A fascinating country in the heart of Asia, Vietnam offers culture and cuisine, beaches and off-the-beaten-track adventures. If you’re wondering where Vietnam is and why you should visit, check out this essential guide.
Where is Vietnam?
Vietnam is the easternmost country in Indochina, within Southeast Asia more broadly. Bordered by Cambodia, Laos and China, Vietnam also has a coastline that stretches on for more than 2,000 miles (+3,000km). With almost 95 million people in the vast 128,000 square miles (331,000km2) the country inhabits, Vietnam has the 14th highest population in the world and is the 9th most populous country in Asia.
Why visit Vietnam?
Vietnam has a fascinating history and a thrumming modern day. The name ‘Vietnam’ has been traced all the way back to the Trieu Dynasty in 2 BC, although fossils suggest human settlements have been in Vietnam since as far back as 500,000 BC. Over the years, influences from other countries have made the country’s architecture and style embody the feeling of an international melting pot.
Nowadays, everything in between the stunning and remote mountains around Sapa in the north, and the maze of waterways in the southern Mekong Delta, has a point of interest. Explore markets, temples, foodie-spots and nightlife in urban hubs such as Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City. Visit the beaches near Hoi An and Danang, and take traditional junk boats out in the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Halong Bay. And that’s just for starters…
Fascinating Vietnam facts
For those curious about visiting Vietnam and long-time fans of the country, these are some of our favourite Vietnam facts.
• The Vietnamese flag is red with a yellow star in the middle. The five points of the star represent workers, youth, farmers, intellectuals and soldiers.
• Tet is the most important festival in Vietnam, and is usually celebrated around February.
• Water puppet shows are popular in Vietnam today, but they date as far back as the 11th century.
• The world’s largest cave is in Vietnam. Hang Son Doong is 200 metres high, 150 metres wide and 5km long!
• The body of Vietnam’s first president – Ho Chi Minh – was embalmed and can be seen on display in the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum in Hanoi.
• Vietnam is the second largest producer of coffee in the world.
If you love the sound of Vietnam, book a
customised tour of Vietnam and Indochina with Mr Linh’s Adventures.