Vietnam is a country located in Southeast Asia and has long been the end for the rest of the world, but in the 2010s the country has opened up for tourism and this has led many to travel there to see the unique nature and historical and cultural sites. The country borders Laos, Cambodia and China. With a total area of ​​331,210 square kilometers, it can be said that Vietnam is about the same size as Germany, but the shape of the country is more reminiscent of Norway, which also has a similar size. The country has coastline to the South China Sea which is part of the Pacific Ocean. During the 20th century, Vietnam was involved in many wars, which affected the economy in a very negative way. Today, the country is a one-party state where only the Communist Party is allowed, and where the media is carefully controlled to avoid negative publicity about the single party. The capital is called Hanoi and is located in northern Vietnam, but the largest city, Ho Chi Minh, is located in southern Vietnam.
In the northern parts of the country, there is a magnificent nature with, for example, Ha Long Bay which belongs to one of Vietnam’s five world heritage sites and the highest mountain Fan Si Pan. The capital Hanoi is a popular tourist destination that offers the exciting Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum as well as many different museums with interesting exhibits.
Geography and climate
On the border with Laos and Cambodia there is a mountain range and most of Vietnam consists of high altitudes and mountains. In the northeastern part of the country there is a lake called Ba Bể lake. There are also rivers, such as the Mekong River and the Red River, and at their delta it is extra fertile, which is the reason why many of the country’s inhabitants have just settled by the river delta to be able to practice agriculture. Vietnam is at its southernmost point, about 1,650 km long. In addition to the coast to the South China Sea, the country also has a southwestern border with the Gulf of Thailand.
According to Bridgat, the climate can be divided into three different zones, the northern, the central and the southern zone. In northern Vietnam, the climate is subtropical and humid, while southern Vietnam offers a tropical climate all year round. The central part is somewhere in between these two different types of climate. Temperatures can vary greatly and you will find the lowest temperatures in the mountains where during the winter it can even be minus degrees. In the cities of Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh, the climate is hot and humid. It can rain all year round in Vietnam but there is less risk of rain between December and April.
The Vietnam War
The Vietnam War took place between 1959 and 1975 and was a war involving South Vietnam and the United States against North Vietnam and the FNL (South Vietnam’s National Liberation Front). The United States intervened in the conflict because it wanted to be involved in countering the spread of communism in the world. The war was won by North Vietnam, which led to the country being united under communist rule. The war was followed by an invasion of Cambodia, which led to a conflict between Vietnam and China that sided with Cambodia.
