Vietnam

Description of Vietnam

Socialist Republic of Vietnam (Cong Hoa Xa Hoi Chu Nghia Viet Nam) is a country in South-East Asia, situated on the Indochina Peninsula. It covers an area of 332 square kilometers. It is a home for 89,967,000 inhabitants (2009). The capital of Vietnam is Hanoi. Its big cities are Ho Chi Minh City (economic capital), Hanoi, Hai Phong, and Da Nang.

The official language of the country is Vietnamese (Viet). A part of the population can speak English, French and Chinese. In tourist and resort areas you can speak English almost everywhere. The Russian language is not common, and virtually unknown to the Vietnamese, even at the elementary level, with few exceptions.

Most of the territory is occupied by mountains. In the north there is the Hoanglenshon range (with an altitude up to 3143 m, Fanshipan city); the Chyongshon Mountains stretch along the western border. In the southern part of Vietnam there are highlands and plateaus of Kontum, Darlak, and others; on the coast - lowlands (mainly in the deltas of the Hongha in the north and the Mekong in the south). The immensely extended area is divided into three parts: the northern (Beibu), the southern (Nam Bo) and a narrow belt connecting them, called Chungbo. Most of the plains’ surface is cultivated. In Bach Ma-Khaiwan National Park, wildlife reserves and sanctuaries nature remains untouched.

Vietnam is an agricultural country with a developing industry. Most of industrial enterprises were built with the Soviet assistance. They produce most of the electric power, coal, and machinery. In the south, there are enterprises built with the help of foreign capital - the assembly of electronic equipment, bicycles, and motorcycles. The continental shelf of the country has large oil reserves. Export of crude oil provides the bulk of foreign exchange earnings. Agriculture employs 75% of workers. The main crop is rice. Other export crops are coffee and tea.

Some facts about Vietnam

Gallery of Vietnam

Vietnam video guide

More information about Vietnam

Top cities of Vietnam