Travel to Viet Nam now for an American?
Is it safe for a westener (American) to travel to Viet Nam? A few of my Chinese friends are going to travel around Nam, and invited me. I am War veteran. My particular interest is in the Ho Che Min City area where they are going to stay. Is there still a lot of anti-American sentiment. Serious answers only please!
Don't listen to OZ, he and his NVA buddies all agree that Aussies are God's gift to the freakin' universe. That's why He put them on an island full of crocodiles and poisonous snakes. lol
I've been traveling to VN for a long time. I treat good people with respect and get respected in return. The people of our provincial government have gone out of their way to be hospitable. One of my neighbors is the police chief for a large piece of our province. He's one of my best friends.
My wife and kids still live in Viet Nam, the kids get treated like little princes and princesses. My wife is Viet and can be a bit argumentative. My neighbor recently suggested that I should move to VN to take care of the kids and send my wife to the states to work. We both had a great laugh when I said that I was the only one who could put up with her^-^.
Anyway, the Viet people have moved on and treat all people with great respect. You'll have no problems in Sai Gon, I've never been to Ha Noi so you'll have to trust an aussie on that. You'll probably find OZ burning incense at bac Ho's mausoleum.
Semper Fi!
@OZ, I just checked your web link and was proud to read that every "battle" that the Marines "lost" involved a company or battalion of jar-heads going against a regiment or division of NVA regulars. I don't know what you "roos" call that, but us Marines call it a lop-sided fight. The poor SOB's only out-numbered us by at least 10 to 1. LOL You need better odds than that when you mess with the Corps.
As for the battle of Dai Do, My former CO earned his Medal of Honor during that engagement. I've provided a web-link if you'd care to read it. If you ever have the honor of meeting Gen. Livingston, I would advise you not to P*ss him off unless you have a tank. Small arms, grenades and heavy machine guns only seem to make him madder. lol
Semper Fi
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_E._Livingston
here's some more info a historian might enjoy. Please note the troop numbers of 2nd Bn, 4th Marines and the 320th NVA Division. I, for one, don't consider a Bn decimating and displacing a Division to be a "loss".
The 1968 Tet Offensive resulted in an increase in fighting along the DMZ. A bitter clash started April 30 and ran through May 3 between 2/4 (800 men) and 320th NVA Division (8,000 to 10,000 men) that broke out northeast of Dong Ha. To protect the base and also the 3rd Marine Division headquarters, 2/4 reinforced by B/1/3 was moved forward to seize the fortified village and area around Dai Do. After three days of bloody fighting the cost was very high for both sides. The enemy lost nearly 1500 killed, while 2/4 suffered 81 dead and 397 wounded. The battalion commanding officer LtCol. William "Wild Bill" Weise received the Navy Cross and two company commanders were awarded the Medals of Honor for their bravery and leadership; Captain James E. Livingston (E Co.) and Captain Jay R. Vargas (G Co.). By May 15 the NVA were driven back north across the DMZ. Total losses for the Marines were 233 killed and 821 wounded. The NVA's losses were put at 2945 killed and 47 POW's. Late in 1969, 2/4 was withdrawn to Okinawa as part of the United States policy of gradually turning the war over to the South Vietnamese
Viet Nam New Year. Tet festival
travel viet nam
travel viet nam
travel viet nam
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