Country Full Name: The Socialist Republic of Vietnam
Vietnam Introduction
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, while inland there are soaring mountains, some of which are cloaked by dense, misty forests. Vietnam also offers an opportunity to see a country of traditional charm and rare beauty rapidly opening up to the outside world.
Vietnam stretches over 1600 km along the eastern coast of the Indochina peninsula from 8' 34"N to 23' 22" N. The land mass is 329,566 square kilometers, making it larger than Italy and slightly smaller than Japan. Vietnam is a country of immense beauty and geographical diversity. The country is roughly divided into three main areas: North, Center and South. The main feature of the North of Vietnam is mountains and forests along with the vast Mekong River Delta. The North is also home to the Gulf of Tonkin and a maze of islands in the bay. Central Vietnam is made up of agricultural plains wedged between the Truong Son Mountains and the East Sea (South China Sea) making some dramatic mountain passes overlooking ocean vistas. The Mekong Delta dominates the south of the country.
Vietnam Population
The population of Vietnam is 85 million people with 54 ethnic groups. The biggest group is the Viet or Kinh people, which is 87% of the population. The rest belong to 53 minority ethnic groups.
Vietnamese Ethnic minorities
The majority of the population is comprised of the Viet or Kinh (87%); people who speak the tonal Vietnamese. The minority population is made up of 53 ethnic hill tribe people who mainly live in the central and northern mountainous areas of the country. The best-known hill tribes are the Tay, Nung, Hmong, Zao, White and Black Thai (both mainly from the north), and the Hoa... Each hill tribe has its own unique customs and dialect and some are able to speak Vietnamese.
Quick information
Electrical Plugs: 220V 50Hz
Languages Spoken: Official language in Vietnam is Vietnamese which is created by Alexandre de Rhode, the French missionary in 17th century
Second language: English and the elders over 60 can speak French because they had French education.
Country Dialing Code: +84
Weights & Measures: Metric
Time: Vietnam is GMT + 7 and does not operate daylight-saving system.