Vietnam in detail
 

 It is quite strange that more than a decade after Vietnam opened the doors to the tourists and investors, who want to travel to Viet Nam, the information of this country is still so poor and unsystematic.
People wonder what is behind an Asian nation that had been under a thousand years of feudalism, and a century of two bigger Indochinese Wars. And above all, it's still a communist state.

What Vietnam is really like?
The wars have been relegated to museums, memorials and historical vestiges. 
Four natural and cultural draws have been designated as World Heritages by UNESCO within 7 years.
And the visitors, of which the French led the way since 1990s, have pleasantly noted warm smiles and friendly faces every corner. The time-limited tourists are happy that they can visit various kinds of landscape, vestiges and lifestyles within a reasonable time. Those who love ecotours are amazed discovering that they can get apart from the urban excitement for as long as they can and mix them up with hill tribes in remote regions. And who just returned after a few years offer excellent comments on the remarkable development of infrastructure.
You assuredly need a good local friend to get you delve into these wonders.
We love to be him.  

A SHORT PROFILE

Country:     GREEN

Cities: Hanoi is the Capital. Ho Chi Minh City (normally called Saigon) is the largest city and more exciting industrial centre. Hue, the Capital of the last Kingdom up to 1945 is still maintaining traces of the old reigns. Main seaports are Haiphong, Danang, Saigon.

Population: 78 millions. 54 ethnics. The Kinh (or Viet) ethnic forms around 85% of population and mostly inhabit in larger towns. A larger Chinese community of less than 2 millions inhabit mainly in Hochiminh City.

Area: 332,000 km square, roughly the area of Italy or Japan

Shape: Neither boot-shaped nor gathering hundreds of islands.
A huge "S" lying half-facing the Pacific Ocean as per a proud local expression

Land Borders: North to China, upper West to Laos, lower West to Cambodia, East and South to Pacific Ocean.

Sea Borders: Northeast to East Sea or so-called South China Sea, Southwest to the Gulf of Thailand.

Climate: Tropical monsoon. 4 seasons in the North, dry and rainy seasons in the South. Conditions vary North to South with elevation changes.

Geography: 75% of the territory is limestone mountains, the rest are river deltas, fertile highlands, and small deserts
 

Language: Vietnamese. Don't ask the local people do they understand Chinese naturally. Vietnamese is a tonal language using Roman letters together with tone markers - main problems of foreign students. English is the most popular foreign language and French, Chinese, Japanese are expected to speak at service points. Literacy rate is 88%

Religion: Figures are different. Estimated 60% – 70% of population believe in Buddhist tenets with strong Confucian and Taoist influences. Catholic account for perhaps 8% – 10% of the population. Cao Dai and Hoa Hao, local sects of Buddhism, are strong in the Mekong delta. 

Government: Sole-party Socialist Republic under the leadership of the Communist Party. Important persons to name are the Party's General Secretary (Mr. Nong Duc Manh), the country's president (Mr. Tran Duc Luong), the Prime Minister (Mr. Phan Van Khai). The leading offices are Politburo and National Assembly.
 

National flag:

Economy: Market-based economy. Third world leading rice exporter and coffee exporter (wow!!). Other exported goods are rubber, tea, crude oil, coal, and electricity.   

Festival: New moon and full moon days are main anniversaries at temples. Main Festival of the year is the Lunar Calendar New Year ("Tet") which often falls in mid-Feb. For 5 days to a week most of businesses closed except tourist points. Flower markets every where before the Eve. Temples and shrines are exciting with traditional anniversaries and pilgrims before and after Tet. Transportation is booked solid during this time.

Other Public Holidays are

For further information of travel in Vietnam, please see Vietnam in detail