Geographical Location

Vietnam is a Southeast Asian country that features the total area of 329,560 square kilometers. Lying on the eastern part of the Indochina peninsula, Vietnam is a strip of land shaped like the letter “S”. China borders it to the north, Laos, and Cambodia to the west, the East Sea to the east, and the Pacific Ocean to the east and south.

The country’s total length from north to south is more than 1,650km. Its width, stretching from east to west, is over 600km at the widest point in the north, 400km in the south, and 50km at the narrowest part in Quang Binh province (in the Middle). The coastline is 3,260km long and the inland border is 4,510km. Also, Vietnam is a transport junction from the Indian to the Pacific Ocean. The current capital is Hanoi city, located in the north, or the upper part of the “S”.

Time zone and Business hours

Time Zone. Standard time zone: UTC/GMT + 7 hours
Business Hours
Government offices are open from Monday to Friday
Vietnamese work 8 hours from 7.30 am to 4.30 pm; or 8.00 am to 5.00 pm
Saturday and Sunday are holidays.
Banks are open from 7.30 or 8 am and close at 3.30 pm.

Vietnam Climate/Weather

Southern Vietnam often experiences hot and dry weather (avg temp: 31 °C,) whilst in the north you should expect some light rain. Despite the rain, temperatures will remain high as the north heads towards its summer (avg temp: 24°C, avg wet days per month: 14). The beaches of central Vietnam are likely to be basking in constant sunshine and will see very little rain (avg temp: 28 °C). This is an ideal month for guests wishing to visit Sapa and the north.
April 30th -Reunification Day, A celebration to mark the anniversary of National Front for the liberation of South Vietnam and North Vietnamese troops capturing Saigon and signalling the end of the Vietnam/American War in 1975.

North Vietnam: Hanoi

Central Vietnam - Lowlands and Highlands: Dalat, Hue , Da Nang , Hoi An, Nha Trang

Southern Vietnam & Mekong Delta: Ho Chi Minh, Bin Thuen, Mekong Delta

(Source: tripadviser.com)

Historical features

Vietnam has undergone a surprisingly long-lasting history, and has been considered as one of the earliest cradles of mankind. Archaeological excavations of fossils in Bac Son Grotto in Lang Son Province, vestiges in caves in Nghe An Province, and the discovery of some artifacts at Do Mountain in Thanh Hoa Province which are thought to belong to the Stone Age have proved that human life started in Vietnam 10,000 to 30,000 years ago and Vietnam.
The nation’s thousand-year Dong Son culture can be seen via a number of artifacts of the Phung Nguyen, Dong Dau, Go Mun, and especially the Ngoc Lu Bronze Drums. The vestiges of the historic period of the Hung Kings have revealed that Vietnam was one of the very first countries.
Three main historical periods in Vietnam:

• Northern Kingdom's domination: lasted 1,000 years from the Van Lang-Au Lac period, to Champa Nation age, then to Chinese domination period, and ended in 938 with the historical landmark of the insurrection of Ngo Quyen against Nam Han on the Bach Dang River. One of the fiercest periods of hardship experienced by the different tribal people in Vietnam's history.
• National construction & defense for independence in feudal time: a brilliant era for national revival and development, marked by glorious victories of Vietnamese people against the aggressors. This period has been under Ly & Tran Dynasty in the 11th-14th century, to Ho Dynasty (1400-1407), Le (15th-early 17th century), Tay Son (1771-1802) and Nguyen Dynasty (1802-1945), with both significant historical values, monuments, and vestiges, bright development, and also heroic struggle.
• National Independence and socialism: This is one of the most severe and glorious periods of Vietnam, with years of struggling against invaders for independence, which has made Vietnam known by the world as a heroic nation. Under the French oppression since 1857, Vietnamese people had constantly fought for independence. The revolution succeeded in August 1945 under the leadership of President Ho Chi Minh and Vietnamese Communist Party. Vietnam proclaimed its independence on September 2nd 1945. During the following 30 years, Vietnamese people continued to resist and protect their independence. Vietnam has been unified ever since the great victory over Americans in Spring 1975. The Socialist Republic of Vietnam was born with Hanoi as the capital.
  

Vietnam Culture

The Vietnamese culture, endowed with a long and rich heritage, is deeply stamped with national pride. Famous ancient cultures comprise the Do Mountain Culture, followed by the Son Vi Culture founded over 10,000 years ago, then by the Hoa Binh - Bac Son Culture.
The Dong Son Culture received the most brilliant development and was deeply connected with the Red River civilization, the water rice and the emergence of the primeval states (in the North: Van Lang - Au Lac; in the Central Region: the Sa Huynh Culture of the Cham people; and in the South: the Oc Eo Culture of Phu Nam State).
In spite of historical contingencies, there are still approximately 7,300 preserved historic and cultural sites over Vietnam, from which 1,500 have been listed as national sites. These relics are concentrated mainly in Hanoi and Hue: the relics of the Hung Kings in Phong Chau (Phu Tho Province) date back to the period of the formation of the country; the Co Loa Citadel of the Au Lac State; the ancient capital Hoa Lu of Dai Viet; and the My Son Cultural Heritage Site in the Central Region, etc.
Specific features of Vietnam are reflected in other forms such as legends, festivals, traditional theater, water puppetry, music, dances and custom practices (funerals, weddings, chewing betel and areca nut, smoking lao tobacco, etc.)
Respecting the elderly is also a prominent cultural trait of Vietnam. Nationwide, the elderly is respected for their age and wisdom.  At dinner, never begin eating until you invite the oldest member(s) to begin eating.  Disrespecting the elderly is one of the worst mistakes a foreigner could do, especially when you are the invited honor guests. Regardless of your status (economic, age, gender, etc.), always announce your presence when entering a person's home.  You must pay respect to the owner's home and let them know that you are now at home.  Always ask for permission to excuse your self from the table or from the party or from the discussion if you have to retire or leave for an appointment.  You never just leave a conversation or the table without formally asking for permission.

Population & People of Vietnam

At present, Vietnam has a population of about 84 million people. The population was born through a mix of two major ancient cultures, that is, the Chinese and the Indian. Therefore, a special trait of Vietnam’s culture was formed. On the other hand, in terms of anthropology, Vietnamese people have their origins in the Mongoloid race, which is said to be one among the most ancient races and often found in northern and Eastern Asia.
There are 54 different ethnic groups in total inhabiting in mountainous regions of Vietnam. The Kinh (or Viet) people represent 80% of the whole population. Many minorities possess its own traditions and language. Following is the list of 54 ethnic groups in Vietnam categorized in 9 different language groups:

The Vietnamese people everywhere are friendly and kind. They are interested in living life at present rather than in the past. Thus to the current French and American people, they express no hostile sentiments.
Vietnam has a young population, thirty per cent under the age of 30. They are mostly entrepreneurial and hard working, seem to be happy & glad as part of a vibrant emerging economy. Though poverty still exists, there is hope and evidence that things are changing for the better.

Languages in Vietnam

Mother Tongue: Vietnam’s official language is Vietnamese, a tonal language spoken as a mother tongue by 90% the country’s population. Vietnamese is written using a 29 letter alphabetical system. However, the accent of Vietnamese varies from province to province. Besides Vietnamese, around 50 other languages are spoken by ethnic minorities. English is a popular foreign language and is used in most offices, restaurants… in big cities or tourism places. French, Russian, Chinese, Japanese… are also popular and can be found in tourist places.

Vietnamese: Vietnamese belongs to the Austro-Asiatic language group. It is mother tongue to nearly 85% of the country’s population and an additional 3 million Vietnamese living abroad and is the 17th most spoken language in the world (Ethnologue estimate 2005).
The language is most closely related to Khmer but is heavily influenced by Chinese and somewhat influenced by French. It is a mono syllabic language.
Tones: Vietnamese seems complicated to foreigners because it is mono syllabic and has six different tones. Hence, sounds that are slightly different will have totally different meaning. The 6 tones of Vietnamese are:
      Level: ba (three/dad)
      High rising: bá (to hug)
      Low falling: bà (grandmother)
      Dipping- rising: bả (poison)
      High rising glottalized: bã (trash)
      Low glottalized: bạ (random)
Dialects: Vietnamese is spoken differently depending on geographic location. Each region and province has its distinct dialect. Even though grammatical differences are negligible, Vietnamese varies greatly in tone, accents and even vocabulary. For example, “ch” and “tr” sounds are distinct in the South but are merged by Northerners. The Hanoi accent is considered the “standard” Vietnamese.
Writing: Many find it surprising that Vietnamese is written by Latin letters. Vietnamese used to be written based on a complicated Siniform script that was based heavily on Chinese; hence was not popular.
During the 17th century, Roman Catholic missionaries introduced a Latin-based orthography for Vietnamese, Quốc Ngữ (national language) with 29 letters and is now used widely and officially.
Other minority languages:
Vietnam has 53 other ethnic groups besides Viet (making up nearly 10% of the population, many living in mountainous areas), each with their own languages. 24 even have a written form. A few popular languages besides Vietnamese are:

It is not necessary to know these languages when visiting places with ethnic minorities, as Vietnamese is a common language used between groups.
Languages you speak:
English is the most popular foreign language in Vietnam and is taught is school. Many people speak English and information in English can be found easily in big cities such as Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh; and growing tourist places such as Da Nang or Nha Trang. Guides in English are usually offered.
French and Russian are fairly popular, especially in Northern Vietnam.
Japanese, Korean and Chinese are also growing in popularity. Tours in these languages are also possible depending on location and agency.
(Ref: guidevietnam.com)

Vietnam recommended readings

Top suggestions (essential reading before any trip to Vietnam)

• Great books - look for them in your library or local book store
• Catfish and Mandala - a Vietnamese odyssey by Andrew Pham, who was born in Vietnam but left as a young child, growing up in USA. He returned to Vietnam in his early 20s travelling on his bicycle around the country revisiting places and relatives of his youth. An interesting yarn with a few twists.
• A book with more history - "the sacred willow- four generations in the life of a Vietnamese family" - Elliott, Duong Van Mai
• "Three moons in Vietnam" by Maria Coffey, and "Bound for Vietnam" by Lydia Laube are two good books about Vietnam, too

Travel Pictorial - Country or Natural Wonder

Always browse any or all Travel Pictorial books about a country, region or a natural wonder of the world. You will find excellent photography to view at leisure. Check out any bookstore or library (lending or reference).

Travel Guide(s) - Country, Region or City

Always glance through any Travel Guide for the region you are planning to visit. You will always find some nugget of useful information. The layout and content will always vary with the publisher. Every traveler should make it a priority to browse one or all of the guides listed below. It will be a great education to browse the layout and view the excellent photography. You decide which of the travel guide(s) you like the best.

• DK Eyewitness Travel Guide(s)
• Insight/ Discovery Channel Travel Guide(s)
• Lonely Planet Guide(s)
• AA Explorer, AA Key or AA Spiral Guide(s)
• Note: You will find about thirteen (13+) other publishing companies  travel guides in bookstores.  

Travel Books - Children or Junior

Browse the children's or junior section of your local library for travel and geography guides. You will find a variety of guides to countries, regions or natural wonders of the world. The majority of these guides will be less than fifty pages in length. They will contain an excellent overview of a country etc. They are an excellent introduction to travel for a novice traveler.

Travel DVD or Video Viewing

• These are a few ideas for finding Travel DVD's in your local area.
• Local Video Rental Store
• Local Library - Travel Video or DVD
• Any large music store will have a range of travel DVD's or Video's on sale.
• Travel Video Store has an excellent internet site.
• BBC Video series website section
• Pilot Travel Guide series 
• National  Geographic Travel DVD or Video Series
• Escorted Tour Companies  DVD or Video's  e.g. Rick Steves' 
• National Tourist Bureaus MAY have a introduction Video or DVD on offer  or Photo Gallery on their Internet site
• Recently some Vietnamese made movies such as Legends, White silk dress which filmed in Vietnam (Hoi An)will give you a glimpse view of the country. Westerner made is A quiet American was filmed in Saigon (hotel Continental but actually they ued hotel Caravelle' front) and Hoi An.

(Ref: tripadvisor.com)
For further information on Vietnam, please click here http://www.vietnam-beauty.com

Vietnamese Religion

Vietnamese religious beliefs have been influenced by the value combination of the three traditional religions forming the Tam Giao (Buddhism, Confucianism and Taoism), as well as ancestor worship, Christianity (which includes Catholicism and Protestantism), Caodaism, the Hoa Hao sect, and Islam. Though Vietnam is a communist country, the people are offered religious freedom.
At present, seventy percent of the nation’s population are Buddhists, or their thinking/ behavior is governed by Buddhist philosophies. This religion was first introduced in Vietnam in the 2nd century and remains its influence till today.
These days, the Catholics occupy Bui Chu-Phat Diem in Ninh Binh province in the North. To the South, it occupies Ho Nai-Bien Hoa in Dong Nai Province. Only 10% of the population constitute the Catholics. The Vietnam Religions of Catholicism and Protestantism entered Vietnam in the 17th century. The Protestants now occupy the Central Highlands. The followers of Islam occupy the central region of the central coast of Vietnam. The majority of them are from the Cham ethnic minority group.
Caodaism entered Vietnam in 1926. The followers of this religion live in South Vietnam near the Church Tay Ninh. The Hoa Hao sect entered Vietnam in 1939. The followers of this occupy the north west of the country.

Main National festivals

Most Vietnamese festivals are fixed by the lunar calendar: the majority takes place in spring, and the days of the full moon (day 1) and the new moon (day 14 or 15) are particularly auspicious.

• Tet Nguyen Dan (The lunar New Year Festival) is Vietnam's most important annual event; it lasts for seven days and falls sometime between the last week of January and the third week of February, on the night of the new moon. According to Vietnamese customs, Tet is a family oriented celebration and an occasion for family members to meet. It is also an occasion for people to light incense to commemorate their deceased relatives. It is the most sacred celebration in Vietnam during which people wish each other health and happiness.
• Tet Tao quan (Household Gods) is on the 23rd day of the 12th lunar month. It ends a year of working and heralds the coming of Tet Nguyen Dan
• Tet Khai Ha on the 7th day of the 1st lunar month heralds the coming of Spring. This is a sign of bumper harvest and prosterity.
• Tet Thuong Nguyen (or Tet Nguyen Tieu) on the 15th day of the 1st month. Devout Buddhists celebrate at Buddhist Shrines. This is also called the anniversary of Buddha’s death.
• Tet Han thuc (cold Goods tet) takes place on the 3rd day of the third lunar month. People make offerings of banh troi and banh chay (rice flour doughnuts stuffed with lumps of brown sugar or bean paste respectively) to worship ancestors.
• Tet Thanh Minh (serene sky) falls on the 5th day of the 3rd lunar month. This is a good occasion for Vietnamese people to visit and tidy the burial mounds of relatives.
• Buddha’s Birthday takes place on the 8th day of the 4th lunar month.
• Tet Doan Ngo, also called “Exterminating Pest Day”, in the summer solstice or on the 5th day of the fifth lunar month to be exact. This is the middle year festival for the prevention of disease and warding off evil spirits (the day of changing weather from spring to summer, this is the time easy to get pathogen). On this day, every one has to get up early, eat fermented sticky and fruits. The worshipping is held at noon, hour of Ngo.   
• Tet Trung Nguyen on the 15th day of the seventh lunar month in Pagodas and in families. This day is held to forgive the lost souls, to fulfil filial duty, and to remember the dead. Shoes and dresses made of paper, along with votive paper, are burnt in every household. The worship of Buddha also occurs.
• Trung Thu, (Sept-Oct) (Mid-Autumn Festival) on the15th day of the eighth lunar month. This is a joyful occasion for children to enjoy several activities, such as singing, dancing, parading with lanterns shaped as moon and stars, and eating pastries. 
• Water Puppet Festival takes place in February.
• Buddhist full moon festival is celebrated in around March-April
• Hung Temple Festival from the 8th to the 11th day of the third lunar month, main festival day on the 10th day of the third lunar month, in Viet Tri City, Phu Tho Province where King Hung’s Temple stands. This is the ancestors’ death anniversary of the whole nation. At the same time with incense-offering ceremony at Hung Temple in Phu Tho Province, sacrifice-offering ceremonies at Hung Temple in Ho Chi Minh City, Nha Trang and other provinces are aslo celebrated.

Other important local festivals:
New year of Khmer people in the Mekong Delta on the 2nd day of the 4th lunar month

• Do Temple Festival from the 14th to the 16th day of the third lunar month. The main festival day is on the 15th day of the third lunar month. It takes place in Tu Son District, Bac Ninh Province, to worship Eight kings of the Ly Dynasty. Activities include the procession of palanquin from Dan Pagoda (Co Phap) to the temple, barbecued buffalo used as sacrifices - offering.   
• Dong Ho Painting Village Festival on the 15th day of the third lunar month, in Bac Ninh Province. They worship the village's tutelary god, founding father of village, with the displaying and selling of Dong Ho traditional paintings in the yard of the communal house, and the building of a bridge by painting picture symbolizing for the exchanging relation, harmony.  
• Dong Ky Festival (Festival of Mr. Quan Dam Procession) on th 4th day of the first lunar month in Dong Ky Village, Dong Quang Commune, Tu Son District, Bac Ninh Province.
• Dove releasing Festival (Thiet Ung Festival) on th 27th day of the third lunar month inYen Phong District, Bac Ninh Province.
• Lim Festival on the 13th day of the first lunar month, at Lim Hill, Lim Town, Tien Du District, Bac Ninh Province. They worship Lady King and Hieu Trung Hau, the two legendary patriarchs of quan ho tunes. The festival features Quan ho singing on the hills, boats or at home.   
• Phat Tich Pagoda Festival is held on the 4th day of the first lunar month in Phat Tich Commune, Tien Du District, Bac Ninh Province, to worship worship: Quan Yin Buddha and Ly Thanh Tong.
• Tam Thanh Pagoda Festival is celebrated on the 15th day of the first lunar month in Lang Son Province, with activities like unicorn dance, breeding young fish to the lake and the stream, lion dance, human chess playing.  
  
  
  

Public Holidays

Public holidays in Vietnam, on which workers have days off, have gone through changes in number. Before 2007, Vietnamese workers observed 8 days of public holiday a year. However, on March 28th, 2007 the Government added a traditional holiday that commemorates the mythical Hung Kings to its list of public holidays, thus the number of days increased to 9. As in most other nations, if a holiday falls during the weekend, it is observed on the following Monday. Here comes the list of Vietnam’s Public holidays and some important holidays to be well celebrated nationwide: