Vietnam war effects

The defeat of Saigon and its Allies did not bring peace to Vietnam. A few years later the country invaded Cambodia and men of the rafts (refugees) continued to rise when no country would take them. Although the invasion of its neighbor brought the release of the Cambodian Maoist regime, one of the most bloodthirsty of the planet, it failed to bring peace.

The struggle against the remnants of the Khmer Rouge lasted more than a decade, with constant announcements of withdrawal that were deferred or not met, until in the 90s an election was held in that country (see History of Cambodia).

The former North Vietnam lost 70% of its industrial and transport infrastructure, along with 3,000 schools, 15 universities and 10 hospitals. The Vietnamese environment was deeply damaged by the use of Agent Orange to defoliate large areas of forest that have never recovered from the invasion of bamboo and other plants.

But worse were the effects on the population of such substances, apparently harmless to humans, with thousands of premature abortions, infertility (especially painful for women in rural areas) and births with malformations. There were a large number of children who were illegitimate Africans and Caucasians left in poverty and marginalization by U.S. soldiers.

It also caused extensive damage to agriculture, farmer’s deaths and amputations (especially children). There are thousands of explosives, munitions and unexploded mines in the forests and rice paddies. This caused a drop in agricultural production and increasing urban population. People fled the country which had turned into a battlefield.

The huge infrastructure of tunnels throughout Vietnam is now part of the attractions visited by tourists. You can see the camouflaged entrances and walk around the galleries, sit in the jungles of meetings and even shoot the Ak-47. This war helped tourism to lift the economy, severely weakened after the collapse of the USSR.