Communist Southeast Asia Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia

Objectives Identify Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia on a blank map. Name two of the three countries that have occupied French Indochina. Describe the rule of the Khmer Rouge.

Terms and Places The Mekong is a river that flows through Southeast Asia. Gulf of Tonkin is a protected inlet in north Vietnam and south China. Angkor Wat is an ancient temple complex in Cambodia. Communism is a theory of government in which the government owns and controls everything. Khmer Rouge was a communist group that took control of Cambodia in the 1970s. This way, a communist government takes care of you and makes sure you’re fed.

China Vietnam Laos P a c i f i c O c e a n Cambodia Indian Ocean

The Mekong River flows through all these Southeast Asian nations. The Mekong River Delta, like most river deltas, is extremely fertile.

Laos Cambodia Vietnam Mountains separate Vietnam from Laos and Cambodia. The Gulf of Tonkin, with its protected access to the sea, has a high population. Where should one expect that people will live in these countries? The population at the Mekong River Delta, where land is fertile, is also high. Laos, in mountainous terrain, has the lowest population.

Another one from the goody-two-shoes school of geography

These countries have a history of foreign occupation.

During World War II, French Indochina was ruled by the Japanese. Laos, Cambodia, and Vietnam were called French Indochina. This was a colony of France. During World War II, French Indochina was ruled by the Japanese.

The United States supported the south against the communist north. Ho Chi Min, leader of communist North Vietnam Vietnam The United States supported the south against the communist north. The communists took over the northern half of Vietnam and the country was divided for many years. In the 1950s, the Soviet Union began to sponsor Communists in Vietnam.

Laos Cambodia Vietnam After the United States left, Communism spread to South Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia.

The communist government in Cambodia was called the Khmer Rouge. In the 1970s, they made everyone leave the cities and do hard labor in the countryside. Then they murdered a quarter of the entire country – about two million people.

They photographed them first. The photos are now in a museum.

Vietnam Laos Cambodia A famous ruin called Angkor Wat lies within the jungles of Cambodia. It appears on their flag.

This film shows rural Laotian villages and the jars. In Laos are these mysterious huge jars. They may have held grain or water, or they may even have been used for burial purposes.

What does this chart tell about Vietnam, Cambodia, and Laos? Life expectancy in Cambodia and Laos is less than most other East Asian nations. Vietnam, Cambodia, and Laos are poorer than most other East Asian nations. 2c Economy

Which nation is Cambodia? G Which nation is Vietnam? H H H H Myanmar A E Laos C F B Vietnam Thailand Cam-bodia D E F G Which nation is Cambodia? G Which nation is Vietnam? H H H H Which nation is Laos? H I

Vietnam has coastline on what ocean? What is the Mekong? A protected gulf between Vietnam and China Pacific Atlantic A major river with a fertile delta for agriculture Indian A mountain chain dividing Vietnam from its neighbors What separates Vietnam from its neighbors Laos and Cambodia? A communist government that killed two million people A river valley A desert What was the name of this area when it was a colony? A mountain chain A steppe British Siam French Indochina American Samoa Belgian Congo

What country sponsored the communist revolution in North Vietnam? What happened when the United States pulled its support for South Vietnam? Great Britain Vietnam remained divided, the north communist and the south not. Soviet Union Communism spread from the north to the south and into Laos and Cambodia. United States China Cambodia and Laos turned against Vietnam and overthrew its communist government. What country took over French Indochina and occupied them during World War II? In what country did the government murder two million of its own people Japan Soviet Union Vietnam United States Laos China Cambodia Thailand

Please read “Vietnam, Cambodia, and Laos.” World Studies: Asia and the Pacific. Pearson-Prentice-Hall, 2005. Pg. 126-7. And “Vietnam: A Nation Rebuilds.” World Studies: Asia and the Pacific. Pearson-Prentice-Hall, 2005. Pg. 230-235. And “Vietnam: A Reunited Nation.” Asia and the Pacific: Teaching Resources. Prentice-Hall. 2003. Pg. 51.

"The Extended Family in Vietnam. " World Studies Video Program. (DVD) "The Extended Family in Vietnam."  World Studies Video Program.  (DVD).  Prentice-Hall.  (3:10).