These unique guides produced by the Department of Defense provide comprehensive information about all aspects of life in Vietnam, with a special emphasis on geography, history, the economy, society, security and military matters, religion, traditions, urban and rural life, ethnic groups, crime, the environment, government, holidays, gender issues and much more.CHAPTER 1 * PROFILE * Introduction * Facts and Figures * CHAPTER 2 * GEOGRAPHY * Introduction * Climate * Geographic Divisions * The Northern Highlands * Red River Delta * The Central Highlands * The Coastal Lowlands * Mekong Delta * Topographical Features * Truong Son * Hoang Lien * Major Cities * Hanoi * Ho Chi Minh City * Haiphong * Hue * Major Rivers * Red River * Huong River * Mekong River * Wildlife and Biodiversity * Environmental Hazards * Natural Disasters * CHAPTER 3 * HISTORY * Introduction * Ancient History * An Independent Vietnamese Kingdom is Founded * Ly Dynasty * Tran Dynasty * Le Dynasty * Nguyen Dynasty * French Colonial Rule * The Consolidation of Power * The Rise of Ho Chi Minh * World War II and Japanese Occupation * Vietnam Divided * The Establishment of Two Different Systems * The Fall of Ngo Dinh Diem * Deepening American Involvement in the Vietnam War * Vietnamization and the Paris Peace Accords * National Reunification * Recent Developments * CHAPTER 4 * ECONOMY * Introduction * Standard of Living * Agriculture * Rice * Coffee * Cocoa * Aquaculture * Shrimp * Catfish * Industry * Foreign Investment * Trade * Tourism * Banking * Transportation * Energy * Economic Outlook * CHAPTER 5 * SOCIETY * Introduction * Ethnic Groups * Religion * Gender Issues * Clothing * Women * Men * Cuisine * The Arts * Literature * Music * Water Puppets * Sports * CHAPTER 6 * SECURITY * Introduction * U.S.-Vietnamese Relations * Relations with Neighboring Countries * China * Cambodia * Laos * Vietnamese Armed Forces * Police * Issues Affecting Security * Religious Freedom * Terrorist Groups * Poverty * Corruption * Geopolitics of Water Resources * CHAPTER 1 * PROFILE * Climate * Major Cities * Hanoi * Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) * Haiphong * Hue * Danang * History * The Origins of the Vietnamese People * System of Imperial Governance Adopted * French Colonial Rule * Vietnam Divided Into North and South * Counterinsurgency and the Strategic Hamlet Program * The Republic of Vietnam Under Siege * The Establishment of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam * Government * Economy * MEDIA * Ethnic Groups and Languages * Vietnamese * Chinese * Khmer * Montagnards * Hmong * CHAPTER 2 * RELIGION * Introduction * Influence of Religion on Daily Life * Mahayana Buddhism * Taoism * Catholicism * Buddhist Sects * Cao Dai * Hoa Hao * Religion and the Modern State * Buddhist Places of Worship * Religious Holidays and Festivals * Buddha's Birthday * Ghost Festival * Christmas * CHAPTER 3 * TRADITIONS * Introduction * Honor and Values * Greetings * Dress Codes * Hospitality and Gift Giving * Social Events * Marriage * Funerals * Non-religious Holidays * Lunar New Year * Reunification Day * Ho Chi Minh's Birthday * National Day * Mid-Autumn Festival * Do's and Don'ts * CHAPTER 4 * URBAN LIFE * Introduction * Telecommunications * Traffic and transportation * Health Care * Education * Restaurants and Dining * The Marketplace * Beggars and Hawkers * CHAPTER 5 * RURAL LIFE * Introduction * Land Use and the Rural Economy * Transportation and Lodging * Health Care in Rural Areas * Education in Rural Areas * A Different Way of Life * Household Registration and Identity Cards * Checkpoints * Landmines * CHAPTER 6 * FAMILY LIFE * Introduction * Elderly * Family Formation * Childbirth * Childhood * HOUSEHOLD AUTHORITY * STATUS OF WOMEN * DIVORCE