Vietnam stretches south from the Chinese border along the east coast of the Indochina Peninsula. The country has a complex geography with soaring mountains, fertile delta plains, winding rivers and long sandy tropical beaches. In reality Vietnam is a country of outstanding natural beauty; some of the best beaches in Southeast Asia can be found along the coastline of Vietnam.
The larger towns and cities are emerging into the 21st Century, yet they have retained much of the colonial charm and beauty in the architecture, parks and boulevards left behind by the French. The people of Vietnam are gentle, hard working and welcoming visitors. Spiritual life in Vietnam is a mix of beliefs including Buddhism, Confucianism and Taoism (triple religion), with a blend of Roman Catholicism, Cao Dai and Hinduism.
Area:331,210 km2
128,565 sq mi
Capital: Hanoi
Official language: Vietnamese
National Airlines: Vietnam Airlines ( wwww.vietnamairlines.com)
National Flowers: Lotus
National Dress: " Áo Dài"
National Flag: red background with yellow star at the center
National (Main) Religion: Buddhism
Unesco ranked world heritages( as of Jan 2015):
1993- Hue Complex of Monuments-
1994- Halong Bay
1999- Hoian Ancient Town
1999- My Son Sanctuary
2003- Phong Nha Ke Bang
2010- Thang Long Imperial Citadel
2011- Ho Dynasty Citadel
2015- Trang An & Bai Dinh pagoda
Besides these 8 World Heritage Sites, there are also other UNESCO recognized heritages in Vietnam. These are:
Nhã Nhạc Cung Đình Huế ( Hue Royal Court Music ) - recognized as World Oral History Treasure and Intangible Culture in 2003
Không Gian Văn Hóa Cồng Chiêng Tây Nguyên (Tay Nguyen Gong Music ) - recognized as masterpiece of the oral and intangible culture of humanity in 2005
Dân Ca Quan Họ (Bac Ninh Alternate Singing ) - recognized as Intangible Cultural Heritage in 2009
Ca Trù (Ca Tru singing ) - recognized as Intangible Cultural Heritage in 2009
Hội Gióng ( Giong Festival) -recognized as Intangible Cultural Heritage in 2010
Hát Xoan (Xoan Singing ) - recognized as Intangible Cultural Heritage in 2011
Tín Ngưỡng Thờ Hùng Vương ( King Hung Vuong worship tradition) - recognized as Intangible Cultural Heritage in 2012
Đờn Ca Tài Tử - recognized as Intangible Cultural Heritage in 2013
Mộc Bản Triều Nguyễn -recognized as Vietnam's first The World Documentary in 2009
Bia Tiến Sĩ Văn Miếu Quốc Tử Giám ( Temple of Literature's 82 Doctorate Steles period 1442-1779) -recognized as Vietnam's first The World Documentary in 2010
Mộc Bản Kinh Phật Chùa Vĩnh Nghiêm ( Bắc Giang) -recognized as Vietnam's first The World Documentary in 2012
Vietnam's World Biosphere Reserves: Can Gio Mangrove (2000), Cat Tien national park (2001), Mui Ca Mau (2009), ChamIsland (2009).
Island Lists: North (Bạch Long Vĩ,Cát Bà, Tuần Châu, Cô Tô, Vân Đồn), Centre ( Cù Lao Chàm, Cù Lao Xanh, Cồn Cỏ,Lý Sơn, Trường Sa, Hoàng Sa), South( Cần Giờ, Hà Tiên, Côn Đảo, Phú Quốc, Phú Quý, Côn Đảo, Long Sơn, Thổ Chu, Bà Lụa) etc...
National Day: 2nd September
Ethnic minority Groups: 54
Country Population: 91,949,482 citizents ( statistic 2014)
Biggest City: Ho Chi Minh City ( fomerly known as Saigon)
Three biggest telephone service providers: MOBIFONE, VINAPHONE,VIETEL
International Airports: Tan Son Nhat Airport (Ho Chi Minh City), NoiBai Airport (Hanoi) and Danang Airport( Danang)
CURRENCY
Vietnamese Dong (VND); ATMs and Money changers throughout the country. Currently 21,230 Dong is equal to 1 USD.
VISA
To enter Vietnam you will require a passport (with at least 7 months remaining validity after trip completion) and a tourist visa for most foreigners arrival the country except certain visa exemption cases thanks to state agreements. Obtaining a single entry, 30-day tourist visa is easy. Please inform us at the start if you wish a longer stay and multiple entries. Visa extensions can usually be obtained once in Vietnam. Please scan or show us your original visa page. Rates vary, as does the official policy regarding extensions. Before you travel, check your passport to ensure that there is room for a visa and entry/exit stamps (at least three pages).More details, please look at “ Service” section.
GETTING HERE
SYMBOLS
Nowadays, when thinking about Vietnam, people often think of the lotus as national flower. They live near the mud but they still have a pure and upright pleasant smell, just like the Vietnamese people. Although faced with many difficulties, Vietnamese people still keep the pure and upright inside their souls. Besides the lotus, ladies wearing bamboo poles on their shoulders and conical hats are good signals about Vietnam. The bamboo trees always grow vertically; they are also like Vietnamese people: after facing many difficulties, they still stand and never surrender.
During the following holidays some or all businesses are closed and tourist sites will be busier than usual. Tet Nguyen-Dan or ‘Tet’ is the Vietnamese New Year and celebrations can last for 7-10 days. Other national holidays: New Year’s Day 01 January, Hung King Festival 10 March ( Lunar Calendar), Vietnam Liberation Day 30 April, International Labour Day 1 May and Vietnam Independence Day 2 September.