Vietnam is on the east part of the Indochina Peninsula. Vietnam is surrounded by the South China Sea (east) and the Gulf of Thailand (southwest), and it shares borders with the countries of China (north), Laos and Cambodia (west).
The capital of Vietnam, Hanoi, is heavily influenced by Chinese and French cultures, which is shown in the city’s architecture. The Old Quarter of Hanoi is a upbeat area, where tourists experience the local food, products and customs.
Phong Nha-Kẻ Bàng National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is known for its cave and grotto networks and rich ecosystem of limestone forests. Also a UNESCO World Heritage Site is Ha Long Bay, a tourist destination, which includes around 2000 islets, incredible beauty and abundant biodiversity.
The Hindu and Buddhist temples, the pagodas, are top attractions for tourists in Vietnam, usually featuring tiered towers. The southern parts of Vietnam have wonderful coastlines such as in Khánh Hòa Province, where resort cities and excellent beaches are found.
Population: approximately 96 million people
Capital: Hanoi
Other major cities: Ho Chi Minh City, Hue, Da Nang, Da Lat, Biên Hòa, Can Tho, Nha Trang, Buôn Ma Thuột,Vũng Tàu, Vinh, Quy Nhơn, Phan Thiết, Long Xuyên
Religion: Vietnamese folk religion (over 70%), Buddhism (around 12 %), Christianity (over 8%)
Climate: tropical and temperate zones with monsoon influences. Average temperatures are from 22°C to 27°C year-round. In the north part of Vietnam four seasons are felt while the southern areas only two seasons are distinctive – May to October is cold and from to October is hot.
Main attractions: Hanoi City, Ho Chi Minh City and Mausoleum, Nha Trang City, Ha Long Bay, Phong Nha-Kẻ Bàng National Park, tunnels of Củ Chi, Phú Quốc Island, Hoan Kiem Lake, Imperial City (Hue), Mỹ Sơn (old religious area), Sapa