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Vietnam Travel Resource

Geography

Bordered by China to the north, Laos and Cambodia to the west, and the East Sea and Pacific Ocean to the southeast，Vietnam's coast line is 3,260 km long and its inland border measures 4,510 km. The country's total length, from the northernmost point to the southernmost point, is 1,650 km. Its width, stretching from east to west, is 600 km at the widest point in the north, 400 km in the south, and 50 km at the narrowest part in Quang Binh province on the central coast. Vietnam is also a transport junction from the Indian Ocean to the Pacific Ocean.

Climate and Weather

Vietnam has a very diverse climate because its land mass stretches over many degrees of longitude and its terrain varies from low lying coastal plains to 4000 meter mountain peaks. The North: Cold season is between November and April with average temperatures of 16C or 61F - it is often wet and chilly. In the dry season, between May and October, the average temperature is about 30C or 86F.
Central Vietnam: The climate varies from the coastal plain to the central highlands. This region tends to be warmer and more humid than the south in the middle of the year and cooler during the dry season from November to June.
The South: The temperatures in the south are fairly constant all of the year, ranging between 25 - 30C or 77 - 86F. The dry season is from November to April and the wet season from May to October.
From July to November, strong and unpredictable typhoons can hit some of the coastal regions of Vietnam with sometimes devastating results.

Population

Spread over an area of about 331,690 sq.kms Vietnam has a population of more than 83, 535, 576 people. Vietnam is a multi-nations country, which is home to the people of about different 54 nations. However, about 90% of the population is Vietnamese but there are a large number of ethnic minorities. The remaining 10% of the Vietnam Population constitutes of the various ethnic groups that include approximately 1.2 million Chinese.

Transportation

Vietnam Airlines is the national airlines of Vietnam that operates a modern fleet of western built aircraft. Pacific Airlines is a regional airline that has both domestic and international routes and is the second largest airline of Vietnam. Big cities of Vietnam like Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh have efficient bus services and the tourists can easily reach the center of the city by bus. Taxis are also easily available in Vietnam and are one of the major means of transportation in Vietnam for visitors. Taxis are not only safe but are speedy mode of transportation in Vietnam. Besides, cars, bicycles and motorbikes are also available on rental basis to travel around Vietnam. Rail service is another good option to see and move around Vietnam.

Top Attractions

1. Old Quarter.
2. Ho Chi Minh's Mausoleum.
3. One Pillar Pagoda.
4. Temple of Literature (Van Mieu).
5. Halong Bay.
6. Sa Pa and Bac Ha.
7. The Citadel.
8. Royal Tombs.
9. The Perfume River.
10. DMZ (Demilitarised Zone) and Vinh Moc.

Best Travel Time

Vietnam stretches over 1,800km up the eastern coast of the Indochina peninsula and has various climates at the same time in different parts of the country.
Winter season lasts from November to April in the north with temperatures averaging 16 degree centigrade. The rest of the year is considered summer time with heavy rainfalls and occasional storms.
The rainy season lasts from May to October in the south. However, it only rarely rains the whole day long. It gets dry after rainfall as quickly as it comes. The dry season is generally from November to April.
The central parts of Vietnam are affected by the South West monsoon from Laos during May – June which causes a muggy heat and sometimes produces typhoons and tropical storms during November – December, with long lasting rains. Despite of this fact, the months of November and December are constantly considered the peak period of incoming tourists. January and February are still cloudy and rainy occasionally.
The best time for a long tour from North to South Vietnam would be from January till April and for those who wish beach holidays can come to enjoy warm water and sunshine in the central coast during summer time, from May to October.

Food and Drink

National specialties:
• Breakfast is generally noodle soup locally known as pho.
• French-style baguettes are available throughout Vietnam.
• Nem (spring rolls - pork mixed with noodles, eggs and mushrooms wrapped in rice paper, fried and served hot).
• Banh chung (glutinous rice, pork and onions wrapped in large leaves and cooked for up to 48 hours, to be eaten cold at any time).
• Vietnamese dishes are not complete without nuoc mam, a fermented fish sauce.

National drinks:
• Green tea is refreshing and available everywhere.
• The French culinary legacy embraces rich, fresh, filter coffee, usually brewed on the table in front of the customer.
• Bia Hoi, a local draught beer available at street stalls everywhere. It is not only cheap, but free of additives.
• Rice wine is also a favorite throughout the country. It is generally extremely potent.

Local Products/Shopping

Vietnam is a bargain hunter’s paradise and the streets are awash with little shops selling all manner of items. Hanoi’s Old Quarter is particularly excellent for visitors with shops selling clothes, gold, embroidered tablecloths and handbags. Markets are always great places to enjoy the local flavor and buy souvenirs. Ben Thanh market in Ho Chi Minh City and Dong Xuan market in Hanoi are worth a visit. Local specialties include lacquer painting, reed mats, embroidery, tailor-made ao dais (female national costume) and mother-of-pearl inlay on ornaments and furniture, not to mention the ubiquitous conical hat. The hill tribes of the Central Highlands and the north of the country now sell colorful woven bags and clothing. Good souvenirs are marble figurines and vases, ceramics from Bat Trang village, silk paintings and hand-painted greetings cards. VAT is included on most items sold, but at the moment there is no system for foreign visitors to be able to claim this back. Bargaining is expected in markets and many souvenir shops.

Travel Resource

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