VIETNAM'S VITALITY, VIGOUR AND VIVACITY

       If there is one country in Southeast Asia that everyone has heard about long before they discover the region,it's Vietnam. Of course, such infamy wasn't always for the right reasons,but this is the new Vietnam and it's one of the most intoxicating places on earth. It's a kaleidoscope of vivid colours and subtle shades, of exotic sights and curious sounds, of compelling history and contrasting cultures.
       Nature has blessed Vietnam with a bountiful harvest. From the soaring mountains of the far north to the carpet of emerald-green rice paddies in the south,Vietnam is little short of stunning. The curvaceous coastline is defined by endless beaches, lovely lagoons and hidden coves.
       Inland, peasant women in conical hats still tend to their fields, children ride buffalo along country paths, and minority people scratch out a living from impossible gradients.
       If Vietnam has a soundtrack, it's the buzz of a million motorbikes, the cries of street hawkers plying their wares and the tinkle of pagodas drawing the faithful to prayer. Here, the modern and medieval collide. The big cities are strikingly sophisticated, with gourmet restaurants and designer boutiques, but turn a random corner and find yourself travelling back in time.
       For culinary crusaders, Vietnam is a treasure trove of more than 500 different dishes. It's a wonderful world of pungent herbs and secret spices. Dip delicate spring rolls in nuoc mam , a fish sauce that, for the Vietnamese, is as compulsory as ketchup. Play down-in-one with ruou (pronounced xeo), the whisky of the mountains.Or embrace the street life with a bowl of pho at a pint-sized plastic table.Over the centuries locals have absorbed and adapted Chinese, Indian, French and even Japanese techniques and specialities to their own kitchens and palates, and,more recently, expatriates and those Vietnamese chefs who have spent time cooking overseas have breathed new life into whitetablecloth dining scenes in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City.
       But sadly the sorrows of war weigh heavily on the consciousness of all who can remember it, and the Vietnamese side of the story is told at poignant sites across the country. Although fiercely protective of their independence and sovereignty,the Vietnamese are graciously welcoming of foreigners who come as guests, not would-be conquerors.
       Of course, the country's history did not begin and end with the American war and the country is littered with vestiges of empires past and battles fought, all of which are elements in piecing together the story of Vietnam today.
       Politically, Vietnam remains a perplexing place. Vietnam's population hovers at about 85.5 million, ranking it the 13th most populous country in the world, and with its population growth rate it could soon hit the top 10.
       Either way, there is no doubt the latest Asian dragon has awoken from its slumber.Tourism has had a huge impact on Vietnam in the past two decades, helping plug the Vietnamese back into the world.
       It has spread into areas that other businesses cannot reach, and empowered a new generation of young Viets to a better life. Dynamic in commerce and dedicated to their families. They love to share a joke,a story, and getting to know some Vietnamese beyond the tourism industry can be the highlight of a visit.
       The Vietnamese have vitality as tangible as the traffic on the street. Vietnam is in top gear. Try and catch it before it reinvents itself as another Malaysia or Thailand. For now, it remains one of the most enriching,enlivening and enticing countries on earth.