Facts about Vietcong

The Vietcong were the supporters of the communist National Liberation Front in South Vietnam, these people tried to make South and North Vietnam one country (during the Vietnam war). They fought against the armed forces of the United States and the government of South Vietnam between 1959 – 1975.

This term was originally applied by Diem’s regime to Communist troops left in hideouts in South Vietnam (about 10,000) after the Geneva Conference of 1954.

The term also appeared in newspapers in Saigon beginning in 1956.

The Viet cong, in full Vietnam Congsan (Vietnamese Communists in English), were trained and supported by the government of communist North Vietnam.

The official Vietnamese history gives the group’s name as the National Liberation Front for South Vietnam or the Liberation Army of South Vietnam. Many writers shorten this to NLF (National Liberation Front).

After being trained, many of these members of Vietcong were sent to the South of Vietnam along the Ho Chi Minh trail in the early 1960s. For arms, special equipment and ammunition, the Vietcong depended on the Ho Chi Minh trail – a jungle route through Laos and Cambodia.

The Vietcong were grouped into three categories: regular forces operating under the command of the communist leadership in the South, full time guerillas organized into companies serving under provincial leadership, and then a part time self-defense militia, composed of units orgnized into platoons and squads used primarily for village defense.

They wore no uniforms, they dressed in the same type of clothing with the local peasants, and blended into the landscape when thier mission was complete. One of their greatest strength was that they could not be found. And they walked among the ordinary people and were very hard to spot.

In order to counter that, the US troops tried to clear the villages by simply burning them down. Napalm and poisonous defoliant were also used to clear the forests that provided cover. By using these methods, over 1 million civilians were killed.

The Vietcong avoided destruction by digging and moving into tunnels. And attempts by US forces to clear those tunnels were extremely dangerous and usually led to death or injury.

Communist forces were armed with Soviet and Chinese weaponry. Many of Vietcong guerrilla units were often equipped with Western infantry weapons either captured from ARVN units or requisitioned through illicit purchase or from French stocks during the first Indochina war.

The Chinese versions of the Russian AK-47 submachine guns were used by most main force Vietcong troops by mid-1960s. They also used a range of effective Chinese and Soviet medium and light machine guns, and infrequently, heavy machine guns.

Many of their well-known war tactics include setting booby traps and landmines, ambushing US patrols, guerrilla war, and planting bombs in towns.

The Vietcong’s best-known action was the Tet Offensive – it riveted the attention of the world’s media for weeks. They attacked cities, towns and villages in the South.

The organization was disbanded in 1976, after South and North Vietnam united under communist rule.

Facts About Pearl Harbor

 Pearl Harbor is on the southern coast of the island of Oahu, Hawaii, United States, just about 8 miles (13 km) west-northwest of downtown Honolulu. 

So, Pearl Harbor is located on the island of Oahu, in the state of Hawaii, within the City and County of Honolulu. It functions as a lagoon harbor and an active military installation known as Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam.

It is best known as the site of the Japanese attack on December 7, 1941, which led the United States to enter World War II. Today, it remains an active U.S. naval base and is also home to several historic memorials, including the USS Arizona Memorial.

History

Hawaii — including Pearl Harbor — became part of the United States in 1898. Before 1898, Hawaii was an independent kingdom and later the Republic of Hawaii.

Hawaii was officially annexed by the United States on July 7, 1898 (President McKinley signed the Newlands Resolution). The formal ceremony transferring sovereignty was held in Honolulu on August 12, 1898. 

That means Pearl Harbor became U.S. territory in 1898, although it did not become part of a U.S. state until Hawaii achieved statehood in 1959.

And therefore, Pearl Harbor was already part of the United States for about 43 years when the Japanese attacked it in 1941.

Who Owned Hawaii Before the U.S.?

Before the United States took control, Hawaii was the independent Hawaiian Kingdom, ruled by the Native Hawaiian monarchy — founded by King Kamehameha I, who unified all the islands in 1810. The kingdom was recognized as a sovereign nation by the U.S., Britain, France, and other countries. The last ruling monarch was Queen Liliʻuokalani, who came to the throne in 1891.

How US Took Hawaii

1. The Sugar Business (1800s)

In the 1800s, Americans started moving to Hawaii. First came Christian missionaries, but soon after came businessmen. These businessmen realized Hawaii had perfect land for growing sugar. They bought up huge amounts of land, started massive sugar plantations, and became very rich selling sugar back to the United States. Because they were making so much money, these American businessmen wanted more political power to protect their businesses.

2. The "Bayonet Constitution" (1887)

The Hawaiian King at the time, King Kalākaua, wanted Hawaii to remain independent. The American businessmen didn't like this. In 1887, a secret group of these businessmen forced the King to sign a new constitution. They literally made him sign it at gunpoint, backed by their own armed militia.

Because it was forced upon him, it became known as the "Bayonet Constitution." This new document stripped the King of most of his power and took away voting rights from many Native Hawaiians and Asian workers, giving all the political control to the rich, white landowners.

3. The Overthrow of the Queen (1893)

When King Kalākaua died, his sister, Queen Liliʻuokalani, took the throne. She was a strong leader who wanted to create a new constitution to give power back to the Native Hawaiian people and restore the monarchy.

The American businessmen panicked. They decided they needed to get rid of the Queen completely so they could keep their wealth and power. In January 1893, they organized a rebellion. To make sure they won, the US Minister (ambassador) to Hawaii ordered US Marines from a nearby warship to land in Honolulu. The soldiers claimed they were just there to "protect American lives," but their presence intimidated the Queen.

To prevent a bloody war that her people would surely lose, Queen Liliʻuokalani surrendered. She stepped down, trusting that the US government back in Washington D.C. would realize what happened and fix the mistake.

4. The US Steps In (1893–1898)

The businessmen declared Hawaii a "Republic" and made an American named Sanford B. Dole the president. They immediately asked the US to annex (absorb) Hawaii.

However, the US President at the time, Grover Cleveland, investigated the overthrow. He concluded that the US Marines had been used illegally to overthrow a peaceful, independent government. Cleveland called the takeover an act of war and demanded the Queen be put back on her throne.

But the businessmen in Hawaii refused. They ignored the President and just kept running their "Republic" for the next five years.

5. Official Annexation (1898)

In 1898, a new US President, William McKinley, took office. By this time, the United States was fighting the Spanish-American War. The US military desperately needed a refueling station and a military base in the middle of the Pacific Ocean to help fight the war in the Philippines.

Because Hawaii (specifically Pearl Harbor) was the perfect strategic location, President McKinley and Congress pushed aside the controversy and officially annexed Hawaii. It became a US Territory, and the American businessmen continued to run the islands and make money off sugar and pineapples.

6. Statehood and the Apology

After decades of being a territory, Hawaii finally became the 50th official US State in 1959.

For over a century, Native Hawaiians protested the illegal overthrow of their Queen and the theft of their land. Finally, in 1993, the US Congress passed the "Apology Resolution," signed by President Bill Clinton. 

The US government officially admitted that the overthrow of the Kingdom of Hawaii was illegal and that the Native Hawaiian people never willingly gave up their rights to their land.

In short: American businessmen went to Hawaii to get rich off sugar. When the Queen tried to take back control of her country, the businessmen used US soldiers to overthrow her. A few years later, the US government officially took over the islands to use them as a military base.

Vietnamese New Year Facts - Tet Nguyen Dan Celebration and Festival

Tet Nguyen Dan - Vietnamese Lunar New Year

Tet Nguyen Dan (also called as Tet) is the Vietnamese Lunar New Year. Tet is the most popular and important festival and holiday in Vietnam. Tet or Vietnamese New Year is celebrated on the same day as Chinese New Year and it lasts for 3 to 7 days. It takes place from the very first day of the Lunar calendar (around late January or early February).

Preparation for Tet starts many days before New Year’s Day. Families save money, store many food and plan far in advance for these special events. Many Vietnamese prepare for Tet by cleaning the house and cooking special holiday foods. Some people paint their houses to give it a new look. They also buy new clothes and pay off all debts before the New Year. The color red, symbolizing happiness and good luck is seen everywhere.

Singapore Old Chinatown - History and Information

Singapore Old Chinatown - 1955

Chinatown, estate, an important part located in the Outram area in the Central Region. It is located within the larger district of Outram.

Singapore’s Chinatown evolved around 1821 when the first Chinese junk from Xiamen, Fujian province in China, arrived. Conditions were harsh. The passengers (which is all men) set up home around the south of Singapore River (today known as Telok Ayer). Each household had to go and collect fresh water in bullock-drawn carts – that is why Chinatown’s local name is called “Niu Che Shui” (Bullock Cart Water). The name is echoed in the Malay name “Kreta Ayer” which has the same meaning. The only source of fresh water were from the wells in Ann Siang Hill and at Spring Street.

Facts About Edison Chen

Edison Chen is a Hong Kong Canadian film actor, producer, musician, fashion designer, and entrepreneur.

His long name is Edison Koon-hei Chen and  also known as Chen Koon Hei, Chen Xing Hua, and Chan Hing Wah. He is of Chinese and 1/8 Portuguese descent.

Born in Vancouver on 7th of October, 1980. Chen has two older sisters and spent his early childhood in British Columbia but his teen years in Hong Kong.

His father, Edward Chen is an entertainment industry mogul in Hong Kong. His father was rumoured to have dated Taiwanese actor Hu Bing and Ryan Zhu (2012’s Mr. Asia winner). He has been spotted frequently dining with handsome male celebrities.

His parents divorced during Edison's early childhood and Edison did not discover his parents had separated until he reached the age of 14.

Chen was in the same tenth grade class as famous actor Nicholas Tse.

Edison searched for a successful way to become a celebrity in Canada but he failed to receive recording contracts within Canada or the States due to his Chinese ancestry, so he returned to Hongkong to make another try with the help of his father and networks.

Chen is the CEO of Clot Media Division Limited, and the founder of CLOT Inc.

Chen spoke English as his first language before learning Mandarin and Cantonese later on. Chen also speaks some Japanese as well.

Chen’s career took a dramatic downfall soon after his photo scandal got leaked in 2008 – he was involved with a number of famous female celebrities including Bobo Chan, Candice Chan, Cecilia Cheung and Gillian Chung.

A collection of such related photos (involving six other identifiable females and other unidentifiable males) were also confiscated by the Hongkong police.

The technician was jailed for eight and a half months for copying, stealing, and distributing more than 1,000 of the ‘sick’ photos.

On February 2008, Chen held a press conference in order to apologize, saying that he had “failed as a role model”. Chen also announced that he would “step away from the HongKong entetainment industry” indefinitely.

The pop star also received a death threat in the shape of a bullet, 13 days after making a public appearance in Singapore. A letter containing the bullet warned Chen to stop making public appearance, or else.

The Nicholas-Edison’s friendship deteriorated after the 2008 photo scandal, as Cecilia Cheung was involved in it – Nicholas’s wife then.

Three years later, he was involved again in another photo scandal but this time with Cammi Tse, a 16-year-old Hong Kong model. The photos were uploaded to the internet after the schoolgirl lost her mobile phone, which contained the photos of them being intimate.

Facts About Jet Li

Jet Li is a Wushu martial arts champion and Chinese film actor. Born in Beijing, China on April 26, 1963, he won his first national championship in Wushu at the age of 11.

After he reached 17 years old, he retired from the sport and made his film debut in Shaolin Temple, and therefore became a star in his home country.

Jet Li (born Li Lian Jie) is the youngest of five children. He lost his father when he was only 2 years old. Jet Li began learning Wushu at the age of 8.

Jet Li traveled to United States in 1974 and gave a martial arts demonstration for the U.S president Richard M. Nixon. In that year, he also became the All-Around National Wushu Champion, a title he held for five consecutive years.

Jet Li played Wong Fei-hung in Once Upon a Time in China (1991), a legendary hero who fights against foreigners in the 19th century.

His Hollywood debut was the ‘Lethal Weapon 4’ movie in 1994, in which he played as a villain alongside actors Danny Glover and Mel Gibson.

Because of his wife's pregnancy, the actor turned down a role in Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon. Jet Li married to Miss Asia Pacific 1986, Nina Li Chi.

Jet Li married his wife Nina in 1999 and they have two daughters. Previously married to Qiuyan Hwang from 1987 – 1990, and has two daughters from the first marriage; Si and Taimi.

When he was young, Jet Li practiced Tibetan Buddhism and became the lifelong apprentice of Loh Kunsang of the Kagyu school.

On 28 July 2009, the Charity fund of Jet Li (the chairman of One Foundation) announced that the actor had indeed become a Singaporean citizen. Jet Li was said to have chosen Singapore for his daughters because of its education system.

Li was in the Maldives when the 2004 tsunami hit. The actor suffered only a minor foot injury while guiding his daughters to safety.

According to Li, once, as a child, when he went to perform for the U.S president Richard Nixon, he was asked by the president to be his personal bodyguard. Jet Li replied that he did not want to protect any individual. The actor said when he grows up, he wants to defend his one billion Chinese countrymen”.

The Forbidden Kingdom (2008 film) was the first film to feature Jet Li and Jackie Chan together, with Jet Li playing the silent monk and Jackie Chan playing the Drunken Master Lu Yan, both based on roles from their classic films.

In Cradle 2 the Grave, Jet Li played a Taiwanese Intelligence officer named Su, who teamed up with a friend and they try to retrieve some precious stones. On the way Li even got to fight a group of UFC fighters (including Tito Ortiz).

Facts about Teresa Teng - Taiwanese Singer

Teresa Teng was a Taiwanese pop singer. Her songs and voice are instantly recognized throughout East Asia and many other areas with large Asian populations.

There is a popular saying “Wherever there are Chinese people, Teresan Teng’s songs can be heard”. Her songs enjoy popularity among Thai, Korean, Indonesian, Malaysian, Khmer, Vietnamese and Japanese listeners as well.

Facts About Anita Mui

Mui was the youngest daughter of the family. Her father died when Mui was a small child.

Ann Mui, her elder sister was also a singer. All the four children were raised in a single parent family.

She dropped out of school at the age of 13. After that Mui sang at nightclub and bars for several years.

In 1982, Mui’s big break came after she defeated 3,000 contestants in the New Talent Singing Competition and win first prize.

However, Mui’s fame did not bring happiness. The singer felt lonely under the pressures of show business and had to continue working hard to support her family.

She appeared with Jackie Chan in the film Rumble in the Bronx.

She performed at the 1988 Summer Olympics alongside Janet Jackson.

She once held a sold-out concert in Hammersmith, London, where Mui was dubbed the “Madonna of Asia” and that title stayed with her throughout her career.

In 2003, Mui career came to a halt when the singer announced that she had cervical cancer, and died at the age of 40. According to some reports, the singer died of lung failure due to the drug's side effects Mui was taking to fight the cancer.

According to Mui, many people asked her which one she want to be: an eminent star or a happy ordinary person. The singer then said “if I could, I would choose an ordinary but happy person”.

After her death, Anita's mother had been trying to gain legal claim to her daughter's estate, which is estimated to be worth approximately s$16 million (HK$100 million). However, her appeal was dismissed by the federal court.

In order to raise funds for the lawsuit, the old woman planned to release a book about Anita's private life. The 80-year-old revealed that amongst all Anita's boyfriends, she loved Andy lau the most.

Starred in: Rumble in the Bronx , Drunken Master II , A Better Tomorrow 3 , The Heroic Trio , Rouge , The Business of Strangers , Miracles , Executioners , The Top Bet , July Rhapsody , My Foot! , Justice, My Father Is a Hero , Dance of a Dream , Scared Stiff , The Fortune Code , Wu yen , Behind the Yellow Line , The Moon Warriors , The Greatest Lover , 100 Ways to Murder Your Wife , Top Bet , Shanghai, Shanghai , Eighteen Springs , Who's the Woman, Saviour of the Soul , Who's the Man? , Miracles , Midnight Fly.