Correct name for Vietnam. Where is vietnam
According to official figures, there are 54 nationalities in Vietnam. However, there are many more ethnic groups.
The ethnic composition of the country's inhabitants in numbers looks like this: the Vieta live 85.7%, the Tais - 1.9%, the Muongs and Khmers - 1.5% each, Miao-Yao - 2.13%, the Nungs - 1.1%.
The rest of the nationalities are represented in smaller numbers: these are the Chinese, Banars, Sedangi, Hoa, Wed, Khre, Mnongi, Sanziu, Santiai, Raglai, etc.
Official nationalities are grouped according to language into 8 groups: Vietnamese, Mon-Khmer, Chinese, Tibeto-Burmese, Thai, Miao-Miao, Cham and peoples who speak the Kadai languages.
The mountain peoples of Vietnam are united into a group of highlanders or Thuongs.
Religious preferences of the Vietnamese
Among the inhabitants of the country there are Buddhists (only 9.3%), Catholics (6.7%), hao-hao (about 1.5%), Protestants (0.5%), and kaodai (1.1%).
The rest of the population is either atheists or adheres to popular beliefs. They are based on the ritual “Tho Kung To Tien”. This is the cult of the ancestors. This creed is not formalized, has no hierarchy of clergy. Since adherents of the ancestor cult conduct their rituals in Buddhist temples, many mistakenly consider about 80% of the country's population to be Buddhists.
Vietnam Economy
In the late 1980s, the economic crisis also affected Vietnam. Since 1986, reforms have been launched in the country aimed at developing market relations. At the same time, the landmarks of socialism were not removed. Moreover, the state controls private enterprise. Article 15 of the Vietnamese Constitution sets out at the state level the recognition of public, collective and private property in the country.
Reforms brought Vietnam to the fore among ASEAN members in 1995-1997. 30% of all capital investments in the state were investments of foreign companies. GDP increased by 8.9% annually.
In 1998-1999, the Asian financial crisis led to a decrease in imports to the country and an increase in exports. Of course, investments from outside have also decreased.
Vietnam has very high property prices and low incomes. The purchasing power of the Vietnamese is low. Basically, the Vietnamese live poorly, poorly and in a dirty country. At the same time, they manage to maintain an average level of security in the country, which pleases visitors. Healthcare industry compared to others asian countries, well developed.
As of 2015, GDP per capita has already reached USD 6,400.00. At the same time, the GDP growth rate is 6.10%. On average, Vietnamese receive about VND 7.5 million per month. The salary of the President in the country does not exceed the average salary of the Vietnamese.
The state uses the wealth of nature for the development of its economy: manganese, coal, timber, oil, gas, phosphates, bauxite, chromite, and hydropower. The industrial sector employs 15% of the country's population. Everyone has heard a lot about Vietnamese cell phones, office equipment and components for computers, household appliances.
And the Vietnamese sew clothes, shoes, are engaged in agriculture and shipbuilding. Agriculture employs about 52% of Vietnam's population, which is 21% of GDP. In the fields of the country we will see peppers, soybeans, cashews, bananas, peanuts, sugarcane. Rice, rubber plants, coffee, tea, cotton hold the championship in the country. Tea production income exceeds $ 150 million. The development of fishing and seafood processing is also gaining momentum.
Since tourism in Vietnam also tends to develop, the service sector requires its own reforms and effective steps. This area employs about 33% of the state's population.
Vietnam - (officially the SOCIALIST REPUBLIC OF VIETNAM). The country is located along
Vietnam - (officially the SOCIALIST REPUBLIC OF VIETNAM).
The country is located along the eastern coast of the Indochina Peninsula in southeast Asia. The maximum length of the country from north-west to south-east is about 1,650 km, and the maximum width from east to west is about 550 km in the north and about 340 km in the south. Vietnam is bordered by China in the north; the Gulf of Tonkin and the South China Sea are located in the east and south; the Gulf of Thailand is in the south-west; Laos and Cambodia (Kampuchea) are located in the west. The capital of the country is Hanoi. The area of \u200b\u200bthe country is about 331,041 square kilometers. Population - 74,545,000 (as of 1995).
Earth.
In the north of the country, the densely populated Red River delta is the main breadbasket where the country's main grain crop is cultivated, rice. The Red River and its tributaries are regularly subject to severe extensive flooding, both as irrigation for fields and as a means of transporting goods. The fertile Mekong Delta is nearly four times larger than the Red River Delta and is one of the main rice-producing areas in the world. The annual floods in the Mekong Delta, in contrast to the floods in the Red Delta, occur regularly and increase the fertility of the land, bringing in new sludge every year. In addition, the country has sugarcane, banana, and coconut plantations in the Mekong Delta. A narrow coastal plain with a length of about 1,000 km connects these two main river deltas.
Vietnam has a tropical monsoon climate with hot winters in the south and cold winters in the north. The annual average temperature in the north (Hanoi) is -23 ° and in the south (Ho Chi Minh City). - 27 °. Average annual precipitation (mainly from May to October) is 1,500 - 2,000 mm. Typhoons occur in the north and southwest.
Almost one-third of the country's total area is under tropical evergreen and subtropical deciduous forests of oak, beech, chestnut, pine, teak. Bamboo is widespread both in forests and along rivers. Mangrove forests are common in tidal coastal plains, and grassy savannas cover the highlands and plateaus in the southwest. Large areas have been disfigured by barbaric farming practices (logging and burning), as well as bombing and herbicides used by the US military during the Vietnam War, although the devastated areas were subsequently rehabilitated (reclaimed). About one fifth of the country's total land area is used for agriculture.
North Vietnam is rich in mineral resources, especially anthracite and coal. Other minerals are found in the north, including iron ore, lead, zinc, bauxite, copper, chromium ores, and tungsten. tin. Small oil reserves are found on the southern coast.
Currency: The national currency of Vietnam is the Dong. Currently, $ 1 is equivalent to approximately 16,000 dong. Paying in dollars is common in hotels, but you will need local currency when shopping at the store and paying for taxis. In big cities, you can pay by credit cards in hotels, restaurants and large shops. The Visa credit card is especially preferred.
Electricity: the voltage in the network throughout the country is 220 volts. Sometimes in hotels (especially in the southern part of the country) electrical outlets differ from European ones. In this case, you will be provided with the necessary adapters.
Security: Vietnam is one of the safest countries in Asia. However, you should pay attention to the safety of your personal belongings. While staying in hotels, keep valuables, documents and credit cards in safes.
At the airport: Safely keep the Entry / Exit Form filled out when entering Vietnam. You will need it when you leave the country. Airport Tax - The airport tax for international flights is $ 14. The fee is not charged for children under 2 years of age. Airport tax for domestic flights is included in the air ticket price. Baggage Tags - keep your baggage tags (attached to your tickets) to go through control when leaving the airport with your baggage
The judiciary includes the Supreme People's Court in Hanoi and lower People's Courts in the provinces and major cities. The National Assembly may, in special cases, for example when national security interests are affected, establish by its decision a special judicial body. The Supreme People's Court oversees the work of the institutions under its jurisdiction. Members of national minorities are entitled to use their native language in court. At the state and provincial levels and in the army, there are people's inspectorates, each of which is led by responsible prosecutors who carry out the task of monitoring the implementation of the law in government agencies, private organizations, military personnel and civilians. The judge considers cases during the trials together with the council of people's assessors, consisting of five to nine people. There are over 10,000 such councils in the country.
Armed Forces: Everything about the Vietnamese People's Army and other security forces is strictly classified. In November 1998, the National Union voted for "transparency" of information in the field of public administration, after which the government developed a detailed program to educate the public about the financing of the services and departments it runs (it does not apply to the army, internal security organs and party organizations). The number of military personnel in the country is estimated at approximately 0.5 million, and the number of security personnel at 2 million.
Geography
Vietnam is located in Southeast Asia and stretches for 1600 km along the eastern coast of the Indochina Peninsula.
More than 80% of Vietnam's territory is occupied by low and medium-altitude mountains. Less than 30% of the country is covered with forests. In the north, parallel to each other, block-folded ridges of southeastern striking stretch - Hoang Lien Son (with the highest point of Vietnam Mount Fanshipan - 3143 m), Shusung Tiaotiai, Shamshao, separated by narrow, deep longitudinal valleys. The Annam Mountains (Truong Son) stretch along the western border. In the central and southern parts of the country, there are basement and basalt plateaus - Pleiku, Daklak, Lamvien, Zilin, and the Central plateau. The largest and deepest rivers of Southeast Asia, the Hong Ha and Mekong, end their course in Vietnam, flowing into the South China Sea. In the lower reaches and the Hong Ha delta in the north of Vietnam, there is the Bakbo alluvial-delta plain. Here is the highest population density of the country (1100 people / km & sup2-) and the capital of Vietnam, Hanoi. The vast alluvial-deltaic Nambo Plain is located in the extreme southwest of the country in the Mekong Delta. It also has a high population density (450 people / km & sup2-) and the country's largest city, Ho Chi Minh City. Many small rivers flowing from the central plateau and the Annam mountains at the confluence with the South China Sea have formed a narrow strip of accumulative coastal plains.
Vietnam is located in an area of \u200b\u200bsubequatorial monsoon climate, but due to the large extent of the country from north to south, climatic conditions on its territory are somewhat different. Winter is hot in the south (26 ° C), cool in the north (15 ° C), the air temperature sometimes drops to 1 ° C due to the penetration of cold air from China. Frosts occur in the mountains at an altitude of more than 1500 m. Precipitation patterns also vary across Vietnam. Winters are dry in the south and wet in the north, while in summer monsoon rains watered the entire country. In late summer and early autumn, the coast of Vietnam is visited by destructive typhoons. On the windward slopes of the mountains, 2500-3000 mm of precipitation fall annually, on the leeward slopes - 700-900 mm.
Climate
There are three regions in the country - the northern one with dry and mild winters and humid hot summers, the central one with high temperatures and humidity throughout the year, and the southern one, which has a climate similar to that of the northern regions, but with higher temperatures.
In northern Vietnam, the dry season lasts from November to April, with the least rainfall in December-January (about 10 mm). The maximum amount of precipitation occurs in July-August and varies depending on the location from 270 to 450 mm per month, and in the period from July to September 80% of the annual precipitation amounting to 1400-1700 mm falls. In mountainous areas, the amount of precipitation per year reaches 3000 mm. The coldest month is January with an average daytime temperature of + 18C and + 9C at night. In the mountains at altitudes of more than 1500 m in winter at night there are frosts, and snow is not excluded. In the summer months, during the day, the thermometer rises to + 30-32 degrees, at night it drops to +23. In the second half of summer and autumn, typhoons are frequent in the northern regions.
In central Vietnam, in winter, daytime temperatures range from +21 to +24 degrees, and at night - from +15 to +18. The coldest month is January. During the summer, the air temperature remains practically unchanged - + 34C during the day and +25 C at night. By the nature of moisture in this region, a special area of \u200b\u200bcoastal lowlands stands out. They are protected from the southwestern monsoon by the Truong Son mountains, so the maximum precipitation in Vietnam is not officially named for the summer months, as in other regions, but for the autumn. The wettest months are September and October, when 400-500 mm of precipitation falls. The rainy season lasts until January. The least amount of precipitation occurs in February-March (about 40 mm).
In the south, the rainiest months are also July and August, but precipitation is higher - from 400 to 700 mm. It rains most often during the day in the form of intermittent showers. In January, the coldest month, the characteristic temperatures at night and during the day are +21 and +30 degrees, respectively. The warmest month is April with an average night temperature of + 23oС and daytime temperatures of + 33oС.
Administrative territorial structure
Vietnam is divided into 58 provinces (Vietnamese Tỉ-nh, tin). Along with this, there are 5 cities of central subordination, which have the same status as the provinces.
Population
Vietnam is a multinational country. more than fifty-four ethnic groups inhabit the territory of Vietnam from the Northern Highlands to the southern tip of Ca Mau. Ethnic majority of Vietnam - Kinkhi - miniature, dark-haired, with brown or black eyes, the indigenous people of the country make up a total of eighty percent of the total population of Vietnam. By the way, the total population of Vietnam reaches eighty two million inhabitants. Some other ethnic groups include the H'Mong, Muong, Zao and Thai peoples living in the North Highlands of Vietnam. The peoples living on the South Uplands of Vietnam include the Bakhnar, Ede, M'Nong, Giarai, Stieng tribes. Each group has its own traditions and language, however the most popular and spoken language in Vietnam is Vietnamese.
Religion
The population of Vietnam is Buddhists 9.3%, Catholics 6.7%, Hoa Khao 1.5%, Kao Dai 1.1%, Protestants 0.5%, atheists and followers of local animist cults 80.8%
The main religion of the Vietnamese is a system of folk beliefs, the basis of which is the rituals of "tho kung to tien" (ancestor cult), strictly performed by the majority of the country's inhabitants. This cult does not have a formalized doctrine, hierarchy of the clergy and social organization (communities, parishes, etc.) and, therefore, does not have the status of a religious denomination. During the 1999 census, all persons who found it difficult to indicate their confessional affiliation were registered as atheists. It should also be noted that Buddhist temples often serve as the place of worship of ancestors, which is the reason for another popular misconception that more than 80% of Vietnamese are Buddhists.
Economy
Vietnam exports crude oil, seafood, rice, coffee, rubber, tea, clothing and footwear ($ 57 billion in 2009). The main buyers are the USA 21.4%, Japan 14.4%, China 7.3%, Australia 4.4%, Germany 4.3%.
Vietnam imports industrial products, oil products, fertilizers, grain, cotton, cement, motorcycles ($ 65.1 billion in 2009). The main suppliers are China 20.9%, Singapore 9.6%, Japan 9%, Taiwan 8.2%, South Korea 7.7%, Thailand 6.4%, USA 4.3%.
In the past, the USSR and Vietnam worked closely in various fields: agriculture, oil production, construction and science, not to mention the military-technical industry. Now many projects have been closed, but the joint oil production company Vietsovpetro in Vung Tau and the Tropical Research Center of the Russian Academy of Sciences in Hanoi (with branches in Ho Chi Minh City and Nha Trang) are still operating.
For a long time, the economic growth of Vietnam was hampered by the American embargo and the excessive tutelage of the Soviet state - foreign capital was not welcomed in the country. In December 1988, the Vietnamese government passed a foreign investment law, which guaranteed companies from other countries that their property and profits would not be nationalized. Vietnam, the official name of Vietnam, was drawn first by companies from the Asia-Pacific region, primarily South Korea and Australia, and then many others. And in 1997, the Vietnamese parliament allowed all provinces and districts to independently conduct foreign trade operations. Since January 11, 2007, Vietnam has become the 150th member of the World Trade Organization (WTO).
Holidays
Public Holidays: Tet - Weekend Week in January or February - Remembrance of the Hung Kings (Floating Day - usually April) - April 30 - South Vietnam Liberation Day - May 1 - Workers' Day - May 19 - Ho's Birthday Shi Ming - September 2 - Independence Day (from France since 1945). Vietnamese meet their New Year - Tet - according to the lunar calendar, respectively, the holiday has no fixed date.
Transport
Large and small air-conditioned buses run from Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City to all other cities in Vietnam. Air and rail links have been established between all major settlements. You can rent a car, but only with a driver. the local traffic police do not recognize any driver's license other than Vietnamese. Nothing is required to rent a motorcycle except a deposit. Taxis are best used in cities. The fare in the taki is $ 1-1.5 per landing and then every kilometer is 6-10 cents (depending on the class of the car). The slowest, but most exotic transport is the cycle rickshaws, which are best suited for exploring the old quarters.
Interesting Facts
There is a legend that the Vietnamese (Vieta) descended from a dragon and a fairy bird.
A parish of the Russian Orthodox Church has been operating in the city of Vung Tau in the south of Vietnam since 2002.
In Vietnam, near the city of Da Nang, there is the world's longest cable car.
Vietnam resembles the Latin letter "S" in shape.
Of course, we cannot say that this is absolutely all of Vietnam, especially since we left one of the interesting regions (Sapa and the surrounding area) for the next time, but nevertheless, during this time, we made both a general impression of the country and recorded many details about the peculiarities of Vietnam and the Vietnamese.
We regularly make notes about all the interesting facts both during the preparation for the trip and, of course, during the trip itself, and now we have systematized our notes and present to your attention 90 facts about Vietnam that surprised us.
In many ways, these facts are based on our observations and this is the Vietnam that we saw. If your opinion on some points differs from ours - welcome to the comments!
1. The second largest consumption of rice per capita firmly holds Vietnam, yielding first place to Burma. The average Vietnamese eats 169 kg (!) Of rice per year, i.e. a family of two requires almost a kilogram of rice a day. Well, about the variety of rice varieties (there are dozens of them here), you can not even stutter, or do you still think that there are 3-5 types of them :)?
2. Pho soup is one of the most popular Vietnamese dishes.This is a soup with rice noodles and, most often, beef, although it also happens with chicken or fish. Pho soup is served in almost every cafe and restaurant, there is even a network of establishments called PHO24. Vietnamese eat it with chopsticks, mainly for breakfast
3. Ban mi or French baguette sandwich - This is another very popular dish in Vithenam. The baguette is cut and put inside a variety of fillings: meat, fish, tofu, eggs, greens, it turns out such a street Subway
4. Fish sauce is very popular in Vietnamese cuisine. - it is made from fish that has been subjected to a fermentation process. To put it simply, fish sauce is what comes out of fish mixed with salt and lying in barrels under pressure for several months. Doesn't sound very nice, right? In general, the smell is even worse \u003d) But the locals cannot imagine life without it.
5. Plastic trash bin, which stands under each table - a must-have attribute in very cheap local eateries. If this is not provided, then visitors simply throw garbage under the table. Likewise, the waiter, when cleaning the table, can sweep the garbage directly to the floor. We saw the same habit of littering in local public catering earlier only in 
6. In the simplest cafes - "for the locals"as a rule, there is no menu, there is a choice of 2-3 standard dishes (rice and noodles) with several variations.
7.
In the tourist spots of Vietnam - complete culinary abundance. Any cuisines of the world, a large selection of seafood, coffee shops, in general, whatever the soul and stomach desires. Of all the variety we tasted only crocodile and frog legs, but here you can try almost any exotic - turtle, scorpion, ostrich meat, eat the heart of a snake or drink the blood of a cobra 
8. Hot Pot Is a popular tourist attraction in Vietnamese restaurants. A gas stove is placed on the table, and a pan with broth is placed on it, where the ingredients are added in the process either independently or with the help of a waiter 
9. Low, like children's chairs and tables right on the roadIs another bright and memorable feature of the Vietnamese catering. Moreover, decently dressed office employees can also dine in such places. 
10. Hanoi haswhere instead of tables and chairs there are bathtubs with toilets, and food and drinks are served in mini-frescoes and medical ducks 🙂
11. Vietnam is the largest exporter of dragonfruit (pitahaya) - we drove several times past huge, endless "cactus" plantations, strewn with red fruits 
12. Vietnamese money(dongs, 20,000 VND ~ $ 1 USD) are made of plastic (polymer money) - they do not get wet, do not tear and practically do not get dirty.
13. Vietnamese traders, for the most part, they seemed to us not too friendly. If they do not understand something, for example, ordering in a cafe or in the market, they often simply dismiss them, they say, go, than they will get into the situation, they will prompt something. Although if they still manage to sell their products to tourists, then they become more satisfied 
14. In general, Vietnamese - quite friendly and helpful people. They often look gloomier than Thais, but when you talk to them, they start to smile broadly 
15. In terms of production and export of coffee, Vietnam ranks second (yielding to Brazil), and the first in the production and export of robusta. In 2012, Vietnam managed to overtake Brazil in total coffee exports and this despite the fact that the total area of \u200b\u200bVietnam is almost 30 times less!
16. Coffee shop -it is a place where you can meet representatives of any stratum of the local population. Absolutely everyone loves coffee, and they are ready to drink it several times a day, sipping sip after sip for hours, at least we got just that impression.
17. At the same time, according to the consumption of coffee per capitaVietnam is only in 93rd place (considering that Russia is in 57th place, and the first, unexpectedly, is Finland). About 95% of the coffee grown is exported.
18. Vietnamese coffee - very tasty and aromatic, just a divine drink. We have never been fans of coffee before, and it was in Vietnam that we got hooked on it.
19. Traditional way of brewing coffee - using a special metal filter that is installed directly on the cup. Ground coffee is put into it and poured with boiling water, and the finished drink slowly, drop by drop enters the cup, thus, the brewing process is a meditative part of the coffee ritual 
20. The coffee drinking process is also similar to the ritual - despite the fact that the drink is strained a little through such a filter, a real Vietnamese can stretch it for almost an hour, drinking it in small sips 
21. This coffee is usually very strong... Sometimes they drink it just like that, but more often - with condensed milk (milk / white coffee), and the amount of condensed milk and coffee turns out to be about the same 
22. In the southern part of the country, by default, it is assumed that the coffee will be cold, with ice - this is how they used to drink it here. Therefore, if you want a hot drink, it is better to clarify this at the time of ordering. Cold coffee is brewed in the same way, just then pour it into a glass with ice 
23. When ordering coffee, almost everywhere, free green tea. Often - hot in the morning, and cold at lunchtime, with ice. Oh, how many dirty dishes remain after a very small company)). Guess how many visitors there actually were at this table? 
24. There is a large selection of coffee by weight in shops and markets - both in grains and ground, of a wide variety of varieties. There are both pure varieties of Arabica or Robusta, as well as all kinds of mixtures, and luwak is also popular. Prices: 150,000 - 500,000 VND ($ 7.5- $ 25) per 1 kg. There is also tea and ground bitter cocoa.
25. As a decoration, on tables in a cafe, instead of a vase of flowers, you can often see a pot of green rice sprouts 
26. A typical Asian name for a cheap hotel "guesthouse", which is so common among backpackers, is practically not used here - instead of it, more often, they use "motel". At the same time, in comparison with or, for the same money, here you can get more decent housing, for example, for $ 10 / day you can rent a room with air conditioning, refrigerator, TV, wi-fi, balcony, towels (which will also be changed every day ), hygiene items (soap, toothpaste, toothbrushes) and flip flops \u003d) 
27. Vietnamese - Vietnam isn't just about women, but also slippers (they are flip flops, they are slates). They are so popular here that they are mandatory in almost any hotel / guesthouse, and we, more often than not, come across just blue, apparently, this is the general standard. It is very convenient, especially when traveling light, to find slippers in the room - we went to the beach in them and took them on excursions to the islands and beaches.
28. Rooms, which are called singles here (single) are 30% cheaper than double, but are quite suitable for two, because the bed is still double and all accessories (toothbrushes, towels, slates) are presented in duplicate. But this rule does not apply in expensive hotels (4 * and 5 *).
29. Standard practice when checking into low-cost hotels- to pick up passports and return them only after eviction, apparently, there are times when guests leave in the morning without paying. Since we are very sensitive to our passports, we always tried to leave some other ID with a photo (for example, a water certificate), but this does not work everywhere. In decent hotels, passports are not taken.
30. Guesthouses are often narrow buildings, one room wide, most often with balconies on the front side facing the road. The rest of the rooms - with windows to the side or no windows at all.
31. Often guesthouses, and indeed houses in general, are built right next to each other, so that you get common walls. From the outside, it even seemed to us that we had one building in front of us, but in fact, these are 4 different 
32. Motorbikes are driven into the lobby of guesthouses at night, and even very decent ones - with marble floors, mirrored walls and antique furniture 
33. Numbering of floors in buildings - as in, here traces of French colonization can be traced. The lowest floor is ground, followed by the first, second, etc. With the exception of Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh, buildings everywhere are mostly low-rise - 4-5 floors, less often 7-8.
34. However, in Vietnam there are several places where you can see the city from above.In Hanoi, we climbed, with the SKY72 observation deck on the 72nd floor and a circular panorama of the entire city. In Ho Chi Minh City - on observation deck in the Bitexco Financial Tower, and in Vungtao they admired the city and the South China Sea from the statue, just like in Rio de Janeiro.
66. Ticket offices for many natural attractions(waterfalls, parks), close at 4-5 pm, and daylight hours lasts until 6, so by accidentally arriving at the place after the ticket office closes, you can save on entrance tickets - we did it quite unplanned a couple of times.
67. In Vietnam, you can not only ride the usual Asian elephants, but also arrange an ostrich ride.
68. Vietnamese love to swim, although they almost do not swim, but go into the water up to the waist and splash in the waves, and they do it in clothes 
69. They even snorkel in clothes, and even in life jackets 
70. Due to the mountainous terrain, the climate in different regions of Vietnam varies significantly. For example, you can swim and sunbathe in Nha Trang, and after driving only 140 kilometers to Dalat, it's great to freeze - early in the morning and after sunset, the temperature drops to +16.
71. Even at +20 it's really cold here. When we had to ride a bike with a breeze in T-shirts and light jackets, we froze, even a runny nose appeared and our throat ached. In such weather, locals wear warm jackets and hats, and brag with horror when we report that in Russia in winter it happens even -20))
72. Two-toed socks are popular among localsto continue wearing flip-flops instead of closed shoes even in cold weather.
73. In some cities, French architecture, embankments and streets, caused us nostalgia for European travel, and Dalat, which is called the Vietnamese Paris, even has its own "Eiffel Tower". On the streets there are flowerbeds, the city really reminds 
74. In cities, you can often seeneatly trimmed lawns, in the form of flowers, boats, teapots, etc.
The region where Vietnam is located is called Indochina and is considered one of the most densely populated in the world. Throughout its history, Vietnam has been inextricably linked to China, which has influenced its southern neighbor.
Where is the country of Vietnam located?
Vietnam stretches in a narrow strip for 1750 kilometers along the eastern coast of the Indochina Peninsula. Such a long distance, together with significant changes in the relief, creates very different natural conditions throughout the country, which vary from north to south.
Along the border with Cambodia and Laos, the Annam Mountains stretch across the territory, the most high point which is located in Vietnam and is called Mount Bia.
The region where Vietnam is located does not lack water resources. The two deepest rivers of Southeast Asia - the Mekong and Hongha - flow through the country. And on its territory they form their own deltas, flowing into the South China Sea.
Water resources and climate
To answer the question of where Vietnam is located along the equator, it is enough to draw an imaginary line from the largest city in the country, which is Ho Chi Minh City, named after the first president of an independent state. The distance between the eight millionth Ho Chi Minh City and the equator by air is approximately one thousand two hundred kilometers.
Since the country lies at a considerable distance from the equator, this gives the climate a seasonality with pronounced fluctuations in precipitation. In southern Vietnam, the dry season lasts from mid-December to April, and the rainy season from May to November.
Great river of Asia
The river known throughout the world as the Mekong is called Kyulong in Vietnamese, which translates as "River of Nine Dragons". The length of the river reaches four and a half thousand kilometers, during which it flows through the territory of six states and serves as the border between Burma, Laos and Thailand.
The Mekong originates in the Tibetan Plateau, controlled by China. On the territory of Tibet, the river is called Dza-chu, and after entering the Chinese lands it receives the name Lancangjiang.
Flowing through the territory of six states, the river carries food to the lands of local peasants, however, it is characterized by instability and significant changes in the volume of flow from season to season. If in its upper course the river is filled by melting snows, then in the region where Vietnam is located, it depends on the rains.
Capital of Vietnam. Where is?
In whatever country the capital is located, it is always a place of attraction for business and population. Today, the capital of Vietnam is the city of Hanoi, the name of which translates as "City between rivers".
Hanoi is the second largest city in the country after Ho Chi Minh City, but the cities differ not so much from this as their geographical location. Hanoi is one of the twenty largest cities in the world by area and occupies the seventeenth line in this ranking. At the same time, it is one of the ten most popular cities in Asia for tourists. Travelers are attracted by the city's long history, architecture, craft districts and good climate.
The tower of the Hanoi Citadel, built in the fifteenth century, is considered an unofficial symbol of the city, which often falls into the lens of cameras. The citadel was rebuilt and destroyed several times during numerous military conflicts, the most destructive of which was the civil war that lasted eighteen years and claimed the lives of two million local residents.
Conflict of interest
In the twentieth century, Southeast Asia became an arena of struggle between the two systems represented by the US and the USSR, and by the end of the sixties, conflict erupted in the region where Vietnam is located. On whatever continent there was a conflict between two superpowers, thousands of local residents became its victims.
As a result of a prolonged conflict, which left an indelible mark in the history of all participating states, the communist leaders, supported by the Soviet Union and occupying the northern part of the country, won.
After the American troops were withdrawn and Ho Chi Minh took control of the entire country, the capital of South Vietnam was named after the first president of the new communist republic.
The communist economic system, established by the results of the war, collapsed already in the early eighties of the twentieth century. The authorities began to carry out market reforms, attracting investments from other states. The country slowly began to open up to the world, but to this day the influence of the communist past on people's lives is great, and the symbol of this past is the tomb of Ho Chi Minh, a mausoleum built in the capital of the country, Hanoi.
Modern economics
Despite all the efforts of the country's leadership, Vietnam is still largely an agricultural country supplying products abroad with low market value. However, the Vietnamese Communist Party has no plans to give up and says it plans to make life in the village more comfortable and at the same time raise agricultural productivity.
It is planned to conduct electricity in rural areas, build roads and increase the share of mechanisms in the production of agricultural products. At the same time, residents will be trained to work on new machines.
As for industrial production, we can say that in any part of the country where the city is located, Vietnam is turning into not the most environmentally friendly place.
In the XXl century, many industries appeared in Vietnam that did not meet modern environmental safety standards. More and more plants and factories are opening in the country due to the cheapness of labor, which even China can no longer boast of. Workers live in dire conditions, workplace safety regulations are not followed, and wages are barely enough to cover the minimum costs.
Environmental problems
The region where Vietnam is located has mostly mountainous or hilly terrain of medium height, but in the Mekong Delta, the land level is significantly lower. This seaside sinking poses a threat of flooding if sea levels rise due to global climate change.
Vietnamese scientists believe that by 2100 the sea level could rise by one meter, and this will lead to almost complete flooding of provinces located in the vast river delta.
Rapid urbanization, which began in the 2000s, may become another threat to the country's ecology. Growth settlements and the increased number of cars creates adverse health conditions for urban populations.
Vietnam - Country of the Red Dragon
Every year Asia becomes more familiar to us, but no less mysterious than it was for us in childhood. Even 10 years ago, many have already heard from us about Vietnam as a new direction in tourism and consider it as a possible destination for another vacation. Why do we recommend choosing a tour to Vietnam? Why is Vietnam interesting? What is he really like? There are answers, although they are different for everyone, and have seriously changed over the past 10 years, nevertheless, vacation in Vietnam is now relevant. Our answers:
Firstly, you can travel to Vietnam all year round - you are guaranteed warm weather and gentle sea. October to March - best time for visiting the south of the country - the city of Ho Chi Minh City, the high-altitude golf resort of Dalat, the beach resort of Phan Thiet (Mui Ne). The winter monsoon brings wet, cold winters to all areas north of Nha Trang, so seaside resorts such as Nha Trang, Hoi An and Da Nang must be traveled “in the summer” from February to October. People go to Hanoi and Halong for historical sights, so it will be interesting there at any time of the year!
Secondly, You can please yourself with inexpensive and varied Vietnamese cuisine - restaurants, cafes and bars are open to you literally at every step, especially on beach resorts while on holiday in Vietnam. The quality and prices of seafood, as well as their variety, will delight even the spoiled traveler!
Thirdly, tours to Vietnam: at the beginning of the millennium Vietnam was exotic, then tours to Vietnam became the rule of good form for the "originals", now Vietnam has become a popular destination along with holidays in Thailand and holidays in Hainan in China. However, you can always choose an individual tour to Vietnam in order to get away from the routine, especially since the infrastructure is developing rapidly and you can plan a private vacation in Vietnam in any hotels in Vietnam: both in inexpensive beach bungalows and in chic luxury hotels with a private beach and international standards. quality.
Fourth, even if you do not want to be like everyone else, but you find it difficult to resist an amazing beach vacation in Vietnam, you can make excursion tour throughout Vietnam from north to south, and it is even better to combine it with a visit to neighboring Cambodia - such a tour will be the most optimal, as an opportunity to see the historical heritage of the ancient eastern empires and relax on the wonderful beaches of the southern seas. The beauty of Vietnam is that excursions or vacations in Vietnam can be combined with many other countries of Southeast Asia. 
Fifth, one cannot fail to note in general a very low order of prices both for service services, for example, the world's cheapest diving in Vietnam (French and German instructors), and for various locally produced goods - silk, clothing, souvenirs, jewelry, and seafood. Those. you can fly to Vietnam light and buy everything on the spot, including a ski suit! We don’t argue about the quality - 90% of Moscow boutiques are made in China and Vietnam.
It is also worth pointing out the fact that the level of service and quality of Vietnam hotels is quite high. Clean comfortable rooms, a sauna, massage, a fitness center and a swimming pool are in almost every hotel, not to mention such additional services as the provision of excursions, cruise trips, visits to exotic restaurants. There are a lot of new deluxe hotels in Da Nang, Hoi An, Nha Trang - the choice is yours!
And that is not all!!! Over the past couple of years, Vietnam has also become the center of all the desperate surfers in the world, thanks to the extraordinary opportunities for extreme water sports kite surfing and wind surfing in Vietnam, in particular at the resorts of Vung Tau and Phan Thiet / Mui Ne, which are near Saigon!
IN eventually,
need to mark safety for tourists. A cordial attitude, an atmosphere of hospitality and an eternal holiday that will not be spoiled by petty pickpockets (if you allow yourself this). Of course, the days of the Soviet Union's help are already far behind, no one will remember this, but as a tourist who is ready to pay in freely convertible currency, you will always be welcome!
Useful information.
Customs... Duty-free import of 200 cigarettes, 50 cigars or 250 g of tobacco is allowed; 2 liters of alcoholic beverages; gifts worth up to 50US $. But who counts them !? It is prohibited to import opium, weapons, explosives, etc., as elsewhere.
Taxi. Taxis can be called from any hotel, cafe or shop. You can also quickly take a taxi on the street. The fare is paid by the counter. A taxi can take you to any city in the country, but the cost of the trip must be negotiated in advance. In general, long journeys are cheaper. 
Vaccinations... Currently, no vaccinations are required before traveling to Vietnam. As elsewhere, you need to follow basic hygiene rules. In cities and tourist resorts, in terms of infections, it is almost safe, sanitation rules are followed quite strictly. However, if you plan to visit remote rural and wetlands, it is imperative to sleep under a mosquito net, as there is a risk of contracting malaria. For those who are planning an independent and long-term study of Vietnam, we recommend taking more serious prevention and taking appropriate medications with them.
Geography.Vietnam is a state in Southeast Asia, on the Indochina peninsula. Country area: 332 thousand sq. km. The capital is Hanoi. It shares borders with China, Cambodia and Laos. Washed by the South China Sea. Most of the territory is occupied by mountains, up to 3143 m in height, and on the coast of the lowland - mainly in the lower reaches of the Hong Ha River delta (in the north of the country) and the Mekong River (in the south of the country). The main waterways are the Mekong (in the south) and the Red River (in the north).
Population, language, religion Population: 77 311 thousand people The urban population is 20% (1998). Ethnic composition: Vietnamese 85 - 90%, Chinese 3%, the rest are Khmers and other 60 ethnic groups. Believers are mainly Buddhists, there are also Catholics, Protestants, Muslims and adherents of traditional beliefs.
The official language is Vietnamese. 
Timeahead of Moscow by 3 hours in summer and 4 hours in winter.
Climatetropical monsoon. Precipitation is 1500-3000 mm. in year. Average temperatures in the South vary little, in the North from + 15 ° C in January to + 28 ° C in July; it's cooler in the mountains. Typhoons and floods are frequent in autumn. 40% of the territory is covered with tropical forests
State structure
The country is governed by the Communist Party of Vietnam (1.8 million members). The head of state is the president. The legislature is a unicameral National Assembly. Administrative divisions: 58 provinces and 3 cities of central subordination.
| Town | Rainy season | Dry season | Precipitation (mm / year) | The hottest month, t 0C | Coldest month, t 0C |
| Hanoi | may-Oct | november-Apr | 1680 | june 32.8 | january13.8 |
| Halong | may-Oct | november-Apr | 1994 | july31.6 | january 13.5 |
| Dien Bien | apr-Sep | oct-march | 1567 | may 32.2 | january 11.0 |
| Sapa | september | dec-Feb | 2769 | aug-23.2 | january 06.2 |
| Hue | march-November | feb-june | 2890 | aug-34.5 | january 17.2 |
| Da Nang | july-January | feb-june | 1974 | june34.2 | january 19.0 |
| Kui Nong | sep-dec | january-Aug | 1647 | aug-34.5 | january 20.6 |
| Pleiku | may-Oct | nov-Apr | 2684 | apr 30.7 | january14.0 |
| Dalat | apr - nov | dec-March | 1820 | apr 26.8 | february10.0 |
| Nha Trang | Sep-Dec | jan-Aug | 1441 | aug 33.2 | january 20.5 |
| Saigo | may-Nov | dec-Apr | 1979 | apr 34.8 | january 21.0 |
| Can Tho | may-Nov | dec-Apr | 1560 | apr 33.9 | january-21.9 |
Holidays
New Year -1 January
Lunar New Year - from the 1st to the 7th day of the first lunar month (varies from January to early February)
KPV foundation day - February 3
Liberation Day - April 30
Workers' Day of Solidarity - May 1
Ho Chi Minh's Birthday - May 19
Buddha's birthday is the 8th day of the 4th lunar month (usually June)
National holiday - September 2
Christmas Day - December 25
Local currency and banks
The monetary unit is the dong. In circulation, banknotes in denominations of 200, 500, 1.000, 5.000, 10.000, 20.000, 50.000 and 100.000 dongs. US $ 1 is equal to VND 15.934 (July 2002). The dollar is ubiquitous as a second currency 
that. However, Vietnamese laws require you to pay in Dong. You can exchange dongs at the hotel, in banks and exchange offices on the street or in shops. Banks are open from 8 am to 3 pm Monday through Friday, and from 8 am to 12 pm on Saturday. It is problematic to exchange dongs for dollars in banks and hotels; it is much easier to do this in shops and shops selling gold at a minimum percentage.
Credit cards VISA, MasterCard, American Express and JBS are accepted everywhere. In some places (in particular in travel agencies) you may be charged a commission of 4%. At ATMs you can only receive money in local currency within the daily limit of 2 million VND. Receiving funds in US dollars is not permitted by law.
Over the past ten years many Russian tourists have already visited Vietnam and appreciated its new look, amazing beaches, delicious and inexpensive cuisine, quality hotel service and friendly attitude from the local population. Travel to Vietnam and here you will find the charm of Buddhism in ancient temples and pagodas, decent rest on the beaches and a variety of entertainment, the virginity of uninhabited islands and unique national parks, where a riot of tropical vegetation amazes the imagination and attracts more and more tourists from Europe, America and Asia every year. You can find all information about the country and typical programs on our website, and see - by going on a tour to Vietnam!
Welcome to the land of the Red Dragon!
