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Vietnam Geography
The
Socialist Republic of Vietnam, a
sovereign and reunified independent
country, has a high percentage of
territorial waters. Vietnam borders
with China in the north, Laos and
Kampuchea in the West, and the
Pacific Ocean in the east. Its lies
in the center of South-East Asia.
Vietnam's territory stretches from
Lung Cu village (Ha Tuyen province)
in the north to Rach Tau hamlet
(Minh Hai province) in the south.
It is a S-shaped peninsula, with
thousands of off-shore islands and
archipelagoes; the biggest of which
are the Hoang SA (Paracel) and
Truong Sa (Spratly) Archipelagoes.
Vietnam's mainland covers 330,991
square kilometers. Vietnam's coast
line is 3,260km long and its inland
border measures 3,730km. The
country's total length, from the
northernmost point to the
southernmost point, is 1,650km. Its
width, stretching from east to west,
is 600km at the widest point in the
north, 400km in the south, and 50km
at the narrowest part in the Quang
Binh province on the central coast.
Vietnam is also a transport junction
from the Indian Ocean to the Pacific
Ocean. Three quarters of Vietnam's
territory consists of mountains and
hills. Vietnam has two major
deltas, including the Red River
Delta in the north and the Mekong
River Delta in the south. The Red
River Delta, or Northern
Delta region stretches for 15,000
sq. kms. Over time, deposits of
alluvium carried from the Red River
and Thai Binh River have accumulated
to form the delta.
The ancient Viet people settled at
the junction of the two rivers . At
that time, the wet rice civilization
was established. The Mekong River
Delta, or Southern Delta region is
approximately 36,000 sq. km. The
land is very fertile and has
favorable climate conditions for
agriculture. As a result, it is the
largest rice growing region in
Vietnam. |
