Links Page on Indochina

Outline

  1. Cambodia
  2. Laos
  3. Vietnam

Cambodia

Population This link estimates population and related statistics for Cambodia in 2001.  Cambodia is expected to reach a population of 12,491,501 with a growth rate of 2.25%.  Cambodia’s infant mortality is high at 65.41 deaths per1000 live births.  Also, there is information on Cambodia’s economy and it’s geographical characteristics at this link.

Culture This link talks about Cambodia’s culture including religion and ethnic groups. Buddhism is the religion of most ethnic Khmer.  About 90 to 95% of the people are Khmer Ethnic and the remainders are Chams, Chinese, Khmer Loeu and Vietnamese. Also, this link discusses the fine arts of Cambodia such as silk weaving.

 

History This link summarizes the horror of the killing fields in Phnom Penh.  The Khmer Rouge took control of the capital, Phnom Penh, of Cambodia on April 17,1975.  They forced the people to work 12 to 14 hour days in labor camps.  Babies, children, and adults were killed without reason. During this time, about 2 million Cambodians died from starvation, torture, or execution.  

Laos

Population This link estimates Laos’s population and shows other population data for 2001.  Laos is expected to reach a population of 5,635,967 with a growth rate of 2.48% for2001. Of the population, 42.1% are under the age of 15 and the infant mortality is extremely high with 92.89 deaths per 1000 live births.  A map of Laos is included at this factual link.

Culture This link shows a glimpse of Laos culture including religion, language, arts and food. Three fifths of the population practices Theravada Buddhism, animism is practiced among the Lao Theung and a small percent are Christians. Laos is the official language of Laos.  Laotians enjoy weaving, basket making, ivory carving, and silverwork.  Also, there are a variety of Laos’s recipes at this link.

History This link talks about the secret war of Laos referred to as the sidekick war of Vietnam War. It was a fourteen-year struggle for the Plain of Jars, a region in northern Laos.  With the help of the United States Air Force, the royal Laotian armed forces and the Hmong, hill people who did most of the fighting, fought in numerous battles against North Vietnamese.  

Vietnam

Population At this link, Vietnam has a population estimate of 79,939,014 for 2001 and a growth rate of 1.45%.  Of the population, 32.1% are under the age of 15, 64.4% are between the ages of 15 and 65, and 5.4% are 65 and older. Additional information at this link includes geographical information and an overview of the economy for Vietnam.

Culture This link talks about Buddhism in Vietnam. Buddhist tradition goes back to the year 563 BCE, the year Siddhartha Gautama was born. Siddhartha was recognized for having the 32 auspicious signs (special physical characteristics) of an enlightened one, the ultimate state that each person works toward through reincarnation. Buddha is a title for someone who has awakened and become enlightened. The Mahayana school of Buddhist teaches of the possibility for all people to reach enlightenment. In contrast, the Theravada school says enlightenment is reserved for a select group.  Both of these schools of Buddhist teaching exist in Vietnam.

History This link is a picture essay about the Vietnam War. It is a brief summary of the war from the time U.S. sends troops to Vietnam in 1950 until Americans leave Vietnam in 1973.  The essay includes images of soldiers and their machines including battle tanks, aircrafts, machine guns and a navy hovercraft.

Submitted by Lori Kress