Geographical location of Vietnam. Where is Vietnam? Connecting flights and charters

General information about Vietnam

The official name is the Socialist Republic of Vietnam (SRV). Located in the eastern part of the Indochina Peninsula. Area 331,690 km2, population 80 million people. The official language is Vietnamese. The capital is Hanoi (3.3 million people, 2001). Public holiday - Independence Day on September 2 (since 1945).

Member of the UN (since 1977), ASEAN (since 1995), APEC (since 1998), etc.

Geography of Vietnam

Located between 8°10' and 23°24' north latitude and between 102°09' and 109°30' east longitude. From the east the country is washed by the South China Sea, from the west by the Gulf of Thailand. The length of the sea coast is 3960 km. The territory of Vietnam includes islands located in the South China Sea and the Gulf of Thailand, incl. part of the Paracel and Spratly Islands. The largest of them (km2): Phu Quoc (568), Cat Ba (180), Con Dao (50).

In the north, Vietnam borders with China (border length - 1300 km), in the west - with Laos (650 km), in the southwest - with Cambodia (930 km). From north to south the country stretches for 1650 km, from east to west: 600 km in the north, 400 km in the south and approx. 50 km in central Vietnam.

The western and interior regions of Vietnam are occupied by the mountains and plateaus of the Yunnan Plateau. The Truong Son ridge stretches from north to south for 1,400 km. A narrow lowland runs along the coast. In the north and south there are two plains formed by the deltas of the Red and Mekong rivers, the area of ​​which is 15 thousand and 40 thousand km2, respectively.

The rivers belong to the South China Sea basin. Their total length is 41 thousand km. The largest rivers (km): Red (1149, in Vietnam 510) and Mekong (4220, in Vietnam 220). The most important lakes (ha): in the south - Darlak (1 thousand), in the north - Baba (500), in Hanoi - Western (466).

The subsoil is rich in minerals: coal, oil, natural gas, iron ore, manganese, copper, etc. The most significant reserves are coal - 12-15 billion tons, apatite - up to 1 billion tons. Real oil reserves are estimated from 2.5 to 3.5 billion tons, natural gas - from 600 to 1200 billion m3. Hydropower resources are estimated at 80 billion kWh.

Land fund 33.2 million hectares. Agricultural lands occupy 7.5 million hectares (21% of the total territory). Four types of soils predominate: red earth and basalt 16 million hectares, alluvial 8.6 million hectares, sierozems 2.5 million hectares, rocky soils of high mountain areas 3.3 million hectares.

The climate is subtropical and subequatorial, formed under the influence of dry northeastern monsoons from mountainous regions and humid southwestern winds from the sea. Summer, when the air flow from the ocean predominates, is the rainy season. Winter, when air currents rush from land to sea, is the dry season. The average temperature of the warmest month (in the north - June, July, in the south - April) is approx. 29°C; the coldest - from 15°C in the north (January) to 25°C in the south (December). The average annual precipitation in the northern regions is up to 2830 mm, in the southern regions - up to 1600 mm.

There are 289 families, 1,850 genera, and 7,000 plant species in forests; 1000 species of birds, 300 mammals. Along the coastline there are almost 1000 species of fish (catch 600-700 thousand tons per year) and other valuable seafood. 500 thousand tons of salt are produced per year.

Population of Vietnam

According to the 1999 census, the population of Vietnam was 76.3 million people. Compared to the previous 1989 census, the population increased by 11.9 million people. The birth rate in 1989-99 was 1.7%, in 2002 1.31%. Infant mortality 42 people. per 1000 newborns. Average life expectancy (2002) 68.2 years, men 65.5 years, women 70.1 years.

The percentage of migration of the rural population to cities in 1989-99 was 3.2% annually. In 1999, 23.5% of the country's population lived in cities, in 2002 - 25%. Sex ratio: 51% women and 49% men. The retirement age (only public sector workers in cities) for men is 60 years, for women - 55 years.

Literacy rate - 91% (in 1989-88%).

Vietnam is a multinational country, with 54 nationalities and nationalities living in it. Actually, the Vietnamese (Viet, or Kinh) make up 87% of the population. They live mainly in the deltas of the Red and Mekong rivers, in the coastal regions of Central Vietnam. The Chinese population in Vietnam is 4%. Of the nationalities, the most numerous are the Tay, Thai, Muong, Hoa, Khmer, Nung - St. 1 million people each. The smallest nationalities - Brau, Roma, Odu - number several hundred people.

The national language is Vietnamese, spoken by St. 90% of the population. Ethnic minorities, while maintaining their own language, use Vietnamese in interethnic communication.

There are 6 officially recognized religions in Vietnam: Buddhism, Catholicism, Protestantism, Islam, Caodaism and Hoa Hao. According to official data, the country has approx. 7.5 million Buddhists, while 85% of the population consider themselves followers of this religion, approx. 5 million Catholics, 500 thousand Protestants, 150-170 thousand Muslims.

History of Vietnam

The oldest state association on the territory of Vietnam arose in 2 thousand BC. In the 3rd century. BC. it was called Aulak. This civilization in the 2nd century. BC. was captured by the Han Empire. In 938, the Vietnamese achieved independence and ended. 10th century formed the independent state of Dayco Viet (Great Ancient Viet), from 1069 - Day Viet (Great Viet).

In the 11th-14th centuries. Dai Viet is one of the largest states in Southeast Asia. In the 13th century Dai Viet was invaded three times by Mongol troops, but the people defended their independence. In the beginning. 15th century The Ming dynasty ruling in China enslaved Dai Viet. As a result of the popular liberation movement (1418-27), the Chinese were expelled from the country. In the 16th-19th centuries. The Vietnamese State is declining and is actually falling into two parts. In con. 18th century The uprising of the rural and urban lower classes under the leadership of the Teishons eliminated the power of the warring feudal factions and removed the Le dynasty from power. In 1786, the Teishons united the country, and in 1789 they defeated the troops of the Qing dynasty. In 1802, the Taishon state fell. The power of a new dynasty was established - Nguyen (1802-1945). In 1804 Dai Viet was renamed Vietnam.

The colonization of Vietnam by France began in 1858 and ended by 1884. The surrender of Japan in 1945 created favorable conditions for the successful implementation of the August Revolution. On September 2, 1945, in Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh, on behalf of the provisional government, proclaimed the creation of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam (DRV).

In March 1946, France recognized the independence of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam, and in September of the same year launched a colonial war against it, which lasted 8 years until the defeat of French troops near Dien Bien Phu in May 1954.

In accordance with the Geneva Agreements (July 1954), Vietnam was divided into two parts along the Ben Hai River, south of the 17th parallel. In October 1955, the South Vietnamese authorities, in violation of the Geneva agreements on holding general elections, proclaimed the Republic of Vietnam in the south. From that moment on, the United States began to openly interfere in the affairs of Vietnam.

In 1965-73, the US Armed Forces took a direct part in operations against the liberation movement in southern Vietnam and waged an air war against the Democratic Republic of Vietnam. Having failed to achieve the desired results, the United States was forced to sign an agreement in Paris on January 27, 1973 to end the war and restore peace in Vietnam. Having lost American support, the Saigon regime fell in the spring of 1975. On April 30, 1975, Saigon was liberated.

On April 25, 1976, general elections were held to the National Assembly of a united Vietnam, which adopted a decision on July 2, 1976 on the reunification of Vietnam and the creation of Vietnam.

The first steps towards the transition from a centralized economy to a market economy were taken in Vietnam back in 1979. As a strategic course covering almost all spheres of society, the policy of renewal began after the VI Congress of the CPV in 1986.

1980-90s became a period of fundamental qualitative changes in the economic and socio-political development of Vietnam. The disruption of traditional economic ties that followed the collapse of the USSR, as well as stagnation in Vietnam itself, confronted the country with the need to develop its own development strategy.

From the beginning 1990s Vietnam demonstrates strong economic growth at 6-8% per year. Vietnam manages, with varying degrees of success, to solve economic and internal political problems and feel very comfortable in the regional community.

The policy of renewal opened a qualitatively new stage in the life of society. From a semi-feudal and semi-socialist state, Vietnam entered the 21st century. with its own development model and its own ambitions. Currently, Vietnam maintains diplomatic relations with 167 states.

Government structure and political system of Vietnam

Vietnam is a parliamentary republic. The Constitution of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam is in force, adopted on April 15, 1992, the fourth after the 2nd World War (1946, 1959, 1980).

Currently, there are 57 provinces in Vietnam, four cities of central subordination (million people): Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City (over 5), Haiphong (1.7) and Da Nang (0.7).

Vietnam's political system is defined in the preamble of the Constitution: "The Party leads, the people rule, the State governs." The Communist Party of Vietnam is the only party occupying a leading position in the country's political system.

Relying on the authority of the ruling party since 1945, the leadership of the CPV at the VI Congress in 1986 initiated radical changes, proclaiming a policy of “renewal”. Currently, the CPV has St. 2 million people General Secretary of the CPV Central Committee - Nong Duc Manh, elected at the IX Congress of the CPV in April 2001.

The principle of public administration is revealed in the Constitution: “All power in the country belongs to the people, who exercise it through the National Assembly, People's Councils at all levels, elected by the people and responsible to them.”

The National Assembly (NA) is a unicameral highest representative body that exercises legislative power, decides the main issues of domestic and foreign policy of the state, and exercises supreme control over the activities of all state bodies. Elects from among the deputies the Standing Committee, the President and Vice-President, the Council of Ministers (government), the Chairman of the Supreme People's Court, and the Prosecutor General of the Supreme People's Prosecutor's Office. Consists of 498 deputies elected from administrative-territorial units and from socio-political organizations and unions. Elected for 5 years, its sessions are held 2 times a year. More than 90% of NA deputies are members of the Communist Party of Poland.

All citizens of Vietnam who have reached the age of 18 have the right to vote, and from the age of 21 - to be elected to the National Assembly. At the 1st session of the 11th convocation (July 2002), Nguyen Van An was elected Chairman of the National Assembly.

The Standing Committee of the National Assembly (SC NS) is a body that constantly operates between sessions of the NS.

The President of Vietnam is the head of state and represents Vietnam in the international arena. He is elected by the National Assembly for 5 years from among the deputies, and is responsible and accountable to the National Assembly. Promulgates legislative acts and gives them interpretation, proposes to the National Assembly the candidacies of the vice-president, the chairman of the government, the chairman of the Supreme People's Court and the prosecutor general. In accordance with the decision of the National Assembly or the PC, the National Assembly declares martial law, general or partial mobilization, etc. The President exercises overall command of the Armed Forces and heads the National Defense and Security Council. The President of Vietnam, Tran Duc Luong, was elected to this post in September 1997 and re-elected in July 2002.

The Council of Ministers is the government of Vietnam, the highest executive and administrative body of state power. Accountable to the National Assembly, and in the intervals between sessions - to the Standing Committee of the National Assembly and the President of Vietnam. The government includes 20 ministries and 6 government agencies with the status of ministries. The term of office of the head of government is 5 years. Chairman of the Council of Ministers of Vietnam - Phan Van Khai - elected in September 1997, re-elected in July 2002.

The local government system corresponds to the administrative division of the country. Each administrative unit has a government body elected by the local population - the People's Council. Term of office of the People's Councils of provinces and cities

central subordination and equivalent administrative units - 4 years. The term of office of the remaining councils is 2 years. The executive bodies of the People's Councils and local administrative authorities are the People's Committees.

In general, the political system can be characterized as a party-state system. All legislative, executive and judicial bodies function under the leadership of the CPV.

The Fatherland Front of Vietnam (created in 1977) unites all social and political organizations of Vietnam, as well as associations of Vietnamese living abroad. It includes: the CPV, the Federation of Trade Unions, the Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union, the Vietnamese Women's Federation, etc.

The main objective of Vietnam's foreign policy is declared to be the creation of favorable external conditions for socio-economic development and the implementation of a course towards the transition to a market economy. It is built on the principles of independence, measured openness, involvement in the activities of regional structures and multilateral organizations, balanced relations with leading powers and world political and economic centers.

Since 1995, Vietnam has been actively involved in ASEAN activities and has been the author of initiatives that have received the support of ASEAN members. In particular, he proposed the Asia-Europe Dialogue Program (ASEM) and successfully held the ASEAN Summit in Hanoi in December 1998, during which the Hanoi Declaration and the Hanoi Plan of Action were adopted. Vietnam and other ASEAN countries have prepared a “code of conduct” in the South China Sea region and entered into negotiations with the PRC to sign this document.

Vietnamese-Chinese relations were normalized in November 1991. The leadership of Vietnam and the People's Republic of China are of the opinion that the armed clashes of 1979 should not be repeated under any circumstances. On October 19, 1993, an agreement was concluded on the principles of resolving border disputes, of which the most important are: guidance by international law, renunciation of the use of force and unilateral actions. In accordance with the agreement, an agreement on the demarcation of the land border was signed in December 1999. In December 2000, the countries entered into an Agreement on Boundary Delimitation in the Gulf of Tonkin and on Fisheries.

Vietnamese-American relations are becoming increasingly intense. Vietnam regards the active participation of the United States in regional affairs as a positive factor, which is a reflection of the existing balance of power in the Asia-Pacific region. In July 2000, a trade and economic agreement was signed with the United States (ratified in late 2001), providing for the provision of most favored nation treatment to Vietnam.

In September 2000, the Prime Minister of Vietnam Phan Van Khai made an official visit to the Russian Federation. A package of agreements was signed on the payment by Vietnam of a debt to Russia in the amount of $1.7 billion over 23 years on the principles of the Paris Club of creditors. An important event in Vietnamese-Russian relations was the visit to Vietnam of Russian President V.V. Putin in March 2001. The heads of countries signed the Declaration on the Strategic Partnership between Vietnam and the Russian Federation.

The emphasis in building a modern Vietnamese Armed Forces is on creating small, well-equipped and trained regular forces, a large strategic reserve and a contingent of paramilitary forces. The share of military spending in GDP fell from 17% in 1990 to about 6% in 2002. In absolute terms, military spending fell from $2.5 billion in 1990 to $1.8 billion in 2001. The policy has been in place since 1985 reduction in the total number of the army. In 1985 it numbered 1260 thousand people, in 2001 - 484 thousand people. (Ground forces 412 thousand, Air Force 30 thousand, Air Defense 15 thousand, Navy 42 thousand). The number of strategic reserves (people's self-defense forces and people's militia, coast guard) is estimated at 4-5 million people.

Vietnam has had diplomatic relations with the Russian Federation since 1991 (established with the USSR in 1950).

Economy of Vietnam

GDP in 2002 grew by 7.2% (6.8% in 2001, 6.6% - average annual growth for 1990-2002) and amounted to 35.28 billion US dollars (in 2001 - 32 billion). GDP per capita US$441. Gold and foreign exchange reserves 2.1 billion US dollars (2000). Working population: 40 million people. The unemployment rate in the country as a whole is 6.13%, in rural areas - approx. 5.5% (2001).

In the structure of GDP, there is a general trend towards a decrease in the share of agricultural production and growth in industry and services: agriculture 22.99%, industry and capital construction 38.55%, service sector 38.46%. The public sector in the GDP structure is 40%, non-state 47%, foreign investment sector 13% (2001).

Vietnam was the only country in Southeast Asia to emerge unscathed from the 2001 recession, largely due to rising domestic consumption. GDP growth in 2002 was also determined by this factor. Investment, especially in the private sector, boomed and was equivalent to 1/3 of GDP. The number of new private enterprises increased by 17% to 20 thousand, and the total number was 60 thousand. Investments in new small and medium-sized enterprises in the private sector reached $2.7 billion.

The main driver of development was the industrial sector, with growth of 14.4% per year due to expanding demand for consumer goods. The apparel industry is booming due to duty-free access to the US market. Growth is also driven by increased local private and foreign investment, while public sector investment has remained constant.

Inflation, according to official Vietnamese data, was 4%, according to the World Bank - 8% (2002).

Industry is the most dynamically developing sector of the national economy. In 2001, the increase was 15.4% in the public sector (central state enterprises - 13.1%, local industry - 11.8%), in joint ventures with foreign capital 20.3%, in the industry of key economic regions 12.1 %. The sector's focus is on manufacturing, consumer goods and export goods.

K con. 1990s the number of state-owned enterprises decreased from more than 12 thousand to 5.8 thousand. This process continues to this day. Of the total number of state-owned enterprises in 2002, 3,000 were unprofitable.

The pace of development of agricultural production, including forestry and fishing, remains at a stable level. In 2002 they amounted to approx. 5%, in fishing and seafood production - 14%. The most important food crop is rice, which is harvested 2-3 times a year. Vietnam not only fully meets its needs for rice, but is also one of its largest exporters (after Thailand and the USA).

The basis for the stable development of this industry is that individual peasant farms have been providing 95% of the industry’s output in recent years. In 2001, food production exceeded 30 million tons.

Highways number approx. 60 thousand km, including: state highways - 12 thousand km, interprovincial roads - 15 thousand km and interdistrict roads - 25 thousand km. 25% of state highways are paved. The main highway - Highway No. 1 (2300 km) runs from the northern border with China to Cape Kamau - the most extreme point in the south of the country.

K con. 1990s the length of railway lines exceeded 4 thousand km. The main North-South highway (length 2000 km). The Hanoi-Beijing railway route has been restored. Preparations are underway to open the international route “Vietnam - China - Mongolia - Russia”.

The country has more than 40 thousand large and small navigable rivers and canals. There are 17 ports on the sea coast. The largest are Haiphong, Ho Chi Minh City, Da Nang and Cam Ranh. Almost 1/2 of maritime cargo traffic passes through Haiphong.

Large state and foreign investments have been made in the modernization of civil aviation. The air fleet serves 17 domestic routes with a length of 62.5 thousand km. The main volume of traffic falls on the Hanoi - Ho Chi Minh City route. There are 3 international airports: Noi Bai in Hanoi, Tan Son Nhat in Ho Chi Minh City and Phu Bai in Thua Thien-Hue. Flights from these airports operate mainly to countries in Southeast Asia, as well as to Europe. In 2002, an agreement was reached between Vietnam and the United States to establish the Ho Chi Minh City - San Francisco - Ho Chi Minh City air route.

Modern communications in the country are represented by 2 ground-based space communication stations “Lotos-1” and

"Lotos-2", providing telegraph, telephone and teletype communications with 56 countries of the world.

New communication services such as facsimiles, mobile phones, paging, e-mail, and urgent domestic and international information networks are becoming increasingly widespread. In 1999, there were 3.2 telephones per 100 residents of Vietnam; in 2002, this figure increased to 4.25.

The service sector grew by 12% in 2002. Here the main attention is focused on the development of the transport industry, means of communication, trade, tourism, banks, technology, and the legal framework. Passenger transportation volumes increased by 4.6%; cargo transportation grew by 7.2%.

In 2000, trade accounted for 75.2 thousand billion dong (share in the service sector - 71%, growth - 7.4%), the hotel and restaurant business - 12.8 thousand billion dong (share - 12.1%, growth - 12.2%), for tourism and service enterprises - 6.2 thousand billion dong (share - 5.9%, growth - 10.7%).

For various reasons, the tourism business in the country is developing slowly. In 2001, 2.33 million foreign citizens visited the country (in 2000 - 2.14 million), incl. 1.319 million tourists, 439.7 thousand people. on a business visit, 478.6 thousand people. to visit relatives and 93.5 thousand people. for other purposes.

In the monetary system, the leading role is played by the State Bank of Vietnam and St. 60 state-owned commercial banks. These are Vietcombank, which serves export-import financial flows, the Industrial and Commercial Bank, specializing in lending to industrial and commercial enterprises, the Agricultural Bank, which finances the agricultural sector, the Investment and Development Bank (Vietindebank), which lends to long-term investment projects, and a number of others. The banking system includes as well as other joint-stock commercial banks. In general, state-owned banks control 80% of the country's financial market, 12% are accounted for by “semi-autonomous” financial institutions (joint and private), and the remaining 8% are banks with foreign participation.

Currently there are 4 joint banks, approx. 60 representative offices and 20 branches of 50 largest foreign banks and financial organizations. Vietnam maintains business contacts with the World Bank, IMF, ADB, etc. Leading financial institutions have their representative offices in foreign countries. All R. 2002 The first representative offices of Vietcombank and Vietindebank were opened in the United States.

The state budget in 2002 was executed in terms of revenues of 19.94% of GDP, in terms of expenses - 22.47%, deficit - 2.53%. Domestic investment in the economy amounted to 66.7% (in 2000 - 82%), foreign investment - 33.3%. Of domestic capital investments: 56.8% are public, 43.2% are mixed and private. The country's external debt is $13.3 billion (or 37% of GDP). According to IMF criteria, Vietnam is considered a creditworthy payer.

The dong was devalued in 2002. The dong exchange rate is 15,400 dong to 1 US dollar.

The influx of annual foreign direct investment amounted to 2.2 billion US dollars, incl. $1.6 billion for the construction of small and medium-sized industrial facilities. To the beginning 2002, 3044 joint projects with foreign participation and an authorized capital of 37.6 billion US dollars were registered, incl. 1,459 projects with a capital of $20.6 billion have been implemented, 769 projects ($11.1 billion) are in the process of implementation. During this time, 399 thousand jobs were created.

The official development assistance program continues to be implemented. In 2002, within its framework, loans worth $2.4 billion were allocated to boost the economy, improve the standard of living of the population and fight poverty. The total amount allocated for this program since 1993 has reached $20 billion, half of which has been used.

Despite Vietnam's obvious success in economic modernization in 2002, improvements in living standards and income growth have been slow. Wages for public sector workers remain low - 210 thousand VND per month (approx. 14 dollars). Since January 2003, it was increased to 290 thousand. Average income per capita amounted to 331 thousand dong per month (an increase of 12% compared to 1999). According to the State Bank of Vietnam, the total savings of the population amount to approx. 30 trillion dong. The poverty level in 2002 was 32% of the total population and 10% below the absolute poverty line, 90% of the population with minimal income lives in rural areas.

Increasing foreign economic activity is one of the most important priorities of the Vietnamese leadership.

Vietnam's exports in 2002 amounted to 16.53 billion US dollars (in 2001 - 13.596 billion). Main export goods (%): oil (share of total exports 20), garments (16), seafood (12), shoes (11), rice (4), coffee (2), other goods (35). The growth in exports was achieved due to an increase in the export volumes of rubber, handicrafts, seafood, clothing and footwear. There has been a noticeable reduction in supplies of oil, rice, vegetables and electronics abroad. Exports were sent (%) to: Japan (15), USA (15), China (9), Australia (8), Singapore (6), Taiwan (5), Germany (4), South Korea, UK, France (by 3), to other countries (29).

Imports in 2002 amounted to 19.3 billion US dollars (16.816 billion in 2001), the foreign trade deficit was 2.77 billion dollars. Main imported goods (%): machinery and machines (19), fuels and lubricants (10), fabrics ( 9), rolled steel (7), clothing (5), cars, electrical equipment, fertilizers (2 each), other goods (44).

Labor exports in 2002 amounted to approx. 50 thousand people per year, mainly to Malaysia (approx. 30 thousand), South Korea, Japan, Taiwan and the Middle East.

Vietnam's flexible approach to the entire range of relations with China made it possible to restore mutually beneficial trade and economic relations with this country. Currently, China's investments in Vietnam are carried out in 41 projects with a total value of $70 million. Trade turnover in 2002 amounted to 3.5 billion US dollars (in 2001 - 2.8 billion). During the visit of Chinese President Jiang Zemin to Hanoi in February 2002, the parties expressed their intention to increase trade turnover between the countries in 2005 to $5 billion.

Trade and economic relations with Japan are developing successfully. This country provided Vietnam with $8.2 billion in official development assistance in 1992-2002. Japan also remains a key trading partner of B. In 2002, trade turnover between the countries reached $5 billion.

The ratification of the trade agreement with the United States in December 2001 was of fundamental importance for the expansion of foreign investment and foreign trade of Vietnam. The foreign trade turnover of the two countries in 2002, according to preliminary data, amounted to approx. $2.5 billion. Exports to the United States doubled in 2001-02, reaching $2 billion per year. At the same time, the export of garments increased 18 times. The USA is becoming the largest market for Vietnamese goods: in the first two months of 2003, exports to the USA reached $590 million, i.e. increased by 350% compared to the same period in 2002. The volume of American investments is estimated at approximately $1 billion. They are concentrated mainly in industrial production, real estate, and oil and gas development. The industrial and hospitality sectors account for 82% of all US investments and 37 ongoing projects.

Trade turnover between the Russian Federation and Vietnam in 2002 amounted to approx. $500 million. The basis of economic cooperation between the two countries is the sphere of fuel energy and arms supplies. The Russian Federation ranks 8th among more than 60 investor countries. An example of successful cooperation is the activities of the Vietsovpetro joint venture on the Vietnamese shelf.

Currently, Vietnam maintains trade and economic relations with 100 foreign countries, St. 60 foreign companies have their representative offices here.

Science and culture of Vietnam

Vietnam is carrying out profound transformations in the field of education and science. Fundamental changes in these areas, according to the Vietnamese leadership, will help Vietnam achieve its strategic goals - to modernize the country, integrate into the world economy and become a full member of the world community.

A radical restructuring of the education system is underway, both in form and content. Paid education is being introduced in secondary and higher public schools, and the creation of private schools and universities, centers and courses for the training and retraining of management personnel is being stimulated. There is a process of “commercialization” and “marketization” in the curricula of secondary and higher schools.

Currently there are approx. 16 thousand primary and secondary schools, in which 19.9 million schoolchildren studied in the 2001/02 school year. In addition, there are more than 700 specialized schools and colleges (2 million students), 247 vocational schools and technical schools (about 200 thousand students). In Vietnam approx. 100 universities (6 private), where they train in 200 specialties (650 thousand students).

There are 170 research and development bureaus employing 30 thousand scientists. Here the emphasis is on studying leading branches of science, such as high technology, computer science, biology, and new materials.

The country has established the National Center for Natural Sciences and Technology and the National Center for Social Sciences and Humanities. In 1996, the first “Vietnamese Encyclopedia” was published, including almost 40 thousand articles prepared by the efforts of 1,300 Vietnamese and foreign scientists.

Nowadays in Vietnam there is St. 6 thousand doctors and candidates of science, 1.27 million graduates of institutes and colleges and 14 thousand people. with postgraduate education.

The distinctive national culture has a rich heritage with centuries-old traditions - festivals, music, dance, folklore, theater, fine arts, etc. Nowadays, perceiving the riches of modern world culture, it acquires new content and national flavor.

Vietnamese theater includes traditional genres such as Teo (folk theatre), Tuong (classical theatre), Cail Luong (renovated theatre) and Ca Hue (Hue songs). These genres harmoniously combine music, singing, recitative, recitation, dance and facial expressions. The modern genre of kit noi (drama theater) is of European origin, but it is filled with national content and has firmly entered the cultural life of society.

There are 2,446 public libraries and reading rooms in the country with 17.2 million copies. books. Average attendance - 15 million people. in year.

After the restoration of peace in 1954, the History Museum, the Revolution Museum and the Army Museum were established in Hanoi. The Museum of Fine Arts was opened in 1965. On May 19, 1990, the Ho Chi Minh Museum was opened to mark the centenary of the birth of the first Vietnamese president. There are also the Oceanological Museum in Nha Trang, the Cham Museum in Quang Nam Province and the Museum of Ethnology in Hanoi. In total, there are 285 museums and exhibition centers in the country. International organizations contributed $420,000 to help preserve and restore Hanoi's ancient streets, the mausoleums of the last Nguyen dynasty emperors in Hue and the ancient city of Hoi An.

Wood carving, lacquer, silk and oil painting, rice straw products and handicrafts remain very popular in Vietnam. The most ancient form of Vietnamese painting is lubok - paintings painted with water paints on silk or specially treated paper. Hanoi luboks are made by contour printing from wooden cliches followed by coloring.

The earliest works of literature that have reached us date back to the 10th century. For many centuries, two literatures developed in parallel in the country, one in Chinese, which was then the literary language, the other in Tyinom, the transcribed national language. Liquidation at the beginning 20th century the traditional education system, the replacement of hieroglyphs with Latinized Vietnamese writing, and the development of printing created the conditions for the birth of modern Vietnamese literature.

In 1945-75, Vietnamese literature mainly focused on glorifying the heroism of the people and mobilizing the masses to fight against external aggression and for national reunification. After 1986, literature reflects the course of the country's renewal. The stories, novellas and novels cover previously taboo subjects about losses and sacrifices in war, about the negative phenomena of modern everyday life, such as corruption, dishonesty, wastefulness. Such works attract the attention of readers at home and abroad. Many of them have been translated into English, French, Chinese, Russian, Japanese and other languages.

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In recent years, the Vietnamese government has been making efforts to ensure that in the minds of foreigners this country is not associated with the wars of the 20th century. The Vietnamese authorities strive to show everyone the culture of their country and its amazing nature. Vietnamese people are very friendly. This country has picturesque landscapes, delicious cuisine and excellent beaches. In addition, it is important for tourists that Vietnam is the safest country for travelers in Asia.

Geography of Vietnam

Vietnam is located on the Indochina Peninsula in Southeast Asia. Vietnam borders China in the north, Laos in the northwest, and Cambodia in the southwest. In the east, this country is washed by the waters of the South China Sea. The total area of ​​Vietnam is 331,210 square meters. km, including islands, and the total length of the state border is 4,639 km.

Vietnam owns many islands in the South China Sea. The largest of them is Phu Quoc Island.

About 80% of Vietnam's territory is occupied by mountains, although all of them are not very high. The highest peak in Vietnam is Mount Fansipan, whose height reaches 3,143 m.

The Mekong and Hong Ha rivers, which are considered the longest in all of Southeast Asia, flow through the entire territory of Vietnam.

Capital

The capital of Vietnam is Hanoi, which is now home to more than 6.5 million people. Hanoi was built in 1010 by order of the Vietnamese Emperor Ly Thai To.

Official language

The official language in Vietnam is Vietnamese, which belongs to the Vietnamese languages ​​of the Austroasiatic language family.

Religion

About 85% of the population of Vietnam profess Buddhism, about 8% are Christians (mostly Catholics, but there are also Protestants).

Government structure of Vietnam

According to the current Constitution of 1992, Vietnam is a socialist republic. Its head is the President.

Legislative power belongs to a unicameral parliament - the National Assembly (consists of 498 deputies). Deputies of the National Assembly elect a President from among themselves, who appoints the Prime Minister.

The 1992 Constitution states that the central role in the political and social life of Vietnam belongs to the Communist Party.

Climate and weather

The climate in Vietnam ranges from tropical monsoon to temperate. Monsoons have a great influence on the climate in Vietnam. In Hanoi, the average annual temperature is +23C, in Ho Chi Minh City - +26C, and in Hue - +25C.

The cold season in Vietnam is from November to April, and the hot season is from May to October.

Based on weather conditions, the best time to visit Northern Vietnam (Hanoi) is November-March, Middle Vietnam (Hue) is May-June, and Southern Vietnam (Ho Chi Minh City) is November-April.

Average air temperature in Hanoi, Vietnam:

January - +17C
- February - +18C
- March - +20C
- April - +24C
- May - +28C
- June - +30С
- July - +30C
- August - +29C
- September - +28C
- October - +26C
- November - +22C
- December - +19C

Sea in Vietnam

The shores of Vietnam are washed by the waters of the South China Sea. In August, the sea off the coast of Vietnam warms up to +29C. The coastline is 3,444 km. It should be noted that from September to January the sea in Vietnam (and coastal areas) are prone to typhoons. The rest of the time, the sea in Vietnam is very calm and warm, there are many exotic fish and corals.

Rivers and lakes

The Mekong and Hong Ha rivers, which are considered the longest in all of Southeast Asia, flow through the entire territory of Vietnam. The Vietnamese grow rice in the valleys of these rivers. Thus, in the Mekong Valley, more than 10 thousand square kilometers are allocated for rice cultivation.

History of Vietnam

The first states on the territory of modern Vietnam appeared around the 3rd century BC. In 111 BC. The Vietnamese state became part of the Chinese Empire. By the beginning of the 10th century, Vietnam gained autonomy within the Chinese Empire.

Vietnam during the reign of the Tran dynasty repelled three invasions by Tatar-Mongol troops. At the same time, Buddhism became the state religion in Vietnam.

In the 16th century, the political life of Vietnam was characterized by an intensification of the struggle for power. During this period, Vietnam was engulfed in several civil wars.

In the mid-19th century, France intensified its colonial policy towards Vietnam. As a result, Vietnam becomes a French colony (i.e. Vietnam became part of French Indochina).

French dominance in Vietnam continued until World War II, when Japanese troops invaded French Indochina in 1941. During World War II, the communist movement became widespread in Vietnam. As a result, the Democratic Republic of Vietnam was formed in September 1945.

Then, with the support of the United States, the Republic of Vietnam was created in southern Vietnam. Hostilities broke out between the Democratic Republic of Vietnam, which was helped by the USSR, and the Republic of Vietnam (which was helped by the USA). In 1965, the United States was forced to send its troops into the territory of South Vietnam, because Vietnamese communists won a number of major victories there.

The United States continued the war in Vietnam until 1973, losing several tens of thousands of soldiers and officers killed in it. Only in 1973, according to the Paris Peace Agreement, the United States withdrew its troops from Vietnam.

The War of Vietnamese Unification ended in April 1975 after North Vietnamese troops entered Saigon.

In 1977, Vietnam became a member of the UN.

Vietnamese culture

Until the 1980s, most Vietnamese lived in villages. Now in Vietnam there are already several megacities whose population exceeds more than 1 million people (Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Haiphong and Cant Tho).

Vietnamese traditions are based on respect for parents and ancestors. The head of a Vietnamese family is its oldest man. Parents choose wives or husbands for their children based on their own ideas about what is best for their child.

However, the French brought Western values ​​(individual and sexual freedom, for example) to Vietnam, and this began to undermine the traditional way of life of the Vietnamese. Now the Vietnamese authorities are seeking to combat Western influence on traditional Vietnamese culture.

Art (ceramics, pottery production) appeared among the inhabitants of Vietnam back in the Neolithic era. Buddhism contributed to the development of ceramics (Buddhist statues were made from ceramics).

There are still craftsmen in Vietnam who do wood carving. We advise tourists in Vietnam to definitely buy any items made by these masters.

Festivals are an essential part of Vietnamese life. Every year, several dozen large and small festivals are held in this country. The most popular of them are the Huong Pagoda Festival, the Da Lat Flower Festival, the Elephant Festival in Dak Lak Province, the Da Nang Fireworks Festival, the Holy Whale Festival, and the Do Son and Bab Bullfights.

Separately, you need to remember about the Vietnamese New Year according to the lunar calendar - Tet. In terms of scale, nothing can compare with this holiday in Vietnam.

Kitchen

We are confident that Vietnamese dishes will please anyone, even the most demanding traveler. When preparing dishes, the Vietnamese often use lemongrass, mint, ginger, and soy sauce. Traditionally, the Vietnamese add very little oil to their dishes. Therefore, Vietnamese cuisine can be safely called one of the healthiest in the world.

The main foods in Vietnam are rice, vegetables, meat (pork, beef, poultry), fish and seafood. Note that many Vietnamese are supporters of vegetarian cuisine, adhering to Buddhist precepts.

Pho soup - rice noodles drenched in chicken broth, green onions and aromatic herbs;
- Nem - a pancake with a variety of fillings (meat, fish, shrimp);
- Ban Cuon – Vietnamese steamed rice dough dumplings;
- Banh Trang – rice dough pancakes with various fillings;
- Ka Kho To – fish in caramel sauce;
- Ka Ran Chua – fried fish with sweet and sour sauce.

A traditional Vietnamese soft drink is green tea (Tra). The Chinese drink tea hot (Tra Nam) and cold (Tra Da). Green tea in Vietnam is most often drunk in rural areas, while black tea is most often drunk in cities.

As for alcoholic drinks in Vietnam, we recommend trying (in moderation, of course) local wine, Lua Moi vodka (its strength is 45 degrees), HA NOI vodka (its strength is 29.5 or 33.5 degrees), as well as Vietnamese rum

Sights of Vietnam

The history of Vietnam goes back many centuries. During this time, the Chinese, Japanese, French, and Americans visited (and were expelled from) Vietnam. Many countries tried to impose their traditions and customs on Vietnam. However, despite this, Vietnam has remained a unique country with many different attractions. The top ten best Vietnamese attractions, in our opinion, may include the following:

1. Thien Mu Pagoda in Hue
2. Pillar Pagoda in Hanoi
3. "White Horse Temple" in Hanoi
4. "Palace of Supreme Harmony" in Hue
5. "Tombs of the Emperors" in Hue
6. Seven-tier Vinh Nghiem Pagoda in Ho Chi Minh City
7. Turtle Tower in Hanoi
8. Guerrilla tunnels in Cu Chi
9. Bao Tang Ku Wat Emperors Museum in Hue
10. Cat Co Tower in Hanoi

Cities and resorts

The largest Vietnamese cities are Hanoi (more than 6.5 million people), Ho Chi Minh City (more than 7.4 million people), Haiphong, Cant Tho, Da Nang (more than 900 thousand people), and Bien Hoa (more than 800 thousand . people).

Vietnam has many excellent beach resorts that offer good recreational facilities including fishing, diving and excursions. The most popular beach resorts in Vietnam are Phan Thiet, Nha Trang, Phu Quoc Island, Da Nang, Vung Tau and Ha Long.

In recent years, foreigners have increasingly begun to come to Vietnam, appreciating the beaches of this country.

Nha Trang - the beaches of this resort are recognized as one of the best in all of Vietnam. This is a favorite place for divers because... There are a lot of fish and corals in its vicinity. Nha Trang has 5-star hotels and many entertainment options, including an amusement park.

Another popular beach resort in Vietnam is Phan Thiet. It is located 3 hours drive from Ho Chi Minh City. Rich foreigners and Ho Chi Minh City residents flock to Cape Mui Ne Beach near Phan Thiet to relax on the unusual pink dunes.

However, many tourists admit that the best beaches in Vietnam are on the island of Phu Quoc, which is located in the west of the country. The sand on the beaches of Fukuoka is fine white.

It should be noted that almost every hotel in Vietnam offers spa services to its guests. In Nha Trang, for example, there is a very large spa center with mud and salt baths, in Hanoi there is a Traditional Medicine Center, and there are excellent spa hotels in Quimboy (it is located on mineral waters). In general, mud therapy is very developed in Vietnam.

Spa treatments in Vietnam are developed according to French standards, and, of course, French cosmetics are used.

Separate mention should be made of the Sapa resort, located in the north-west of Vietnam. It is classified as a mountain climatic resort, and it is no less popular among tourists than beach resorts.

Souvenirs/shopping

Tourists from Vietnam usually bring silk or cotton clothing, handicrafts, Vietnamese headdresses, bronze Buddhist bells, traditional Vietnamese musical instruments (such as flutes and jew's harps), souvenirs reminiscent of the Vietnamese-American War, tea and much more.

Office hours

The region where Vietnam is located is called Indochina and is considered one of the most densely populated in the world. Throughout its history, Vietnam has been inextricably linked with China, which has influenced its southern neighbor.

Where is the country of Vietnam?

A narrow strip of Vietnam stretches for 1,750 kilometers along the eastern coast of the Indochina Peninsula. Such a large extent, together with significant changes in relief, creates very different natural conditions throughout the country, which change from north to south.

Along the border with Cambodia and Laos, the Annam Mountains stretch across the territory, the highest point of which is located in Vietnam and is called Mount Bia.

The region where Vietnam is located does not lack water resources. The two deepest rivers in Southeast Asia flow through the country - the Mekong and Hongha. And on its territory they form their deltas, flowing into the South China Sea.

Water resources and climate

To answer the question of where Vietnam is located along the equator, it is enough to draw an imaginary line from the largest city in the country, which is Ho Chi Minh City, named after the first president of an independent state. The distance between the eight million population of Ho Chi Minh City and the equator by air is approximately one thousand two hundred kilometers.

Since the country lies at a considerable distance from the equator, this gives the climate a seasonal nature with pronounced fluctuations in precipitation patterns. In southern Vietnam, the dry season lasts from mid-December to April, and the rainy season from May to November.

Great River of Asia

The river known throughout the world as the Mekong is called Cuu Long in Vietnamese, which translates to “River of Nine Dragons.” The length of the river reaches four and a half thousand kilometers, during which it flows through the territory of six states and serves as the border between Burma, Laos and Thailand.

The Mekong originates in the Tibetan Plateau, controlled by China. On the territory of Tibet, the river is called Dza-chu, and after entering Chinese lands it receives the name Lancangjiang.

Flowing through the territory of six states, the river supplies food to the lands of local peasants, but is characterized by instability and significant differences in the volume of flow from season to season. If in its upper reaches the river is filled by melting snow, then in the region where Vietnam is located, it depends on the rainfall.

Capital of Vietnam. Where is?

Whatever country the capital is located in, it is always a place of attraction for business and the population. Today the capital of Vietnam is Hanoi, whose name translates as “City between the rivers.”

Hanoi is the second largest city in the country after Ho Chi Minh City, but the cities differ not so much in this as in their geographical location. Hanoi is one of the twenty largest cities in the world by area and occupies seventeenth place in this ranking. At the same time, it is one of the ten most popular cities in Asia among tourists. Travelers are attracted by the city's long history, architecture, craft districts and good climate.

The unofficial symbol of the city, which is often caught on camera, is the tower of the Hanoi Citadel, built in the fifteenth century. The citadel was rebuilt several times and destroyed during numerous military conflicts, the most destructive of which was the civil war, which lasted eighteen years and claimed the lives of two million local residents.

Conflict of interest

In the twentieth century, Southeast Asia became the scene of a struggle between two systems represented by the USA and the USSR, and by the late sixties the conflict had erupted in the region where Vietnam is located. On whatever continent the conflict between the two superpowers occurred, thousands of local residents became its victims.

As a result of a long conflict, which left an indelible mark on the history of all participating states, the communist leaders, supported by the Soviet Union and occupying the northern part of the country, won.

After American troops withdrew and Ho Chi Minh took control of the entire country, the capital of South Vietnam was named after the first president of the new communist republic.

The communist economic system established as a result of the war collapsed already in the early eighties of the twentieth century. The authorities began to carry out market reforms, attracting investment from other countries. The country slowly began to open up to the world, but to this day the influence of the communist past on people's lives is great, and the symbol of this past is the Ho Chi Minh Tomb - a mausoleum built in the capital of the country, Hanoi.

Modern economics

Despite all the efforts of the country's leadership, Vietnam still remains largely an agricultural country, exporting products with low market value. However, the Vietnamese Communist Party has no plans to give up and says it plans to make life in the countryside more comfortable and at the same time increase agricultural productivity.

It is planned to provide electricity to rural areas, build roads and increase the share of machinery in the production of agricultural products. At the same time, residents will be trained to operate the new machines.

As for industrial production, we can say that in any part of the country where the city is located, Vietnam turns into not the most environmentally friendly place.

In the 21st century, many industries appeared in Vietnam that did not meet modern environmental safety standards. More and more factories are opening in the country due to the low cost of labor, which even China can no longer boast of. Workers live in terrible conditions, industrial safety regulations are not followed, and wages are barely enough to cover minimal expenses.

Ecological problems

The region where Vietnam is located mostly has mountainous or hilly terrain of medium height, but in the Mekong Delta the land level drops significantly. This coastal depression poses the threat of flooding if global sea levels rise due to global climate change.

Vietnamese scientists believe that by 2100, sea levels could rise by one meter, leading to almost complete flooding of provinces located in the vast river delta.

Another danger to the country's ecology could be the rapid urbanization that began in the 2000s. The growth of human settlements and the increased number of cars create unfavorable conditions for the health of the urban population.

Vietnam is one of the oldest countries in Asia. The state is located in the eastern part of the Indochina Peninsula. Vietnam has a favorable geographical location: a narrow strip of the country's territory stretches from north to south along the coast of Bac Bo Bay and the South China Sea. Vietnam's neighbors are Laos and Cambodia in the west, China in the north.

The first mentions of Vietnam date back to the second millennium BC. But legends say that the Vietnamese are the descendants of the dragon emperor Lac Long and the fairy bird Au Co, who fell in love with each other with unearthly love. To this day, Vietnam has preserved its original culture with ancient temples and thousand-year-old traditions. At the same time, many things in this country may seem painfully familiar to Russian tourists - from red flags to pioneers in ties. True, socialism does not prevent Vietnam from being a very attractive tourist destination. Amazing nature, magnificent beaches, a rich excursion program, modern comfortable hotels and amazing friendliness towards travelers from Russia - not every country can boast of such a set of tourist advantages, but Vietnam has it all.

Climate and weather

A pleasant feature of Vietnam’s climate is that at any time of the year you can find a place in the country where the weather will be truly resort-like.

The best place to relax in the south of Vietnam from December to April. At this time, the weather here is mild and pleasant without the aggressive sun. The air temperature varies from +21 °C in January to + 30 °C in April. Rain season begins in May and lasts almost until October: sudden heavy rains occur almost every day, but do not last more than 15-20 minutes.

It is optimal to go to the central part of the country in March - June. The fact is that from July to November there are frequent typhoons, rains and fogs, and in the winter months the sea is very choppy. But in spring the weather is comfortable (on average +26 °C) and there is a lot of sun.

The north of Vietnam has humid, hot summers and cool winters (+15 °C). Frosts in winter occur only in the mountains. The rainy season runs from May to October, so the ideal time to visit the northern regions of the country is April-May and October-November, when there is almost no rainfall and the sea water is warm.

Nature

The landscape of Vietnam is very picturesque. It is a country of mountain ranges and hills that give way to spacious plains with lush vegetation. The highest mountain in Vietnam is Fansipan(3145 meters). The river delta is an amazingly beautiful place Mekong And Hongha. The Vietnamese believe that this is where all life on earth originated.

Vietnam is famous for its forests - fragrant evergreen jungles. Valuable trees grow here: sandalwood, brown lim tree, bamboo, ironwood and mahogany. Of the beneficial plants, cardamom, anise, cinnamon and, of course, ginseng occupy a special place.

One cannot help but admire the wildlife of Vietnam. Here you can find elephants and rhinoceroses, wild cats and leopards, tigers, bears, antelopes, wild bulls and deer. The jungle is home to numerous subspecies of monkeys, lemurs, and panthers. The country is home to about 400 species of birds and many species of reptiles. Every year in Vietnam, scientists discover new subspecies of animals, fish and birds, and even, what is especially interesting, animals that were considered extinct long ago.

Attractions

There is a lot to see in Vietnam. The temple complexes of ancient civilizations, the most beautiful national parks, and even architectural monuments of the socialist era are worthy of admiration. It’s interesting to visit not only the capital of Vietnam Hanoi, but also in Ho Chi Minh City and in the city-museum Hoi An, at resorts Dalat, Nha Trang, Phu Quoc, Phan Thiet.

The ancient capitals of Vietnam deserve special attention. This is, first of all, a city Hue on the shore Fragrant River, where the imperial palaces and other architectural structures were restored. Travelers are also attracted by such former capitals as Koloa, Meling, Hoyles. In total, there are 12 ancient capitals in Vietnam, each of which has an interesting history and many interesting sights.

Modern capital of the country Hanoi, or Thang Long(“the city of the soaring dragon”), is famous not only for the historical vicissitudes of the struggle for independence. Such architectural masterpieces as Temple of the Turtle, which is located in the middle of the lake Hoan Kiem(“lake of the returned sword”), and the pagoda Chua Mot Cat("One Pillar Pagoda"), the original of which was built in 1049. Tourists from all over the world are eager to see Hanoi Mausoleum of Ho Chi Minh- one of four mausoleums in the world where visitors are allowed access. The mausoleum is very similar to the Moscow one, but the Vietnamese structure is much grander.

There are many picturesque places in Vietnam, but the true delight of travelers is the pearl of Vietnamese nature - the bay. Ha Long(“Landing Dragon Bay”), which many call the eighth wonder of the world. On the crystal clear surface of the sea there are about 1,600 islands of the most incredible shapes: a stone frog, an old fisherman, a vase for incense sticks. On the rocky islands there are beautiful caves with stalactites and stalagmites.

Nutrition

In the post-Soviet space, Vietnamese cuisine gained a dubious reputation thanks to the notorious “aroma” of fried herring that reigned in the dormitories where students from Vietnam lived. Meanwhile, in reality, Vietnamese culinary traditions provide the preparation of fresh and healthy food, although it may seem unusual in taste to a European. The most important gastronomic difference between Vietnam and other Asian countries is that the products here are not subject to long-term heat treatment, and in addition, little fat is used in the cooking process.

The basis of Vietnamese cuisine is rice (“ com"), noodles (" mi") and a variety of seafood. In general, the Vietnamese are omnivores in their culinary preferences, so here you can try fried grasshoppers, monkey brains, and bird’s nest soup. But still more familiar to a Russian traveler will be such national dishes as eel soup, rice noodle pancakes, green soup “pho”, boiled beef with bamboo shoots and cinnamon “ bo ho ku».

There are many restaurants in Vietnam where you can enjoy Chinese, Indian, Thai and European cuisine. An important plus for tourists is that in Vietnam you can expect relatively low food costs. In large cities, for $8-10 you can have a hearty dinner in a restaurant (along with coffee and beer), and during the day it’s not difficult to find a place where a hearty lunch costs $4-5.

Accommodation

In Vietnam, there is no official system for assessing the level of service in hotels. But for convenience, the European five-star hotel classification system is still used, however, you need to understand that the declared category does not always objectively correspond to the real state of affairs. For example, not every 4-star hotel has a restaurant, and instead of air conditioning, there is often only a fan in the room. However, there is no need to worry, as hotels from global hotel operators, of which there are many in Vietnam, meet generally accepted service standards.

Every year more and more comfortable hotels are built in the country. However, demand often exceeds supply, although there are more than 200 hotels in the 3-5* categories in Vietnam. Breakfast, by the way, is not always included in the price.

In the south of Vietnam - at resorts Phan Thiet, Da Lat, Nha Trang- the most popular hotels and the highest cost of living. There are upscale tourist complexes, family half-boards, and guest houses with a basic set of services. You can save on accommodation by coming here in the off-season - in July and August.

There are not many 4-5* hotels in the central part of Vietnam and the north of the country. The exception is cities Hanoi And Ho Chi Minh City, where the hotel base boasts luxury hotels.

If you are traveling independently and do not consider luxury accommodation a priority, you can find a budget hotel, guest house or private apartment in any major city. If you want to stay in a luxury hotel, we recommend making advance reservations.

Entertainment and relaxation

Vietnam invariably delights its guests with a variety of entertainment: from water sports to nightclubs and casinos. In this country you can ride elephants, bask on beautiful beaches, visit crocodile farms, go sea fishing and diving. A real highlight of the entertainment is going to partisan camps. Cu Chi Tunnels.

If you are lucky enough to attend one of the colorful Vietnamese festivals and holidays, the impressions will last for a long time. In Ho Chi Minh City you can visit the " Southern Fruit Festival", in Da Nang - on fireworks festival, in Nha Trang they arrange maritime festival, and bullfights take place in Doshon.

In Vietnam, diving is very affordable, and the level of dive organization is decent. The country has many interesting dive sites. The best dive sites are considered Hoi An, Nha Trang Phu Quoc And Con Dao. There you can see corals, cuttlefish, octopuses, barracudas, clams, moray eels, squids and even puffer fish and manta rays. And diving at the archipelago Con Dao, you can meet dugongs (sea cows) and large green turtles.

The beaches of Vietnam have snow-white sand and clear water. It’s not for nothing that the central and southern regions of the country are called “ Vietnamese Hawaii" The best beaches in Southeast Asia are located here.

Purchases

Vietnam has an incredibly wide range of souvenirs and gifts. At the same time, prices are the most affordable in the region. Trade flourishes both in small souvenir shops and in modern shopping centers in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City.

The top shopping list in Vietnam should include items made from natural silk, crafts made from rare wood, gold and silver jewelry, items made from stone, metal and bone. We advise you to focus on specialized stores if you want to purchase high-quality silk, silver, and pearls. Ceramics are best bought in the suburbs of Hanoi Bat Chang, where there are many workshops producing porcelain dishes. And the best pearls are bought on the island Phu Quoc. Be sure to also pay attention to green tea and coffee.

As a rule, shops are open daily from 07:30 to 17:30, but many are open until late in the evening.

In government stores, prices are fixed, but in private shops and markets it is recommended to bargain, even if you see a price tag - know that this is only a starting point for bargaining.

Currency can be exchanged at a bank, hotel or exchange office. The first option is the most profitable, but banks are open for a limited time. Under no circumstances agree to offers of profitable currency exchange from passers-by - there is a risk of becoming a victim of scammers.

Plastic cards MasterCard, Visa, American Express And JCB You can pay in all big and small cities where there are tourists. But to places remote from tourist areas it is better to take cash with you.

Transport

It is convenient to travel between cities in Vietnam by bus. There are two varieties: Big Bus(with air conditioning and seat according to ticket) and Mini Bus(no air conditioning and fixed seat).

Water transport functions well. Thousands of private boats, coasters and boats cruise along the coast and lakes. The cost of the trip in most cases is negotiable and agreed with the captain of the ship.

The most convenient way to get around in cities is by taxi, motorcycle and pedicabs. Although bus transport is present, it operates irregularly, and the confusing system of stops is not very attractive to travelers. But the fare is only about $0.1.

Traveling by taxi is, of course, more expensive, but they are always available and are paid strictly according to the meter readings. Companies such as: Vina(yellow cars) and Mai Linh(green cars): taxi salons are always kept clean and air conditioned. Taxi fares are the same for the capital and the province; the price is approximately $0.6 per kilometer.

Remember that payment for travel on bicycles and auto-rickshaws must be agreed in advance. Don't be afraid to bargain, otherwise the price will be significantly higher. In general, the reward for 15 minutes of travel should not exceed $1.

Connection

You can call anywhere in the world from a hotel, internet cafe, post office or mobile phone. Mobile communications, by the way, are absolutely accessible. You just need to purchase a SIM card from one of the local operators ( Viettel, Vinaphone, Mobifone). You can top up your account using prepaid cards (sold at any kiosk, store or post office). Keep in mind that calling from a hotel is several times more expensive than calling from a mobile phone.

Internet access services in the country are provided by the company " Internet Vietnam" Internet access is available in large hotels, Internet cafes and post offices. Prices for services are quite affordable and, as a rule, do not exceed $0.5.

Safety

Vietnam is quite safe to travel, even if you are moving around the country on your own. There is no religious fanaticism or racial prejudice here; Vietnam is one of the ten safest places in Eurasia.

The main problem facing tourists here is petty theft. Therefore, you should carefully monitor your personal belongings, especially in crowded places. Do not carry large sums of money with you. It is better to leave valuables in the hotel safe. Avoid riding rickshaws after dark.

A separate “headache” is the intrusiveness of local residents, who are constantly trying to sell something, stopping tourists right on the move. Do not give in to persuasion under any circumstances - not only will you receive a low-quality product at an inflated price, but in place of one, a whole crowd of new “sellers” will immediately appear. In addition, you can run into real scammers.

From a health point of view, maintain good personal hygiene and do not buy food from street stalls. We recommend drinking only bottled water.

There is no need to get vaccinated before traveling to Vietnam - there are no raging infections in the country.

Business climate

Just a couple of decades ago, the prospect of starting a business in Vietnam would hardly have seemed reasonable to a Russian entrepreneur. But times are changing, and these days Vietnam is beginning to attract foreign investors.

Although Vietnam is a country with a market socialist economy, the state practically does not interfere in the affairs of enterprises of various forms of ownership, unless these are strategic industries. Enterprises with 100% foreign capital are already allowed.

Positive factors for opening a business in Vietnam include the stability of the political situation, cheap labor and a warm climate that does not require additional costs for heating premises. On the other hand, transporting goods to, say, Russia is not very cheap.

Therefore, most often foreign investors invest money not in production, but in the construction of tourist facilities, restaurants, cafes, and entertainment.

In general, opening a business in Vietnam is not very easy. In terms of the complexity of obtaining licenses and the simplicity of the procedure for opening a company, Vietnam ranks 99th in the world. But for a foreigner, given the assistance of local authorities to foreign investments, the process may not be very painful. However, you should not expect easy and quick profits. Patience is the main thing you need to stock up on when starting a business in Vietnam, according to experienced investors.

Real estate

Vietnam, as a country with a dynamically developing economy and tourist attractiveness, is bringing its real estate market to the world stage. But for foreigners, the laws are such that they can only purchase apartments here. In this case, the following conditions must be met: marriage with a citizen of Vietnam, permanent residence in the country, investment in the Vietnamese economy. The purchased apartment can only be used for the owner’s residence, that is, it cannot be rented out. Let us add that an apartment can be purchased for a period of 50 years, after which time it will have to be sold or donated.

Therefore, investments are considered optimal not in private housing, but in the construction of commercial real estate in the tourism sector. The fact is that now the demand for comfortable hotel complexes in Vietnam exceeds supply. Until the situation changes, such investments promise high returns in the near future.

When planning a trip to Vietnam, be aware of customs regulations. There are no restrictions on the import of foreign currency, but amounts over $3,000 must be declared: only what has been declared is allowed to be exported. It is prohibited to export national currency.

You can import 400 cigarettes or 0.5 kg of tobacco, 3 kg of coffee, 1.5 liters of strong alcohol or 2 liters of low-alcohol drinks, as well as 5 kg of tea. All equipment must be declared, otherwise it cannot be exported without paying customs duties. Be sure to pay attention to the list of items prohibited for import into the country: firearms, explosives, pornography, as well as drugs and drug-containing medications without a doctor’s prescription. The last point is very serious, since violation of the ban is punishable by up to the death penalty! In addition, you cannot export antiques, jewelry and art objects without permits.

Before entering a Buddhist temple, do not forget to leave your shoes outside the threshold and do not turn your back to the temple when leaving it. Photographing temples and local residents is only possible with permission, which usually requires a fee.

The state is located on the Indochina Peninsula and borders Laos, Cambodia and China. From the east and south it is washed by the South China Sea and its bays.

The shape of the territory of Vietnam on the map resembles the Latin letter “S”.

State symbols

Flag– is a red panel with an aspect ratio of 2:3, on which a yellow five-pointed star is depicted. The star represents the leadership of the Communist Party of Vietnam, the red color signifies the success of the revolution, and the five points of the star symbolize the unity of workers, peasants, soldiers, intellectuals and youth. The flag was approved on November 30, 1955 as the flag of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam. Since 1976, when South Vietnam officially united with North Vietnam, the flag has become the state symbol of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam.

Coat of arms- was originally adopted as the coat of arms of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam (North Vietnam) on November 30, 1955. Modeled after the design of the coat of arms of the People's Republic of China, with all the symbols of the Communist Party, including a yellow star on a red canvas, with a socialist theme. The gear and grain crops represent the union of agriculture and industrial labor in the overall communist model. Became the national emblem after reunification with South Vietnam on July 2, 1976.

Government structure of modern Vietnam

Form of government- socialist parliamentary republic. According to the country's constitution, the leading role in the state and society belongs to the Communist Party of Vietnam. The highest body of state power is the unicameral National Assembly, consisting of 498 deputies elected for 5 years by direct universal suffrage. Only the National Assembly can make the Constitution and laws.
Head of State- the president. He is responsible to the National Assembly and is elected by the National Assembly from among the deputies for a 5-year term.
Head of the government- Prime Minister.
Capital- Hanoi.
Largest cities- Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City.
Official language– Vietnamese.
Territory– 331,210 km².

Population– 92,477,857 people. The Vietnamese government recognizes 54 nationalities, of which the Kinh (Viet) are the largest, accounting for 86%.
Currency– Vietnamese dong.
Economy– economic life is based on national, collective and private property, but private entrepreneurship is under state control. Industry: processing of agricultural products, clothing, footwear, oil production, shipbuilding. Natural resources: phosphates, coal, manganese, bauxite, chromite, offshore oil and gas deposits, timber, hydropower. Electricity is generated primarily from hydroelectric power plants. Development plans include the construction of the first nuclear power plant in Ninh Thuan province according to a Russian project and with the help of Russian specialists. It is assumed that the new nuclear research center “Center for Nuclear Science and Technology” will also be built by Russian specialists. Agriculture: rice, coffee, rubber, cotton, tea, pepper, soybeans, cashews, sugar cane, peanuts, bananas; bird; catching fish and seafood. In 2012, Vietnam became the world's largest exporter of coffee beans for the first time in history.

Coffee plantation in Vietnam
Education – preschool education: from 1.5 to 5 years. When a child turns 4 years old, he usually already knows how to read and count. Elementary education: upon reaching 6 years of age (grades 1-5). Incomplete education: from 6th to 9th grade. After 9 years of study, schoolchildren take exams. Secondary education: literature, mathematics, law, history, biology and a foreign language are studied. Gifted children can study a deeper and more complex curriculum. After finishing 12th grade, they take exams and receive a high school diploma. The level of knowledge is assessed on a ten-point scale. 5 points is the lowest, but passing score. Vietnamese schools do not have good financial assistance from the government. Incomplete secondary education is quite expensive; not many parents can afford their child to study further. Teachers' salaries are very low.

Higher education: To enter a university you need to pass 3 exams in different disciplines. There are public and private universities. There are many branches of foreign universities, colleges and technical schools.

Armed forces- The official name of the armed forces is the Vietnamese People's Army. It consists of the Border Guard, Navy, Marine Corps, Coast Guard, Air Force and Air Defense.

MiG-21 Vietnamese Air Force
Sport– Football, table tennis, chess, and traditional martial arts are popular. Vietnamese athletes have been taking part in the Summer Olympic Games since 1952. The Vietnamese have two Olympic silver medals: taekwondo player Tran Hieu Ngan won in Sydney in 2000, and weightlifter Hoang Anh Tuan won in Beijing in 2008.
Administrative division– 58 provinces and 5 large cities of central subordination having the same status as provinces (first level). Urban areas, provincial cities, small local towns and rural areas - counties (second level). City neighborhoods, urban communes and rural communes (third level).
Religion– the main religion of the Vietnamese is a system of folk beliefs, the basis of which is the rituals of “tho cung to tien” (ancestor cult), strictly performed by the majority of the country’s inhabitants. This cult does not have a formalized doctrine, hierarchy of clergy and social organization (communities, parishes, etc.) and, therefore, does not have the status of a religious denomination. Buddhist temples are often places of worship for ancestors, which leads to another popular misconception that more than 80% of Vietnamese are Buddhists.
Buddhists 9.3%, Catholics 6.7%, Hoa Hao 1.5%, Cao Dai 1.1%, Protestants 0.5%. Orthodoxy in Vietnam is the smallest of the largest denominations of Christianity in the country. Presented by the parish of the Russian Orthodox Church in honor of the Kazan Icon of the Mother of God in the city of Vung Tau, where several hundred Russian-speaking employees of the Vietsovpetro joint venture live and work.

Tourism

The importance of tourism is constantly growing. Popular resorts in the country are Mui Ne, Nha Trang, Dalat. Thanks to strong winds, the coastline in Mui Ne is popular with kite and windsurfers. The resort has a developed tourist infrastructure.

The beaches of Nyan Trang are attractive. There are healing springs and mud here: there is a mud bath in the city. The unique climate of the alpine resort of Dalat, located at an altitude of 1500 m, has made it a favorite holiday destination not only among local residents, but also among tourists from various countries.
The cities of Hanoi, Hue, and Ho Chi Minh City (formerly Saigon) are popular among tourists.

Ha Long Bay

The bay is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is located in Quang Ninh Province in the Gulf of Tonkin in the South China Sea. This is a popular tourist spot.
The bay includes more than 3,000 islands, as well as small rocks, cliffs and caves. Its area is about 1500 km². The terrestrial and underwater worlds are characterized by high biodiversity.
Ha Long translates to "where the dragon descended into the sea." According to legend, Halong Island was created by a large dragon. He always lived in the mountains, but when he came out, he hollowed out valleys and hollows of various shapes with his tail. After he plunged into the sea, the places dug out by his tail were filled with water, and only small islands of land remained. Local residents to this day say that a dragon lives in the bay.

Nature

Vietnam is divided into three climatic regions: North, Central and South. Due to the diversity of relief and changes in wind direction throughout the year, significant internal differences can be observed in the regions themselves. The northern region is characterized by humid, hot summers during the equatorial monsoon blowing from the Pacific Ocean, and damp, cool winters. The southern region has a typical tropical monsoon climate. The climate of the Central region is significantly influenced by the Truong Son mountains and their spurs, which serve as a barrier that prevents the penetration of humid southwestern winds in summer.

Flora

A significant part of Vietnam, mainly in the mountains, is covered with forests, these are mainly secondary moist evergreen tropical forests, and in those areas in the south of the country where the rainfall is much less, there are savannas and sparse tropical forests. Many valuable tree species grow in Vietnam: iron, black, rose, camphor, ebony, sandalwood, and over 30 types of bamboo. 76 species of forest plants produce aromatic substances, 600 species produce tannin, 200 species produce dyes, and 260 species produce oil. The raw materials for various industries are red shellac, cinnamon, anise, and pine extract.

camphor tree
The lower parts of the mountains (up to altitudes of 800-1000 m) are covered with moist tropical evergreen forests. Higher up, up to 1700-2000 m, broad-leaved subtropical mountain forests grow with an undergrowth of various bamboos, and even higher - mixed forests: oak, maple, ash and conifers.
Mangroves are widespread in the coastal zone. In the lowlands there are groves of coconut palms.

Fauna

The fauna of Vietnam is quite diverse: it has about 170 species of mammals, approximately 970 species of birds, 270 species of reptiles, more than 1000 species of marine and freshwater fish. The coastal waters are home to crabs, shrimp, and shellfish.
In tropical forests, panthers, leopards, tigers, monkeys (macaques and gibbons), bears, tree civets, flying squirrels, large monitor lizards, white and green parrots, pheasants, and peacocks are common.

Tree civets. The civet family is considered, along with the canine family, the most ancient in the order of carnivores. It was from civets that hyenas and cats originated.
Rhinoceroses are occasionally seen. Lots of snakes (boa constrictors, cobras, etc.), turtles, lizards. Indian elephant, antelope, deer, buffalo, wild boar, eagles, and partridges live in savannah forests and savannahs. Pink flamingos, storks, pelicans, herons, wild ducks, and geese live in river deltas and swamps. The flooded fields are teeming with fish and small crabs. There are many freshwater fish in rivers and lakes.

Pink Pelican
In order to preserve wildlife and rare plants (including medicinal ones), 87 specially protected areas with a total area of ​​750 thousand hectares have been created in Vietnam: 7 national parks, 80 nature reserves and reserves.

Culture

Ao Dai - a symbol of Vietnam

Aozai- Vietnamese costume, mainly for women. This is a long silk shirt worn over pants. In modern life, ao dai is worn by Vietnamese women at festive events, in ceremonial settings; ao dai is a uniform costume for schoolgirls, students and employees of many companies in Vietnam. It is also worn in everyday life.

Ao dai with a high collar, two floors, lined with silk and mesh, usually decorated with floral, ornamental or narrative embroidery. Ao Dai, along with wide legs and the national non hat, is one of the symbols of modern Vietnam.
There is a men's version of aozai, which has a wider cut and increased fabric density. At formal receptions, Vietnamese men wear ao dai as a formal suit. In 2006, at the APEC summit organized in Vietnam, leaders of various countries wore the Vietnamese ao dai.

Ao Dai and Khandong Ao Dai at the APEC Summit, Hanoi, Vietnam 2006
The formation of Vietnamese culture was strongly influenced by the largest religious and philosophical teachings of the East - Buddhism and Confucianism. In some periods of history, Chinese culture was imposed by violent methods, especially in the 1st and 7th centuries.
In the village environment, a national cultural tradition - ding-lang - was formed: religious ideas, complex rites and rituals, religious architecture and sculpture, folk painting. Many of the traditional arts have survived to this day.
The famous bronze items of Northern Vietnam belonging to the Dong Son culture (IX-VIII centuries BC – 1st-2nd centuries AD), found at the end of the 17th century, are known from antiquity. Bronze finds include tools, jewelry, household utensils, and bronze drums used during agricultural rituals.
During the era of Chinese expansion I-X centuries. Glazed earthenware products are made from clay: bowls, lamps, incense burners, colored tiles. In the 3rd century. The production of paper from the bark and leaves of the aloe tree and seaweed begins. The art of artistic varnishes is becoming widespread, and weaving from jute, flax, and bamboo fibers is developing. High level in the VIII-X centuries. achieves the art of making silk fabrics.
In the 11th-12th centuries, during the era of Buddhism, temples, pagodas and monasteries were actively built. But the buildings of that period have practically not survived. An indispensable attribute of the temple decor were images of the dragon, which was one of the four sacred animals, along with the phoenix, unicorn and turtle. The dragon was considered the patron ancestor of the Vietnamese and was revered as the master of the element of water.

Roof detail, imperial frame (Hue)
The sacred animal motif is the most common in the decorative arts of Vietnam. Other common elements are the "eight precious objects" symbolizing wealth and learning: a gourd, a tassel tip, a fig leaf fan, a flute, a basket of flowers, a sword, a gong, a feather broom; “eight fruits” - peach, pomegranate, plum, pear, “Buddha’s hand” fruit (a type of citron), grapes, calabash, round pumpkin; “four plants” – peach flower, chrysanthemum, bamboo, orchid; "four Seasons".

Citron
At the end of the 19th century. The folk painting is becoming widespread. These paintings were made in many villages and, due to their low prices, could be purchased by any peasant.

Folk painting “Wealth”
During the period of French colonization, the people of Vietnam received the opportunity to become familiar with European culture. Vocational schools and the Higher School of Fine Arts are opening in the country. The Vietnamese are discovering a new type of fine art - easel painting.

To Ngoc Vam "The Girl at the Lily" (1943)

UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Vietnam

Hue Monument Complex

Thien Mu Pagoda

The complex includes several hundred architectural objects from the Nguyen Dynasty (temples, palaces, mausoleums) in the city of Hue, built over a century and a half: the remains of the imperial citadel; Thien Mu Pagoda with a seven-story, twenty-meter octagonal tower, Thap Phuoc Duyen, dedicated to Buddha; royal tombs (eight huge complexes of tombs of monarchs, greatly differing in style and interior decoration: with temples, wooden buildings and pavilions, granite staircases, mosaics, bronze statues of people and animals, funerary stone obelisks, towers, boat docks); Hue Antiquity Museum. A monument of special value with wooden panels on which his poems were inscribed in the hand of one of the emperors, pieces of royal furniture and clothing, a collection of bronze and ceramic exhibits and personal belongings of the monarchs; Phu Cam Cathedral. The temple, created in 1965 according to classical Vietnamese traditions, but using the latest architectural concepts at that time.

Hoi An Historic Town

View of the old town
In the 1st century n. e. was the largest port in Southeast Asia. Was part of the state of Champa. In the West it was known as Faifo. Hoi An is called an open-air museum city. Today there are 844 officially recognized buildings of historical significance in Hoi An. Among them are ancient Chinese houses, Cham temples, shops, public buildings, and graves. The city is also known for its traditional and souvenir shops, and a large number of sewing workshops.

Old temple

Sanctuary of Michonne

The temple complex of the Champa Empire in central Vietnam was the capital of the empire in the 4th-12th centuries. Champa's culture was heavily influenced by Indian culture, reflected in the worship of the Hindu god Shiva and in art.
Excavations, funded by UNESCO, began in 2002.

The most famous tower, 24 m high, was decorated with sculptures of lions and elephants. It was destroyed by American bombing during the war in 1969. During these bombings, 50 of the 70 churches were completely or partially destroyed.

Phong Nha-Kebang National Park

The park is located in Quang Binh province, 500 km south of Hanoi. It was created to protect a karst area containing approximately three hundred caves and grottoes and which protects the limestone forest ecosystem of the Truong Son Mountains of the north-central coast of Vietnam.
The plateau on which the park lies is one of the most characteristic examples of complex karst landscapes in Southeast Asia. In April 2009, the largest cave in the world, Shondong, was discovered by members of the British Speleological Association.
Phong Nha Ke Bang is famous for its system of caves and grottoes with a total length of about 70 km.

Imperial Citadel of Thang Long (Hanoi)

Remains of the Imperial City were discovered at the site of the Badinh Assembly Hall when it was demolished in 2008 to make way for the construction of a new parliament building. The various archaeological finds that were found are exhibited at the National Museum. Until now, only a small part of Thang Long has been excavated. The royal palaces and most of the buildings in Thang Long were more or less destroyed by the end of the 19th century. due to the actions of the French army during the conquest of Vietnam (Thang Long is the old name of Hanoi).

Huo Dynasty Citadel

The Ho Dynasty Citadel in Vietnam is the center of the former capital of Vietnam in the late 14th and early 15th centuries, the political, economic and cultural center of the northern region of Vietnam from the 16th to the 18th centuries.
The citadel system includes stone walls made of large stone blocks, an outer defensive wall of the citadel, and the Namzhao altar (the site of the ceremony in honor of the Heavenly Lord). Cultural layers underground store information about palaces, temples, roads, decorative arts, even ancient villages, the landscapes are preserved in a relatively untouched state, clearly reflecting the historical period of Vietnam's culture and civilization.

Other attractions of Vietnam

Cat Tien (national park)

The park is home to lowland tropical forests with a large number of protected species of animals and plants. The park was founded in 1978. It is home to 105 species of mammals, more than 360 species of birds, 120 species of reptiles and amphibians, and more than 150 species of freshwater fish. The park is home to about 440 species of butterflies and many species of other insects.

The yellow-cheeked crested gibbon is one of the inhabitants of the park

Fragrant Pagoda

A vast complex of Buddhist temples and sanctuaries built into the limestone mountains of Hanoi, it is one of the most popular pilgrimage sites in the country. A major religious festival, Huong, is held here, attracting pilgrims from all over Vietnam. The temples that make up the Fragrant Pagoda complex are distributed among the hills in the forest of the Huong Mountains.

Petroglyphs in Shapa

Stones with petroglyphs in the city of Sapa (Sapa) in the Vietnamese province of Lao Cai were discovered by a French archaeologist in 1925. The stones depict stairs, people, a road, circular grooves, male and female figures.

Nha Trang

Coastal city and capital of Khanh Hoa Province. Nha Trang is famous for its beaches and has very good conditions for snorkeling. The city is a center of marine science based on the Oceanographic Institute.

Can Tho

The largest city in the Mekong Delta. Like any other city, it has its own attractions and features. A special feature of Can Tho are the floating markets where people buy and sell things on the river.

Story

In the 1st millennium BC. e. On the territory of modern southern China and modern northern Vietnam, there were several states of the ancient Vietnamese.
But already at the end of the 2nd century. BC e. The country falls under the rule of the Han emperors. Chinese rule lasted here until the 9th century, although it should be said about short-term independence as a result "revolt of two sisters". Trung sisters(circa 12 AD - 43 AD) - leader of the uprising against the Chinese governors. They are considered national heroines of Vietnam. Trung Chac and Trung Ni were Nam Viet, because... The Vietnamese nation did not yet exist in those years.

"The Trung sisters lead the elephants into battle." Drawing of Bắc Ninh
At the same time, Buddhism, preached by Indian monks, began to spread in the country, which coexisted with traditional cults of ancestors and the forces of nature.
In 880, Chinese troops abandoned their southern Vietnamese governorship, and in 968 this territory was united by Din Bo Lin under the name Dycoviet– Great ancient Viet. The consolidation of central power began. But in the second half of the 13th century. The Mongols began to invade Dai Viet and other states of Southeast Asia, with whom the Vietnamese fought desperately. In 1407, the country was again captured by the Chinese, Le Loi proclaimed himself the new emperor in 1427, founding the Later Le dynasty, which ruled until the end of the 18th century.
In the second half of the 15th century. Vietnam again switches to an offensive policy, capturing neighboring Champa and the eastern regions of Lan Xang. Buddhism is inferior to Confucianism and traditional beliefs. By the end of the first quarter of the 17th century. actual power in the country belonged to two influential clans: in the north of Nghe An province - the Chiney family, in the south - the Nguyen.
Thirty Years' Civil War (1773-1802) ended with the creation of a unified state based on Confucian principles. At the beginning of the 19th century. strengthened Vietnam waged a long struggle with Siam for control over Cambodia.
In 1858, under the pretext of the Vietnamese government's refusal to accept demands for free trade, the French invasion of Vietnam began. All of southern Vietnam came under French influence. In 1882, the French took Hanoi, and in 1883 they signed a protectorate treaty with Vietnam. The colonial regime was finally established in 1885.
In the second half of the 19th century. Vietnam falls into colonial dependence on France. The country is artificially divided into three parts: the colony of Cochin China (South Vietnam), the protectorates of Annam (Central Vietnam) and Tonkin (Northern Vietnam). Together with Laos and Cambodia, Vietnam became part of French Indochina.
But in the 1930s, a powerful national liberation movement began in the country, led by the Communist Party of Indochina, its leader was Ho Chi Minh.

During World War II, Vietnam was captured by the Japanese, who first disarmed and then completely neutralized the French garrisons. But by the end of the war, the Japanese were forced to withdraw their troops to strengthen the defense of Japan and Manchuria, the communists took advantage of this: they elected a Provisional Government led by Ho Chi Minh and announced the creation of a new state throughout Vietnamese territory - Democratic Republic of Vietnam (DRV).
But the French wanted to restore the colonial system - on November 20, 1946, they shelled and occupied Haiphong and Lang Son. A “nationwide, comprehensive and long-lasting war” began with a protracted partisan character. Northern Vietnam became the main battle arena, but the French suffered a major defeat and were forced to retreat, suffering heavy losses. France abandoned offensive operations, switched to the defense of the occupied regions of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam and decided to “fight against the Vietnamese with the hands of the Vietnamese themselves.” In May 1948, the colonialists formed the puppet government of Nguyen Xuan in the occupied territory, and a year later announced the creation of the state of Vietnam, led by the former emperor Bao Dai (the last representative of the Nguyen dynasty). In the 1950s, direct intervention in the war by the United States began on the side of France.
In 1953, the Vietnamese People's Army launched an all-out offensive on all fronts, which lasted until July 1954. In the spring of 1954, it defeated the forces of the French colonial army at the Battle of Dien Bien Phu. Major military defeats and anti-war protests in France itself forced the French government to negotiate a settlement to the Indochina problem. In July 1954, at the Geneva Conference, agreements were signed to restore peace in Indochina. The armed forces of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam and France were to cease fire and, within 300 days, complete the regrouping of troops in two zones, respectively north and south of the demarcation line established approximately at the 17th parallel. After 2 years, general elections were planned to be held, which were to form a unified government of Vietnam and complete the unification of the country. The signing of the Geneva Accords meant international recognition of Vietnam's sovereignty and independence. Before the elections, the territory of Vietnam was temporarily divided into two halves along the Ben Hai River. This did not suit the United States - the elections were disrupted, the Republic of Vietnam was proclaimed in the south with its capital in Saigon, headed by Ngo Dinh Diem.

Division of Vietnam
In 1959, the leadership of the northern Democratic Republic of Vietnam came to the conclusion that it was necessary to unify the country by force. The National Front for the Liberation of South Vietnam was created, which through guerrilla operations tried to undermine the influence of the Saigon regime on the periphery and in 1965 controlled about 30% of the territory of South Vietnam. The United States took advantage of the Tonkin incident (Vietnamese boats fired at an American destroyer allegedly located in neutral waters) and began systematic bombing of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam and began transferring troops to South Vietnam. The Vietnam War has begun.

It was one of the largest military conflicts of the second half of the 20th century. The decisive actions of the partisans in the south and the DRV’s successful resistance to air raids (with significant support from the USSR) led to significant losses among the Americans and forced Washington to sign the Paris Peace Agreements in 1973, according to which American troops were withdrawn from Vietnam. Without American support, the Saigon regime, which was in deep crisis, quickly fell as a result of the advance of North Vietnamese troops. On April 30, 1975, South Vietnamese troops surrendered Saigon.

On July 2, 1976, the merger of North and South Vietnam into the Socialist Republic of Vietnam took place. In 1976, a new constitution of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam was adopted, Saigon was renamed Ho Chi Minh City.
In February - March 1979, an armed conflict occurred between Vietnam and China, in which other countries were drawn in. The Vietnamese army managed to stop the advance of the Chinese troops that invaded the country, inflicting heavy losses on them. The diplomatic intervention of the USSR forced the PRC to abandon further actions against Vietnam. After this, armed incidents periodically occurred on the Sino-Vietnamese border.
Relations between the PRC and Vietnam were restored only in 1991 following the results of high-level negotiations held on November 5-10.
Currently, Vietnam has undergone a partial liberalization of the economic system and a significant expansion of contacts with foreign countries, with a slight weakening of party control over all spheres of public life.

Modern Hanoi