The Socialist Republic of Vietnam is located in Southeast Asia. The sights of this distant country have been little studied, but this makes them no less interesting and attractive. Tourists come here to enjoy the unique landscapes and pompous beauty of ancient oriental temples.
Where is the country located?
Where is the Socialist Republic of Vietnam located, whose sights are attracting more and more attention of foreign tourists?
The state is located in the southeastern part of Asia, on the Indochina peninsula. In the east, it is washed by the warm waters of the South China Sea, in the west it borders on Cambodia and Laos, and in the north - on China. The area of \u200b\u200bthe country's territory is small (331.2 thousand square kilometers). However, over 90 million people live here.
Vietnam is very elongated in the submeridional direction. The temperature difference between the northern and southern regions of the country can sometimes reach 10-12 degrees.
The Embassy of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam is located in Moscow. It is located on Bolshaya Pirogovskaya street, house 13. Consulates of this distant one are also in Vladivostok and Yekaterinburg.
Official name: Socialist Republic of Vietnam. and administrative division of the country
The name of the country is very ancient. It was first mentioned in the book of the poet Khiema, written in the 16th century. The geographical toponym consists of two words: viet (Vieta are the indigenous and main people of Vietnam) and namwhich means "south", "south". The full and official name of the state today sounds like this: Socialist Republic of Vietnam.
The country is divided into 58 provinces and five major cities with a similar legal status. Vietnam - Monarchy or Republic? According to state structure the country is a republic. The main (and only legal) political party in the state is the Communist Party of Vietnam. Vietnamese, by the way, call it short and laconic: party.
History of the formation of Vietnam
It should be noted that until the middle of the twentieth century the state of Vietnam did not exist within its modern borders. For a long time, the country remained dependent on France. During World War II, Vietnam was invaded by Japanese troops. At the same time (in August 1945), an uprising took place in Hanoi under the leadership of Ho Chi Minh. At a rally of 500,000, he solemnly announced that a new independent state, the Democratic Republic of Vietnam, had emerged in southeast Asia.
However, Vietnam did not last long as a sovereign country. Since Japan officially lost the Second World War, its troops were disarmed. The territory of Vietnam was occupied by the armies of several states at once - China, England and France. Ho Chi Minh's new government signed a number of agreements with the French side, but it soon became clear that the French intend to restore their rights to Vietnamese territory. At the end of 1946, Vietnam entered a phase of war that lasted almost thirty years on its territory.
At first, Ho Chi Minh's troops "went into the woods" and fought exclusively partisan battles. But later they managed to launch an active counteroffensive. The so-called First Indochina War ended only in 1954 with the signing of the Geneva Agreements, which fully recognized the independence of the young state.
Soon a new round of military aggression began in Vietnam. Another important geopolitical player, the United States, intervened in the situation in southeast Asia, with the aim of limiting the spread of communist ideas in the Asian region. With the direct support of the Americans in the south, a republic was formed with its capital in the city of Saigon. In turn, the Democratic Republic of Vietnam (DRV), which was actively supported by the Soviet Union, decided to re-annex its southern territories by force. Thus, on a small piece of Asian land, in fact, two superpowers of the planet converged in a real war.
It continued until the mid-70s. The DRV, with the powerful support of Soviet troops and with the help of active actions of its partisan detachments in the south of the country, was able to win this war. The long-awaited merger of the North with the South and the formation of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam took place in July 1976. The city of Saigon was renamed Ho Chi Minh City in honor of the outstanding Vietnamese military leader.
Socialist Republic of Vietnam: attractions and tourism potential of the country
A country not spoiled by tourists - this is how a young republic can be characterized. What is attractive about this state? First of all, it is the unique nature, various landscapes, unusual architecture and the hospitality of the Vietnamese themselves.
The capital of Vietnam, Hanoi, will appeal to any European accustomed to big cities, cozy parks and modern buildings. But lovers of antiquity should definitely go to the city of Hue. Here the traveler is greeted by beautiful pagodas, imperial palaces, and the ruins of ancient fortresses. But in Ho Chi Minh City (formerly Saigon), you can fully experience the flavor of an old East Asian city.
Lovers of wildlife, as well as a calm, peaceful rest, should definitely visit the mountain resort of Dalat.
Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum
The Ho Chi Minh mausoleum is located in Hanoi and represents a whole architectural complexconsisting of five objects. The ideological leader of the Vietnamese, as you know, did not live to see the unification of the country for which he fought. The construction of the mausoleum in his honor began in 1973.
Today anyone can go up to the second floor of the grand building and look at Ho Chi Minh, lying in a glass coffin. The complex also houses the Presidential Palace and the President's wooden house.
Mekong Delta
Another place in Vietnam that all tourists love is the Mekong Delta. Here you can feel the essence and exoticism of local life in all its glory. The channel of the Mekong River, when it flows into the sea, forms hundreds of narrow branches. For the Vietnamese, this place is as sacred as the Dnieper for the Ukrainians or the Nile for the Egyptians.
Some tourists come here for a day or two, while others stay here for a week to slowly swim along the canals and explore the wildest corners of the local landscapes. In the Mekong Delta, travelers are attracted by the houses of local residents, floating markets, plantations of exotic fruits, as well as the island where real coconut sweets are produced.
Da Lat and Mount Longbyan
Dalat is one of the best and most popular resorts in Vietnam. But in the city itself, you should definitely visit Mount Longbyan. From its top, there is a wonderful view of Dalat, bright green hills and pastures.
The mountain is located thirty minutes from the resort and looks like a chain of five peaks of volcanic origin. The highest of them is 2,400 meters high. On observation deck Longbyana can be reached, but the highest peak can only be reached on foot.
Conclusion
On the shores of the South China Sea, the Socialist Republic of Vietnam is located. Attractions of this amazing country rarely mentioned in popular guidebooks. But this makes them even more attractive for tourists and travelers who are ready for new discoveries.
Ancient temples, stunning nature, cordiality and hospitality of the Vietnamese - that's why it is worth going to this state. The Republic of Vietnam has not yet been spoiled by tourists, and therefore looks forward to each of its guests.
Of course, we cannot say that this is absolutely all of Vietnam, especially since we left one of the interesting regions (Sapa and surroundings) for the next time, but nevertheless, during this time we made up general impression about the country, and recorded many details about the peculiarities of Vietnam and the Vietnamese.
We regularly make notes about all the interesting facts both during the preparation for the trip and, of course, during the trip itself, and now we have systematized our notes and present to your attention 90 facts about Vietnam that surprised us.
In many ways, these facts are based on our observations and this is the Vietnam that we saw. If your opinion on some points differs from ours - welcome to the comments!
1. The second largest consumption of rice per capita firmly holds Vietnam, yielding first place to Burma. The average Vietnamese eats 169 kg (!) Of rice per year, i.e. a family of two requires almost a kilogram of rice a day. Well, about the variety of rice varieties (there are dozens of them here), you can not even stutter, or do you still think that there are 3-5 types of them :)?
2. Pho soup is one of the most popular Vietnamese dishes.This is a soup with rice noodles and most often beef, although it also happens with chicken or fish. Pho soup is served in almost every cafe and restaurant, there is even a network of establishments called PHO24. Vietnamese eat it with chopsticks, mainly for breakfast
3. Ban mi or French baguette sandwich - This is another very popular dish in Vithenam. The baguette is cut and put inside a variety of fillings: meat, fish, tofu, eggs, herbs, it turns out to be such a street Subway
4. Fish sauce is very popular in Vietnamese cuisine. - it is made from fish that has been subjected to a fermentation process. To put it simply, fish sauce is what comes out of fish mixed with salt and lying in barrels under pressure for several months. Doesn't sound very nice, right? In general, the smell is even worse \u003d) But the locals cannot imagine life without it.
5. Plastic trash bin, which stands under each table - a must-have attribute in very cheap local eateries. If this is not provided, then visitors simply throw garbage under the table. Likewise, the waiter, when cleaning the table, can sweep the garbage directly onto the floor. We saw the same habit of littering in local public catering earlier only in 
6. In the simplest cafes - "for the locals"As a rule, there is no menu, there is a choice of 2-3 standard dishes (rice and noodles) with several variations.
7.
In the tourist spots of Vietnam - complete culinary abundance. Any cuisines of the world, a large selection of seafood, coffee shops, in general, whatever your soul and stomach want. Out of all the variety we tasted only crocodile and frog legs, but here you can try almost any exotic - turtle, scorpion, ostrich meat, eat the heart of a snake or drink the blood of a cobra 
8. Hot Pot Is a popular tourist attraction in Vietnamese restaurants. A gas stove is placed on the table, and a pan with broth is placed on it, where the ingredients are added in the process either independently or with the help of a waiter 
9. Low, like children's chairs and tables right on the road- another bright and memorable feature of Vietnamese catering. Moreover, decently dressed office employees can also dine in such places. 
10. Hanoi haswhere instead of tables and chairs there are bathtubs with toilets, and food and drinks are served in mini-frescoes and medical ducks 🙂
11. Vietnam is the largest exporter of dragonfruit (pitahaya) - we drove several times past huge, endless "cactus" plantations, strewn with red fruits 
12. Vietnamese money(dongs, 20,000 VND ~ $ 1 USD) are made of plastic (polymer money) - they do not get wet, do not tear and practically do not get dirty.
13. Vietnamese traders, for the most part, they seemed to us not too friendly. If they do not understand something, for example, ordering in a cafe or in the market, they often simply dismiss them, they say, go, than they will understand the situation, they will prompt something. Although if they still manage to sell their products to tourists, then they become more satisfied 
14. In general, Vietnamese - quite friendly and helpful people. They often look gloomier than Thais, but when you talk to them, they start to smile broadly 
15. For the production and export of coffee, Vietnam ranks second (yielding to Brazil), and the first in the production and export of robusta. In 2012, Vietnam managed to overtake Brazil in total coffee exports, and this despite the fact that the total area of \u200b\u200bVietnam is almost 30 times less!
16. Coffee shop -it is a place where you can meet representatives of any stratum of the local population. Absolutely everyone loves coffee, and they are ready to drink it several times a day, sipping sip after sip for hours, at least we got just such an impression.
17. At the same time, according to the consumption of coffee per capitaVietnam is only in 93rd place (considering that Russia is in 57th place, and the first, unexpectedly, is Finland). About 95% of the coffee grown is exported.
18. Vietnamese coffee - very tasty and aromatic, just a divine drink. We have never been fans of coffee before, and it was in Vietnam that we got hooked on it.
19. Traditional way of brewing coffee - using a special metal filter that is installed directly on the cup. Ground coffee is put into it and poured with boiling water, and the finished drink slowly, drop by drop enters the cup, thus the brewing process is a meditative part of the coffee ritual 
20. The coffee drinking process is also similar to the ritual - despite the fact that the drink is strained a little through such a filter, a real Vietnamese can stretch it for almost an hour, sipping it in small sips 
21. This coffee is usually very strong... Sometimes it is drunk just like that, but more often - with condensed milk (milk / white coffee), and the amount of condensed milk and coffee is about the same 
22. In the southern part of the country, by default, it is assumed that the coffee will be cold, with ice - this is how they used to drink it here. Therefore, if you want a hot drink, it is better to specify it at the time of ordering. Cold coffee is brewed in the same way, just then pour it into a glass with ice 
23. When ordering coffee, almost everywhere, free green tea. Often - hot in the morning, and cold at lunchtime, with ice. Oh, how many dirty dishes remain after a very small company)). Guess how many visitors there actually were at this table? 
24. There is a large selection of coffee by weight in shops and markets - both in grains and ground, of a wide variety of varieties. There are both pure varieties of Arabica or Robusta, as well as all kinds of mixtures, and luwak is also popular. Prices: 150,000 - 500,000 VND ($ 7.5- $ 25) per 1 kg. There is also tea and ground bitter cocoa.
25. As a decoration, on tables in a cafe, instead of a vase of flowers, you can often see a pot of green rice sprouts 
26. A typical Asian name for a cheap hotel "guesthouse", which is so common among backpackers, is practically not used here - instead of it, more often, they use "motel". At the same time, in comparison with or, for the same money, here you can get more decent housing, for example, for $ 10 / day you can rent a room with air conditioning, refrigerator, TV, wi-fi, balcony, towels (which will also be changed every day ), hygiene items (soap, toothpaste, toothbrushes) and flip flops \u003d) 
27. Vietnamese - Vietnam isn't just about women, but also slippers (they are flip flops, they are slates). They are so popular here that they are mandatory in almost any hotel / guesthouse, and we, more often than not, came across just blue, apparently, this is the general standard. It is very convenient, especially when traveling light, to find slippers in the room - we went to the beach in them and took them on excursions to the islands and beaches.
28. Rooms, which are called singles here (single) are 30% cheaper than double, but they are quite suitable for two, because the bed is still double and all accessories (toothbrushes, towels, slates) are presented in duplicate. But this rule does not apply in expensive hotels (4 * and 5 *).
29. Standard practice when checking into low-cost hotels- to pick up passports and return them only after eviction, apparently, there are times when guests leave in the morning without paying. Since we are very sensitive to our passports, we always tried to leave some other ID with a photo (for example, a water certificate), but this does not work everywhere. In decent hotels, passports are not taken.
30. Guesthouses are often narrow buildings, one room-room wide, most often with balconies on the front side facing the road. The rest of the rooms - with windows to the side or no windows at all.
31. Often guesthouses, and indeed houses in general, are built right next to each other, so that you get common walls. From the outside, it even seemed to us that we had one building in front of us, but in fact, these are 4 different 
32. At night, motorbikes are driven into the lobby of guesthouses, and even very decent ones - with marble floors, mirrored walls and antique furniture 
33. Numbering of floors in buildings - as in, here traces of French colonization can be traced. The lowest floor is ground, followed by the first, second, etc. With the exception of Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, buildings everywhere are mostly low-rise - 4-5 floors, less often 7-8.
34. However, in Vietnam there are several places where you can see the city from above.In Hanoi, we climbed, with the SKY72 observation deck on the 72nd floor and a circular panorama of the entire city. In Ho Chi Minh City - to the observation deck in the Bitexco Financial Tower, and in Vung Tao, they admired the city and the South China Sea from a statue, just like in Rio de Janeiro.
66. Ticket offices for many natural attractions(waterfalls, parks), close at 4-5 pm, and daylight hours lasts until 6, so by accidentally arriving at the place after the ticket office closes, you can save on entrance tickets - we did it quite unplanned a couple of times.
67. In Vietnam, you can not only ride the usual Asian elephants, but also arrange an ostrich ride.
68. Vietnamese love to swim, although they almost do not swim, but go into the water up to the waist and splash in the waves, and they do it in clothes 
69. They even snorkel in clothes, and even in life jackets 
70. Due to the mountainous terrain, the climate in different regions of Vietnam varies significantly. For example, you can swim and sunbathe in Nha Trang, and after driving only 140 kilometers to Dalat, it's great to freeze - early in the morning and after sunset, the temperature drops to +16.
71. Even at +20 it is really cold here. When we had to ride a bike with a breeze in T-shirts and light jackets, we froze, even a runny nose appeared and our throat ached. In such weather, locals wear warm jackets and hats, and brag with horror when we report that in Russia in winter it happens even -20))
72. Two-toed socks are popular among localsto continue wearing flip-flops instead of closed shoes even in cold weather.
73. In some cities, French architecture, embankments and streets, made us nostalgic for european travel, and Dalat, which is called the Vietnamese Paris, even has its own "Eiffel Tower". There are flowerbeds on the streets, the city really resembles in places 
74. In cities, you can often seeneatly trimmed lawns, in the form of flowers, boats, teapots, etc.
Vietnam is an attractive country in terms of tourism. There is also a coastline, with resorts that allow you to enjoy warm sea waves and good weather almost throughout the year, and many attractions that allow you to make an exciting excursion program.
Where is it located and what sea is washed by?
Territorially Vietnam refers to Southeast Asia and is located on the Indochina Peninsula. In the West, the country borders on Cambodia and Laos, in the North with China.
The Vietnamese coast stretches along the eastern and southern parts of the country and is washed by the South China Sea, the Thai and Tonkin gulfs.
Best tourist destinations - photo and description
Main part the country's resorts are located in the southern part. North Vietnam is characterized by weather conditions that are not always conducive to a resort vacation, in the south there are periods of rainy, but in general there much warmer throughout the year and practically no winter is observed.
Phan Thiet and MUI ne
These resorts are located in the south of the country and specialize in beach vacation ... At the same time, in Mui Ne, Russian-speaking tourists usually feel more comfortable, since the Russian diaspora has settled there, many representatives of the Russian-speaking population have their own business, and there are many signs in Russian on the streets.
Nha Trang
This resort is one of the most popular and at the same time, like Mui Ne, is filled with a significant amount of Russian-language service. Many Russians have their own restaurants, excursion bureaus and other firms that work in the field of tourism and recreation.
Nha Trang offers opportunities for a wide variety of recreation. Wellness services are developed here, but there is also a lot of entertainment, including the famous Vietnamese diving.
Dalat
Is an alpine resort , which is located in the central part of Vietnam. Both Vietnamese and foreigners rest here. Moreover, the resort has a certain claim to elitism:
- many golf courses;
- cozy parks and forests;
- boat trips.
Dalat has magnificent nature, many waterfalls and coniferous forests. Excellent conditions for a measured rest.
Phu Quoc and other islands
Phu Quoc - a magnificent resort island, where a large safari park was recently created. In addition, there is a lot of entertainment and a great beach holiday.
Con Dao Island - a relatively new tourist destination, but worthy of attention. There is great ecotourism. In addition to the magnificent beaches, Con Dao offers:
- reserve;
- fishing;
- watching exotic animals.
If you happen to be near Halong Bay, you can pamper yourself with visits to the islands Catba and Tuan Chau... They offer wellness and entertainment combined with a beach holiday.
Mountain resorts
These resorts should be noted for the presence of mineral springs there.
Vietnam has many healthy springs of mineral water, but there are relatively few resorts nearby.
Of course, the weather there is not ideal for rest for a whole year, but the conditions for have a good rest are quite optimal.
Not far from Hanoi is located Ba wee - a resort with a national park. There you can enjoy:
- mud baths;
- swimming in hot water;
- wellness sessions of traditional medicine.
Not far from Ho Chi Minh City is the city of Vung Tau, which includes binh Chau resort... The resort is actively developing, offering hot mineral springs and quality service.
Planning a budget: how much money to take to Vietnam for 7, 10, 14 days? Find the answer here.
Beaches and coast
Beaches in the south countries are suitable for resort holidays for almost a whole year. The rainy season begins there in autumn, but warm days are still observed.
Most resorts have access to the sea with a water temperature of at least twenty degrees, that is, you can always swim.
North less favorable in terms of winter weather. It is really cold there (by Vietnamese standards) and swimming in winter is not possible.
Landmarks of the country
Authentic Vietnam is not only a resort vacation, but also an abundance of attractions.
There are many territories in this country where the buildings of ancient civilizations and many natural beauties remain.
Besides it should be noted the remains of the colonial era, many houses in Vietnam are from the era when the French ruled the country.
For people from northern countries, the attraction is exotic entertainment:
There is absolutely original options for excursions such as visiting guerrilla tunnels left over from the Vietnam War. Halong Bay is considered one of the most beautiful spaces on the planet.
Hanoi abounds architectural structures of different times: from the era of the development of Buddhism, to the grandiose buildings of the times of communism. Da Nang attracts Marble mountains and pagodas. The famous statue of the Reclining Buddha tourists can observe in Phan Thiet.
In general, a lot of attractions are concentrated in the relatively small territory of Vietnam.
Regardless of which part of the country you go to, you can make an interesting cultural program for yourself.
Interesting things, souvenirs and gifts that can be brought from Vietnam are in this article.
International airports
Now the territory of the country includes nine international airports but only up to four are valid regular flights from Russia. The largest is Tan Sonnnhat, which is located in Ho Chi Minh City. Not far from the capital (45 kilometers from Hanoi) is the Noi Bai airport, which attracts tourists with architecture in the style of a classic Vietnamese pagoda.
If you need to fly to Dalang, then there is its own airport three kilometers from the city. In the Khanh Hoa province, Kam Ranh is used, which is located in Nha Trang.
Tourists who are interested in a spa vacation, most often use Tan Son Nhat Airport, which is the closest popular resorts... In the future, this airport will be used for domestic flights, and the Long Thanh Airport will serve "holidaymakers".
How easy and comfortable is it to cover a distance of over 10,000 km? All the secrets of flying to Vietnam are here.
Brief country information
Independence Date
Official language
Vietnamese
Form of government
Parliamentary republic
Territory
331,210 km² (66th in the world)
Population
92 477 857 people (14th in the world)
Vietnamese Dong (VND)
Timezone
Ho Chi Minh City, Hanoi
$ 276.6 billion (42nd in the world)
Internet domain
Telephone code
Vietnam - a multinational republic, the culture of which was formed under the influence of local tribes, neighboring countries and colonialists. As a result, we are facing a modern country with a developed economy playing an important role in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations and in the world as a whole. Direct access to the Chinese Sea and rich nature gave impetus to the development of tourism - today Vietnam is one of the most popular countries among fans of exotic recreation.
Video: Vietnam
Basic moments
The population of Vietnam, which covers an area of \u200b\u200b331,210 km², according to the latest data is about 90 million people. Representatives of ethnic groups such as Viet, Tai, Thai, Khmer and others live here. Official language in the country, Vietnamese, however, schools also study English, French, Chinese, so there will be no problems with communication in big cities. Tourists also often speak Russian.
Vacationers choose Vietnam primarily for the sea and clean beaches... Also of great interest is the culture and ancient history of the country, which dates back to the 4th-3rd centuries. BC.
Brief history of the country
Modern Vietnam with its unique traditions is the result of a mixture of cultures and customs of different tribes. On its territory, powerful civilizations arose and fell into decay, which were forced all the time to restrain the raids of more powerful neighbors, including China and Mongolia.
For a long time the country was fragmented, and only at the end of the 18th century Vietnam after a long civil war became a unified state under the leadership of the Nguyen dynasty. The 19th century brought a new yoke here, which this time came from Europe. Thus, France captured the entire southern part of Vietnam, and the northern and central regions were under its direct influence, albeit less tangibly. It was a French colony until the start of World War II, when it was invaded by Japan. As a result of a series of unanimous decisions of the representatives of the communist movement, in 1945 there was a coup, and Ho Chi Minh took power.
The Democratic Republic of Vietnam tried to establish relations with France on equal terms, but the negotiations did not lead to anything - the First Indochina War began, which lasted 9 years.
The constant growth of the influence of the Communist Party was the reason that the United States provoked the disruption of the general elections, which would have allowed the creation of a unified state. A military conflict arose, in which the forces of America and the USSR were involved. The long bloody war ended with the merger of the North and South into a single Socialist Republic of Vietnam, which was reformed in 1992 and took a course towards liberalization and democratization.
In our time, the state is rapidly developing in economic, scientific and industrial directions. The tourism sector plays a significant role.
The cities of Vietnam
All cities in Vietnam
Vietnam nature
Relatively small in area, Vietnam is distinguished by natural and climatic diversity. In this respect, the country is clearly divided into three zones: North Vietnam (Bakbo), Central Vietnam (Chungbo) and South Vietnam (Nambo). It is this division that predetermined the internal differences in the economy and the general way of life of people in different regions of Vietnam.
Vietnam is a country of mountains and mountain plateaus. The chain of the Annam Mountains (Truong Son) stretches for 1200 km from northwest to southeast, reaching an altitude of 2500-2700 m above sea level. These are not the highest mountains in Vietnam: highest point of the country, Mount Fanshipan (3143 m), is located in the north, "occupied" by the spurs of the Yunnan Highlands. The mountains of North Vietnam are steep, with rugged slopes and narrow river valleys. Closer to the south, the Annam mountains transform into low (on average 1000 m above sea level) plateaus separating Vietnam from Laos and Cambodia. Five such plateaus - Kontum, Pleiku, Darlak, Lamvien and Zilin - are united under the general name Teingguyen, or "Western plateaus".
Plains in Vietnam stretch in the deltas of the largest rivers Mekong and Red, and also stretch in a narrow strip along the sea coast. Above sea level, the plains are raised by only 1-3 m, and some areas even lie below zero. During the period of monsoon rains, they are completely flooded with water and turn into real lakes. During typhoons, sea waves often invade the coastal areas of the plains, washing up sandy ramparts and dunes.
Climate
Although Vietnam is located south of the Northern Tropic, the average air temperature is lower than in neighboring countries lying at the same latitudes. The reason for this is the mountains, which occupy 80% of the territory of Vietnam. In addition, almost all mountain ranges in the country stretch from north to south and do not shield the country from the invasions of masses of cold air from Tibet and Central Asia. As a result, in winter in the northern part of tropical Vietnam, real climatic anomalies are not uncommon, when the temperature drops to + 10 ° С and even + 5 ° С. The difference in average winter and summer temperatures in Hanoi is quite large: from + 17 ° С in winter to + 29 ° С in summer. Due to the winter “frost”, many tropical fruits grow poorly in Bakbo, and rice yields are not as high as in the South.
The climate of Vietnam is largely determined by the winds prevailing at one time or another of the year. In summer, it is the southern and southwestern monsoons, bringing rain, and in winter, dry winds blowing from the northeast.
While North Vietnam suffers from sudden changes in air temperature, the South of the country all year round enjoys the serene warmth. The difference between the lowest and highest temperatures in Nambo is only 4 degrees (+ 26 / + 30 ° C). Central Vietnam is a kind of transition zone between North and South: it is hotter here than in Bakbo and cooler than in Nambo.
The city of Dalat is considered the best and most comfortable in terms of climate: here the temperature is + 24 ° С all year round.
Vietnam is not only mountains and winds, it is also a land of water. On average, 2000-2500 mm of moisture is shed on it per year. The rains that fall in the Chungbo Mountains are especially generous. Here, the "wet" season comes much later than in the rest of Vietnam: the summer southwestern monsoon is raining down on the western, Lao slopes of the Annam mountains, and only moisture delivered by winter winds from the Gulf of Tonkin falls on "its" territory.
In the north, in the delta of the Red River, during the dry winter months, it is often drizzling with a specific local rain called mya poun (or dye), which is unable to really moisten the earth, but helps the plants to survive the seasonal drought on a hungry water ration.
Spring and autumn in Vietnam is a time of changing monsoons and changeable weather. Also in the fall coastal areas Bakbo and Chung-bo visit typhoons annually, or even twice.
Rivers and lakes
The largest rivers flow in the South and North of the country. The palm belongs to the Mekong (in Vietnamese Ky-ulong). Of the 4400 km of its total length, Vietnam accounts for the shortest section of the lower reaches, but the Vietnamese are not upset - they completely own the "Father of Rivers" delta. The water level in the Mekong Delta is entirely dependent on the amount of precipitation in the upper reaches of the river. If in the rainy summer months it carries out into the sea 100 thousand cubic meters of water per second, then in winter the flow decreases to 4 thousand cubic meters. The Mekong Delta is replete with muddy channels and wetlands, sometimes stretching for tens of kilometers.
Halong Bay (Hạ Long Bay)
In the northern part of the country, not far from the capital, there is one of the most picturesque bays in the world, whose magnificent views attract tens of thousands of tourists from all over the world every year. listed World heritage UNESCO is rightfully considered one of the wonders of the world. It is famous, first of all, for its limestone islands topped with dense vegetation. There are about three thousand of them in total, and, according to legend, these are the bends of the body of an ancient dragon trying to hide under water from the wrath of a god. By the way, it was here that the famous scene of the movie "Avatar" was filmed.
The two most large islands The bays are inhabited, there is also a large floating village - houses are built right on the water, and the only means of transport are boats and boats.
Hoi An (Hội An)
This small fishing town in the central region of Vietnam is a favorite destination for foreign tourists. It is chosen for a visit due to its clean sandy beaches and a large number of historical and cultural attractions, a visit to which will make your vacation interesting. This city is sometimes called "the museum under open air"And" Vietnamese Venice ". Its former glory as a major seaport is reminiscent of the canals that have survived to this day, passing through several blocks. There is a unique atmosphere here, so it is worth taking a few days to visit Hoi An.
Nha Trang
They are chosen by those who are accustomed to outdoor activities and eventful city life. This resort attracts with its 7 km long beach and clear water. Tourists who have come to Vietnam to improve their health can visit a mud bath and hot springs. Also here is one of business cards country - a pagoda with a white figure of Buddha sitting on a lotus flower.
Another reason to visit is dive centers. This resort is recognized as the most the best place for scuba diving - in addition to the rich animal world, divers are attracted coral gardens... You can see the bay from a height by purchasing a ticket for the cable car, which is the longest in the world.
Main article:
Vietnam caves
The nature of this country never ceases to amaze - in addition to the sights on the surface, there is also a huge number of underground wonders. National park Phong Nya Kebang (Vườn quốc gia Phong Nha-Kẻ Bàng) is a real paradise for speleologists. A unique ecosystem with rare plant and bird species has been preserved here. It is surrounded by impenetrable forests and high mountains... For visiting as part of special groups, the caves of Thyendyong, Tien Son, Fongya are open. The latter is famous for its bizarre karst formations, whose names speak for themselves: "Lion", "Royal Court", "Buddha" and others.
The highlight of the park, which was opened not so long ago, is the Sơn Đoòng Cave, recognized as the largest in the world. This is a whole underground world with rivers, lakes, vegetation.
Culture
The Viet culture originally developed as the culture of rice farmers. The main occupation of the people determined the way of life, the menu of the national cuisine, the nature of holidays and entertainment. Rice, cultivated for the first time in Indochina, occupies 85% of the total arable land in Vietnam. Other food crops in Vietnam are grown only on those lands that, for some reason, are unsuitable for rice crops. The Vietnamese are familiar with about 200 varieties of this cereal - with white, yellow, reddish and even black grains. In South Vietnam, "floating" rice is grown, which yields crops in any flood: no matter how high the water rises, the ear of the plant always remains on the surface due to the rapidly stretching stem ... The most important property of rice is that its grains, covered with dense skin , can be stored for a long time in a humid climate without the need for expensive elevators. The word "rice" for Vieta is synonymous with the word "food". If he doesn't empty at least one cup of rice while eating, no delicacies will give him the feeling of a complete, complete meal. Once upon a time in Vietnam it was even customary to greet an acquaintance with the polite phrase "Have you dined on rice?"
Rice checks (so called specially flooded fields) in the flat regions of the country, they form an almost continuous water surface, lined with lines of dams and roads, dotted with islets of villages. In flooded fields, fish are often bred, which brings double benefits - it not only eats, but also eats the larvae of harmful insects. There are no fences between the neighboring fields - they are replaced by small dams that serve as paths for the peasants. Vieta villages are not particularly picturesque, moreover, buildings are often hidden from the eyes of a stranger by trees and thickets of bamboo. At the same time, any, even the smallest, village is a cozy, harmoniously arranged and completely ordered world, where everything is in its place.
Unlike many peoples of Southeast Asia, Vieta build their traditional dwellings not on piles, but directly on the ground. Anything from split bamboo to bricks can be used as wall material. The center of the peasant estate is a residential building, which is adjoined on both sides by outbuildings that form a secluded courtyard. In front of the kitchen there are usually large water vessels made of stone or fired clay. The main place in the master's house is considered to be the ancestral altar, decorated with lacquer tablets with the names of deceased family members and their photographs. Traditional furniture is simple and artless: a wooden chest for utensils and a few wooden bunk beds. The roof of the house rests on pillars, between which a hammock is hung for an afternoon rest. Peasants-vietas successfully replace the dining table and bedding with wicker mats. Traditional dishes are made from bamboo and clay, and in the South they are also made from coconut shells.
The traditional Vieta costume consists of a loose straight blouse with patch pockets, wide trousers, a belt and a headdress. Peasants most often sew their casual clothes from black or dark brown cotton fabric. Women's traditional clothing is called ao zai (in the south - ao ai)... This outfit consists of trousers and a straight, fitted tunic dress with a stand-up collar and deep slits on the sides. The festive joint stock company is sewn from silk fabric of bright colors and looks extremely impressive. Married Vietnamese women tie their hair in a tourniquet and wrap it around the head, while the hair of unmarried women is usually loose. In the heat and rain, people of both sexes wear the famous conical non hats tied under their chins. These hats, woven from palm leaves, have become the most famous symbol of Vietnam around the world. The Vietnamese, in turn, borrowed something from the Europeans. So, on the head of a village man in the north of Vietnam, you can often see a khaki headdress, introduced by the French colonialists and firmly rooted in the army.
Vietnamese cuisine
Vietnamese cuisine was formed taking into account the natural characteristics of the country, as well as under the influence of China and Japan. It is dominated by seafood, pork, nuts and legumes. Rice occupies a special place in traditional cuisine. It is used to make noodles, tortillas and "paper", which serve as the basis for many dishes.
Vieta cattle are used as draft force: meat of cows and buffaloes is rarely eaten, and milk is drunk only if it is coconut or soy. By the way, soy milk, and with it soy "curd" (known as tofu in our country) came to Vietnam from China and became widespread in the northern regions of the country. Another dish borrowed from the Chinese is noodles. She clearly came to court here: throughout the country, from Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh City, the day of a Vietnamese city dweller cannot be imagined without several cups of pho soup, consisting of broth, noodles, boiled meat, soy sprouts and herbs.
Vietnamese cuisine contains a wide variety of foods and spices - tomatoes, cucumbers, herbs, beans, tapioca, peanuts, garlic, onions, sesame seeds, ginger, peppers ... Many dishes in Vietnam are prepared from bananas, while some of its varieties are good only fried or baked. The most popular traditional spices are the salty nyok mam (better known as fish sauce) and nyok leo sauce. The first is made from small fish fermented with salt in large clay vats. This sauce is suitable for long-term storage. In restaurants, you can often find nok cham on the table - a liquid seasoning consisting of fish sauce, garlic, vinegar, rice wine and pepper. Nyok leo is made from pork fat, liver, garlic, onions, peanuts and sesame seeds and is served with portioned dishes. In southern restaurants, tamarind and mango sauces are often offered with fish dishes.
Like the Chinese, the Vietnamese are known for their fondness for exotic foods that not every European would dare to try. Such are the pupae of the silkworm, scorpions, crickets ... Along with sea mollusks, viettes willingly eat land snails, and sea crustaceans coexist on their table with freshwater "rice crabs".
Perhaps the most famous Vietnamese dish is pancakes mute. They are prepared like this: a filling of pork, vegetables and spices is wrapped in the thinnest rice "paper" (banchang). A variety of steamed dishes made from glutinous rice or stuffed tapioca are very similar to it - the word "bath" is included in the names of such dishes.
You should definitely try the rice paper rolls. The filling can be any - from meat to fruit. These dishes are very satisfying, but at the same time light and healthy.
Vietnamese cuisine has prepared many surprises for tourists. Here you can taste culinary masterpieces, the names of which will shock many. However, the most daring venture out to experiment and are happy to discover the taste of a baked bat, cobra salad and other delights.
Snakes - the Vietnamese have a special relationship with them. These reptiles are eaten here as freely as we have, say, chickens. Moreover, they are considered healing - for example, eating a raw cobra heart, a person gains health and longevity. In this case, the blood organ must be swallowed while it is still beating.
Another 2-3 dishes are prepared from the snake meat, which is cut right in front of the visitors. It can be rolls, soup, salad with vegetables, and fried skins. You can order such delicacies in tourist restaurants in the city center, but experienced tourists advise going to small cafes where they rest locals... They have a special atmosphere, and prices are several tens of dollars lower. On average, such a dinner will cost from 470,000 VND (approximately $ 21) - the cost depends on the level of the restaurant and the venomousness of the snake.
If you've never tasted fried bamboo, you should definitely go to Vietnam. This dish is especially popular here, since young shoots have many useful properties. The only drawback of all this is an extremely unpleasant smell, which, by the way, can be said about many traditional dishes, including fried herring.
Another exotic animal whose meat is worth trying when traveling to Vietnam is the crocodile. It is desirable that it be a young individual - then it will be soft and juicy. Soups, salads and other delights are prepared mainly from the "loin" parts - paws and tails. The price for such a delicacy ranges from 130,000-450,000 VND, in dollars it is about $ 6-20.
There is a traditional delicacy in Vietnamese cuisine that causes an ambiguous reaction among the most fastidious foreigners. These are duck eggs with embryos. They look quite frightening, but the delicate taste compensates for external imperfections. At the same time, tourists can choose eggs in which there is more yolk, or practically filled with "meat". They are inexpensive and are sold right on the streets - this is an analogue of our fast food, only instead of pies and sandwiches - unhatched chicks.
In addition, in Vietnamese cafes specializing in national dishes, you can order dog meat, fried rats, bats with spicy sauce, sea worms, pond and pork frogs and other exotic things. Of course, before you eat any of the above, you need to make sure that the food is cooked in the correct sanitary conditions.
In a country house, food is served on a large round wicker tray with a deep plate of rice in the center. It is surrounded by cups with spices, bowls with vegetable soup and other dishes.
While rural Vieta traditionally drink green tea, city dwellers prefer coffee brought to Vietnam during the French era. Vietnamese coffee is excellent and it is made in a cafe in a very peculiar way. "Coffee maker" is a metal container with a lid, which is put on a glass. Several holes are drilled in the bottom of this device, thanks to which the steep boiling water slowly seeps into the glass through the layer of ground coffee. The resulting aromatic drink is drunk with condensed milk in the morning, and with ice cubes in the hot season.
For the Vietnamese, rice is not only food, but also the raw material for making ruou wine. This drink is especially favored by the inhabitants of the "rice baskets" - the Mekong and Red River deltas. The most common type of rice wine is the village mash, which is made from boiled rice aged in an earthen vessel for three months. This drink is served on the table in a ceramic jug, closed with a lid with small holes. Bamboo tubes are inserted into them according to the number of participants in the feast. Wine is drunk through a straw straight from the jug in the center of the table. An appetizer can be dried fish or vegetable slices sprinkled with nyok mam fish sauce. Most often, tourists manage to taste such a drink in the Mekong Delta, in the vicinity of Ho Chi Minh City.
The Vietnamese are very fond of beer. In the evenings, in any street tavern, you can see people relaxing after work with a glass of bi-khoi, a traditional light beer sold on tap. The aluminum jug of this peculiar "malt lemonade" should be looked for under the name Bia Tuoi (bi tyoy, or "fresh beer"). Especially many of these signs can be found in Hanoi's Old City, at the corner of Ta Hien St. and Luong Ngoc Quyen St. Influenced by Europeans at the beginning of the 20th century. in the country began the production of the familiar to us lager beer, now existing in the form of various brands. The most common brands are "Tiger", "Saigon" and "333" - the latter name sounds like "ba-ba-ba" in Vietnamese.
Popular traditional soft drinks include coconut milk, iced lemon juice (tien da), and freshly squeezed orange juice (kam wata).
In Vietnam, especially in the south, there is no shortage of fruit. Along with the well-known pineapples, bananas or citrus fruits, a visit to the country gives the opportunity to taste such wonders as lychee, cherimoya, mangosteen, tamarind, papaya or the famous durian. This fruit has earned the nickname "king of fruits" due to its taste, but many find the smell of ripe durian peel disgusting. In some countries in Southeast Asia, it is strictly prohibited to enter public places with durian.
Public holidays
Vietnam has public holidays with a fixed date.
- January 1st - New Year
- February 3 - Founding Day of the Communist Party of Vietnam
- April 30 - Saigon Liberation Day
- May 1 - International Labor Day
- May 19 - Ho Chi Minh's birthday
- July 27 Day - Remembrance of the Victims of War
- September 2 - Independence Day
- December 25 - Christmas
Many major Vietnamese holidays are associated with the lunar calendar, so their dates change.
- January February. Tet Nguyen Dan (Lunar New Year), or Tet, is the main holiday. Many celebrate it for a whole week, but the official celebrations last for three days.
- January February. Dong Da - commemorates the victory over the Chinese in 1789
- March, April. Thanh Minh (Day of remembrance of the dead). Vietnamese visit the graves of deceased relatives.
- April May. Le Fat Dan is a celebration of the birth, enlightenment and death of the Buddha.
- June July. Ching Nguyen (Day of the Wandering Souls), the second most important holiday of the year. People make offerings to the souls of the dead.
- November December. Birthday of Confucius.
Do you know where Vietnam is?
Vietnam is a small country located on the Indochina Peninsula. The area of \u200b\u200bits territory is estimated from 330.95 to 331.21 thousand square meters. km. This is due to the fact that Vietnam has territorial disputes with neighbors and unsettled border relations. In terms of its size, it ranks 66th in the ranking of countries in the world, and in terms of population density it is in 30th place. Vietnam's population now exceeds 92 million. The capital of the state is Hanoi.
You need to search for a country on the world map in the eastern part of Indochina and in Southeast Asia. Geographical coordinates Vietnam 16 10 N, 107 50 E. The territory of the state has an elongated shape and resembles the letter "S". It crosses 15 parallels and runs along the Pacific Ocean. The distance between its extreme points from north to south is 1750 km. The narrowest part of Vietnam is only 50 km wide, and the longest distance from east to west is 616 km.
Such a meridional stretch of the country predetermined its falling into several climatic zones. A tropical climate prevails in the south of the country. The opposite weather is developing in the north. The monsoon climate prevails here. Its characteristic features are hot weather and heavy rainfall. The rainiest months of the year in the area are from May to September.
Border with Laos
The total length of the border is 2067 km. The demarcation line runs along the Truong Son ridge. Crossings between the countries are organized in the areas of the passes. They connect the eastern part of Vietnam with Laos. Highways No. 8 Nabe and No. 9 Laobao lead to the border crossings.
Vietnam travelers russian tourists can take advantage of these crossings and visit Laos. For this, they do not need to apply for special visas.
Maritime boundaries and coastline
Length coastline Vietnam is 3260 km. In the northeast it is washed by the waters of the Gulf of Tonkin, and in the southwest by the Siam. They are part of the South China Sea. The most famous ports of the country are Saigon, Da Nang and Haiphong. The country's continental shelf covers an area of \u200b\u200b1 million square meters. km. It includes over 2,700 islands. All of them are located at a distance not exceeding 100 km from the coast. The most significant islands are Con Dao, Phu Quoc, Khoai, Re and Cham. Over the Paracel Islands and Spratly, Vietnam is in territorial disputes with China and Vietnam.
