SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

                              --------------------

                                   SCHEDULE TO
                                 (RULE 14D-100)

            TENDER OFFER STATEMENT UNDER SECTION 14(D)(1) OR 13(E)(1)
                     OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

                           Templeton Dragon Fund, Inc.
                  ----------------------------------------------
                       (Name of Subject Company (Issuer))

                      Templeton Dragon Fund, Inc. (Issuer)
                  ----------------------------------------------
         (Names of Filing Persons (Identifying Status as Offeror, Issuer
                               or Other Person))


                                  Common Stock
                  ---------------------------------------
                         (Title of Class of Securities)

                                    88018T101
                  ------------------------------------------
                      (CUSIP Number of Class of Securities)

                             Barbara J. Green, Esq.
                           Templeton Dragon Fund, Inc.
                            Broward Financial Centre
                        500 E. Broward Blvd., Suite 2100
                          Ft. Lauderdale, FL 33394-3091
                               Tel (954) 527-7500

                  -----------------------------------------
                 (Name, Address and Telephone Numbers of Person
  Authorized to Receive Notices and Communications on Behalf of Filing Persons)


                                    COPY TO:

                               Bruce G. Leto, Esq.
                      Stradley, Ronon, Stevens & Young, LLP
                            2600 One Commerce Square
                           Philadelphia, PA 19103-7098
                               Tel (215) 564-8000

                            CALCULATION OF FILING FEE
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Transaction Valuation*                              Amount of Filing Fee*

   not applicable                                   not applicable
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
* As the filing contains only preliminary communications made before the
  commencement of the tender offer, no filing fee is required.

[_]  Check the box if any part of the fee is offset as provided by
     Rule 0-11(a) (2) and identify the filing with which the offsetting fee
     was previously paid. Identify the previous filing by registration
     tatement number, or the Form or Schedule and the date of its filing.

Amount Previously Paid:   Not applicable          Filing Party:  Not applicable

Form or Registration No.:  Not applicable         Date Filed:  Not applicable

[X]  Check the box if the filing relates solely to preliminary
     communications made before the commencement of a tender offer.

     Check the appropriate boxes below to designate any transactions to which
     the statement relates:

         [_]  third-party tender offer subject to Rule 14d-1.

         [X] issuer tender offer subject to Rule 13e-4.

         [_]  going-private transaction subject to Rule 13e-3.

         [_]  amendment to Schedule 13D under Rule 13d-2.

          Check the following box if the filing is a final amendment reporting
          the results of the tender offer: [ ]





               TEMPLETON VIETNAM AND SOUTHEAST ASIA FUND, INC. AND
                 TEMPLETON DRAGON FUND, INC. ANNOUNCE PROPOSED
                                 REORGANIZATION

                  TEMPLETON DRAGON FUND ANNOUNCES TENDER OFFERS

                  JANUARY 4, 2002 -- PRESS RELEASE Q's AND A's



Q:  WHAT ACTIONS DID THE BOARDS OF DIRECTORS TAKE ON JANUARY 4, 2002?

A: (1)  REORGANIZATION.  The Boards have  approved a proposal  providing for the
   reorganization  of Vietnam  Fund into Dragon  Fund.  The  proposal  will be
   submitted  to  shareholders  of  Vietnam  Fund and  Dragon  Fund for  their
   approval.  In the transaction,  Dragon Fund would acquire substantially all
   of the assets of Vietnam Fund in exchange for shares of Dragon Fund,  which
   would then be distributed to Vietnam Fund's shareholders.  After completion
   of the reorganization,  Vietnam Fund shareholders would become shareholders
   of Dragon Fund, and Vietnam Fund would cease to exist.  The  transaction is
   expected to be tax-free.


     In  connection  with the  reorganization,  the  Vietnam  Fund's  Board  has
     discontinued   its  open-market   share   repurchase   program,   effective
     immediately,  and the Dragon  Fund's  Board has  discontinued  its  managed
     distribution policy, effective immediately.

     (2) TENDER OFFERS. Dragon Fund's Board also has approved a tender offer for
     up to 10% of Dragon Fund's  outstanding  shares at not less than 90% of net
     asset value  during an initial  12-month  period,  to be followed by one or
     more subsequent tender offers  aggregating up to 10% of outstanding  Dragon
     Fund shares during the following 12-month period. The Dragon Fund Board may
     recommend   additional  tender  offers  in  subsequent   12-month  periods,
     depending upon market conditions and regulatory and tax considerations.

Q:  WHEN WILL DRAGON FUND AND VIETNAM FUND SHAREHOLDERS BE ASKED TO VOTE ON THE
    REORGANIZATION?

A:   It is expected that Dragon Fund's shareholders will be asked to approve the
     proposed reorganization at the Annual Meeting of Shareholders intended to
     be held in the second quarter of 2002.


     It is expected that Vietnam Fund's shareholders will be asked to approve
     the proposed reorganization at a Special Meeting of Shareholders intended
     to be held as soon as practicable after the Dragon Fund Annual Meeting of
     Shareholders. The Vietnam Fund Special Shareholder Meeting is expected to
     occur by the summer of 2002, subject to obtaining necessary regulatory and
     other approvals.


     Any solicitation of proxies in connection with the proposed reorganization
     will be made only pursuant to separate prospectus/proxy materials filed
     under federal securities laws.

Q:  WHEN IS THE INITIAL TENDER OFFER OF DRAGON FUND SHARES EXPECTED TO OCCUR?


A:   If the proposed reorganization is COMPLETED, the first tender offer for
     Dragon Fund shares will commence within 90 days following the completion of
     the reorganization.

     If the proposed reorganization is NOT APPROVED BY DRAGON FUND SHAREHOLDERS,
     the first tender offer for Dragon Fund shares will commence within 90 days
     after the Dragon Fund annual shareholder meeting, or any adjournment
     thereof.

     If the proposed reorganization is approved by Dragon Fund shareholders BUT
     NOT APPROVED BY VIETNAM FUND SHAREHOLDERS, the first tender offer for
     Dragon Fund shares will commence within 90 days after the Vietnam Fund
     special shareholder meeting, or any adjournment thereof.


Q:  WHAT IS A "TENDER OFFER"?

A:   A "tender offer" is an offer by a company to buy its own shares, for cash,
     at a designated price per share. Shareholders are free to sell, or
     "tender", their shares at their election, in the amount they choose,
     subject to the terms of the offer. Shareholders that tender shares should
     consult with their advisors regarding the tax or other implications of the
     transaction.


Q:  I AM A SHAREHOLDER OF VIETNAM FUND.  DID THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF VIETNAM
    FUND OR DRAGON FUND AUTHORIZE A TENDER OFFER FOR SHARES OF VIETNAM FUND?

A:   No. Neither the Board of Directors of Vietnam Fund nor the Board of
     Directors of Dragon Fund authorized a tender offer for shares of Vietnam
     Fund. The Board of Directors of Dragon Fund only authorized a tender offer
     for shares of Dragon Fund. If the proposed reorganization is completed,
     Vietnam Fund shareholders would become shareholders of Dragon Fund, and
     therefore may able to tender their shares of Dragon Fund in the tender
     offer or offers authorized by the Dragon Fund's Board.


Q:  WHAT ARE VIETNAM FUND'S INVESTMENT GOAL AND PRINCIPAL STRATEGIES?

A:   Vietnam Fund is designed for investors seeking long-term capital
     appreciation. Vietnam Fund invests primarily in the equity and debt
     securities of "Region Country" issuers. Region Countries currently include
     Vietnam, China, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, the
     Philippines, Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan and Thailand.

Q:  WHAT ARE DRAGON FUND'S INVESTMENT GOAL AND PRINCIPAL STRATEGIES?

A:   Dragon Fund is designed for investors seeking long-term capital
     appreciation. Under normal market conditions, Dragon Fund invests at least
     45% of its total assets in the equity securities of "China companies." In
     addition, under normal circumstances Dragon Fund will invest at least 65%
     of its total assets in "China companies," "Japan companies," and
     "Asia-Pacific companies" combined.

Q:  HOW DO THE FUNDS COMPARE IN SIZE?

A:  As of January 4, 2002, Vietnam Fund had total assets of approximately $37
    million and Dragon Fund had total assets of approximately $439 million

Q:  AS A SHAREHOLDER OF VIETNAM FUND OR DRAGON FUND, AM I BEING ASKED TO TAKE
    ANY ACTION AT THIS TIME?

A:  No. Shareholders of Vietnam Fund and Dragon Fund are not being asked to take
    any action at the present  time,  but are being  advised that the Boards of
    Directors have approved a proposed reorganization that will be submitted to
    shareholders  for  consideration  in the  future as well as  certain  other
    actions taken by the Boards in connection with the proposed reorganization.


Q:   I AM A SHAREHOLDER OF VIETNAM FUND, AND I RECENTLY RECEIVED A PROXY
     STATEMENT AND OTHER MATERIALS IN THE MAIL FROM THE FUND. ARE THESE
     MATERIALS ASKING FOR MY VOTE ON THE PROPOSED REORGANIZATION WITH THE DRAGON
     FUND?

A:   No. The proxy statement and other materials you received relate to Vietnam
     Fund's 2001 Annual Meeting of Shareholders, which was originally scheduled
     to be held on November 29, 2001, but was adjourned until January 23, 2002.
     You will receive further information later this year regarding a special
     meeting of shareholders of Vietnam Fund at which the proposed
     reorganization will be submitted to vote.


                                    * * * * *


In connection with the proposed reorganization transaction, Vietnam Fund and
Dragon Fund intend to file relevant materials with the U.S. Securities and
Exchange Commission ("SEC"), including a proxy statement by Vietnam Fund, a
proxy statement by Dragon Fund, and a registration statement on Form N-14 by
Dragon Fund that contains a prospectus. Because those documents contain
important information, shareholders of Vietnam Fund and Dragon Fund are urged to
read them, if and when they become available. When filed with the SEC, they will
be available for free at the SEC's website, www.sec.gov. Shareholders can also
obtain copies of these documents and other transaction-related documents, when
available, for free by calling Vietnam Fund at 1-800-342-5236 or by calling
Dragon Fund at 1-800-342-5236.

Vietnam Fund,  its directors and executive  officers and certain other  persons,
may be deemed to be participants in Vietnam Fund's  solicitation of proxies from
its shareholders in connection with the proposed transaction.  Information about
the directors is set forth in the proxy statement for Vietnam Fund's 2001 annual
meeting of shareholders. Participants in Vietnam Fund's solicitation may also be
deemed to include  the  following  executive  officers  or other  persons  whose
interests  in  Vietnam  Fund may not be  described  in the proxy  statement  for
Vietnam Fund's 2001 annual meeting: Mark Mobius (President);  Charles B. Johnson
(Vice President); Rupert H. Johnson, Jr. (Vice President); Harmon E. Burns (Vice
President);  Charles E.  Johnson  (Vice  President);  Martin L.  Flanagan  (Vice
President);  Jeffrey A. Everett (Vice President);  John R. Kay (Vice President);
Murray L. Simpson  (Vice  President  and Asst.  Secretary);  David P. Goss (Vice
President and Asst. Secretary); Barbara J. Green (Vice President and Secretary);
Bruce S.  Rosenberg  (Treasurer);  Holly  Gibson  Brady  (Director  of Corporate
Communications - Franklin Resources, Inc.).

Dragon Fund, its directors and executive officers and certain other persons, may
be deemed to be participants  in Dragon Fund's  solicitation of proxies from its
shareholders in connection with the proposed transaction.  Information about the
directors  is set forth in the proxy  statement  for Dragon  Fund's  2001 annual
meeting of shareholders.  Participants in Dragon Fund's solicitation may also be
deemed to include  the  following  executive  officers  or other  persons  whose
interests in Dragon Fund may not be described in the proxy  statement for Dragon
Fund's 2001 annual meeting:  Mark Mobius  (President);  Charles B. Johnson (Vice
President);  Rupert H.  Johnson,  Jr.  (Vice  President);  Harmon E. Burns (Vice
President);  Charles E.  Johnson  (Vice  President);  Martin L.  Flanagan  (Vice
President);  Jeffrey A. Everett (Vice President);  John R. Kay (Vice President);
Murray L. Simpson  (Vice  President  and Asst.  Secretary);  David P. Goss (Vice
President and Asst. Secretary); Barbara J. Green (Vice President and Secretary);
Bruce S.  Rosenberg  (Treasurer);  Holly  Gibson  Brady  (Director  of Corporate
Communications - Franklin Resources, Inc.).

As of the date of this communication, none of the foregoing participants
individually beneficially owns in excess of 1% of Vietnam Fund's common stock,
or 1% of Dragon Fund's common stock. Except as disclosed above, to the knowledge
of Vietnam Fund and Dragon Fund, none of their respective directors or executive
officers has any interest, direct or indirect, by security holdings or
otherwise, in Vietnam Fund or Dragon Fund.

Shareholders may obtain additional information regarding the interests of the
participants by reading the proxy statement of Vietnam Fund and the proxy
statement and prospectus of Dragon Fund if and when they become available.

This communication shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of
an offer to buy, nor shall there be any sale of securities in any jurisdiction
in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to
registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such
jurisdiction. No offering of securities shall be made except by means of a
prospectus meeting the requirements of Section 10 of the Securities Act of 1933,
as amended.

Dragon Fund shareholders are advised to read the tender offer statement when it
is available as it will contain important information. The tender offer
statement, when it is available, and other documents filed by Dragon Fund with
the SEC, including Dragon Fund's most recent annual report, will be available
for free at the SEC's web site (www.sec.gov) or by calling Dragon Fund at
1-800-342-5236.