• Population
  83,535,576 (July 2005 est.)
  
  
• Languages
  Vietnamese (official), English (increasingly favored as a second language), some French, Chinese
  
  
• Ethnic Groups
  Kinh (Viet) 86.2%, Tay 1.9%, Thai 1.7%, Muong 1.5%, Khome 1.4%, Hoa 1.1%, Nun 1.1%, Hmong 1%, others 4.1% (1999 census)
  

Country and Vietnamese People

The Socialist Republic of Vietnam, a sovereign and reunified independent country, has a high percentage of territorial waters. Looking at the map, Vietnam is located in the centre of the Southeast Asia, and is shaped like the letter "S". The country lies in the eastern part of the Indochina peninsula, bordered by China to the north, Laos and Cambodia to the west, and the East Sea and Pacific Ocean to the southeast. Vietnam's coast line is 3,260 km long and its inland border measures 3,730 km. The country's total length is 1,650 km from the northernmost point to the southernmost point.

Its width, stretching from the eastern point to the western point is 600 km at the widest point in the north, 400km in the south, and 50 km at the narrowest part in the Quang Binh province on the central coast. Vietnam is also a transport junction from the Indian Ocean to the Pacific Ocean.

Despite Vietnam's ongoing economic liberalization and the pressures of rapid development, this dignified country has managed to preserve its rich civilization and highly cultured society. Most visitors to Vietnam are overwhelmed by the sublime beauty of the country's natural setting: the Red River Delta in the north, the Mekong Delta in the south and almost the entire coastal strip are a patchwork of brilliant green rice paddies tended by women in conical hats. There are some divine beaches along the coast too, while inland there are soaring mountains, some of which are cloaked by dense, misty forests. Vietnam offers an opportunity to see a country of traditional charm and rare beauty rapidly opening up to the outside world.

Climate

Vietnam is located in both a tropical and a temperate zone. It is characterized by strong monsoon influences, but has a considerable amount of sun, and a high rate of rainfall and humidity. The annual average temperature ranges from 22ºC to 27ºC. In Hanoi, the average temperature is 23ºC, in Ho Chi Minh City it is 26ºC, and in Hue it is 25ºC.

In the North, winter lasts from November to April with temperatures averaging 10o - 16o C. Fog and drizzle can be encountered in February and March. The summer begins in May and lasts through October with an average temperature of 30oC.Therefore, tropical and washable cottons are worn all year. Rainwear is essential during the rainy season.