Vietnam: The South

What do the Prophet Muhammad and Winston Churchill have in common? The answer to this, and many other fascinating insights concerning South Vietnam are revealed in this geographic and historical overview, narrated by Martin Sheen (star of Apocalypse Now, which lends a certain irony). Enduring numerous invasions over the centuries, including the Chinese and French, the Vietnamese people have shown remarkable resilience and fortitude (what Americans call the Vietnam War is, for the Vietnamese, just one of many struggles that have torn the country apart). Perhaps because the program is aimed at an American student audience, the Vietnam War is referred to and discussed often, including a segment on the fall of Saigon. Still, much more time is spent presenting Saigon as an emerging center of economic strength, comparing it to Singapore during the 1960s, and touching upon the various issues that arise with economic growth. In addition to examining the geographic, historical, and economic aspects of South Vietnam, the program also explores contemporary culture and tradition in the areas of transportation, food, and religion (in case you are still wondering, Muhammad and Churchill are both revered saints in the Cao Dai religion, indigenous to South Vietnam). One of eight programs in the Asia on the Edge of Change series, which includes Vietnam: The North, Burma & Cambodia, and The Himalayan Region, this is recommended. Aud: J, H. (E. Gieschen)