The Most Beautiful S-Shaped Land

Geographic Location

Vietnam is a country located on the Indochinese Peninsula in Southeast Asia, along the Pacific coast. It has a land border of 4,550 km, sharing boundaries with China to the north, and Laos and Cambodia to the west; to the east, it borders the East Sea. On the map, Vietnam's landmass resembles an "S" shape, stretching from latitude 23°23' N to 8°27' N, with a length of 1,650 km from north to south and a maximum width of about 500 km; the narrowest point is nearly 50 km.

Vietnam's terrain is diverse, featuring hills, plains, coastlines, and continental shelves, reflecting a long history of geological development in a humid, hot monsoon environment with strong weathering. The terrain gradually descends from northwest to southeast, clearly demonstrated by the flow of major rivers.

Mountains occupy about three-quarters of the territory, mostly consisting of low hills. Lowlands below 1,000 m account for around 85% of the territory, while mountains over 2,000 m make up only 1%. The mountainous regions form a large arc facing the East Sea, extending 1,400 km from the Northwest to the Southeast. The tallest ranges are located in the west and northwest, with Fansipan being the highest peak in the Indochinese Peninsula (3,143 m). As one moves eastward, the mountains decrease in height and often end with a low coastal strip. South of Hai Van Pass, the terrain becomes simpler. Here, there are no long limestone ranges but large granite blocks occasionally rising to form high peaks; the remainder consists of continuous plateaus forming the Central Highlands, with the eastern edge uplifted into the Truong Son mountain range.

Plains occupy only one-fourth of the land area and are divided into many regions by mountains. At both ends of the country are two large, fertile plains: the Northern Plain (Red River Delta, covering 16,700 km²) and the Southern Plain (Mekong Delta, covering 40,000 km²). Between these two major deltas lies a series of narrow plains along the central coast, extending from the Ma River Delta (Thanh Hoa) to Phan Thiet, with a total area of 15,000 km².

Vietnam has three sides—east, south, and southwest—facing the sea, with a coastline of 3,260 km, from Mong Cai in the north to Ha Tien in the southwest. The East Sea, under Vietnam's sovereignty, extends to the east and southeast, featuring a continental shelf, islands, and archipelagos. The Gulf of Tonkin alone contains nearly 3,000 islands in the regions of Ha Long Bay, Bai Tu Long, Cat Hai, Cat Ba, and Bach Long Vi, among others. Further out are the Paracel and Spratly Islands, with the southwest and south hosting the Con Dao, Phu Quoc, and Tho Chu archipelagos.

Population

According to the 2023 census, the population reached 100.3 million, with a relatively balanced gender ratio (49.9% male and 50.1% female). (Source: General Statistics Office).

Climate

Vietnam lies within the subtropical belt, characterized by high temperatures and humidity throughout the year. The northern region is influenced by the Chinese mainland, giving it somewhat continental climatic characteristics. The East Sea significantly impacts the humid tropical monsoon climate of the mainland. The tropical monsoon climate is not uniform across Vietnam, resulting in distinct climatic regions. The climate varies seasonally and regionally, from lowlands to highlands, from north to south, and from east to west. Due to the strong influence of the northeast monsoon, the average temperature in Vietnam is lower than that of many other countries at the same latitude in Asia.

Vietnam can be divided into two major climatic zones: (1) The North (from Hai Van Pass northward) has a tropical monsoon climate with four distinct seasons (spring-summer-autumn-winter), influenced by the Northeast monsoon (from the Asian mainland) and the Southeast monsoon (blowing from Thailand-Laos and the East Sea), with high humidity. (2) The South (from Hai Van Pass southward) experiences a more temperate tropical climate with warm weather year-round and two distinct seasons (dry and rainy).

Additionally, due to its topography, Vietnam has various microclimates. Some areas have temperate climates, such as Sa Pa in Lao Cai Province and Da Lat in Lam Dong Province; others exhibit continental climates, such as Lai Chau and Son La. These locations are ideal for tourism and relaxation.

The average temperature in Vietnam ranges from 21°C to 27°C, increasing from north to south. In summer, the national average temperature is 25°C (Hanoi 23°C, Hue 25°C, Ho Chi Minh City 26°C). In winter, temperatures in the north drop to their lowest in December and January. In the northern mountainous regions, such as Sa Pa, Tam Dao, and Hoang Lien Son, temperatures can drop to 0°C, with snowfall occurring.

Vietnam enjoys high solar radiation, with sunshine hours ranging from 1,400 to 3,000 hours per year. The average annual rainfall is between 1,500 and 2,000 mm, and humidity hovers around 80%. Due to the influence of monsoons and complex topography, Vietnam often faces adverse weather conditions such as storms, floods, and droughts.

Rivers and Lakes

Vietnam has a dense network of rivers (2,360 rivers longer than 10 km), flowing mainly in two directions: northwest-southeast and in arcs. The two largest rivers are the Red River and the Mekong River, which create two vast, fertile deltas. The river systems are replenished with up to 310 billion m³ of water annually. The hydrological regime of the rivers is divided into flood and dry seasons, with floods accounting for 70-80% of the annual water volume, often causing flooding.

Land, Flora, and Fauna

The soil in Vietnam is diverse and highly fertile, conducive to agricultural and forestry development. Vietnam boasts a rich and varied plant system, with approximately 14,600 plant species. The predominant vegetation is tropical rainforest, consisting of light-loving plants that thrive in high temperatures and humidity.

The animal population in Vietnam is also rich and diverse, with many rare species listed in the World Red Book. Currently, 275 species of mammals, 800 species of birds, 180 species of reptiles, 80 species of amphibians, 2,400 species of fish, and 5,000 species of insects have been documented. Dense forests, limestone mountains, and multi-layered forests are home to many species of monkeys, langurs, gibbons, and wildcats. Endemic langur species include the white-headed langur, white-thighed langur, and black langur. There are also many rare bird species, such as the pheasant and the starling. The high mountains in the north host many thick-furred animals like bears, foxes, and civets.

Vietnam has preserved and protected several biodiversity-rich national parks, such as Hoang Lien Son National Park (Phan Xi Păng area, Lao Cai), Cat Ba National Park (Quang Ninh), Cuc Phuong National Park (Ninh Binh), Pu Mat National Park (Quang Binh), Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park (Quang Binh), Bach Ma National Park (Thua Thien Hue), Con Dao National Park (Con Son Island, Ba Ria-Vung Tau), and Cat Tien National Park (Dong Nai). These national parks serve as research sites for biologists from Vietnam and around the world and are also attractive ecotourism destinations. Additionally, UNESCO has recognized nine biosphere reserves in Vietnam as World Biosphere Reserves, including the Can Gio Mangrove Biosphere Reserve, Dong Nai Biosphere Reserve, Cat Ba Biosphere Reserve, Red River Delta Biosphere Reserve, coastal and island biosphere reserve in Kien Giang, Western Nghe An Biosphere Reserve, Ca Mau Peninsula Biosphere Reserve, Cu Lao Cham Biosphere Reserve, and Lang Biang Biosphere Reserve.

Source: https://chinhphu.vn/dia-ly-68387