Latest news with #VietCong
The Star
13 hours ago
- Business
- The Star
Vietnam's war-themed coffee chain: Where hipsters meet Vietcong
Cong Caphe is a large Vietnamese café chain. Its trademark is a khaki-green exterior and waiters and waitresses in Viet Cong outfits. — Photos: Carola Frentzen/dpa Vietnam knows its coffee. After all this country has its own national coffee style, a drip coffee served with condensed milk, beloved around the world. It's also the world's second largest producer of beans behind Brazil - and globally known for its robusta beans. One coffee chain combines the country's love of caffeine with the other thing it is internationally associated with - the Vietnam War. Cong Caphe is a large Vietnamese café chain. Its trademark is a khaki-green exterior and waiters and waitresses in Viet Cong outfits. — Photo: Carola Frentzen/dpa Founded some 20 years ago, the Cong Caphe chain serves you coffee by baristas clad in military-green uniforms in cafes that might make you feel like you've sought shelter at a bunker (albeit a very stylish bunker with a great interior decorator). The chain that has since expanded beyond the country's borders, running over 100 cafes, including in South Korea, Canada, Malaysia and Taiwan. A French branch is set to open soon. Dark-green walls adorned with camouflage helmets and war-time photographs are complimented by rusty wooden furniture, with other memorabilia displayed like in a museum. Cong Caphe is a large Vietnamese café chain. Its trademark is a khaki-green exterior and waiters and waitresses in Viet Cong outfits. Photo: Carola Frentzen/dpa "With our attire, we want to honour the soldiers of that time who fought for our country," says employee Duc Anh Lee, adjusting his dark green military cap. Young people and digital nomads crowd around the counter to place their orders. Vietnam is a young country: like most of his compatriots, Duc was born after the Vietnam War fought from 1955 to 1975. Coffee and wartime memorabilia are eveywhere in Vietnam. One trendy chain of coffee shops is now even combining both in one space. Photo: Carola Frentzen/dpa Memories of that time are omnipresent throughout the country to this day, with the ruling communists doing their part to remind the younger generations - and tourists - that it was them who ultimately emerged victorious after dealing US forces a devastating defeat after years of deadly jungle fighting. Cong Caphe says its mission is "to inspire imagination and bring about a distinct emotional experience of Vietnam." Indeed, its military-meets-hipster cafes are truly unique. If you go, make sure to try the iced coconut coffee, the chain's absolute bestseller. – dpa
Yahoo
02-06-2025
- General
- Yahoo
How a POW humming ‘Old McDonald' at Hanoi Hilton saved lives
He couldn't recall how he had gotten there — all Douglas Hegdahl could remember was leaving behind his glasses in his bunk and going up to the top deck of the cruiser Canberra to watch the ship firing its guns off the Gulf of Tonkin. 'I can't tell you how I fell from my ship,' Hegdahl said after his release in 1969. 'All I know is, I walked up on the deck. It was dark and they were firing, and the next thing I recall I was in the water.' Picked up by a North Vietnamese fishing boat after treading water for hours, and handed over to the Viet Cong before being brought to Hỏa Lò Prison, also known as the Hanoi Hilton. It was there that the 20-year-old sailor from Clark, South Dakota, began one of the greatest non-combatant cons of the war. Deemed a low-value prisoner due to his low rank, Hegdahl began to exploit this perception. 'I had probably the most embarrassing capture in the entire Vietnam War,' Hegdahl said in a 1997 interview with author and veteran Marc Leepson. 'I found that my defense posture was just to play dumb. Let's face it, when you fall off your boat, you have a lot to work with.' Pretending to be illiterate and suffering from a cognitive disability, Hegdahl's ruse eventually led to his captors giving the American prisoner of war more leeway within the harsh confines of the prison, which often included regular use of severe torture and harsh interrogation. Unlike many prisoners who were not allowed to interact with one another, Hegdahl was given more freedom to interact with POWs — which he used to his advantage. After his initial capture in 1967, Hegdahl quietly began to collect vital information, covertly communicating with fellow POWs, memorizing the names, capture dates and personal details of approximately 256 other American prisoners, according to the Veterans Breakfast Club. He developed mnemonic devices, including the nursery rhyme 'Old McDonald Had a Farm,' and repeated the information constantly to ensure he would not forget it. He also managed to glean the exact location of the infamous camp. Dubbed 'The Incredibly Stupid One' by North Vietnamese guards, Hegdahl frequently frustrated their attempts to use him for propaganda purposes. Feigning compliance, Hegdahl would read out statements criticizing the U.S., but they were so laced with errors and the performance so flat that they were rendered unusable by his captors. 'I was so mad about their propaganda that it became a personal war to think how I could mess it up,' Hegdahl recalled in a 1972 interview. Despite most of the American officers having a 'No Go Home Early' pact, Hegdahl was released in 1969 with the support of imprisoned senior officers in order to bring back valuable intelligence to the U.S. government. His meticulous recall of names provided a comprehensive list of POWs held in Vietnam, including the reclassification of 63 service members previously listed as missing in action to POW. After his release from the Army, Hegdahl moved to San Diego, but never stopped serving his country. He began working as an instructor in the Survival, Evasion, Resistance and Escape, or SERE, school in San Diego Bay. One of his students, William J. Dougherty, a CIA officer, was among the 52 hostages held in the U.S. Embassy during the 1979 Iranian Hostage Crisis. Dougherty credits Hegdahl's lectures with helping him keep his 'sanity, dignity and secrets intact.' According to Leepson, Hegdahl's quick thinking and coolness under immense strain should be recognized. 'I think it was one of the most heroic acts not in combat during the Vietnam War,' Leepson told The Independent. 'And I think that's something that people should know.'
The Sun
01-06-2025
- Politics
- The Sun
Moment TV daredevil Guy Martin makes savage war weapon napalm as he tours Vietnam 50 years after fall of Saigon
LEGENDARY motorbike racer Guy Martin tried his hand at making napalm as he headed to Vietnam to mark 50 years since the end of the war. For the latest "Our Guy in…" Channel 4 series, Guy travelled from Hanoi in the north of the country Ho Chi Minh city in the south and saw first hand the legacy of a war that claimed more than 1.3million lives. 11 11 Speaking exclusive to The Sun, Guy said: "They're all looking forward, they're not dwelling on the past, and they're not letting the war define them. It just blew me away." The war between the communist North and western-aligned South intensified in 1965 when the US committed serious force over fears that Soviet influence was spreading in the region. After eight years of intense fighting, the US finally withdrew in 1973 and in 1975 evacuated the country once and for all, when Communist forces surrounded the country's embassy in the country's capital of Saigon, since renamed Ho Chi Minh city. In total, 58,000 American troops were killed - over half of whom were aged just 18. Guy took a Soviet-era motorbike down the route of the legendary Ho Chi Minh trail, a supply route used by the Viet Cong communist guerrillas. It proved crucial in giving them the upper hand over the much more technologically advanced Americans. More than a million tonnes of supplies were transported via the trail, often using nothing more than pushbikes and improvised bridges to cross rivers. But limited resources and a deep knowledge of the landscape made the Vietnamese skilled engineers, and experts at creating boobytraps that would prove devastating to the Americans. In response, the US deployed terrifying weapons such as Napalm - a fearsome mixture of chemicals used to burn through miles of thick jungle. Mixing a small amount of its components in a jar, Guy was then able to see for himself the weapon behind some of the most horrific imagery that defined the war. He said: "That is the worst weapon. Absolutely horrible. "The fire would be that intense, it'll drag oxygen from wherever it can get it, so it'll suffocate whoever's in the building. "The heat would be a thousand degrees. You're not lasting long." Another weapon used with devastating effect by the United States was a herbicide called Agent Orange, designed to destroy vegetation in an attempt to deprive the Vietnamese of cover. 11 11 Like the millions of bombs dropped, its legacy can still be felt today. Guy paid a visit to Son, a maths and computer programming lecturer who is one of those battling the effects today. His father was in the north Vietnamese army, and at one point during the war found himself soaked in the liquid dropped from an American plane. Tests conducted years later confirmed he had been poisoned, and he passed away from cancer in 2006. The genetic damage caused by the chemical has left Son born with birth defects and unable to walk. Guy said: "They used the same weed killer than they use to kill the weeds on the side of the road, but it was 20 times stronger. 'And the landmass that they covered was bigger than Wales.' 11 11 11 An estimated 3 million Vietnamese are still affected by its aftermath. In one month alone, the US dropped as many bombs on Vietnam as it during the entire Second World War. Many of them failed to explode on impact, meaning that acres of the country remain highly-dangerous no-go zones. In total, more than 100,000 people in the country have died since the end of the war as a result of left-over explosives. Guy joined the frontline of the effort to clear the countryside as he headed out with a team of charity workers. 'People are still getting killed because of unexploded mines and fields,' Guy said. 'They've been at it for 30-odd years, just working their way through the fields, using the metal detectors to find the mines and bombs, and then doing a controlled explosion,' Guy added as he reflected on joining in the operation. 'It was great to be part of.' After heading out into the field with metal detectors, Guy and the team came across three unexploded bombs in the small area they were sweeping. A controlled explosion is then performed once the device is wrapped in sandbags, the detonation cord dragged out to a safe distance, and locals warned to clear the area. Guy was then shown how to use the detonation switch, and after a countdown from ten, triggered the explosion. 'There was muck and stuff flying everywhere,' he said. 'And this was a daily occurrence.' Our Guy in Vietnam airs on Channel 4 at 9pm, Sunday June 1. 11
The Wire
31-05-2025
- Politics
- The Wire
In Photos: Vietnam and Its Politics Today
Menu हिंदी తెలుగు اردو Home Politics Economy World Security Law Science Society Culture Editor's Pick Opinion Support independent journalism. Donate Now Top Stories In Photos: Vietnam and Its Politics Today Shome Basu 41 minutes ago Today, the modern Hanoi carries a sense of discipline. Priority is given to farmers and workers, holding firm to the bastion of Marx's economic policies. Photo: Shome Basu. Real journalism holds power accountable Since 2015, The Wire has done just that. But we can continue only with your support. Contribute now Growing up in Calcutta, I remember the slogans: 'Amar Naam, Tomar Naam – Vietnam (your name, my name, Vietnam).' The Communist regime in Calcutta cleverly renamed the street where the US Consulate is located 'Ho Chi Minh Sarani'. This has remained unchanged by the subsequent government. Ho Chi Minh is seen as a victim of American supremacy – something some Bengalis can relate to – and as a rebellious leader from Asia who could take on the West. Fifty years is a long time, but not long enough to forget. Sun, a communist and an ardent party worker in Hanoi, told me, 'We call it an American war. Vietnam fought for its defence.' The city is always bathed in red in the evenings, as communist symbolism decks the streets. With nearly 3.7 million deaths over 20 years, American exploits took a toll on both sides during the infamous war. The driving force was the US's fear of communism. But surprisingly, one sees many American tourists, and cafés displaying American brands and music. Sun said, 'We forgave but never forgot.' Today, as business booms and Vietnam becomes a market for the world, it still struggles with China over the South China Sea and, more recently, Trump's tariffs – since the country's economy is heavily based on US exports and forms part of the global supply chain economy. The shadow of communism, with imagery involving Uncle Ho (Ho Chi Minh) and Lenin, is still seen and felt. Today, the modern city carries a sense of discipline, with speed limits on highways and priority given to farmers and workers, holding firm to the bastion of Marx's economic policies. My images are a showcase of what modern Vietnam looks like today – especially the capital, Hanoi, and the rural areas that dominate its largely captive economy. The rice fields alone are enough to understand how the US Army lost the war. It is impossible to fight in the sultry weather, through vast swaths of rice fields, with snakes and inhospitable rains, conditions only the Viet Cong could endure, trapping numerous American GIs to their deaths. Today, the city reflects its past, but its modern look may cause one to forget that seventy years ago, a war began that only ended in 1975—creating the space to shape a modern Vietnam. All photos by Shome Basu. Make a contribution to Independent Journalism Related News The Vanquished West: 50 Years After the End of Vietnam War, a Memoir of Resistance by the Global South Vietnam War 50 Years On: How It Changed Perception of War The Many Meanings of Vietnam China, Vietnam Sign Dozens of Deals Amidst Trump's Tariff Threats By Declaring Economic World War, Trump is Pursuing an Imperial Expansion Strategy Bangladesh Cites Violation Of International Law After Mob Vandalises Diplomatic Mission in Agartala New Refugee Shelter in Austria Set on Fire as Support For Far Right Grows Toxic VX Nerve Agent Used To Murder Kim Jong Nam, Says Malaysia How the Pentagon Tried to Cure the US of Its 'Vietnam Syndrome' About Us Contact Us Support Us © Copyright. All Rights Reserved.
Toronto Star
29-05-2025
- Toronto Star
Everyone must see this photo — thousands of lives depend on it
Her name is Ward Al-Sheikh Khalil. She's the silhouette of a 5-year-old girl who was recorded in the early hours of Monday morning as she escaped through the flames of Israel's latest slaughter. An air strike destroyed the school in Gaza City where Ward had sheltered with other Palestinian families who had been forced from their homes. Ward survived. Her mother, and all but one of her siblings, did not, according to reports from Gaza. Sometimes it takes an image, or one story, to grab hold, and to shock the world into caring. Alan Kurdi was the 2-year-old Syrian boy whose body washed up on the sandy shores of a Turkish beach in September 2015. The rubber boat carrying his family to Greece capsized, like so many other boats transporting desperately fleeing refugees had before. That image of the little boy's lifeless body brought the plight of the humanitarian crisis to the world. The attention was too late, too little and short-lived. But his death saved lives. South Vietnamese forces follow after terrified children, including 9-year-old Kim Phuc, center, as they run down Route 1 near Trang Bang after an aerial napalm attack on suspected Viet Cong hiding places, June 8, 1972. Nick Ut AP Kim Phuc was perhaps the most famous image to break through. The 1972 iconic photo of children fleeing a deadly napalm attack, with Phuc in the foreground, became a defining photo of the Vietnam War and helped finally bring an end to the fighting. It too came too late. But her terrible suffering saved lives. Images now are everywhere, for everything, and this saturation means they do not hold the same power as they did a decade ago and certainly not as they did five decades ago. There have been hundreds, if not thousands of photos and videos and testimonials from Gaza, as heartbreaking as this one. Those in power will condemn the atrocity and promise action that never comes. Saying 'it's complicated' has become synonymous with 'look away.' But take a moment and don't look away. Watch this video of Ward — and try to absorb that horror. The footage is on CBC, BBC, CBS and other media outlets that fact-check to the best standards that are possible in a war that Israel has censored. Foreign journalists are barred from entering Gaza and the brave Palestinian journalists who are on the ground have been targeted by Israel and harassed by Hamas. ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW On Oct. 25, 2023, Canadian journalist and novelist Omar El Akkad wrote this sentence on X: 'One day, when it's safe, when there's no personal downside to calling a thing what it is, when it's too late to hold anyone accountable, everyone will have always been against this.' Beneath was a video of the destruction with the words: 'This is Gaza.' He wrote that before more than 50,000 Palestinians were killed, almost a third of them children. He turned that 'tweet' into a book that is a searing indictment of the West's 'institutional gutlessness.' It's not 'complicated.' And it's too late. But let the image of Ward grab hold and save what lives we still can.
