From Chinese conquests to French domination, and more recent involvement by the U.S. and Japan, Vietnam has had a history of changing political circumstances. Today, the legacy of wars has been eclipsed by a buzz of tourism, as visitors experience the breathtaking beauty of the north’s Red River Delta, the south’s Mekong Delta, and the dazzling green rice paddies of the coast. The pristine coastal beaches give way to an interior of soaring mountains and dense forests.