Letters: Don’t overstate French influence in Vietnam

Long history; short memory?

Regarding “French Impressions,” the May 25 story on Vietnam: The French occupied Vietnam for 100 years, but the country’s influence may have been exaggerated by those who feel an affinity for French culture.

Vietnam has more than 4,000 years of history, and a century is but a breeze on the ocean. Thousands of years will pass, and the Vietnamese will have assimilated many more of the cultures it comes into contact with. To give the impression that the French influence is there to remain is misleading and plainly wrong.

--H. Dinh, McLean, Va.

Who decided to run your story about Vietnam on Memorial Day weekend? Do you think enough time has passed that those people who served in that terrible war have forgotten it? I think not. Last weekend was a terrible time to run your story.

Jim Davlin , San Gabriel

I visited Vietnam in December. During the Vietnam War, I was a teenager. I would have never thought that one day I would go to Vietnam.

As a single woman traveling alone, covering long distances by train and local tours, I felt safe. People were kind and smiling a lot despite seeing so many wars. I had a wonderful time.

--Karine Armen, Glendale