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Vietnam in Brief
It is
quite strange that more than a
decade after Vietnam opened the
doors to the travel and tourists and
investors, who want to travel to
Viet Nam, the information of this
country is still so poor and
unsystematic.
People wonder what is behind an
Asian nation that had been under a
thousand years of feudalism, and a
century of two bigger Indochinese
Wars. And above all, it's still a
communist state.
What
Vietnam is really like?
The wars have been relegated to
museums, memorials and historical
vestiges.
Four natural and cultural draws have
been designated as World Heritages
by UNESCO within 7 years.
And the visitors, of which the
French led the way since 1990s, have
pleasantly noted warm smiles and
friendly faces every corner. The
time-limited tourists are happy that
they can visit various kinds of
landscape, vestiges and lifestyles
within a reasonable time. Those who
love ecotours are amazed discovering
that they can get apart from the
urban excitement for as long as they
can and mix them up with hill tribes
in remote regions. And who just
returned after a few years offer
excellent comments on the remarkable
development of infrastructure.
You assuredly need a good local
friend to get you delve into these
wonders.
We love to be him.
A SHORT PROFILE
Country:
GREEN
Cities:
Hanoi
is the Capital. Ho Chi Minh City
(normally called Saigon) is the
largest city and more exciting
industrial centre. Hue, the Capital
of the last Kingdom up to 1945 is
still maintaining traces of the old
reigns. Main seaports are Haiphong,
Danang, Saigon.
Population:
83
millions. 54 ethnics. The Kinh (or
Viet) ethnic forms around 85% of
population and mostly inhabit in
larger towns. A larger Chinese
community of less than 2 millions
inhabit mainly in Hochiminh City.
Area:
332,000 km square, roughly the area
of Italy or Japan
Shape:
Neither boot-shaped nor gathering
hundreds of islands.
A huge "S" lying half-facing the
Pacific Ocean as per a proud local
expression
Land
Borders:
North
to China, upper West to Laos, lower
West to Cambodia, East and South to
Pacific Ocean.
Sea
Borders:
Northeast to East Sea or so-called
South China Sea, Southwest to the
Gulf of Thailand.
Climate:
Tropical monsoon. 4 seasons in the
North, dry and rainy seasons in the
South. Conditions vary North to
South with elevation changes.
Geography:
75%
of the territory is limestone
mountains, the rest are river
deltas, fertile highlands, and small
deserts
Language:
Vietnamese. Don't ask the local
people do they understand Chinese
naturally. Vietnamese is a tonal
language using Roman letters
together with tone markers - main
problems of foreign students.
English is the most popular foreign
language and French, Chinese,
Japanese are expected to speak at
service points. Literacy rate is 88%
Religion:
Figures are different. Estimated 60%
– 70% of population believe in
Buddhist tenets with strong
Confucian and Taoist influences.
Catholic account for perhaps 8% –
10% of the population. Cao Dai and
Hoa Hao, local sects of Buddhism,
are strong in the Mekong delta.
Government:
Sole-party Socialist Republic under
the leadership of the Communist
Party. Important persons to name are
the Party's General Secretary (Mr.
Nong Duc Manh), the country's
president (Mr.
Nguyen Minh Triet), the
Prime Minister (Mr.
Nguyen Tan Dung).
The leading offices are Politburo
and National Assembly.
National flag:
Economy:
Market-based economy. Third world
leading rice exporter and coffee
exporter (wow!!). Other exported
goods are rubber, tea, crude oil,
coal, and electricity.
Festival:
New moon and full moon days are main
anniversaries at temples. Main
Festival of the year is the Lunar
Calendar New Year ("Tet") which
often falls in mid-Feb. For 5 days
to a week most of businesses closed
except tourist points. Flower
markets every where before the Eve.
Temples and shrines are exciting
with traditional anniversaries and
pilgrims before and after Tet.
Transportation is booked solid
during this time |
