Vietnam on the Map: Southeast Asia's Coastal Dragon
Vietnam is a slender, S-shaped country on the Indochinese Peninsula in Southeast Asia.
Borders & Coastline
- North: China (1,281 km).
- West: Laos (2,161 km), Cambodia (1,228 km).
- East/South: South China Sea (East Sea) — 3,260 km coastline.
Three Geographic Regions
| Region | Key Features | Major Cities |
|---|
| Northern Uplands | Mountains, Red River Delta, karst (Ha Long Bay) | Hanoi (capital), Haiphong, Dien Bien Phu |
| Central Coast | Narrow coastal plain, Annamite Range, historic cities | Hue, Da Nang, Hoi An, Nha Trang |
| Southern Lowlands | Mekong Delta, fertile alluvial plain, tropical | Ho Chi Minh City (largest), Can Tho, My Tho |
Climate
- North: 4 seasons; cool dry winter (Nov–Apr), hot wet summer.
- Central: Typhoon-prone (Sep–Jan); wet/dry transition.
- South: Tropical wet (May–Nov) / dry (Dec–Apr).
Quick Stats
- Population: ~97M (15th globally).
- Language: Vietnamese (Austroasiatic, Latin script).
- Religion: Folk/Buddhist/Catholic/Cao Dai/Hoa Hao.
- Memberships: UN, ASEAN, WTO, APEC, RCEP, CPTPP.
Vietnam: long coast, two deltas, one dynamic economy.
Wanderlust World