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ABOUT VIETNAM 
General physical features of Vietnam
| Inland area: | 330,991 sq. kilometers | | continetal shelf area: | 1,000,000 sq. kilometers | | Population (April 1, 1999): | 75,324,753 | | Inland coordinates: | Latitude 102o10? - 109o30? East | | Longtitude: 8o30? - 23o22? North |
Geography
The Social 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 center of the South East Asia, and it shaped like the letter S. It 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 east and south. Vietnam coastline is 3,260 km long and its borderline measure is 4,510 km. The country?s total length is 1,650km from the northernmost point to the southern most. Its width, stretching from the eastern point to western point is 600km at the widest point in the north, 400km in the south, and 50km at the narrowest part in the Quang Binh Province on the central coast. Vietnam is also transport junction from the Indian Ocean to the Pacific Ocean.
Climate
The temperature in Vietnam is high. The annual average temperatures range from 22oC to 27oC. However , the average temperature is different in every place. In Hanoi the average temperature is 23oC, in Ho Chi Minh City 26oC and 25oC in Hue. Some places like Dalat and Sapa have a maximum temperature of 20oC in the summer. Every year there are 100 rainy days and the average rainfall is 1,500 to 2,000mm. The humidity ranges around 80%. The sunny hours is 1,500 to 2,000 and the average solar radiation of 100 kcal/cm2 in a year.
Vietnam Currency
The currency issued by the Vietnam State Bank is the dong (abbreviated "d" or VND), which is used uniformly throughout the country. Traveler?s Cheques, credit cards such as American Express, Visa, MasterCard) are exchanged for Vietnamese dong at the banks. Cards can be used in travel agencies, hotels, and major restaurants. US currency is exchanged for Vietnamese dong and treasury notes in banks, exchange bureaus, hotels, and jewelry shops. The exchange rate always changes. When leaving the country, remaining Vietnamese currency can be exchanged for US dollars at the exchange bureau at the airport.
Vietnam Visa
All visitors are required to have a valid visa to enter Vietnam. A one-month tourist visa is usually sufficient for most visitors though it is possible to arrange 3-month and 6-month multiple entry visas for regular visitors. All visitors must obtain visa approval from the Vietnamese Immigration Department before a visa is issued.
Religion
Buddhism is the dominant religion in Vietnam usually combined with elements of Confucianism and Taoism. About 10% of the country?s population are Catholic and there are also communities of Protestants and Muslims. Vietnam is also home to a unique religion called Cao Dai, a religious cocktail of all the world?s major faiths.
Food
The cuisine of Vietnam comes as a pleasant surprise to many visitors and is definitely a part of the Vietnam experience not to be missed. One of the characteristics of Vietnamese food is that it is always fresh being bought the same morning straight from the market. Food is usually prepared with a minimum of oil and served with the ubiquitous fish sauce called nuoc mam. Typical Vietnamese dishes you can expect to try include pho, a type of rice noodle soup eaten for breakfast, cha gio, deep-fried spring rolls and goi ngo sen, a delicious salad made with lotus stems, shrimps and peanuts. Due to the strong Buddhist influence in Vietnam, vegetarian food is widely available.
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