1884. It became part of French Indochina in 1887.
Vietnam declared independence after World War II, but France
continued to rule until its 1954 defeat by Communist forces under Ho
Chi MINH. Under the Geneva Accords of 1954, Vietnam was divided into
the Communist North and anti-Communist South. US economic and
military aid to South Vietnam grew through the 1960s in an attempt
to bolster the government, but US armed forces were withdrawn
following a cease-fire agreement in 1973. Two years later, North
Vietnamese forces overran the South reuniting the country under
Communist rule. Despite the return of peace, for over a decade the
country experienced little economic growth because of conservative
leadership policies. However, since the enactment of Vietnam's "doi
moi" (renovation) policy in 1986, Vietnamese authorities have
committed to increased economic liberalization and enacted
structural reforms needed to modernize the economy and to produce
more competitive, export-driven industries. The country continues to
experience protests from various groups - such as the Protestant
Montagnard ethnic minority population of the Central Highlands and
the Hoa Hao Buddhists in southern Vietnam over religious
persecution. Montagnard grievances also include the loss of land to
Vietnamese settlers.

Virgin Islands
During the 17th century, the archipelago was divided
into two territorial units, one English and the other Danish.
Sugarcane, produced by slave labor, drove the islands' economy
during the 18th and early 19th centuries. In 1917, the US purchased
the Danish portion, which had been in economic decline since the
abolition of slavery in 1848.

Wake Island
The US annexed Wake Island in 1899 for a cable station.
An important air and naval base was constructed in 1940-41. In
December 1941, the island was captured by the Japanese and held
until the end of World War II. In subsequent years, Wake was
developed as a stopover and refueling site for military and
commercial aircraft transiting the Pacific. Since 1974, the island's
airstrip has been used by the US military, as well as for emergency
landings. All operations on the island were suspended and all
personnel evacuated in August 2006 with the approach of super
typhoon IOKE (category 5), which struck the island with sustained
winds of 250 kph and a 6 m storm surge inflicting major damage. A US
Air Fo