Vietnam

Vietnam occupies the eastern and southern part of the Indochinese peninsula in Southeast Asia, with the South China Sea along its entire coast. China is to the north and Laos and Cambodiaare to the west. Long and narrow on a north-south axis, Vietnam is about twice the size of Arizona. The Mekong River delta lies in the south.

The climate varies greatly from north to south. The north has a cool and dry season from November to April and a hot rainy season from May to October. The central coast north of Nha Trang has a similar climate with the winter monsoon bringing cool, wet weather between December and February. The south is hot and humid all year round, especially from February to May. The rainy season lasts from May to November. The central highlands have a similar climate to the south, but it is cooler and temperatures can be freezing in winter. The official peak season in Vietnam is from September to April.

Until recently, most of Vietnam's economy was based on it's agriculture, mainly it's rice.  Even during French colonial rule, agriculture was important, although other crops were added for export such as coffee, tea, and rubber, among other things.  It wasn't until 1954 when Vietnam was divided that the national economy was actively developed, for each government of course.  The Communist North was a very centralized planned economy, while the South was pretty much a free-market economy with little government involvement. Vietnam an anchor to the global market and reinforced the domestic economic reform process. Among other benefits, accession allows Vietnam to take advantage of the phase-out of the Agreement on Textiles and Clothing, which eliminated quotas on textiles and clothing for WTO partners on 1 January 2005. Main industries are food processing, garments, shoes, machine-building; mining, coal, steel; cement, chemical fertilizer, glass, tires, oil, paper. Main partners are US, Japan, Australia, China, Singapore, Taiwan, South Korea, Thailand.

Vietnam capital is Hanoi. It is a city of lakes, leafy boulevards and open parks with a French colonial feel. Soc Trang is a province in the Mekong Delta of southern Vietnam. It is one of the poorest provinces in the southern region. There is an industrial zone in Quang Ngai city as Quang Phu industrial zone. The city of Nam Dinh is 90 km southeast of Vietnam's capital, Hanoi. Lao Cai is a market town for timber located on the Haiphong railway to Yunnan Province in China. Ca Mau has several attractions that draw domestic and international tourists.

The Temple of Literature is Vietnam's historical seat of learning and is the most sacred place for the disciples of Confucius. It is one of the few remaining buildings from the original city founded by Emperor Ly Thanth Tong in the 11th century and is a well-preserved example of Vietnamese architecture. A boat trip on the Perfume River is one of the highlights of a visit to Hue. Cholon is the thriving warren of streets comprising the Chinese district of Saigon, first settled by the Chinese Hoa merchants at the end of the 18th century, and now home to the biggest ethnic minority community in the country.

The Vietnamese language has been influenced by Chinese more than any other language. Chinese was the language used by government officials, scholars, and artists during the thousand years that China ruled Vietnam, but Vietnamese remained the popular language. The Vietnamese sometimes practice several religions at the same time. Confucianism, which came from China over 2,000 years ago, emphasizes good behavior, education, and respect for hierarchy and has been very influential in Vietnam. Another religion are Taoism; Buddhism, Roman Catholicism; Cao Daism.

Bai Chay beach is the nearest to Hanoi, so it draws a huge crowd of people on the weekends and in summer. Victoria Phan Thiet beach resort studded with coconut trees, with its romantic bungalows, was built in the traditional style of a Vietnamese country house. With its beautifully landscaped garden and its location right on the beach, the resort has been carefully planned to allow guests to enjoy a unique nature experience and relax in a heavenly setting. Ana Mandara Hotel, Nha Trang, is located directly on the beach of Nha Trang.

Rice is served at virtually every meal, including breakfast. Fish is almost as important, since Vietnam is a country that has abundant water with vast resources of fish. Fish and other fresh and salt water life is eaten fresh, but is also frequently dried. Fowl, such as chicken, ducks, and geese, along with eels and eggs, provide additional protein. Beef and pork are enjoyed only by the wealthy or on special occasions such as at weddings or festivals.

Since the 1400s, Vietnamese artisans have been making lacquerware. Wooden objects are painted and decorated with pearl, gold, silver, shell, and other objects. The objects are then coated repeatedly with a lacquer made from the tree sap.

Vietnamese children play a variety of games, but the most popular sport is soccer. Because most Vietnamese families continue to struggle to make a living, children spend most of their time assisting their parents or going to school.