In recent years, the Vietnamese government has made efforts to ensure that in the minds of foreigners this country is not associated with the wars of the 20th century. The Vietnamese authorities strive to show everyone the culture of their country and its amazing nature. The Vietnamese are very friendly people. This country has picturesque landscapes, delicious cuisine and excellent beaches. In addition, it is important for tourists that Vietnam is the safest country for travelers in Asia.

Geography of Vietnam

Vietnam is located on the Indochina Peninsula in South-East Asia. Vietnam borders China to the north, Laos to the northwest, and Cambodia to the southwest. In the east, this country is washed by the waters of the South China Sea. The total area of ​​Vietnam is 331,210 sq. km, including the islands, and the total length of the state border is 4,639 km.

Vietnam owns a lot of islands in the South China Sea. The largest of them is Phu Quoc Island.

About 80% of the territory of Vietnam is occupied by mountains, however, all of them are not very high. The highest peak in Vietnam is Mount Fansipan, whose height reaches 3,143 m.

The Mekong and Hongha rivers flow through the entire territory of Vietnam, which are considered the longest in all of Southeast Asia.

Capital

The capital of Vietnam is Hanoi, which is now home to more than 6.5 million people. Hanoi was built in 1010 by order of the Vietnamese Emperor Li Thai To.

Official language

The official language in Vietnam is Vietnamese, which belongs to the Vietnamese languages ​​of the Austroasiatic language family.

Religion

About 85% of the population of Vietnam profess Buddhism, about 8% are Christians (mostly Catholics, but there are also Protestants).

State structure of Vietnam

According to the current Constitution of 1992, Vietnam is a socialist republic. Its head is the President.

Legislative power belongs to the unicameral parliament - the National Assembly (consists of 498 deputies). The deputies of the National Assembly elect the President from among their members, who appoints the Prime Minister.

The 1992 Constitution says that the Central role in the political and social life of Vietnam belongs to the Communist Party.

Climate and weather

The climate in Vietnam varies from tropical monsoon to temperate. Monsoons have a great influence on the climate in Vietnam. In Hanoi, the average annual air temperature is +23C, in Ho Chi Minh - +26C, and in Hue - +25C.

The cold season in Vietnam falls on November-April, and the hot season in May-October.

Based on weather conditions, best time to visit North Vietnam (Hanoi) - November-March, Middle Vietnam (Hue) - May-June, and South Vietnam (Ho Chi Minh City) - November-April.

Average air temperature in Hanoi, Vietnam:

January - +17С
- February - +18C
- March - +20C
- April - +24C
- May - +28C
- June - +30С
- July - +30С
- August - +29С
- September - +28C
- October - +26С
- November - +22С
- December - +19C

Sea in Vietnam

The shores of Vietnam are washed by the waters of the South China Sea. In August, the sea off the coast of Vietnam warms up to + 29C. The coastline is 3,444 km. It should be noted that from September to January, the sea in Vietnam (and coastal areas) are prone to typhoons. The rest of the time, the sea in Vietnam is very calm and warm, it has a lot of exotic fish and corals.

Rivers and lakes

The Mekong and Hongha rivers flow through the entire territory of Vietnam, which are considered the longest in all of Southeast Asia. In the valleys of these rivers, the Vietnamese grow rice. Thus, in the Mekong Valley, more than 10,000 square kilometers are allocated for rice cultivation.

History of Vietnam

The first states in the territory modern Vietnam appeared around the 3rd century BC. In 111 BC. The state of the Vietnamese became part of the Chinese Empire. By the beginning of the 10th century, Vietnam received autonomy within the Chinese Empire.

Vietnam during the reign of the Tran dynasty repelled three invasions of the Tatar-Mongolian troops. At the same time, Buddhism became the state religion in Vietnam.

In the 16th century, the political life of Vietnam was characterized by an intensification of the struggle for power. During this period, Vietnam is engulfed by several civil wars.

In the middle of the 19th century, France intensified its colonial policy towards Vietnam. As a result, Vietnam becomes a French colony (i.e. Vietnam became part of French Indochina).

French dominance in Vietnam continued until World War II, when Japanese forces invaded French Indochina in 1941. During World War II, the communist movement became widespread in Vietnam. As a result, in September 1945, the Democratic Republic of Vietnam was formed.

Then, with US support, the Republic of Vietnam was established in southern Vietnam. Between the Democratic Republic of Vietnam, which was helped by the USSR, and the Republic of Vietnam (it was helped by the USA), hostilities broke out. In 1965, the United States was forced to send its troops to the territory of southern Vietnam, because. Vietnamese communists won a number of major victories there.

The United States continued the war in Vietnam until 1973, losing several tens of thousands of soldiers and officers killed in it. Only in 1973, in accordance with the Paris Peace Agreement, did the US withdraw its troops from Vietnam.

The Vietnamese Unification War ended in April 1975 after North Vietnamese troops entered Saigon.

In 1977, Vietnam became a member of the UN.

Culture of Vietnam

Until the 1980s, most Vietnamese lived in villages. Now in Vietnam there are already several megacities with a population of more than 1 million people (Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Haiphong and Cant Tho).

The traditions of Vietnam are based on respect for parents and ancestors. The head of a Vietnamese family is its oldest man. Parents choose wives or husbands for their children based on their own ideas of what is best for their child.

However, the French brought Western values ​​to Vietnam (individual and sexual freedom, for example), and this began to undermine the traditional way of life of the Vietnamese. Now the Vietnamese authorities are striving to fight Western influence on traditional Vietnamese culture.

Art (ceramics, pottery) among the inhabitants of Vietnam appeared in the Neolithic era. Buddhism contributed to the development of ceramics (Buddhist statues were made from ceramics).

In Vietnam, there are still craftsmen who are engaged in wood carving. We advise tourists in Vietnam to definitely buy any items made by these masters.

Festivals are an essential part of Vietnamese life. Several dozen large and small festivals are held annually in this country. The most popular of them are Huong Pagoda Festival, Da Lat Flower Festival, Dak Lak Province Elephant Festival, Da Nang Fireworks Festival, Holy Whale Festival, Do Son and Baba Bullfights.

Separately, you need to remember about the Vietnamese New Year lunar calendar- Tet. In terms of scale, nothing can compare with this holiday in Vietnam.

Kitchen

We are sure that any, even the most demanding traveler, will like Vietnamese dishes. When cooking, the Vietnamese often use lemongrass, mint, ginger, and soy sauce. Traditionally, Vietnamese people add very little oil to their dishes. Therefore, Vietnamese cuisine can be safely called one of the healthiest in the world.

The main food products in Vietnam are rice, vegetables, meat (pork, beef, poultry), fish and seafood. Note that many Vietnamese are supporters of vegetarian cuisine, adhering to Buddhist precepts.

Pho soup - rice noodles, filled with chicken broth, with green onions and aromatic herbs;
- Nem - a pancake with a variety of fillings (meat, fish, shrimp);
- Ban Cuon - Vietnamese dumplings made from rice dough, which are steamed;
- Banh Trang - pancakes made from rice dough with various fillings;
- Ka Kho To - fish in caramel sauce;
- Ka Ran Chua - fried fish with sweet and sour sauce.

The traditional Vietnamese soft drink is green tea (Tra). The Chinese drink tea hot (Tra Nam) and cold (Tra Da). Green tea in Vietnam is most often drunk in rural areas, and black tea in cities.

As for alcoholic drinks in Vietnam, we recommend trying (in moderation, of course) local wine, Lua Moi vodka (its strength is 45 degrees), HA NOI vodka (its strength is 29.5 or 33.5 degrees), as well as Vietnamese rum.

Sights of Vietnam

The history of Vietnam goes back many centuries. During this time, the Chinese, Japanese, French, and Americans visited Vietnam (and were expelled from there). Many countries tried to impose their traditions and customs on Vietnam. However, despite this, Vietnam has remained an original country, in which there are a lot of different attractions. The top ten Vietnamese attractions, in our opinion, may include the following:

1. Thien Mu Pagoda in Hue
2. Pillar Pagoda in Hanoi
3. White Horse Temple in Hanoi
4. "Palace of Supreme Harmony" in Hue
5. Imperial Tombs in Hue
6. Seven-tiered Vinh Nghiem Pagoda in Ho Chi Minh City
7. Turtle Tower in Hanoi
8. Guerrilla Tunnels in Cu Chi
9. Museum of Emperors Bao-Tang-Ku-Wat in Hue
10. Cot Co Tower in Hanoi

Cities and resorts

The largest Vietnamese cities are Hanoi (more than 6.5 million people), Ho Chi Minh City (more than 7.4 million people), Hai Phong, Kant Tho, Da Nang (more than 900 thousand people), and Bien Hoa (more than 800 thousand people). . pers.).

There are many excellent beach resorts in Vietnam that provide good conditions for recreation, including fishing, diving and excursions. The most popular beach resorts in Vietnam are Phan Thiet, Nha Trang, Phu Quoc, Da Nang, Vung Tau and Halong.

In recent years, foreigners have increasingly begun to come to Vietnam, appreciating the beaches of this country.

Nha Trang - the beaches of this resort are recognized as one of the best in all of Vietnam. This favorite place divers, because in its vicinity there are a lot of fish and corals. Nha Trang has 5-star hotels and many entertainment options, including an amusement park.

Another popular beach resort in Vietnam - Phan Thiet. It is located 3 hours drive from Ho Chi Minh City. Wealthy foreigners and residents of Ho Chi Minh City come to Cape Mui Ne beach near Phan Thiet to relax on the unusual pink dunes.

However, many tourists admit that the best beaches in Vietnam are on the island of Phu Quoc, which is located in the west of the country. The sand on the beaches of Fukuoka is fine white.

It should be noted that almost every hotel in Vietnam offers spa services to its guests. In Nha Trang, for example, there is a very large spa center with mud-salt baths, the Center for Traditional Medicine operates in Hanoi, there are excellent spa hotels in Kimboi (located on mineral waters). In general, mud therapy is very developed in Vietnam.

Spa treatments in Vietnam are developed according to French standards, and, of course, French cosmetics are used.

Separately, mention should be made of the resort of Sapa, located in the north-west of Vietnam. It belongs to the mountain-climatic resorts, and it is no less popular with tourists than beach resorts.

Souvenirs/Shopping

Tourists from Vietnam usually bring clothes made of silk or cotton, handicrafts, Vietnamese hats, bronze Buddhist bells, traditional Vietnamese musical instruments(for example, a flute and a jew's harp), souvenirs reminiscent of the Vietnamese-American war, tea and much more.

Office Hours

Vietnam - ( official name SOCIALIST REPUBLIC OF VIETNAM). The country is located along
Vietnam - (official name SOCIALIST REPUBLIC OF VIETNAM).
The country is located along east coast Indochinese Peninsula in Southeast Asia. The maximum length of the country from northwest to southeast 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 borders 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 southwest; Laos and Cambodia (Kampuchea) are located in the west. The capital of the country is Hanoi. The area of ​​the 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 crop, rice, is cultivated. The Red River and its tributaries are regularly subjected to severe widespread flooding, while serving as irrigation for fields and transportation routes for goods. The fertile Mekong Delta is almost four times the size of the Red River Delta and is one of the world's major rice producing areas. Annual floods in the Mekong Delta, in contrast to the floods in the Red Delta, occur regularly and increase the fertility of the land, each year bringing new land ill. In addition, the country has plantations of sugar cane, bananas, and coconuts in the Mekong Delta. A narrow coastal plain, about 1,000 km long, connects these two major river deltas.
Vietnam has a tropical monsoonal climate with hot winters in the south and cold winters in the north. Annual average temperature in the north (Hanoi) -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 total area countries - under tropical evergreen and subtropical deciduous forests of oak, beech, chestnut, pine, teak. Bamboo is widely distributed both in forests and along rivers. Mangrove forests are common in the tidal coastal plains, and grassy savannahs cover the highlands and plateaus in the southwest. large areas mutilated by barbaric farming practices (clearing and burning), as well as by bombing and herbicides used by the US military during the Vietnam War, although the devastated areas were subsequently reclaimed (reclamation). About one fifth of the country's total area is used for agriculture.
Northern Vietnam is rich in mineral resources, especially anthracite and coal. Other minerals are found in the north, including iron ore, lead, zinc, bauxite, copper, chrome ores, and tungsten. tin. Small oil reserves are found on the south coast.
Currency: The national currency of Vietnam is the dong. Currently, 1 dollar is equivalent to approximately 16,000 VND. Dollars are common in hotels, but you will need local currency for shopping and paying for taxis. IN big cities in hotels, restaurants and large shops you can pay with credit cards. Visa credit card is 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 sockets different 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 personal belongings. When staying in hotels, keep valuables, documents and credit cards in safes.
At the airport: Safely keep the entry/exit form completed when entering Vietnam. You will need it when leaving the country. Airport tax - the amount of airport tax for flights on international flights is $14. The fee is not charged for children under 2 years of age. Airport tax for flights on domestic flights is included in the ticket price
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 the interests of national security are affected, by its decision create a special judicial body. The Supreme People's Court exercises control over the work of subordinate institutions. Representatives of national minorities have the right 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 tasks of monitoring the implementation of the law in state institutions, private organizations, military personnel and civilians. The judge considers cases at trials jointly with a council of people's assessors, consisting of five to nine people. There are more than 10,000 such councils in the country.
Armed Forces: Everything related to the Vietnam People's Army and other security forces is strictly classified. In November 1998, the National Society voted for the "transparency" of information in the field of government controlled, after which the government developed a detailed program to familiarize the public with the financing of the services and departments led by it (it does not apply to the army, internal security agencies and party organizations). The number of military personnel in the country is estimated at approximately 0.5 million people, and security personnel - 2 million people.
Geography
Vietnam is located in Southeast Asia and stretches for 1600 km along the east coast of the Indochinese Peninsula.
More than 80% of the territory of Vietnam is occupied by low and medium-altitude mountains. Forests cover less than 30% of the country. In the north, parallel to each other, blocky-folded ridges of southeast strike - Hoanglyenshon (with the highest point of Vietnam, Mount Fansipan - 3143 m), Shusung Tyaotyay, Shamshao, are stretched, separated by narrow, deep longitudinal valleys. The Annam Mountains (Chyong Son) stretch along the western border. In the central and southern part of the country there are basement and basalt plateaus - Pleiku, Daklak, Lamvien, Zilin, Central Plateau. The largest and most full-flowing rivers of Southeast Asia, the Hongha and Mekong, end their course in Vietnam, flowing into the South China Sea. In the lower reaches and delta of Hong Hi in northern Vietnam, there is an alluvial-deltaic plain of Bac Bo. Here is the highest population density of the country (1100 people / km²-) and the capital of Vietnam Hanoi is located. The vast alluvial-delta plain of Nambo is located in the extreme southwest of the country in the Mekong Delta. It also has a high population density (450 people/km²-) and the country's largest city, Ho Chi Minh City, is located. Many small rivers flowing from the central plateau and the Annam Mountains at the confluence with the South China Sea formed a narrow strip of accumulative coastal plains.
Vietnam is located in the region of the subequatorial monsoon climate, but due to the large length of the country from north to south, climatic conditions within its territory are slightly different. Winter in the south is hot (26°C), in the north it is cool (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. The rainfall pattern also varies across Vietnam. Winters are dry in the south and wet in the north, and in summer monsoon rains water the entire territory of the country. In late summer and early autumn, the coast of Vietnam is visited by the destructive forces of typhoons. On the windward slopes of the mountains, 2500-3000 mm of precipitation falls 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 south, whose climate is similar to the climate of the northern regions, but with higher temperatures.
In northern Vietnam, the dry season lasts from November to April, with the least amount of precipitation falling 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 falls, which is 1400-1700 mm. In mountainous areas, the amount of precipitation per year reaches 3000 mm. The coldest month is January with an average temperature of +18C during the day 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 ruled out. 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 not uncommon in the northern regions.
IN central Vietnam in winter, daytime temperatures range from +21 to +24 degrees, nighttime temperatures from +15 to +18. The coldest month is January. During the summer, the air temperature remains almost unchanged - +34C during the day and +25C at night. By the nature of moisture in this region, a special area of ​​coastal lowlands stands out. They are protected from the southwest monsoon by the Truong Son mountains, so the maximum precipitation in Vietnam is not officially called the summer months, as in other areas, but 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 more precipitation falls - from 400 to 700 mm. Rains most often occur during the day in the form of short showers. In January, the coldest month, the characteristic night and day temperatures are +21 and +30 degrees, respectively. The warmest month is April with an average night temperature of +23oC and a daytime temperature of +33oC.
Administrative-territorial structure
Vietnam is divided into 58 provinces (Vietnamese Tỉ-nh, tinh). 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 territories of Vietnam from the Northern Highlands to the southern tip of Ca Mau. The ethnic majority of Vietnam - Kinhi - tiny, 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 Northern Highlands of Vietnam. The peoples living in the Southern Highlands of Vietnam include the tribes of Bahnar, Ede, M'Nong, Giaray, Stieng. Each group has its own traditions and language, but the most popular and widely spoken language in Vietnam is Vietnamese.
Religion
The population of Vietnam - Buddhists 9.3%, Catholics 6.7%, Hoa Hao 1.5%, Cao Dai 1.1%, Protestants 0.5%, atheists and followers of local animistic cults 80.8%
The main religion of the Vietnamese is a system of folk beliefs, which is based on the rituals of "tho kung to thien" (the cult of ancestors), strictly performed by the majority of the inhabitants of the country. This cult does not have a formalized dogma, hierarchy of 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 religious affiliation were recorded as atheists. It should also be noted that Buddhist temples often serve as places of worship of ancestors, which caused another popular misconception, according to which 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 cooperated closely in various fields: agriculture, oil production, construction and science, not to mention the military-technical industry. Now many projects are closed, but the Vietsovpetro joint venture in the city of Vung Tau and the Tropical Research Center of the Russian Academy of Sciences in Hanoi (with branches in Ho Chi Minh and Nha Trang) are still operating.
For a long time, the economic growth of Vietnam was hampered by the American embargo and the excessive guardianship of the Soviet state - foreign capital was not welcome in the country. In December 1988, the Vietnamese government passed a law on foreign investment, which guaranteed companies from other states that their property and profits would not be nationalized. Vietnam, the official name of Vietnam, was drawn first by companies from the countries of the Asia-Pacific region, primarily South Korea and Australia, and then by many others. And in 1997, the Vietnamese parliament allowed all provinces and districts to independently conduct foreign trade operations. On January 11, 2007, Vietnam became the 150th member of the World Trade Organization (WTO).
Holidays
Public Holidays: Tet - Bank Holiday Week in January or February - Hung Kings Memorial Day (floating holiday - usually in 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). The Vietnamese celebrate their New Year - Tet - according to the lunar calendar, so the holiday does not have a 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. To rent a motorcycle, nothing is required other than a deposit. In cities, it is best to use a taxi. The fare in the same way is $ 1-1.5 per landing and then every kilometer 6-10 cents (depending on the class of the car). The slowest, but the most exotic means of transport are cycle rickshaws, which are best suited for exploring the old quarters.
Interesting Facts
There is a legend that the Vietnamese (Viets) are descended from a dragon and a fairy bird.
In the city of Vung Tau in southern Vietnam, a parish of the Russian Orthodox Church has been operating since 2002.
In Vietnam, near the city of Da Nang, there is the longest cable car in the world.
The shape of Vietnam resembles the Latin letter "S".

- a state in Southeast Asia, located on the Indochina peninsula.

Official name of Vietnam:
Socialist Republic of Vietnam.

Territory of Vietnam:
The area of ​​the state of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam is 329560 km².

Population of Vietnam:
The population of Vietnam is more than 83 million inhabitants (83535576 people).

Ethnic groups of Vietnam:
Officially, there are 54 nationalities in Vietnam. In practice, some small ethno-linguistic groups are united with larger ones, and the real number of ethnic groups is noticeably higher. The official nationalities of Vietnam are grouped into 8 official language groupings: Viet-Muong (i.e. peoples speaking the languages ​​of the Vietnamese group of Mon-Khmer languages), Mon-Khmer (peoples speaking other Mon-Khmer languages), Tibeto - Burmese, Chinese, Thai, Miao-Yao, Cham (peoples speaking Cham languages) and others (includes only peoples speaking Kadai languages), as well as foreigners.

Average life expectancy in Vietnam:
The average life expectancy in Vietnam is - 70.05 years (see Rating of countries in the world by average life expectancy).

Capital of Vietnam:
Hanoi.

Major cities in Vietnam:
Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon), Hanoi.

Official language of Vietnam:
Vietnamese.

Religion in Vietnam:
Vietnam declares freedom of religion. Most of the Vietnamese population are Buddhists, Hoa-Hao (Koa-Kao), Kaodaism and Christianity (Catholics and a small Protestant community predominate), as well as traditional local beliefs and Islam, are very widely represented.

Geographical position of Vietnam:
Vietnam is a country in Southeast Asia, located on the Indochina peninsula. From the east, Vietnam is washed by the South China Sea, from the west by the Gulf of Thailand. The length of the sea coast of Vietnam is 3960 km. The territory of Vietnam includes islands located in the South China Sea and the Gulf of Thailand, incl. part of the Paracel Islands and the Spratly Islands. The largest of them: Phu Quoc (568 km²), Cat Ba (180 km²), Condao (50 km²).

In the north, Vietnam borders on China (the length of the border is 1300 km), in the west - on Laos (650 km), in the southwest - on Cambodia (930 km). From north to south, Vietnam stretches for 1650 km, from east to west for 600 km in the north, 400 km in the south and about 50 km in the central part of Vietnam.

Rivers of Vietnam:
Red River, Mekong, Black (Red tributary).

Administrative-territorial division of Vietnam:
Vietnam is divided into 59 provinces. Along with this, there are 5 cities of central subordination, which have the same status as the provinces.

State structure of Vietnam:
The National Assembly of Vietnam (NA) is a unicameral supreme representative body that exercises legislative power, decides the main issues of domestic and foreign policy of the state, exercises supreme control over the activities of all state bodies. Elects from among the deputies the Standing Committee, the president and vice president, the Council of Ministers (government), the chairman of the Supreme People's Court, the Prosecutor General of the Supreme People's Procuratorate. It consists of 498 deputies elected from administrative-territorial units and from socio-political organizations and unions. Elected for 5 years, its sessions are held 2 times a year. Over 90% of the NA deputies are members of the CPV.

The NA Standing Committee (SC SC) is a permanent body between sessions of the National Assembly.

The President of Vietnam is the head of state and represents Vietnam in the international arena.
He is elected by the National Assembly for 5 years from among the deputies, is responsible and accountable to the National Assembly. Promulgates legislative acts and interprets them, proposes to the National Assembly the candidacies of Vice President, Prime Minister, Chairman of the Supreme People's Court and Prosecutor General. In accordance with the decision of the National Assembly or the Steering Committee, the National Assembly declares martial law, general or partial mobilization, etc. The President exercises overall command armed forces chairs the National Defense and Security Council.

The Council of Ministers is the government of Vietnam, the highest executive and administrative body of state power.
It is accountable to the National Assembly, and in the intervals between sessions - to the Standing Committee of the National Assembly and the President of Vietnam. The government consists of 20 ministries and 6 state institutions with the status of ministries. The term of office of the head of government is 5 years.

The local government system complies administrative division Vietnam.
Each administrative unit has a body of power elected by the local population - the People's Council. The term of office of the People's Councils of provinces, cities of central subordination and equivalent administrative units is 4 years. The term of office of other councils is 2 years. The People's Committees are the executive organs of the People's Councils and the organs of local administrative power.

Vietnam is famous for its paradise beaches, and go there primarily for their sake. However, diving enthusiasts will also like this paradise - diving here is one of the cheapest in the world, but at the same time it is well organized, and there are interesting dive sites, and you can dive throughout the year, just changing resorts.

Those who like sightseeing vacation , appreciate the wealth and safety historical monuments. There are medieval imperial citadels, French colonial quarters, and partisan catacombs from the Vietnam War. And such natural small country amaze with their grandeur: the giant Mekong Delta, the largest cave in the world Sondong, the bay of 3000 Halong Islands. Perfect seasoning for vacation local kitchen with a pleasant French accent.

Tours to Vietnam

Popular resorts

Vietnam on the map is stretched along the meridian by a winding line. Above, in the north, is the capital of the country -. In the center is the ancient capital of Hue, popular with fans of sightseeing holidays.

beach resorts start a little to the south, in Nha Trang, the most famous and popular of them. Further south follow, especially suitable for surfers and kiters. Below the Mekong Delta begins, as well as the "Paris of the East", an industrial and tourist center -.

On far south country, the sea is replaced by the Gulf of Thailand. In it, at the very borders of Cambodia, is located, the largest island of Vietnam. Paradise beaches with white sand and coconut palms should be looked for exactly there, on its western coast.

Hotels

The level of hotel service in Vietnam is very high: even hotels of the 3-star category are close to European 4 stars in terms of comfort and quality of service. And the local "fours" and even more so "five", especially when it comes to historic hotels- this is a real luxury.

Animation for children, children's clubs and special entertainment programs are not yet available in every resort hotel, information about them needs to be clarified in advance. Also, not all hotels operate in the all-inclusive format, which, by the way, is not so strong and in demand. In Vietnamese resorts, you don’t want to sit around the clock in a hotel when there are so many interesting and tasty things around.

You can even come to Vietnam without booking a hotel in advance. In large tourist centers you can always find free rooms right on the spot.

Tours to Vietnam

Prices for tours for 2 people for 7 nights with departure from Moscow

Weather

Currency

The national currency of Vietnam is the Vietnamese Dong. Its cost is such that you should have banknotes of 50,000 and 20,000 dong with you as a “change” in order to pay off a cycle rickshaw (“siklo”) or buy a glass of freshly squeezed juice. The largest denomination is half a million dongs.

Best to take on a trip U.S. dollars: here you can pay with them just as freely as with the national currency. The euro has no such circulation.

Visa

Visa to Vietnam need not for Russians who are going to come for a period of up to 15 days.

Those who plan to stay in the country longer need to obtain a visa. It can be single and multiple, but in both cases it is issued for a period of 1 or 3 months. To obtain a visa, you must collect a package of documents and apply to the Consular Section embassies of Vietnam. The visa is issued within 5 - 7 business days. However, you can also apply for a visa on arrival at any of the main airports in Vietnam. It's both faster and easier.

Airfare to Vietnam round trip

Ticket prices shown are for 1 person departing from Berlin

What to bring from Vietnam

Even by the standards of Southeast Asia, prices in Vietnam are very low, so no one comes here without souvenirs. Russians often bring tropical fruits, medicinal artichoke tea and coffee from Vietnam, including such an exotic and expensive variety as “kopi luwak”: it is also cheaper here than, for example, on. Souvenir classics have become snake wine and medicinal tinctures on snakes, scorpions and other poisonous living creatures. Men consider them useful for their health.

Women like Vietnamese pearl jewelry from the island and silk clothes. On vacation, many even order the national aozai women's costume from local dressmakers, which consists of a long silk shirt and trousers. The traditional conical hat made of palm leaves is perfect for it.