| ABOUT VIETNAM |
- Population
83,535,576 (July 2005 est.)
- Languages
Vietnamese (official),
English
(increasingly favored as a second language), some
French, Chinese
- Ethnic Groups
Kinh (Viet) 86.2%, Tay 1.9%, Thai
1.7%, Muong 1.5%, Khome 1.4%, Hoa 1.1%, Nun 1.1%,
Hmong 1%, others 4.1% (1999 census)
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Country and Vietnamese People
The Socialist Republic of Vietnam, a sovereign and reunified independent country, has a high percentage of territorial waters. Looking at the map, Vietnam is located in the centre of the Southeast Asia, and is shaped like the letter "S". The country lies in the eastern part of the Indochina peninsula, bordered by China to the north, Laos and Cambodia to the west, and the East Sea and Pacific Ocean to the southeast. Vietnam's coast line is 3,260 km long and its inland border measures 3,730 km. The country's total length is 1,650 km from the northernmost point to the southernmost point.
Its width, stretching from the eastern point to the western point is 600 km at the widest point in the north, 400km in the south, and 50 km at the narrowest part in the Quang Binh province on the central coast. Vietnam is also a transport junction from the Indian Ocean to the Pacific Ocean.
Despite Vietnam's ongoing economic liberalization and the pressures of rapid development, this dignified country has managed to preserve its rich civilization and highly cultured society. Most visitors to Vietnam are overwhelmed by the sublime beauty of the country's natural setting: the Red River Delta in the north, the Mekong Delta in the south and almost the entire coastal strip are a patchwork of brilliant green rice paddies tended by women in conical hats. There are some divine beaches along the coast too, while inland there are soaring mountains, some of which are cloaked by dense, misty forests. Vietnam offers an opportunity to see a country of traditional charm and rare beauty rapidly opening up to the outside world.
Climate
 Vietnam is located in both a tropical and a temperate zone. It is characterized by strong monsoon influences, but has a considerable amount of sun, and a high rate of rainfall and humidity. The annual average temperature ranges from 22ºC to 27ºC. In Hanoi, the average temperature is 23ºC, in Ho Chi Minh City it is 26ºC, and in Hue it is 25ºC.
In the North, winter lasts from November to April with temperatures averaging 10o - 16o C. Fog and drizzle can be encountered in February and March. The summer begins in May and lasts through October with an average temperature of 30oC.Therefore, tropical and washable cottons are worn all year. Rainwear is essential during the rainy season.
Sightseeing in Vietnam |
Sapa - The Foggy City
Located at 1,500 m above sea level, Sapa has many natural sites such as Thac Bac, Thuy Cung Grotto, Gio Cave, Troi Gate, and Truc Forest. Sapa is also the starting point for many climbers and scientists who want to reach the top of Fansipan Mountain, the highest mountain in Vietnam at 3,143 m. Hoang Lien Son Mountains is also called the Alps of the North Sea area since Fansipan Mountain is not only the highest peak in Vietnam, but also in the Indochina Peninsula. The pyramid-shaped mountain is covered with clouds all year round and temperatures often drop below zero, especially at high elevations.
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Halong Bay - The World Heritage
Situated in the North-East region of Vietnam, Halong Bay is a bay in the Gulf of Tonkin comprised of regions of Halong City, the township of Cam Pha, and a part of the island district of Van Don. Halong Bay borders Cat Ba Island in the southwest, the East Sea in the east, and the mainland, creating a 120 km coastline. Halong Bay is made up of 1,969 islands of various sizes, 989 of which have been given names. There are two kinds of islands, limestone and schist, which are concentrated in two main zones: the southeast (belonging to Bai Tu Long Bay), and the southwest (belonging to Halong Bay).
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Hue Imperial City
With the legendary attraction, phoenix-like Hue is now rising again, showing a dynamism that has partly been stimulated by UNESCO's attention to its monuments since 1983.
Whatever changes, Hue Imperial City's tradition is alive, seen in the sampans poled along by women, in the houseboats with their tiny rooftop shrines, in the superb Hue porcelain, and in the delicacies of imperial cuisine. Hue Imperial City with a gracious landscape of gardens, terraces, palaces, and pavilions deserves a heritage of the world.
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Ho Chi Minh City
Ho Chi Minh City, formerly known as Saigon, lies between the Mekong Delta and South Vietnam. It is 1,730 km from Hanoi and 50 km from the East Sea. The city is the second most important in Vietnam after Hanoi. The main ethnic groups populating the area are the Kinh and Hoa.
This region is crisscrossed by hundreds of rivers and canals, the largest being the Saigon River. The Port of Saigon, established in 1862, is accessible to ships weighing up to 30,000 tons, a rare advantage for an inland river port. It's a bustling, dynamic and industrious centre, the largest city in the country, the economic capital and the cultural trendsetter. |
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Nha Trang – Paradise of love
Beach Life - this pretty much sums up the exciting yet charming resort town of Nha Trang, which lies on the coast about eight hours' drive north from Saigon, and two hours east of Dalat. The town is surrounded by green hills, and its deep-blue bay is fringed with a glorious crescent of golden-white sand. It is this beach which lends Nha Trang its "picture-postcard" image, and it is this beach around which life in the town revolves.
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