Vietnam

Well, unfortunately our plans to go to Vietnam in March, 2020 needed to be cancelled, due to the coronavirus!   I had done all of this wonderful research in preparation and so have published a documentary following to give you some background information about the country's current state.  This  document will also act as a reference point for the eventual build and experience.  This is because the mission to Vietnam will be rebooked to take place in February/ March 2021!  Stay tuned!    A lot can happen in a year and so the following may need to be updated to reflect current reality.

Introduction

Being from the baby boomer generation, if a buddy was to say he was going to Vietnam, there is quite the after taste still for me for what happened at time of war and so for decades such a statement represented grave concern. Going to Vietnam meant someone wanted to fight for 'the cause' because it was supposedly the right and honorable thing to do, risking your life as a result. I never did believe there was enough justification. I also was not a fighter during my complete life, never swinging my fist at anyone, and so this was disturbing, as I was at peace with the world. As a young man in the early 70's I could have gone against government policy and volunteered, like thousands of Canadians did, but I did not give this much thought as this was not going to be my future. 

For those who did volunteer, someone who could never hurt a flea when in civilization, give him a few months of duty to turn him into a 'hideous monster' or a 'savage beast' if you prefer, once he experienced what the war was really like. There was such an incredible amount of hardened uncivil hate that developed between the Americans and the Viet Cong. Remember that a tiger kills in order to eat, but not for the sake of killing. A savage beast kills a soldier or a civilian suspected of supporting the enemy, mutilating bodies in the process without any feeling of guilt (until later). For you see, of the 3 million Americans that served in the war, 500 thousand came back with post traumatic stress disorder (ptsd), or what I call negative karma. To make matters worse, many returning veterans faced negative reactions from both opponents of the war (who viewed them as having killed innocent civilians and named them 'baby killers') and its supporters (who saw them as having lost the war), which was like pouring acid onto their wounds. Rates of divorce, suicide, alcoholism and drug addiction were markedly higher among veterans. 

Now 50 years later I am going to Vietnam to help build a home for a local family. I might not be doing this if I had some negative karma hanging around. My father without further education would be watching in horror at my going to a communist run country not only to visit, like I did going to Cuba a few years ago, but to help a local family build a home, and indirectly help the government. Notice how I am repeating the thought of building a home in Vietnam? This really is a big deal to me, a once in a lifetime opportunity and I will be thinking of my father when doing it. This will be a real significant event in my life, stepping onto the soil in Vietnam, despite everything that has happened beforehand, and once I experience life there, then maybe I can forget the past and experience Vietnam in the present.

I know I will look older than the average local and so will not blend in that well, will be quite set in my ways, and think way too much. I will also have the wrong color hair and skin, be at least a foot and a half taller in another land of the 'little people' and be a rather scary sight with my ruggedness and wrinkles. I will make sure every Vietnamese person knows I am from Canada, not America, and to me there is a difference even though they may not care or give it any thought, other than I am a foreigner from the West. I will be somewhat hesitant to try some of the exotic food, even though it is probably very good and healthy. I will have great difficulty crossing the street with free flowing traffic in Hanoi which I expect will be complete uncontrolled chaos. This is the same Hanoi that 50 Years ago I thought would be the last place on Earth I would want to go to.

The newer generation of any developed nation act like nothing ever happened here, which is all of the horrors of the past, and they will just live in the present moment along with the Vietnamese. It is best to forget, granted, but I will be vigilant with noticing anything that will be a reminder of the past. I have been told the average Vietnamese person is very warm and friendly, but I will need to experience this in person to confirm if I see anyone a few years older. I confess that the older I get, the more beautiful the younger generation become and so I am sure I will quickly develop a soft spot for the younger Vietnamese people who will have fine features, be adorable, and have a warm smile to brighten my day and help me live a life based on love, not sacrificing ourselves for an ambiguous cause. 

One Aspect of the Vietnam War

There is a lot of documentaries, movies, internet videos on the war that are well done and so there is no sense detailing the events here and the absolute insanity of the Americans, which I cannot really put into words that well. But out of interest sake, let me focus on one aspect of the war which teaches you a lot about Vietnam flora and fauna. Anyone who was deployed can tell you that there was more to worry about in the field than just the Viet Cong. A jungle of so much biodiversity can do just that and it needed to be treated with respect. I am sure that when the USA was trying to recruit someone, they never mentioned all of what existed in the jungle. While of course the North Vietnamese were the primary concern, just being in the rain forest presented an entirely unexpected series of challenges. The jungle fought back with our intrusion:

1. Giant Insects – The centipede, the creepy crawlers, had the space and food necessary to grow to an insane level. There is the Vietnamese Centipede that can reach eight inches in length! It's extremely aggressive, and its venomous bite really hurts. Giant scorpions were also known to bother American troops when sleeping on the ground at night.

2. Weaver Ants – The North Vietnamese had a secret weapon that came naturally in the jungle and all it took was for a marine to get in the wrong place to get infested with weaver ants. They were known as 'communist ants' because they were red in color and they did not seem to bother the Viet Cong. Marines would have to strip naked to get them off their body. If a tank knocked over a tree full of weaver ants and they started to crawl into the tank, the marines had to vacate.

3. Debilitating Plants - Troops in Vietnam were sometimes lifted right up and out of troop carriers and other vehicles by low-hanging vines that seemed innocent at first, but as soon as they were touched, they constricted around an unsuspecting driver, grabbing them by the arms or neck. Vietnam's most beautiful trees and flowers are also its deadliest. Heartbreak Grass, Flame Lilies, Twisted Cord Flowers, and Bark Cloth trees are all powerful enough to kill a human or cause blindness upon contact or accidental ingestion. 

4. Venomous Snakes - Reptiles and amphibians just love a hot, humid place with lots of shade and so were present in the jungle in droves. Vietnam had so many snakes that American troops were advised to just assume they were all deadly – because most of them were. The country was filled with Cobras, Kraits, Vipers, and more. Some snakes that were not venomous were giant constrictors, still very capable of murdering you in your sleep. 

5. Large Wildlife – Imagine having an overwhelming presence of Viet Cong in front of you, then having a Bengal tiger behind you! Southeast Asia is also home to leopards, and bears. Those are just the traditional predators. There were also elephants, water buffaloes, and gaurs, giant cows, who could go on a murder rampage that an M-16 would not stop.

6. Land Leeches - This 'worm' is one of the most annoying creatures you could ever experience. Land leeches can even bite through soft cloth, get inside your clothing and cover every inch of bare skin you can offer them. They have an anterior or “head” sucker with three sharp teeth that can pierce the skin with ease, allowing the leech to cling onto unsuspecting hosts and move like a caterpillar at great speed using a method known as “looping”.

7. Malaria - I do not believe we will be walking in a rain forest where not only are there leeches but a mosquito that gives you malaria. The health clinic has advised us based on our plans that we are not going into an area that has malaria. I will regardless be very careful of mosquitoes and what might be found on the ground beneath my feet or on bushes and tree branches.

Now if a similar war was fought in Vietnam today, there would not be as much of the above left because of genocide and forest destruction. But I certainly will give respect to the flora and fauna and not touch a plant, unless a guide tells me it is safe. 

Original Governance and Doi Moi

When the communists took over the country in its entirety after winning the war (even though the American government will never admit it), Russian socialism was adopted, resulting unfortunately in the economy collapsing, a complete disaster. People starved to death under the new political system and Vietnam was on its own with little to no support from China, Russia, or the US. It did not help that one out of five civilians living in Ho Chi Minh City (formerly Saigon) became unemployed when the rich Americans pulled out. No one wanted to get involved in their problems. Communism was being used as a means to reunify the country, but the government was willing to adjust its governing strategy if proved to be not working that well. Independence was more important than the type of government since they controlled their own destiny. The originator of the unification movement, Ho Chi Minh wanted what was best for the people and to have his people prosper while under one government authority.

A strength of Vietnam in the past had been affiliating with a dominant civilization and adapting that civilization’s ideas, institutions, and technology to Vietnamese purposes, and so it was time to get back to this because with independence gained, they shut out the world to strike out on their own and strike out they did. Granted, the government needed to build up its infrastructure and security first. In 1986, the Communist Party initiated a series of economic and political reforms that facilitated Vietnamese integration into world politics and the global economy, taking the best for what the world had to offer based on success. This became known as 'Doi Moi'. The government adopted and tweaked two ideologies: capitalism and normalization: 

• Capitalism - The transition of a tightly regulated economy with all assets owned by the government to a "socialist oriented market economy”. Though the authority of the state remained unchallenged, the government encouraged private ownership of farms and factories, economic deregulation, while maintaining control over strategic, heavier industries. This was a dramatic, significant event and the Vietnamese people were happy to adopt as anything would be better than what they had before. 

• Normalization – the establishment of normal diplomatic relations with other countries. Normalization also refers to a country being in a normal state of affairs, such as being at peace with one another in your own country and there is nothing like granting more freedom to a country's civilians to gain their trust.

The economy subsequently achieved strong growth in agricultural and industrial production, construction, exports, and foreign investment, although these reforms also caused a rise in income inequality and gender disparities. It took the adoption of these two ideologies to give Habitat the opportunity, despite Vietnam's communist ties. Habitat does not have an opportunity in any of the other four communist run countries: Russia, China, Laos, or Cuba, yet the Vietnamese have welcomed Habitat with open arms. 

Vietnam has the following attributes to make it more attractive to foreigners and Habitat:

• Vietnam is not considered to be a threat compared to China or Russia as it is not as big and powerful, more accepting of the West, and seen as being more neutral;

• There are huge esthetic differences between China and Vietnam. Now on the surface you may think 'so what', but expand your thought here: the Vietnamese have more flexibility to be creative thanks to government influence;

• Vietnam populace have more freedom as they are not as tightly governed and can express themselves as long as it is not negatively targeting government. While most communist governments tightly control media, Vietnam is far more developed with the internet and so its civilians are more wordly;

• Vietnamese feel more hopeful and have a more positive outlook of their future as they can see progress being made as to standard of living;

• Traditional culture of Vietnam involves focusing on 'humanity and harmony', with the family and community valued highly. 

Vietnam is rapidly emerging from no longer being classified as a third world country, graduating to become a developed nation. Now 40% of the overall population of 96.2 million (which is almost three times the amount of people in Canada) will be living in urban centres, mainly Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi. Great strides have been made with domestic reforms to deregulate business practice, driving the cost down for running a business. Large public investments were made in primary education and infrastructure, therefore becoming a hub for foreign investment as the country legally allowed this to happen during its reforms of 1986. Vietnam has full heartedly embraced the global economy resulting in many free trade agreements getting signed with other countries.

Vietnam is moving into the 21st century at full speed. The Vietnam Silicon Valley (VSV) which is lead by the Ministry of Science and Technology is a leading accelerator that invests in world-class early stage startups, seeking to create an ecosystem of innovations and technology commercialization by combining the Vietnamese entrepreneurial spirit and innovative nature with the most successful practices from the US. The Ministry assists with funding and bringing in mentors to coach them along with their development. 

Vietnam also has companies offering business incubation services. The main purpose of an incubator is to help startups at a very early stage to grow. They are collaborative programs which help people solve problems associated with launching a startup and overcoming technical barriers by offering an appropriate environment for their entrepreneurial development, such space to work, seed funding, mentoring, training and other benefits. They contribute to socio-economic development, through the creation of companies that generate income and sources of employment.

Vietnam has emerged as an important electronics exporter, with electrical and electronic products overtaking coffee, textiles, and rice to become the country's top export item. Samsung is Vietnam's largest exporter and has helped the country achieve a trade surplus for the first time in many years. No company makes a better TV than Samsung other than maybe Sony and the camera on my Samsung cell phone is the best. The country is also the largest clothing exporter in the region. Looks like I will have to see what Nike sportswear costs here.

Environment

Environmental issues in Vietnam are numerous due to the effects of the Vietnam War, as well as the country's rapid industrialization following its economic reforms. The main issues are land and forest degradation, loss of biodiversity, air and water pollution, solid waste management, and recently climate change. I am getting the impression from what I read about this topic is that if the comment is positive and constructive, it probably came from the government, but if it is rather negative and gloomy, it came from the public. It is safe to say until recently, since Vietnam has been focusing on the economy, not enough attention has been placed on the environment. 

• Air Pollution - Worsening air pollution in the major cities have become a headline concern, with pollution indexes nearing "dangerous levels" to create widespread health fears. Officials blame low air quality on construction, a growing number of cars and motorcycles and heavy industry such as steel works, cement factories, and coal-fired plants. Some people use stoves that burn honeycomb charcoal as opposed to having an electrical stove. The city burns its rubbish, and farmers burn straw from fields after harvest, all causing smog in Hanoi, affecting the city’s appearance and people's health. In 2016 Hanoi suffered from extreme air pollution for 300 days, which caused over 60,000 related deaths. Response from a civilian: "I would rather die slowly due to air pollution than have no money."

• Water Pollution – There is a reason why I had to get my typhoid vaccination redone in order to come here. 80% of the diseases in Vietnam are caused by polluted water. There are many cases of cholera, typhoid, dysentery and malaria each year in the country. In 2016, a major marine life disaster occurred which tells a lot about Vietnam. A Taiwanese corporation (Formosa Plastics) discharged toxic industrial waste illegally into the ocean through drainage pipes. 115 tons of dead fish drifted along the coast, with another 140 tons scooped out of the water, in addition to 67 tons of dead clams. In the Northern region of Vietnam around Hanoi, there is evidence of arsenic contamination in the drinking water. 

• Solid Waste Management - Vietnam’s waste management is still ineffective for which the country is making continuous efforts to improve in an innovative and creative way. It is regarded as one of the five countries that generate the most solid waste, about 13 million tons per year. Currently, about 85% of the waste is being buried without treatment in landfill sites, 80% of which are unhygienic and pollute the environment. Sometimes their method for recycling certain materials or removing problem material such as burning plastic is causing other problems such as air pollution. Vietnam is one among the top five countries in the world that together account for about 60% of the ocean’s plastic pollution. Despite having problems taking care of their own waste, they welcome waste from other countries with open arms because of the economic benefit it generates. The US exports its plastic waste to many South East Asian Nations, including Vietnam, instead of dealing with their own recycling problem. It is horrifying to think the US pays other countries to take their waste away and deal with it! 

• Climate Change – Vietnam will be among one of the most affected countries by global climate change. The Mekong Delta may experience serious drought and saltwater intrusion in the dry season this year. If there is no rain, the water flow in the river can reverse and so ocean water travels upstream as far as 110 km where rice paddies are grown. The delta is also subsiding at an alarming rate, threatening the livelihood of millions of people, especially those in coastal areas. While the ocean levels rise, the delta is sinking by about 11 mm each year. As the biggest production hub of Vietnam, this region needs a huge volume of freshwater to serve agriculture, aquaculture, as well as industrial parks and also serve human consumption for nearly 18 million residents.

Biodiversity - Animal Kingdom

Now for some really bad news. Because of its tropical climate, jungle, and rain forest, this Asian nation is a hot spot of biological diversity, but local and international conservation groups are struggling to halt what amounts to extensive, merciless animal genocide. Vietnam’s decline compared to other countries in the area is especially intense. Hundreds of new-to-science species of plants and animals have been discovered during the last three decades and more are recorded each year, but It’s frequently said that many new species vanish before science can even discover them. There are 30 national parks in the country that are primarily in name only. Poaching (often practiced by park rangers) has decimated wildlife.

The antelope-like saola, also called Asian unicorn is the largest land-dwelling animal discovered anywhere since 1937:

We will not see this rare mammal as it could be extinct. Despite intensive surveys, no verifiable sighting of a saola has occurred since a photo was taken of one six years ago. A barking deer and a striped rabbit are nearing extinction along with a giant, 21-inch-long walking-stick insect. I am not as concerned as much about that walking stick insect. This must be related to the one I took off my back in Australia back in 1975 and I do not really want to see one again! I only shudder at the thought and will not miss it if extinct!

The animal kingdom, already hemmed in by habitat destruction because of an exploding human population, are also being shot, snared and live-captured so efficiently that national parks and other natural areas are now mostly afflicted with “empty forest syndrome”. The last rhino was shot by poachers in 2010. Tigers have been effectively hunted out of existence. Only tiny populations of bears and elephants hang on in small, vulnerable pockets. Vietnam’s forests shelter two dozen species of primates — gibbons, macaques, lorises and langurs, often in colors that make the human tribe look banal by contrast. Nearly all of the many primate species are at risk of extinction. 

There are issues with corruption in all segments of Vietnamese society, and forest protection is no different. The corruption that afflicts Vietnam's one-party government, along with the growing economy, are major factors in the disappearance of natural habitat and endangered species. If there is hope for Vietnam’s natural heritage, some of it resides with creative, sometimes courageous conservation groups like Education for Nature-Vietnam, who are pushing forward research, criminal investigations, political fights and legal maneuvers. But there is risk with its action since they are seen as being the enemy for those in the practice of poaching. Another ray of hope lies in engaging local communities in wildlife protection with economic incentives, such as what is being done by the World Wildlife Fund. But for the most part, the future looks bleak and any action being taken now is probably too late.

How could mankind be so absolutely, ruthlessly insane to allow animals to become extinct? When you study this primate's picture following and the expression on his face, he must be asking what right does mankind have to take away his ability to live in harmony with nature? This is a picture of horror, shock, and fear and that no one loves or wants him to survive and he is at the mercy of mankind. God created him based on His love. How could God create and then watch mankind destroy him? The writing's on the wall my friends, his days for now will come to an end, but mankind's turn to die will come really soon, just watch! Who do you think should inherit the earth? Just read further here and documentaries on the Vietnam War to learn more about mankind and the impact they had on nature if you need further clarity.

Agent Orange

The war in Vietnam was supposed to be just about people, but it was also creating an ecological disaster. In the early 60's, the Americans used chemical weapons on crops to destroy their growth since those crops were being used to feed the army of the National Liberation Front (NLF), or Viet Cong. Americans also dropped chemicals in the jungle to turn areas to dust. 

Besides planned destruction there was destruction during active combat. For instance, if the Americans saw movement in the forest, they destroyed the forest regardless of what was there, whether that be civilians, animals, or the enemy.

The main environmental concern that persists in Vietnam today is the chemical herbicide legacy of Agent Orange that caused birth defects and many health problems towards Vietnamese residents (and also animals) especially in the southern and central areas that were affected most by the chemicals, with nearly 4.8 million Vietnamese being exposed. So we are supposed to do a bicycle ride through the country and see some rice paddies that were probably all contaminated at one time with Agent Orange.

In 2012, the United States began a joint clean up project in the former chemical storage areas that was heavily affected with each clearance getting done through several phases.

Cluster Munition Remnants and Land Mines

The Socialist Republic of Vietnam’s mine problem is small compared to its explosive remants of war (ERW) contamination, though its full extent is unknown. One report estimates 800,000 tons of unexploded ordnance remained in Vietnam after the fighting stopped in 1975. It has caused more than 100,000 injuries since, including 40,000 deaths. In Quang Tri, where more than 80% of the land area is still contaminated by mines and explosives, it remains a grim fact of life.

The Convention on Cluster Munitions (CCM) is an international treaty that prohibits the use, transfer, and stockpiling of cluster bombs that has now been signed by 108 different countries. Lessons were learned as to use due to the problems it causes post war and we have Vietnam as a victim. Such a terrible thing to do to a country, America. You should be ashamed of yourself and it is no wonder that over half of the people who lost their life becaue of war were Vietnamese civilians. U.S. arguments favoring the use of cluster munitions are that their use reduces the number of aircraft and artillery systems needed to support military operations and if they were eliminated, significantly more money would have to be spent on new weapons, ammunition, and logistical resources. Well then, stop going to war!

After the fall of Saigon in 1975, the Vietnamese government was left with the legacy of not only Vietnamese and American mines, but also mines that were planted later by both Cambodian and Chinese forces. The US government has recently given some financial assistance for humanitarian mine action, similar to what they did for those mines they planted in Cambodia. 

Lets not forget what all of this unexploded ordnance has been doing to the remaining animal wildlife in Vietnam. I found no article on this, but it was mentioned that some bears poached were missing a leg or two. Imagine a bear setting off a device, losing a limb, but at least it was not a civilian casualty (thank you for the favor), but then have that same civilian shoot the bear someplace else later because the bear could not move as fast! Just leave the bear alone and he will do his duty and eventually take out another device?! What chance did the bear have?! Did anyone think of what they were doing to the environment when they released all of those cluster bombs?!

Sample Government Initiatives

The government is trying to 'turn the ship around' despite its limited resources when it comes to the environment in its current state:

• Many irrigation and water supply facilities in the Mekong Delta have been developed since their disastrous experience with the dry season of 2016. Sufficient and updated information and data on groundwater resources will serve as an objective and scientific basis for making policies, which is critical to the sustainable development of the delta adapting to climate change.

• Vietnamese people have a special tree planting festival each spring, which highlights the country’s traditional custom initiated by President Ho Chi Minh in the hope of greening up the country. Hanoi will grow about 120,000 trees in districts, towns, public places, offices, schools and hospitals this spring in memory of President Ho Chi Minh

• Vietnam, the third largest wood exporter in Asia, is being pressured globally for conservation and effective forest management. The Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) is a global not-for-profit organization dedicated to promoting responsible forest management around the world. The National Forest Stewardship Standard (NFSS) for Vietnam has been launched and will be effective from May 1 this year. Applying this new standard will enable FSC certificate holders to gain greater access to global markets by proving their commitment to good forest management, and the positive impact that their operations have on the environment, as well as the communities and workers who depend on these forests.

• Developing tourism and services in protective and special-use forests in parallel with conservation will become a key part of the national economy in the future. Management boards of protective and special-use forests were expected to gradually apply financial autonomy by collecting payments for forest environmental services and fees from developing eco-tourism. 

This beautiful picture following was probably published by the government:

There is nothing much wrong with this positive propaganda, but it can lead others to become misinformed as to what is actually happening in this country. The government does need to set an example, then go the extra mile and put more pressure on the public to change current habits, as they are still focused solely on trying to get ahead financially. There are some good people in Vietnam who want to protect the environment; but generally Vietnam's overall populace needs to be educated or to grow up and take responsibility.

When we go to Vietnam, we need to in our own small way promote taking care of the environment and not follow along with current practice. We need to set a good example and help influence the locals with conservation measures, and indirectly help support government initiatives. That's right, we need to work with the 'communist government' for the sake of the country's environment health.

Housing

Vietnam has lifted more than 35 million people out of poverty since the early 1990's due to rapid economic growth and reforms. However, nearly 8 percent of Vietnam’s 97-million population is still living on less than 700,000 Vietnamese Dong (US$30) per month in rural areas. Low-income families living in poorly built housing are constantly being forced to rebuild their homes due to natural disasters. Seven in 10 people with inadequate shelter face the risk of typhoons, torrential storms and flooding which hit Vietnam annually. Among rural dwellers, about one third lack adequate sanitation while 3 percent do not have access to clean water

Habitat for Humanity in Vietnam

Habitat for Humanity began working in Vietnam in January, 2001 with its first project in Da Nang in the central coastal region. As of January 2019, Habitat has enabled more than 14,800 low-income Vietnamese families to improve their living conditions through decent homes, clean water and safe sanitation. I had to get re-vaccinated for typhoid fever because of water contamination. Habitat Vietnam has also provided training in areas such as disaster preparedness, financial education, and hygiene practices to nearly 123,000 individuals.

Habitat Vietnam partners with low-income families to build, repair or upgrade their homes with families contributing “sweat equity” or their own labor, and typically repaying the costs through micro-finance loans. International volunteers provide a hand-up by building alongside the families. Habitat also enables families to build facilities for clean water and safe sanitation based on their needs. The partner organizations that Habitat works with include the local government and communities. The training that Habitat offers to its partners includes appropriate construction technology, financial management, awareness and practice of proper hygiene, and community-based disaster risk management.