Vietnam Vietnam Official name: Socialist Republic of Vietnam Area: 329,560 square kilometers (127,244 square miles) Highest point on mainland: Fan-si-pan (3,143 meters/10,312 feet) Lowest point on land: Sea level Hemispheres: Northern and Eastern P.M. = noon GMT Longest distances: 1,650 kilometers (1,025 miles) from north to south; 600 kilometers (373 miles) from east to west Land boundaries: 4,639 kilometers (2,883 miles) total boundary length; Cambodia 1,228 kilometers (763 miles); China 1,281 kilometers (796 miles); Laos 2,130 kilometers (1,324 miles) Coastline: 3,444 kilometers (2,140 miles) Territorial sea limits: 22 kilometers (12 nautical miles) 1 LOCATION AND SIZE Vietnam is a long, narrow country at the eastern edge of the Indochina Peninsula in Southeast Asia.

Its area of 329,560 square kilometers (127,244 square miles) is slightly greater than that of New Mexico. 2 TERRITORIES AND DEPENDENCIES Vietnam has no territories or dependencies. 3 CLIMATE Most of the southern part of the country is warmer than the north. The average annual temperature in Ho Chi Minh City is 27°C (81°F), compared with 23°C (74°F) in Hanoi. Although the Central Highlands are situated in the south, they are cooler because of their higher elevation. The average annual temperature at Da Lat, in the highlands, is 21°C (70°F). Average annual rainfall ranges from 172 centimeters (68 inches) in Hanoi to more than 406 centimeters (160 inches) in the mountains. Violent typhoons strike the central coastal region between July and November.

4 TOPOGRAPHIC REGIONS Vietnam has four major topographic divisions: the Red River Delta in the north; the Mekong Delta in the south; the Annamese Cordillera, a mountain system that spans nearly the entire length of the country; and the central lowlands, a narrow coastal plain between the mountains and the sea in the middle of the country. 5 OCEANS AND SEAS Vietnam is bordered on the northeast by the Gulf of Tonkin, on the southeast by the South China Sea, and on the southwest by the Gulf of Thailand. Seacoast and Undersea Features Coral reefs surround Vietnam's coastline and those of its offshore islands—along more than 90 percent of the entire coastal length. Sea Inlets and Straits The Gulf of Tonkin, which borders Vietnam on the northeast, and the Gulf of Thailand, to the southwest, are both inlets of the South China Sea. Islands and Archipelagos Vietnam has a number of offshore islands in Ha Long Bay to the north, in the South China Sea to the east, and near the Mekong River Delta in the south.

The largest of the islands in the north is Cat Ba, with an area of 355 square kilometers (137 square miles). Coastal Features Vietnam's S-shaped coastline is heavily indented at the mouth of the Mekong River in the south, with another major indentation at Haiphong Harbor on the Red River Delta in the north. There are moderate indentations at the mouths of other rivers along the coast. A narrow line of sand dunes fringes much of the shore along the northern half of the coastal plain. 6 INLAND LAKES There are many small lakes scattered across Vietnam; however, most of the country's lakes and waterfalls are found in the Central Highlands. Ho Tay (West Lake), located in western Hanoi, is one of Vietnam's largest lakes, and one of the few in the northern part of the country. 7 RIVERS AND WATERFALLS The Red River, located in the far north, has a total length of about 1,167 kilometers (725 miles). Its two major tributaries are the Song Lo and the Black River.

The 4,506-kilometer-(2,800-mile-) long Mekong is one of the great rivers of the world. From its source in the high plateau of Tibet, it flows through China, Laos, and Cambodia, where it branches out at the capital, Phnom Penh, before reaching the Mekong Delta in southern Vietnam. The southern branch, the Song Hau Giang, flows directly to the sea; the larger northern branch splits into four parts about 80 kilometers (50 miles) before reaching the sea. In addition to Vietnam's two major rivers, a number of shorter rivers and streams rise in the Annamese Cordillera and flow to the sea. 8 DESERTS There are no deserts in Vietnam. 9 FLAT AND ROLLING TERRAIN The low, level plain of the Mekong Delta rises no higher than 3 meters (10 feet) above sea level at any point. The smaller Red River Delta in the north is a flat, triangular region. Vietnam's central lowlands consist of a narrow coastal strip along the eastern slopes of the Truong Son Mountains.

The southern portion of the Central Highlands rises to elevations of over 914 meters (3,000 feet) in many places. The hill city of Da Lat is in the center of this area. 10 MOUNTAINS AND VOLCANOES Mountains account for three-fourths of Viet-nam's terrain. The Annamese Cordillera has two major branches. One projects southward from Yunnan Province in China, extending along the country's entire border with Laos and separating the Red River Basin from that of the Mekong River. The northern portion of this branch, called the Hoang Lien Mountains, includes Vietnam's highest peak, Fan-si-pan (3,143 meters/10,312 feet). The southern part, called the Truong Son, extends along Vietnam's boundary with Laos and part of its boundary with Cambodia until it reaches the Mekong Delta. Its peaks range in height from about 1,524 meters (5,000 feet) to 2,597 meters (8,521 feet).

The second major branch of Viet-nam's mountains, sometimes referred to as the Northern Highlands, extends along the border with China, terminating in a series of islands northeast of Haiphong in the Gulf of Tonkin. 11 CANYONS AND CAVES There are a number of caves in the limestone karst surrounding Lake Ba Be. The best known is the Puong Grotto. 12 PLATEAUS AND MONOLITHS Within the wider, southern portion of the Truong Son Mountains is a plateau area known as the Central Highlands. 13 MAN-MADE FEATURES Vietnam has a network of dikes to control river flooding, as well as an extensive system of intersecting channels and canals in the Mekong Delta. The nation's largest reservoir is at the Hoa Binh hydroelectric plant in the north. Between the 1940s and 1960s, Vietnamese rebels—fighting first against the French and later against the United States—built the Cu Chi Tunnels northwest of Ho Chi Minh City. These tunnels once extended for 250 kilometers (155 miles) all the way to the Cambodian border, and they constituted an underground city. DID YOU KNOW?

At its narrowest point, Vietnam is only 50 kilometers (31 miles) wide. 14 FURTHER READING Books Hunt, Christopher. Sparring with Charlie: Motorbiking Down the Ho Chi Minh Trail. New York: Anchor Books, 1996. Maitland, Derek. Insider's Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia Guide. Edison, NJ: Hunter Publishing, 1995. Warmbrunn, Erika. Where the Pavement Ends: One Woman's Bicycle Trip Through Mongolia, China, and Vietnam. Seattle: Mountaineers Books, 2001. Web Sites Vietnam - GEOGRAPHY GEOGRAPHY Vietnam Table of Contents Vietnam is located in the southeastern extremity of the Indochinese peninsula and occupies about 331,688 square kilometers, of which about 25 percent was under cultivation in 1987. The S-shaped country has a north-to-south distance of 1,650 kilometers and is about 50 kilometers wide at the narrowest point.

With a coastline of 3,260 kilometers, excluding islands, Vietnam claims 12 nautical miles as the limit of its territorial waters, an additional 12 nautical miles as a contiguous customs and security zone, and 200 nautical miles as an exclusive economic zone. The boundary with Laos, settled, on an ethnic basis, between the rulers of Vietnam and Laos in the mid-seventeenth century, was formally defined by a delimitation treaty signed in 1977 and ratified in 1986. The frontier with Cambodia, defined at the time of French annexation of the western part of the Mekong River Delta in 1867, remained essentially unchanged, according to Hanoi, until some unresolved border issues were finally settled in the 1982-85 period. The land and sea boundary with China, delineated under the France-China treaties of 1887 and 1895, is "the frontier line" accepted by Hanoi that China agreed in 1957- 58 to respect.

However, in February 1979, following China's limited invasion of Vietnam, Hanoi complained that from 1957 onward China had provoked numerous border incidents as part of its anti-Vietnam policy and expansionist designs in Southeast Asia. Among the territorial infringements cited was the Chinese occupation in January 1974 of the Paracel Islands, claimed by both countries in a dispute left unresolved in the 1980s. Vietnam is a country of tropical lowlands, hills, and densely forested highlands, with level land covering no more than 20 percent of the area. The country is divided into the highlands and the Red River Delta in the north; and the Giai Truong Son (Central mountains, or the Cha�ne Annamitique, sometimes referred to simply as the Chaine), the coastal lowlands, and the Mekong River Delta in the south. The Red River Delta, a flat, triangular region of 3,000 square kilometers, is smaller but more intensely developed and more densely populated than the Mekong River Delta.

Once an inlet of the Gulf of Tonkin, it has been filled in by the enormous alluvial deposits of the rivers, over a period of millennia, and it advances one hundred meters into the gulf annually. The ancestral home of the ethnic Vietnamese, the delta accounted for almost 70 percent of the agriculture and 80 percent of the industry of North Vietnam before 1975. The Red River (Song Hong in Vietnamese), rising in China's Yunnan Province, is about 1,200 kilometers long. Its two main tributaries, the Song Lo (also called the Lo River, the Riviere Claire, or the Clear River) and the Song Da (also called the Black River or Riviere Noire), contribute to its high water volume, which averages 500 million cubic meters per second, but may increase by more than 60 times at the peak of the rainy season. The entire delta region, backed by the steep rises of the forested highlands, is no more than three meters above sea level, and much of it is one meter or less. The area is subject to frequent flooding; at some places the high-water mark of floods is fourteen meters above the surrounding countryside.

For centuries flood control has been an integral part of the delta's culture and economy. An extensive system of dikes and canals has been built to contain the Red River and to irrigate the rich rice-growing delta. Modeled on that of China, this ancient system has sustained a highly concentrated population and has made double-cropping wet-rice cultivation possible throughout about half the region. The highlands and mountain plateaus in the north and northwest are inhabited mainly by tribal minority groups. The Giai Truong Son originates in the Xizang (Tibet) and Yunnan regions of southwest China and forms Vietnam's border with Laos and Cambodia. It terminates in the Mekong River Delta north of Ho Chi Minh City (formerly Saigon). These central mountains, which have several high plateaus, are irregular in elevation and form. The northern section is narrow and very rugged; the country's highest peak, Fan Si Pan, rises to 3,142 meters in the extreme northwest. The southern portion has numerous spurs that divide the narrow coastal strip into a series of compartments.

For centuries these topographical features not only rendered north-south communication difficult but also formed an effective natural barrier for the containment of the people living in the Mekong basin. Within the southern portion of Vietnam is a plateau known as the Central Highlands (Tay Nguyen), approximately 51,800 square kilometers of rugged mountain peaks, extensive forests, and rich soil. Comprising 5 relatively flat plateaus of basalt soil spread over the provinces of Dac Lac and Gia Lai-Kon Tom, the highlands accounts for 16 percent of the country's arable land and 22 percent of its total forested land. Before 1975 North Vietnam had maintained that the Central Highlands and the Giai Truong Son were strategic areas of paramount importance, essential to the domination not only of South Vietnam but also of the southern part of Indochina. Since 1975 the highlands have provided an area in which to relocate people from the densely populated lowlands. The narrow, flat coastal lowlands extend from south of the Red River Delta to the Mekong River basin.

On the landward side, the Giai Truong Son rises precipitously above the coast, its spurs jutting into the sea at several places. Generally the coastal strip is fertile and rice is cultivated intensively. The Mekong, which is 4,220 kilometers long, is one of the 12 great rivers of the world. From its source in the Xizang plateau, it flows through the Xizang and Yunnan regions of China, forms the boundary between Laos and Burma as well as between Laos and Thailand, divides into two branches--the Song Han Giang and Song Tien Giang--below Phnom Penh, and continues through Cambodia and the Mekong basin before draining into the South China Sea through nine mouths or cuu long (nine dragons). The river is heavily silted and is navigable by seagoing craft of shallow draft as far as Kompong Cham in Cambodia. A tributary entering the river at Phnom Penh drains the Tonle Sap, a shallow fresh- water lake that acts as a natural reservoir to stabilize the flow of water through the lower Mekong.

When the river is in flood stage, its silted delta outlets are unable to carry off the high volume of water. Floodwaters back up into the Tonle Sap, causing the lake to inundate as much as 10,000 square kilometers. As the flood subsides, the flow of water reverses and proceeds from the lake to the sea. The effect is to reduce significantly the danger of devastating floods in the Mekong delta, where the river floods the surrounding fields each year to a level of one to two meters. The Mekong delta, covering about 40,000 square kilometers, is a low-level plain not more than three meters above sea level at any point and criss-crossed by a maze of canals and rivers. So much sediment is carried by the Mekong's various branches and tributaries that the delta advances sixty to eighty meters into the sea every year. An official Vietnamese source estimates the amount of sediment deposited annually to be about 1 billion cubic meters, or nearly 13 times the amount deposited by the Red River.

About 10,000 square kilometers of the delta are under rice cultivation, making the area one of the major rice-growing regions of the world. The southern tip, known as the Ca Mau Peninsula (Mui Bai Bung), is covered by dense jungle and mangrove swamps. Vietnam has a tropical monsoon climate, with humidity averaging 84 percent throughout the year. However, because of differences in latitude and the marked variety of topographical relief, the climate tends to vary considerably from place to place. During the winter or dry season, extending roughly from November to April, the monsoon winds usually blow from the northeast along the China coast and across the Gulf of Tonkin, picking up considerable moisture; consequently the winter season in most parts of the country is dry only by comparison with the rainy or summer season. During the southwesterly summer monsoon, occurring from May to October, the heated air of the Gobi Desert rises, far to the north, inducing moist air to flow inland from the sea and deposit heavy rainfall. Annual rainfall is substantial in all regions and torrential in some, ranging from 120 centimeters to 300 centimeters. Nearly 90 percent of the precipitation occurs during the summer.

The average annual temperature is generally higher in the plains than in the mountains and plateaus. Temperatures range from a low of 5�C in December and January, the coolest months, to more than 37�C in April, the hottest month. Seasonal divisions are more clearly marked in the northern half than in the southern half of the country, where, except in some of the highlands, seasonal temperatures vary only a few degrees, usually in the 21�C-28�C range. Custom Search Geography & Climate of Vietnam Geography and Climate Vietnam is the largest and most populous of the 3 Indochinese countries and is located along the East Coast of Indochina and borders on Cambodia and Laos in the west and the People�s Republic of China in the north. It stretches over 1,600 km along the eastern cost of the Indochinese Peninsula. Vietnam is the 2nd largest country in South East Asia after Indonesia.

It is divided into 3 regions :- northern Vietnam consisting of provinces bording China and those that lie in the Red River Delta; central Vietnam with provinces lying between the central coast and the 1,600 km-long Truong Son mountain range; and southern Vietnam which includes Ho Chi Minh City, the few provinces east of the city, and the rice-rich provinces of the Mekong River Delta. The south of Vietnam mainly consists of plains. 2 major rivers, the Mekong River in the south and the Red River (Hong) in the north each form deltas of considerable size before entering the South China Sea. The Red River also runs through Hanoi, the capital city. Although the country is located in the tropics, the climate is tropical only in central and southern Vietnam, with warm and humid weather all year round (22-35oC). In the north, there is a distinct winter season due to cold inland winds. Usually, the winter is also the dry season for the entire country, but the rains are highly unpredictable owing to the influence of several monsoons. Section Contents Geography of Vietnam, Landforms - World Atlas Print this map Vietnam is a country of tropical lowlands, rolling green hills, and densely forested mountains.

Low-level land covers about 20% of the country. The Red River delta is fronted by hills that rise gently into the high mountains of the northwest; the Annam Highlands cover much of the central landscape, and in the southern areas, the coastal lowlands and Mekong River Delta merge. A fertile and narrow coastal lowland extends south from the Red River Delta to the Mekong Delta. The Mekong Delta is a low-level plain, one inundated by hundreds of small rivers and canals. Thick jungles and mangrove swamps cover the far-southern areas of land. The Red River (Song Hong), and the Mekong are the most significant rivers; both have numerous tributaries, and the latter is certainly among the great rivers of the world. Vietnam's highest point is Fan Si Pan whose summit reaches 10,315 ft. (3,144 m); the lowest point is the South China Sea at 0m. Southern Vietnam travel guide - Wikitravel 11 Get out Southern Vietnam covers the Mekong Delta, the extreme southern end of the Mekong River, and the area around Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon), Vietnam .

As all deltas, it receives the bounty of the siltation from the upper Mekong, and as such is a very rich and lush area, covered with rice fields. It produces about half of the total of Vietnam's agricultural output (in fact the delta produces more rice than Korea and Japan altogether), and is the place for timeless sceneries of farmers planting or harvesting rice. The Mekong splits in Cambodia into two main rivers, the Bassac (Hậu Giang) and the First river (Tiền Giang), then in Vietnam into a more complex system, creating a maze of small canals, rivers and arroyos interspersed with villages and floating markets. Life in the Mekong Delta revolves much around the river, and all the villages are often accessible by river as well as by road. The high times of life in the Mekong delta are the lunar new year (Tet, or Tết), and the mid-autumn festival (Tết trung thu), where children will set hundreds of candles on their way on the river on as many tiny skiffs. If you know how to take your time, or are guided by an able guide, you will certainly enjoy your stay in the Mekong delta.

Talk[ edit ] In the villages there are not many people who speak languages other than Vietnamese or Khmer, though in the cities you will find more that do. Try to bring a book with common phrases if you are venturing out away from a tour or into places that are not listed in your guidebook. Get in[ edit ] The Mekong delta is near Ho Chi Minh City , and Can Tho (Cần Thơ) is merely 4 hours' drive away, so it is easy to access by road, although there is only one main road, and as such it is rather crowded. There are some flights between Ho Chi Minh City and Rach Gia , and also between Ho Chi Minh City and the island of Phu Quoc . Rach Gia can also be reached by boat or plane from Phu Quoc . There used to be hydrofoil connections from Ho Chi Minh City to My Tho (Mỹ Tho) then to Can Tho (Cần Thơ) in about 4 hours, but the option does not exist anymore. Alternatives are speed boat transfers, or for those who would enjoy unspoiled nature, cruises from Cai Be (Cái Bè) to Can Tho or back.

The Mekong delta is also a natural passageway from southern Vietnam to Cambodia, which can be entered overland or by river. Visas on entry to Cambodia are possible at some (but not all) entry points, however visas for Vietnam must be obtained in advance. You can travel from Phnom Penh , Cambodia's capital, to Chau Doc on a boat-bus journey. You can also enter at the border crossing on the way from Kampot in southern Cambodia to Ha Tien . Bus connections are also now available between Phnom Penh and Can Tho . By tour[ edit ] There are many tours available that start in Saigon (Ho Chi Minh City). Some of them end in Saigon, others in Phnom Penh (also available the other way around: Phnom Penh to Saigon). You can book them in travel agencies and hotels in Vietnam and Cambodia. There are only a few tour operators available, however, it can be difficult to find out what tour operator is behind the tour you want to book, as many travel agencies pretend that it is their own tour and prices between agencies can vary significantly for the same tour.

To make things a bit more complicated, tour operators often share buses and boats when they don't have enough travelers and they combine different tours (e.g. a 2 day and a 3 day Mekong Delta tour). You may have to change the buses often. Everybody seems to sell the same kind of tour, which is of pretty bad quality. Beware of Mekong Tours. Their two day tour with crossing Cambodia-Vietnam border means that you spend only 4 hours on a boat. We take air-con bus to the boat dock. First we take a cruising trip on Mekong river from Cambodia to Vietnam." This in reality means that you spend 3 hours in a bus to go to border, cross it on foot and the boat will be waiting on the other side. Next day you will visit fish farm and Cham minority village, all of them no further than 1 km from Chau Doc, after 1 hour you will be back to Chau Doc. In this one hour you will see both attractions and will travel between them. Bus[ edit ] Travel by bus in southern Vietnam is quite convenient.

There are extensive connections between most cities and towns, just go to any town's bus station and you should be able to find bus connections to where you want to go, or at least pretty close to it. The fastest means of bus travel is by express bus. There are a few companies that run express buses, but the most popular and reliable is Mai Linh. They operate green minibuses that leave promptly at the scheduled time and arrive at the destination the fastest. They have air conditioning, though it's not always strong enough to keep the cabin cool. While the buses go the fastest, they also have a reputation for driving the most dangerously. Though accidents with buses are rare, the ride on an express bus will likely be more stressful than on a local bus. Local buses will be large and old and will belch exhaust. They will be slightly cheaper than express buses, but may be a more interesting experience if you enjoy the grittier aspects of local culture. The buses usually won't have air conditioning, but they'll keep the windows down so sometimes they can end up being cooler than the express buses. They will make frequent stops along the road to pick up travelers. If you want to get off somewhere between the main cities, you should take a local bus.

Express buses will only stop at bus stations. Bicyle and Motorbike[ edit ] The Mekong Delta is a great place to explore by bicycle and motorbike. The terrain is flat and the roads are well-maintained. Traffic isn't too heavy, especially on back roads off Highway 1A. The road between Chau Doc through Long Xuyen to Can Tho is easily the most dangerous in the delta, with quite a lot of big trucks and buses rumbling along a narrow road. Be careful when riding along this stretch and hug the edges of the road. You'll never have to worry about finding a place to sleep. You'll never be more than 30-40 kilometres from a town with a guest house(nha nghi) or hotel (khach san). If the biking gets too tiring, you'll also find cafes at least every 4-5 kilometres where you can rest and have a drink. There are also mechanic shops every few kilometres where you can get flat tires and other mechanical problems repaired. A lot of local life happens just next to the road in the delta, so exploring on two wheels can be a great way to get closer to it.

You'll see farmers working their fields and walking their buffalos home in the evening. People dry rice, coconut husks, lemongrass and other spices on the side of the road. There will be plenty to see! You can rent a motorbike in most of the bigger cities in the delta. Renting a bike for a longer trip around the delta might be difficult to work out, but you can also buy a cheap bike for just over $100. There's no need to buy a fancy bike, you can ride comfortably on a cheap bike as the rides aren't too challenging. You can also usually rent bikes in each town for day trips, or maybe even for a few days at a time. Most of the interest of the place resides in its floating markets, and the life around the rivers criss-crossing the area; also the national parks and nature reserves. It is possible to take tours on small boats around My Tho (Mỹ Tho) and the islands north of Ben Tre (Bến Tre); around Cai Be (Cái Bè) and the An Binh peninsula; and around Can Tho (Cần Thơ). Both Cai Be and Can Tho feature floating markets.

Delta Adventures run 2 & 3 day tours. The 3 day misses much of the Cai Be (Cái Bè) and the An Binh peninsula. It is a long trip home on day 3, and avoid it if you can. 2 day appears to be a little better, although again the trip home is 7 hours by boat, followed by 3 on a bus. I'd try for a land based return, around 6 hours. It is also common for the guide to offer upgrades during the trip, at cheaper than the tour asking price, so avoid buying the expensive version,as an upgrade is waiting in the wings. It is also possible to get away from the main road and into the more remote rivers on board larger river cruisers for discovery cruises of the area in comfort. Mt. Cam is a notable but not very advertised attraction worth seeing. It is a mountain in the An Giang province where you can either hike or take a motorbike tour to the top to see a lake, a very large buddha statue and a temple with a few pagodas.

How to get there - Vinh Long[ edit ] Vinh Long is 70km from Mytho, 34km from Can Tho and 136km from Ho Chi Minh City. The inter-province bus station is 5km from the centre of Vinh Long. There are buses between Vinh Long and Ho Chi Minh City, Can Tho, Mytho, Long Xuyen, Sa Dec, Rach Gia, and other Mekong Delta destinations. National Highway No.1A and No.53 also runs through the province. How to get there - Can tho[ edit ] Cantho is 34km from Vinh Long, 62km from Long Xuyen, 63km from Soc Trang, 104km from Mytho, 116km from Rach Gia, 117km from Chau Doc, 169km from Ho Chi Minh City and 179km from Camau. Road: Cantho has National Highway No.1A, 91, 80 linking to An Giang, Kien Giang provinces. Waterway: Cantho has Cai Cui international seaport.

The city is the centre of waterway network of Mekong Delta. There are no longer any daily hydrofoils between Ho Chi Minh City and Cantho City. Airline: There is Tra Noc Airport. How to get there - Soc trang[ edit ] Soc Trang is 231km from Ho Chi Minh City, 60km from Can Tho. National Highways No.1A links the province and Can Tho, Bac Lieu. Do[ edit ][ add listing ] Sam Mountain, a few kilometres from Chau Doc, is a regional Buddhist pilgrimage site and is a good place for a hike. The "mountain" is only 160 metres tall and there are steps of concrete and stone all the way to the top. You'll find numerous colorful temples as you climb to the top, and there are many cafes along the way where you can relax with a fresh coconut or glass of milk coffee. If you can, save your cafe break until you get near the top, where you can relax in a hammock and enjoy the breeze while looking out over the delta and even into neighboring Cambodia.

Sam Mountain is the only hill for a long way in every direction, so you can get a great view of Chau Doc and the patchwork or rice fields run through by canals all around. Phu Quoc Island is the adventure center for the delta area. You can go scuba diving or snorkeling here, though there aren't so many fish left nowadays. Nha Trang, in central Vietnam, has more marine life to see. Phu Quoc is best for exploring by motorbike. There are roads covering a good portion of the island, and they're generally passable as long as it hasn't been raining too much. There are few signs, though, so bring a map and find out how to ask for directions. The roads on Phu Quoc are mostly compacted dirt and you can't travel very fast, so be sure to give yourself plenty of time before sunset if you're planning to go out exploring, especially in the northern part of the island which is sparsely populated. If you do go out, though, you can ride through some otherwise untouched forest and go for at least 15 kilometres without seeing another bike, which is surely a record in southern Vietnam.

The road that hugs the western coast of the island is great to drive along in the evening to enjoy the sunset. Eat[ edit ][ add listing ] Nem Nuong Thanh Van, 17 Hoa Binh St, Can Tho. very famous for its "nem" or spring roll, grilled pork rolled in rice sheet with vegetable, herbs and served with dipping sauce. edit Nam Bo Restaurant, 50 Hai Ba Trung St, Can Tho. beautiful restaurant set in a French style villa with Hau river view from second floor, good food and so is the service. edit Sleep[ edit ][ add listing ] Hotel Xoai (Value mini-hotel in Can Tho City), 93 Mau Than Street, Xuan Khanh, Ninh Kieu, Can Tho City, Vietnam (Just around the corner of Cantho University main campus and opposite Quang Duc Pagoda.), ☎ +84 (0) 907 65 29 27 ( info@hotelxoai.com ), [1] . checkin: 2pm; checkout: 12pm. Young and friendly atmosphere.

23 compact rooms with double or single beds, private bathroom with shower, toilet, fan, air conditioning, phone. Rooms have windows with views to the University or Pagoda. Excellent free wifi throughout the hotel. On the roof terrace guests can relax in a cozy hammock. Helpful staff, moderate prices for tours, no fees on bus bookings and lots of tips for travels in Vietnam. US$10/15/20/26. (10.031389,105.775000) edit Lazi Beach Resort, Ly Thai To Street, Tan Tien, Lagi, Binh Thuan, Vietnam, ☎ +84 62 387 4458, [2] . Mom Dac Chim Lazi Beach Resort & Spa is a place for relax, with beautiful sence and fresh enviroment. Emerges like a mirage, an oasis sat between the beautiful stretch of beach and famous sand dunes beside the East China Sea. ″.

edit Mekong Lodge Eco-resort, Hamlet5, Dong Hoa Hiep, Cai Be, Tien Giang, Mekong Delta, ☎ +84 933 449 391, [3] . Clean room of traditional setting, rustic design with characters, relaxing atmosphere and surroundings and polite local staffs. from US$60. edit Stay safe[ edit ] Don't swim in the river itself, as there is a chance of picking up parasites. Bring repellent and sun-screen with you. Make sure hotel has mosquito net. Also, as you will travel by boat and ferry quite often in Mekong Delta, be careful when embarking or disembarking. Check out best time to visit Mekong Delta and stay tuned to weather forecast for flood news in the area if any. Then just enjoy your trip! Get out[ edit ] Most travellers visit Mekong Delta as a two or three day trip from Ho Chi Minh City. After Mekong Delta, it is best to travel to Phu Quoc or Cambodia via Chau Doc. You may also fly out of Mekong Delta via Can Tho airfield.

Mekong River | river, Southeast Asia | Britannica.com river, Southeast Asia Alternative Titles: Lan-ts’ang Chiang, Lancang Jiang, Mae Nam Khong, Mékôngk River, Mènam Khong, Song Cuu Long, Sông Tiên Giang Related Topics Khone Falls Mekong River, Cambodian Mékôngk, Laotian Mènam Khong, Thai Mae Nam Khong, Vietnamese Sông Tiên Giang, Chinese (Pinyin) Lancang Jiang or (Wade-Giles) Lan-ts’ang Chiang, river that is the longest river in Southeast Asia , the 7th longest in Asia , and the 12th longest in the world. It has a length of about 2,700 miles (4,350 km). Rising in southeastern Qinghai province, China , it flows through the eastern part of the Tibet Autonomous Region and Yunnan province, after which it forms part of the international border between Myanmar (Burma) and Laos , as well as between Laos and Thailand . The river then flows through Laos, Cambodia , and Vietnam before draining into the South China Sea south of Ho Chi Minh City (formerly Saigon).

Vientiane (Viangchan), the capital of Laos, and Phnom Penh , the capital of Cambodia, both stand on its banks. About three-fourths of the drainage area of the Mekong lies within the four countries the river traverses on its lower course—Laos, Thailand, Cambodia, and Vietnam. The Irrawaddy and Mekong river basins and their drainage networks. Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc. Overview of the Mekong River and its declining fish population. Contunico © ZDF Enterprises GmbH, Mainz Physical features The Mekong River drains more than 313,000 square miles (810,000 square km) of land, stretching from the Plateau of Tibet to the South China Sea . Among Asian rivers, only the Yangtze and Ganges have larger minimum flows. Mekong River delta, southern Vietnam. M. Gifford/De Wys Inc. The contrast between the physical conditions that prevail above and below the Mekong’s descent from the Yunnan highlands divide it into two major parts.

The upper Mekong flows 1,215 miles (1,955 km) through a long, narrow valley comprising roughly one-fourth of the total area, cutting through the mountains and plateaus of southwestern China. The lower Mekong, below the point where it forms the border between Myanmar and Laos, is a stream 1,485 miles (2,390 km) in length draining the Khorat Plateau of northeastern Thailand, the western slopes of the Annamese Cordillera in Laos and Vietnam, and most of Cambodia, before reaching the sea through the distributary channels of its delta in southern Vietnam. Similar Topics Godavari River In its upper reaches, the Mekong rises in the Tibetan Plateau between the Salween and Yangtze rivers; the streambed has cut deeply into the rugged landscape through which it flows. Along its course between Myanmar and Laos, the Mekong drains about 8,000 square miles (21,000 square km) of territory in Myanmar, comprising rough and relatively inaccessible terrain.

In its more gentle lower stretches, where for a considerable distance it constitutes the boundary between Laos and Thailand, the Mekong inspires both conflict and cooperation among Cambodia, Laos, Thailand, and Vietnam. Physiography The sources of the Mekong, including its principal headstream, the Za Qu River, rise at an elevation of more than 16,000 feet (4,900 metres) on the north slope of the Tanggula Mountains in Qinghai province. They flow southeast through the Qamdo (Chamdo) region of Tibet, where the Za Qu joins other headstreams to form the main stream, called the Lancang in Chinese. It descends south across the highlands of Yunnan, through which it carves a deep valley, to a point south of Jinghong , where it briefly marks the border between Myanmar and China. The river then bends southwest; over a reach of more than 125 miles (200 km) it forms the Myanmarese-Laotian border.

Although two great roads cross it—the caravan route from the southeast to Lhasa and the road from Kunming to Myanmar—much of the river valley in the highlands of Tibet and Yunnan is remote and sparsely populated. Below Myanmar, the river basin may be divided into six major sections on the basis of landforms, vegetation, and soils: the northern highlands, Khorat Plateau, eastern highlands, southern lowlands, southern highlands, and delta . Most of the vegetation in the lower basin is of the tropical broad-leaved variety, although the occurrence of individual species varies with latitude and topography . Britannica Stories Scientists Ponder Menopause in Killer Whales The northern highlands have highly folded ranges that reach elevations of about 9,000 feet (2,700 metres) above sea level, many with steep slopes. As far south as Vientiane, these dissected uplands (i.e., cut by erosion into hills and valleys) are covered with dense deciduous forest that has deteriorated as a result of frequent cutting and burning for shifting cultivation.

The Mekong’s important tributaries in this region include the Tha , the Ou , and the Ngum rivers, all draining northern Laos. All About Asia To the south of the east-west course of the river below Vientiane lies the Khorat Plateau , which embraces almost all of the Thai portion of the basin as well as the lower parts of the Mekong’s Laotian tributaries. This is an area of gently rolling hills set amid relatively flat alluvial plains. Soils and deciduous vegetation on the hills are thin, and much of the original forest has been replaced by grassland as a result of grazing and repeated burning. The Songkhram River drains the northern part of the plateau and enters the Mekong above Tha Uthen in Thailand. The Mun River —one of the Mekong’s most important tributaries—drains the majority of the plateau and joins the Mekong at Ban Dan, Thailand. The eastern highlands form part of the Annamese Cordillera, from which streams drain west into the Mekong.

Throughout most of the distance between Ky Son (Muong Sen) in northern Vietnam and Ban Hèt in southern Laos, the watershed forms the border between Vietnam to the east and Laos to the west. There is greater relief in the northern than the southern parts of the watershed, but the highlands in general are characterized by rapid streams that flow through narrow valleys before entering the lowlands bordering the Mekong. The Mekong’s most important tributaries in this region are the Kading, the Bangfai, the Banghiang, and the Kong—which, with its affluent the San, drains a large area of southern Laos, central Vietnam, and eastern Cambodia. Forest degradation , which has resulted from lumbering, shifting cultivation, and grazing, is widespread in this region. The southern lowlands border both sides of the Mekong below Pakxé (Pakse) in Laos. The Mekong enters Cambodia with a sudden plunge at Khone Falls. Between the falls and Krâchéh there are rapids interspersed with alluvial plains. Below Kâmpóng Cham the river’s gradient becomes gentle, and it flows through wide stretches of alluvium in its floodplain.

Near Phnom Penh a junction occurs between the Mekong and the Sab River, which connects it to the Tonle Sap , sometimes called the Great Lake . The direction of flow of the Sab River varies according to the season. During the peak flood season, when the level of the Mekong is high, waters flow through the Sab River to the lake, which then expands from a little more than 1,000 square miles (2,600 square km) to a maximum of about 4,000 square miles (10,400 square km). In the dry season when the floods subside, the Sab reverses its flow to drain southeastward into the Mekong. The Tonle Sap is a highly productive fishing ground. Connect with Britannica Facebook Twitter YouTube Instagram Pinterest The Dâmrei (Elephant) and Krâvanh (Cardamom) mountains in southwestern Cambodia constitute the southern highlands. Several streams flow from these uplands into the Tonle Sap. The river divides into two branches below Phnom Penh: the Mekong proper and the Bassac (Basak). Below this point the delta spreads out to the sea.

It has a total area of about 25,000 square miles (65,000 square km) and can be divided into three major sections. The upper section, above Chau Doc (Chau Phu), has strong natural levees (embankments built on either side of the river by accumulated deposits of silt) behind which are low, wide depressions. The middle section has some areas that are well drained, others that are poorly drained and swampy. Along the lower section, formed by the river mouths and by the area to the southwest, sediment carried down from the upper river is in the process of being deposited, and the flooding is less extreme than in the upper sections of the delta. The area north of the Ca Mau Peninsula is forested and swampy. Climate and hydrology The Mekong’s flow comes chiefly from rainfall in its lower basin, which fluctuates seasonally with the monsoon winds. In April the flow is ordinarily at its lowest. In May or June—as the rain-bearing southerly monsoon winds arrive—the flow begins to increase, with an especially rapid increase in the eastern and northern highlands.

The Mekong’s highest water levels occur as early as August or September in the upper reaches and as late as October in the southern reaches. The northeasterly monsoon wind, beginning ordinarily in November in the southern areas, brings dry weather until May. During the long dry period, rice cultivation is impossible without irrigation, and the river’s waters are vital to agricultural production. Britannica Lists & Quizzes Vietnam Geopraphy: Rivers in Vietnam Vietnam’s two ‘rice bowls’ and Hue’s historic Perfume River The heartland of Vietnam The Red River (‘Song Hong’) stretches about 1,200km from its source in China's Yunnan Province. Its two main tributaries, the Song Lo (also called the ‘Lo’, or ‘Clear’ River) and the Song Da (the Black River), swelling its volume to an average 5,000 cubic metres per second, rising to nearly 40,000 cubic metres per second in the summer rainy season. The Red River Delta, a flat, triangular region of 3,000 square kilometres, is smaller but more intensely developed and densely populated than the Mekong Delta.

Once an inlet of the Gulf of Tonkin, it has been built up by an enormous amount of alluvium deposited over millennia. Currently, the delta advances a further hundred metres into the gulf each year. The ancestral home of the ethnic Vietnamese, the delta accounted for almost 70 percent of the agriculture and 80 percent of the industry of North Vietnam before 1975. The entire delta region from the coast up to the steep incline of the forested highlands is no more than three metres above sea level, and much of it is a metre or less. Consequently, it floods frequently: at some places, the high-water mark is 14m above ground level. An extensive system of dikes and canals was built to contain the Red River and to irrigate its rich paddy fields. Modelled on that of China, this ancient system has sustained a highly concentrated population and made double-cropping wet-rice cultivation possible throughout about half the region. The Imperial River The Perfume River was the chosen location for Vietnam’s imperial capital. The city of Hue straddles the river, and its great Citadel, now a World Heritage Area, overlooks it from the opposite bank.

Rising in nearby steep mountains, the river is only 80km long but feeds the largest lagoon in Vietnam. Unfortunately, deforestation and eco-system degradation has limited the retention of water on hill slopes, increasing flooding and thus damaging the buildings and heritage artefacts of Hue. A plan to control the situation is under development. The mighty Mekong At 4,220km, the Mekong is one of the world’s longest rivers. Rising in Tibet, it flows through Xizang and Yunnan in China,and constitutes the boundary between Laos and Myanmar (Burma), and that between Laos and Thailand. Below Phnom Penh, it divides into two, flowing through Cambodia and the Mekong basin to drain into the East Sea through ‘cuu long’ (nine mouths). Heavy sedimentation means that the river is navigable by shallow-draft seagoing craft only as far as Kompong Cham in Cambodia. A tributary entering the river at Phnom Penh drains the Tonle Sap, a shallow freshwater lake that acts as a natural reservoir to stabilize the flow of water through the Mekong delta.

When the delta outlets are unable to carry off the high volume of floodwater, they back up into Tonle Sap, inundating as much as 10,000 square kilometres. When the flood subsides, the flow reverses and excess water drains to the sea, thus alleviating the devastating floods that reach a height of one to two metres. However, climatic change and deforestation in Cambodia has increased the flow and overwhelmed the capacity of the Tonle Sap. In recent years, the floods from August to October have been noticeably higher and lasted longer, sometimes leading to considerable loss of life amongst the Mekong’s residents. The Mekong Delta is a very large pancake-flat flood plain, no more than three metres above sea level at any point and criss-crossed by a maze of canals and rivers. About a billion cubic metres of silt is deposited annually, almost thirteen times that laid down by the Red River, and advances the delta some sixty to eighty metres further into the sea each year. The level of the water is, therefore, a major concern for visitors to the area.

About 10,000 square kilometres of the delta are under rice cultivation, making the area one of the largest rice-growing regions in the world. The southern tip, known as the Ca Mau Peninsula (Mui Bai Bung), is covered by dense jungle and mangrove swamps. Vietnam.com: Southern Vietnam Southern Vietnam 04/04/2013 Southern Vietnam Southern Vietnam is dominated by a very tropical climate. The region mainly has 3 seasons: the "cool" period (occurring around November-January), the warm period (around February-May) and the rainy period. However, the Vietnamese definition of "cool" could greatly vary from yours as no matter what the season is, weather conditions are mostly hot and humid. On our page, Southern Vietnam is defined beginning from Nha Trang’s Long Beach in the East to Rach Gia, a harbor city near the Cambodian border, and furthermore covers the large tropical Phu Quoc island along with its numerous beautiful islets. The island is known as the best place in the country to witness an exceptionally stunning sunset view above sea. In between lies the vast Mekong delta that supports a rich biodiversity of flora and fauna.

Here, countless boats that take part in the floating market trade meet at several locations, keeping business alive even in locations not accessible to cars. The largest and most popular floating market is in the city of Can Tho. Where trade is always busy and lively, it is said that everything you need is here: from fresh fruits and vegetables, varieties of meat or simply rice-wine – name it and they have it! Formerly named Saigon, and by history was Southern Vietnam’s capital, Ho Chi Minh City is Vietnam’s center for commerce and the country’s largest city by far. This metropolis has it both: traditional and modern spirit. Densely populated, this bustling city is driven by work opportunities and increasing investments, all largely contributing to the country’s economic boom. Served as headquarters during the American occupation, western influence is very evident here. However, numerous cultural heritages existing even before the American war are still present. Located along Vietnam’s southeastern coast are attractive shorelines found in Phan Thiet and Mui Ne. East of HCMC, these towns are popular water sports and swimming venues in the country. Cities

Question: What major river delta is located in southern Vietnam?
Answer: Mekong