The American War

Hanoi recently turned 1000 years old and has a rich cultural history. Unfortunately, we bombed the shit out of it, destroying temples, ancient buildings and much of the population. Approximately 4 million Vietnamese were injured or killed during the war (10% of the population). It's impossible to visit the city and not contemplate the catastrophic costs. The Fine Arts Museum provided a visual history: scenic lacquer paintings and folk art are replaced almost exclusively with the subject of war for decades. 

(I forgot to note the artist...)

So you might wonder what it's like to be an American visitor. I was certainly prepared for some backlash, but unnecessarily so. People could not have been more gracious and welcoming. My guide says the Vietnamese are happy to leave the conflict in the past.

Indeed, the contemporary art and the city streets reflect a modern, global outlook.