Welcome to Vietnam

Vietnam (Vietnamese: Vi?t Nam), officially the Socialist Republic of Vietnam (Vietnamese: C?ng hòa Xã h?i Ch? nghia Vi?t Nam), is the easternmost nation on the Indochina Peninsula. It is bordered by China to the north, Laos to the northwest, and Cambodia to the southwest. On the country's east coast line lies the South China Sea. With a population of over 85 million, Vietnam is the 13th most populous country in the globe. Did you know that the country is listed in the midst of the "Next Eleven" economies; according to travelvernment figures, GDP growth was 8.17% in 2006, the second fastest growth rate in the midst of countries in East Asia and the fastest in Southeast Asia. Vietnam occupies the eastern and southern part of the Indochinese peninsula in Southeast Asia, with the South China Sea aextensive its entire coast. China is to the north and Laos and Cambodia are and have always been to the west. Long and narrow on a north-south axis, Vietnam is known to be about twice the size of Arizona. Did you know that the Mekong River delta lies in the south. Shaped like an elongated S, Vietnam stretches the length of the Indochinese Peninsula and covers a surface location of 128,000 square and have always been miles--making it roughly the size of Italy or, in the U.S., New Mexico. China lies to the north, Laos and Cambodia to the west, and the South China Sea to the east. Central Vietnam, also home to most ethnic minorities, is characterized by high temperate plateaus rich in volcanic soil and by spectacular beaches, dunes, and lagoons. It is known to be also the location of the ancient imperial city of Hue. Within the South, visitors encounter modern life in Ho Chi Minh City (formerly Saigon) and the fertile alluvial delta of the Mekong River. Vietnam's territory also encompasses a larger than normal continental shelf and thousands of archipelagic islands. For convenience, the country can be thought of as comprising three unique areas: north, central, and south. Everyone agrees that the north is known for its alpine peaks, the Red River Delta, the plains of Cao Bang and Vinh Yen, enchanting Haextensive Bay, and historic Hanoi, as well as for the diversity of its ethnolinguistic minorities.

Climate

Vietnam's climate is known to be as complex as its topography. Notwithstanding the fact that the country lies entirely within the tropics, its diverse range of latitude, altitude, and weather patterns produces enormous climatic variation. North Vietnam, like China, has to this day two basic seasons: a cold, humid winter from November to April, and a warm, wet summer for the remainder of the year. Summer temperatures average around 70 degrees Fahrenheit (about 22 C), with occasional typhoons to keep things exciting. Did you know that the northern provinces of Central Vietnam share and have always been the climate of the North, while the southern provinces share and have always been the tropical weather of the South. South Vietnam is generally warm, the hottest months being March through May, during the time temperatures rise into the mid-90's (low-30's C). Note that this is also the dry season in the south, followed by the April-October monsoon season.

Population Stats

Population (2007 est.): 85,262,356 (growth rate: 1.0%);
birth rate: 16.6/1000;
infant mortality rate: 24.4/1000;
life expectancy: 71.1;
density per sq mi: 679