to be fully restored in time for next summer's paras olympics you're watching dw news from berlin up next. dont film takes you on a train ride on the vietnamese re unification express, which helped to bring the divided north and south together after the vietnam war. i'm like, look more news with me in 45, the vibrant and listening place of the mediterranean sea mazda and just following up to coming to us exploring modem, lodge styles, to amy, and admitted to amy and jenny. this week on d. w. the

located. so i love it every time i go to train and start watching the, it's 6 am and honda way, the vietnamese capital, the

times of the daily flag raising on called in square the, the national anthem, place, and war veterans attend the ceremony the, the protracted war between what was the north and south vietnam and the subsequent unification of the country. deeply ingrained in the memories of the vietnamese equals on this now historic square that revolutionary communist liter hope she meant proclaimed independence of the democratic republic of vietnam. in 1945.

this mazda, liam, honoring the late president overlooks the square, but independence was not fully gained until the founding of the socialist republic of vietnam in 1976. at the end of what is known here as the american war. further east, at the heart of henry's old town, east one team lake nearly 50 years after the war ended. a lot of people have a positive outlook on the future. transportation infrastructure is struggling to keep pace with the countries. rapid developments, including both roads and railways. being across and guard is an increasingly dangerous profession. when town law has overseen this crossing for 12 years the he works

12 hour shift in a job with him, a lot of responsibility, the human reliability, right? so we don't sell it and when you work here, it becomes your life. paul, what are you doing in vietnam? we say you have to carry your faith with you the the i was almost 30 when i started working here and i'd had a range of different jobs before that. yeah, working here is my fake. what is the allow me to i roof and then i'm the longs mother was similarly dustin to work for the real way. the highly consign surrounding mean the trains rattling through inevitably dictate the rhythm of locals lives including new in town long. she was across and guard here herself

for over 3 decades, and it has been living here just as long. soon, i believe in my community. i suppose it would be a good idea. it was my job to use the pulse of land and build a house for us here. the railway had no objection, and we're still here today. i'm going to do the my oldest son has also been living here for years, not waiting, and i want to ship this over. mom takes his birds and walks the short distance along the tracks back home the it's now time for lunch with his wife. his children and his mother after sundown, there's a hardy, a range of food available in henry's old town. and that means cuisine is extremely varied. especially here on tie, un street, also known as beer street. it's

a hot spot among the noise evening revellers. the just to the cell is one team lake. the . 2 the system is about taking the train home the because not far from the lake is a noise main railway station. the

ticket counter is in the main waiting hall tree and travel in vietnam is straightforward. that we have tickets for the se, one at $1015.00. the side gone. express number one, the single. yeah. the, the mother called and told me that though the vietnam's rail network was built during the french colonial period and has played a prominent role in the country's history. recounted to us by trends on barn one to come to the station. he is a frequent traveler on this train. the railways are an important symbol for the 79 year old war veterans. the are trained the parts on time the

journey will take us from north to south in this thing, coastal country and will last over 32 hours the, our route will take us right past the south china sea. the our journey will cross almost the entire length of vietnam around 1700 kilometers from handling to hope schumann city previously known as saigon but our train, we'll 1st take us past or rather special kind of attraction don towel or railway street. where when juan whelan runs one of the many cafe is lining

the train travelling a gonzalez, restaurants here, used to use waiters who would hop across the tracks to serve customers. a perilous practice that is now prohibited that result. so that's that, you know, you. so when you see there are few, a trains now they used to come almost every hour. the schedule dictates my life. and my child is going to provide me with a name that i'm to is that he's been seeing the trains hospitality for a to say call know when we he and there's no danger. now we have the data team of the tourist, so safe to that or if you don't because the cafe own is responsible for damage from glendale, which i have no idea about that. i'm foreigners. okay. the thrill seeking torres are good business for land. the north south line was built to

be the backbone of the country, which as our train driver, knowing in queen, queen knows, also led to its repeated destruction. the route was again complete one year after that for you. and if occasion of vietnam since the liberation of south vietnam and the reunification of the country, trains have resumed from illinois to psych on and brought citizens from both parts of the country closer together. with each reunification express, we bring people from the north to the south and vice versa. the it's a train that is a symbol and physical manifestation of the countries reunification. a train of

national reconciliation of a people once bitterly divided half a century later. it's a scenario that's hard to imagine. the train is a comfortable ride for night time travelers and it's quiet enough for us to visit trends on bond in his compartment. to join the communist viet cong forces based in the north of the country. in 1967, lee, the only man i left my family received for notifications of my death does 9191968197019721974. by redeem almost 999. 1 that came down. so not just one, but 4 times lately,

and i'm wanting dumbly behind, but i don't want them to come late, meet the don. i couldn't imagine it was a huge surprise for my family. when i came home, the new light doesn't come on monday and the it just been declared dead 4 times and still came back alive. you got, you know, more than willing to the other lady, you know, but not least, that was helpful. that man's mother had even built an altar for her son. it stood in her home for 8 years until bon returned home in 1976. he removed the altar himself. bon has since devoted his life to searching for the remains of fallen soldiers. the next morning we visit the van long nature reserve near noon bed.

where we joined taylo nutler, the german biologist came to vietnam in the early 19 ninety's and has since dedicated his life to the conservation of a rare prime in the you found at the 1st wildlife sanctuary of its kind in the endo china region. in 1993, the sanctuary gives animals freed from poachers. a new home one of his primaries focuses is della corps langers, a critically endangered species of monkey? i know the ask not doing as well right at the start of like a gift from god. we were able to see the 2 of these animals from poachers. lock

known from eric on 200 and the endangered primate rescue center was born. zillow was its director for 25 years. he and the local conservationists played a big part in ensuring that primate, like the dela course lingers, have survived into the new millennium. the aim is for the animals to one day be returned to the wild. the company too low as he makes his way to the john uh, unesco world heritage site and to an island where the now 82 year old once released a number of them onto the lenders with white pants as they're also called have seen their numbers right back up to around 200. that's to you. it's not dollars. i the, all right me is of course to build up a viable population. so that kind of thing is going to take several decades,

e mail that you all tend to build on school as an a viable population means between 500000 dynamo slice 1000 t on. and it takes a lot of time for a population of that size to build up for that. so and i'll talk about the back aboard the reunification expressed a new day dawns and it's breakfast time. the passengers are served in their seats. coffee and the traditional morning suit, the almost 80 percent of the strategically important railway line was destroyed during

the vietnam war. of the $1300.00 or so bridges an estimated $1000.00 were reduced to ruins. although for tribes on the loss of soldiers lives was far worse singly choosing. now we knew that a lot of us would end up dead. we dug graves for ourselves. for each battle, we'd gather together and promised that after the liberation the survivors would bring the bodies of the men who died back to their mothers, checked all the last half hour and then took his 1st ever trip on the train. in 1978, he dug up the remains of 34 conrad and delivered their death certificates to their families in person, the fighting was

especially fierce in the province of crunchy. the 17th parallel roughly coincided with the border that had been drawn up between north and south vietnam after the departure of french colonial forces in 1954. the area would later be witness to some of the bloody as battles of the war with memorials now honoring the casualties. such as this one in what was then north vietnam. we follow ban on this bridge across the 10 long river, until 1975 part of the border between north vietnam and the us back south. this monument commemorates the separation of families. the phones as the bridge is a reconstruction of the original which was destroyed by an american air strike in 1972. he has long forgotten the border. he has originally from the north,

the married woman from the south, where she now lives in his search for the remains of fallen. soldiers continues to this day regardless of where they fought for the whole night. so when i dropped of it, i need not picture day. i cross these bridge, i mean, not as a soldier, what well, thinking about the reconstruction of our country and how to feel the wounds caused by the war. good to go night. they need even more than that, but until you hit 9, bon has commuted between the north and south of vietnam over 40 times on the re unification. express the journey progresses. further south, past the farms and fields that dominate the countries landscape. about 700 kilometers later, we arrive in the way, the

way was the capital of vietnam during the wind dynasty, from 18 o 2 to 1945. when physical legacy of the period is the citadel, the police show residents of the royal family. of course etiquette and ceremonial customs such as music and dance, were very important to the emperors. the year granted backstage access to the royal ballet of when the dancers are preparing

for performance. the enemy's court music dates back to the 13th century. what it was during the later and when dynasty that it reached its pinnacle with the music serving to demonstrate the emperor's power and longevity. the one frequently performed dance is a new comb pond on the new cool. one done is based on buddhist traditions. it senses on the custom of praying 6 times with each prayer accompanied by a symbolic offering to put in sudden flowers, the fruit food. i'm ton. the dogs was laced to expanded and would often be performed to mock the 1st day of the emperor his mother. and in this orchestra, the drum please,

a pivotal part. 3 the music was seen as an expression of reverence towards the emperor's and god like the appearances like this one are now also performed at festival. in 2003 vietnamese, courtney's day was recognized by unesco. as part of the intangible cultural heritage of humanity. way lies on the long tongue or perfume river and right next door is the dawn ball market. the

market opened in 18. $99.00 and the countless stalls here mostly run by women, hawk, all sorts of 2 sons as fresh as they come. the, the market attracts 7000 visitors daily, many of them on moped it's no time for us to return to the railway station, which also has a spacious waiting room the shortly before departure. the doors to the platform open. tickets are digital, the

lunch time is now approaching the when crying, he is happy to be filmed while he cut the houston, serving passengers on the reunification, expressed for 10 years, his hobby traveling. of course, the

content with his job, the the work isn't terribly hard. i cook for an average of 100 to 120 people a day. the job earns be enough to support my family. sometimes the meals are freshly prepared and delivered to passenger compartment to the conductor. my tongue is serving g also sees the re unification expressed as

symbolic the way by and i'd be working to the round road for 17. he is now working on the re unification. express is really interesting because you get to meet people and see a lot of different places compared to other jobs. it's a real pleasure to walk. you know, we have done call hi in central vietnam is the next highlight. the, the at 70 meters mom. it's the largest fresh water lagoon in southeast asia. the majority of people in vietnam do not adhere to one belief system.

they tend to follow one or several folk religion or an amalgamation of classical fates the today, we will see the tapping out ceremony for this house to face with construction work basically complete the the ceremony is conducted by a monk. the, the, the ground floor will host a cafe. while the stories higher up are still being finished. the, i don't know why they didn't know that, and i'm, and now it's be in the muse custom to celebrate

a new building being constructed. the prayers are for our ancestors. while for monday, the ceremony is to bring good luck to the owner to drive away evil and protect against unemployment. it's a really old vietnamese custom. distributing money is also part of the ceremony. in a while and i high before the earthly well is consigned to a fire and offering to those in the after life the

the most spectacular section of our journey aboard the reunification express is now beginning the train passes beneath the del hives on the ocean cloud past the, [000:00:00;00] the trains have to set off from late at night to allow passengers to appreciate this stretched during daylight.

the many passengers take the train just because of the breathtaking going by train is safe and cheaper than by com. last, i wanted to see the scenery that the account i, i wouldn't have gotten the i have on the push along shan mountains constitute a kind of media or a logical border between north and south vietnam. a top tours destination and paradise for bikers,

all the ocean cloud path rises almost 500 meters from sea level the the we reach our next stop, a few kilometers from the top of the past. the don on is

a terminus station. so the engine has to be coupled onto the other end of the train, the which gives us a brief opportunity to look around. the coastal city with a population of around amelia downtown is famed for its features. the 1st to us combat troops landed nearby during the vietnam war. the few americans set up a vital error base and on us, which subsequently grew to become one of the biggest cities in south vietnam the a few kilometers further south. we visit jolla.

the old town enjoyed the rear feet of not being destroyed during the vietnam war. and today, both moscow world heritage status. before our train journey continues, we've arranged to meet someone outside town out on the tube on river, who tries to attract fish by heading in or against his boat. he's always lived here and has mastered the art of coaxing his prey towards his round basket boat. the mad arrow music, i really don't know, beautiful maid, how we were to that team told me to go today and notate that i was 9 when i learned how to swim. and i've been working on the water ever since. they had them made up a black. oh yeah, i've never done anything else. so it doesn't come with i. when i go out in this

round boat and every day i manage to catch a few kilos or fish. when i have a name with up and came to and i'm booked on today as i'm fortunately an exception for the 62 year old. the perhaps tomorrow's hall will be better of the leave, then return to the station. and on the reunification express sets off once again in the afternoon. the narrow tracks were built by the french,

the train is often called the t g. v. after the same as high speed french train around a quarter of the 1300 bridges are in need of renovation. the night to send early and swiftly in vietnam. we now get ready for our 2nd night aboard the train passengers used to be able to take a little detour here up to the lot at an altitude of almost 1500 meters. this delightful little station was built by the french in 1938

with touches of art deco style. the railway was attacked by the viet calling during the vietnam war. the route was discontinued in 1968, a short torres service was later introduced. featuring this scheme, locomotive, the meat and window to behind the station. he was a driver during the war ducky slater in the early 19 ninety's. he drove the called railway train and remained at the controls right up to his end. in idle mildly real quick and well not doing them. i was the last time he mentioned driver for the old railway and i was really sad when i had to stop in 2016. the trees on

the like the look through was i don't light of that now this local motive was my place of work and i have very fond memories of it to all. namely, it feels like an old friend. i really miss it. i'm going to be like that. and then i knew that the temperate climate was one reason why the french founded the town of the building, a range of hotels and other buildings. the railway leech still not in 1932, which was essentially dog, little paris. the city is now home to over 200000 people. the then take a different kind of trip would be easy riders motorcycle club. the members have been hitting the road together in the area around the lot for over a quarter of a century. there i generate includes multi day tours and day trips. for the club

was not originally founded for the sheer joy of motorcycling. it was more out of necessity with members turning a hobby into an occupation, a 73 year old home. explain the new and things on google. yeah. go to the number. so number one, just somebody belong after reunification, older people have difficulty finding a job. but no, don't disney movie. i knew why my band we started showing for and visitors around the area really newly uh, english wasn't commonly spoken back then and then we'll in, but a lot of our members could join in. uh, they were teachers, professors or army officers, but we also are just talking to you got a new the c one with the one after a short ride, they show us the popular local attraction. the area around the lot is known for its

waterfall and he visit one in number is named after supposedly elephant like rock at the water's edge. although we were unable to spot it 30 meters high, it's one of the most frequently visited water falls in the area, the near. now back on board, the re unification express for the final leg of our journey and the early hours. just a few kilometers to go until we reach coach, human city are 2nd morning on the train. the 20 high is old enough to remember when it wasn't possible to take the train from north to south club. boy,

it's great to see our country unified. whenever i take the train now i no longer notice any differences between the north himself. that's why i love riding on this train before that it's 6 30 am. as we pull into hockey men city station, the the, the re unification express arrives just 20 minutes behind schedule. despite having traveled 1700 kilometers, the train is not only a symbol of the countries, unity is also brought people from the to one hostile parts of the country. a little bit closer, while making a small contribution to the reconciliation of north and south vietnam. the side or on sign deal adorns the station. people haven't necessarily gotten used

to the new name portion and city the central post office and it's beryl bolton, main hall, are yet another reminder of the french colonial period. a portrait of the communist leader, which he meant towers over the hall side garden, was renamed after him in 1976, following the defeat of south vietnam. amid the hustle and bustle of vietnam's biggest city with 9000000 inhabitants, people often seek refuge from the daily grind by visiting a po to read it to accompany new n t k. yet, as she goes inside the body and how to go down to lights, incense to mark the start of her visit

the after prayers. the 47 year old buys a piece of paper where she writes down her name and her wishes of the she then hands over the know which is hung up on a spiral ornament. confident that her prayers will be answered. all of this is part of the ceremony in which prayers do not just focus on the wellbeing of the individual and their loved ones. when i do my job, i was i didn't, i did that and you maintain a minima. everyone in my family is healthy, but i still go to the pagoda, to pray for a peaceful life. i'm for korea successful. i have

a couple of college jobs in addition to my main profession paper from the past. and i want to move to go, well. i want my children to do well at school. i just pray for everything to be right with the holiday when i go after the ceremony, pagan by some song, birds which show release again shortly afterwards. the another ritual that's part of visiting a proto setting. the birds free is an offering and just the post to create positive thoughts. to river ration of the animals is also meant to generate good karma, the an endearing custom,

to round up our in lightning journey across vietnam. the, the, the ship your guides to life and it did to, to explore the latest online trend to navigate your way through the digital jungle global perspective. we'll see you guys and show you what's possible. you decide what really message to you

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the, the this is dw news line from berlin. these real signals no let up in its campaign against them us. after 3 is really hostages were mistakenly shot dead. prime minister benjamin netanyahu, who calls beat incident parts ranking, but says military pressure is needed to bring the other hostages home and to destroy a march. also on the program should be a votes in parliamentary and local elections. opposition leaders are hoping that coalition formed in the wake of may's deadly shooting. attacks can gain ground on