To many Americans, the word “Vietnam” conjures images of the devastating war that took place in remote villages of Southeast Asia some 30 years ago. The media portrayal of Vietnam suggested it was made up of only scattered thatched-hut villages amid the burning fire of jungle warfare. Few Americans, especially those in the post–Vietnam War generation, are aware of the rich culture and history of Vietnam. Vietnam nestles on the eastern shore of the Indochinese peninsula, and paradise-like beaches stretch from one end of the country to another. The land is fertile and abundant with untapped natural resources. Its ...