: Other Voices series is the first to offer an authentic world-wide view of the history of public relations. It will feature six books, five of which will cover continental and regional groups. This first book in the series focuses on Asia and Australasia.

This book on education in South-East Asia is the very first of its kind to comprehensively cover and discuss the education systems and issues in all the countries in the region - the ten member nations of the Association of South-East Asian nations (ASEAN) plus Timor Leste. The eleven chapters on country case studies are written by education country experts and give the readers an overview of each country’s education system, while also highlighting issues currently significant to each system. There are also thematic chapters on selected issues reckoned to be significant in the region such as: gender, education and development; higher education ; language policy; quality assurance; and sustainable development. This book is a significant contribution to academic literature in this field in that the South-East Asian region is, in general, one of the leading zones of the developing world, containing within it advancing economies, such as Brunei and Malaysia, and a key global hub, Singapore. Even the poorer countries are showing signs of significant advance. The region also contains the most populous Islamic country in the world, Indonesia, and examples of the educational legacies of a variety of forms of European and American colonialism. The book is therefore a source of reference to better understand education in a region where diverse religious, political and cultural aspects are found and interrelate in a form of serious co-operation.