A famous country located in South-East Asia, Vietnam, or the Socialist Republic of Vietnam as it is officially known, is the most easterly country to be found on the Indochina Peninsula. Vietnam is famous for many reasons, including its long periods of conflict, politics and communism, although today is becoming known for its tourism and natural beauty.Within Vietnam is everything from giant mountains on the northern side of the country, to lush verdant rice paddies in the south, as well as a huge choice of beaches and scenic coastal stretches. In the biggest cities, the magnificent temples and pagodas are accompanied by the background noise of endless motorbikes and street hawkers selling their wares.
There are many wonderful and extremely memorable places to visit if you plan to tour Vietnam. Halong Bay, the Cham ruins, the Mui Ne sand dunes, the hill tribes and the beaches of Nha Trang all vie for your attention. In the Mekong Delta, the islands of Vinh Long offer a leisurely pace of life, contrasting greatly with the animation of Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi - the bustling Vietnamese capital.
When to visit Vietnam really is all down to the weather and with such a diverse climate, it is difficult to generalise, particularly with a winter and summer monsoon to contend with. The mountains in northern Vietnam will regularly see frost and even some snow during the coldest spells, while the southerly cities enjoy high temperatures of more than 40°C / 104°F during the dry season.
***NEW***
World Guide to Can Tho, Vietnam
World Guide to Da Nang, Vietnam
World Guide to Hai Phong, Vietnam
World Guide to Hanoi, Vietnam
World Guide to Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
Vietnam Information / Vietnam Fast Facts
- Country: Socialist Republic of Vietnam
- Population: 90 million
- Capital city: Hanoi
- Largest city: Ho Chi Minh City
- Language: Vietnamese
- Main exports: cashew nuts, rice, black pepper, coffee, tea, fishery goods and rubber
- Area: 128,000 square miles / 331,500 square kilometres
- Currency: Vietnamese Dong (VND)
- Time zone: UTC+7 (no daylight saving time)
- Country dialling code: +84
- Religion: Tam Dao (Triple religion) and Mahayana Buddhism, also Cao Daism, Christianity, Confucianism, Hinduism, Hoa Hoa Buddhism, Islam and Taoism
Map of Vietnam
