Culturally, historically and geographically, Vietnam stands in a remarkable place in the world. Both as a trading destination in itself, and as a way point along the most important trade routes linking East Asia to Europe, Arabia and Africa, Vietnam has seen the ships of many nations calling in her ports since at least the 1500’s, and surviving colonial efforts by Chinese, Japanese, French and American forces, Vietnamese boat builders and sailors have had opportunity to see techniques and designs from all over the world and to adopt and adapt the best of them to their own native traditions. So today’s boats and boat yards in Vietnam offer a unique look into boat and ship building and design traditions reaching back hundreds of years and thousands of miles, while also offering a study in the evolution of design and function from the age of sail and oar to the modern world of diesel engines, fiberglass and steel. More than that though, the Vietnamese builders and sailors have a fine eye for the working shape of their boats and the lines and colors to bring out their best.