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Many of you may remember winning an all-inclusive, all-expense paid vacation awarded to you by our government many years ago. Yes, that’s right South Vietnam! Where everyone was named Charlie, the summers were hot and humid and the gentle springtime rain was called a monsoon. Adrian Cronauer and “Good Morning Vietnam,” on the radio (if you were there in 1965~66, I believe), Walter Cronkite reported the scores, that is the daily body counts each day on the 6 O’clock news. Weed was cheap and the women cheaper. The Vietcong didn’t wear uniforms and you never knew who the hell your enemy was or where they were coming from next. Stateside protests gathered steam and the welcoming committee was disbanded before the soldiers came back. Nixon threw more young lives at the enemy than bombs, enemy targets were often off-limits because of politics and Jane Fonda came to the rescue of American prisoners of war. What a great time it was for all….
Vietnam occupies the eastern and southern part of the Indochinese peninsula in Southeast Asia, with the South China Sea along its entire coast. China is to the north and Laos and Cambodia are to the west. Long and narrow on a north-south axis, Vietnam is about twice the size of Arizona. The Mekong River delta lies in the south. ENJOY!!!
Languages: Vietnamese, English, French, Chinese, Khmer
Religions: Buddhist, Roman Catholic, Hoa Hao, Protestant, Islam
Status: UN Country 1977
Dong: Vietnamese: đong - literally "copper" or "bronze", in modern Vietnamese Dong means "currency".
Today’s featured note is from South Vietnam. It is a 100 Dong issued in 1966 (During Cronauer’s tour). Printed by Thomas De la Rue London. Watermark: Le Van Duyet’s head.
(Front) Le Van Duyet in National costume at left. (Back) Building and ornate gateway at center right.
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