Vietnam description. Vietnam official name Modern Vietnam

Vietnam is often called the land of fairies and dragons - according to ancient legends, all Vietnamese consider themselves descendants of the marriage of a Fairy and a Dragon. The Fairy was in charge of industry - she taught people how to produce silk, and the Dragon showed children the wisdom of agriculture. Since then, the Vietnamese have prospered in both directions.

The name of the country is translated as “the country of the Southern Vietnamese (the name of the nation), but the country was called Annam until 1945, and the name Vietnam was used only in poetic speech. The new name was immortalized by Emperor Bao Dai.

Geographical characteristics

The state, elongated in the shape of the letter “S”, is located in Southeast Asia, in the east of the Indochina Peninsula. Neighbors to the west are Laos, Cambodia and China.

The coast of Vietnam is washed from the east and south by the South China Sea and Bac Bo Bay; the small southwestern tip has access to the Gulf of Thailand.

The area of ​​Vietnam is 329.6 thousand square meters. km. The capital of the state is Hanoi. Political system - socialist republic. The state is officially headed by the Communist Party.

Nature

More than 80% of the country is mountainous, decreasing with access to the sea. The highest point in the country is Mount Fansipan, 3143 meters high. The hill is located in the north-west of the country, in the Hoanglien Son mountain range. The Truong Son Mountains stretch along the western border of the country, separating Vietnam from Laos and China.

The central and southern parts of Vietnam are occupied by basement and basalt plateaus, on which several frozen volcanoes rise. The area between the volcanoes is covered with forest, and in the craters of some volcanoes lakes have formed, giving rise to several rivers of the Mekong River basin...

There are more than 2,000 rivers in Vietnam of varying depths and sizes (the smallest reaches only 10 meters in length). The largest rivers in Vietnam - the Mekong and Hong Ha (Red River) - flow into the South China Sea.

The Mekong Delta is one of the largest and deepest deltas in the world. On the territory of Vietnam, the area with a delta forming nine branches (“Nine of the Dragons”) even acquired special economic importance - the Vietnamese settled here for the first time, began to develop the wetlands, and began to raise fish in canals and man-made ponds.

In the Hong Ha River delta, on the Bac Bo Plain, stands the capital Hanoi. The territory is marked by the highest population density.

The country's largest lake, Hoan Kiem, is an oxbow lake formed as a result of changes in the course of the Red River. The lake has great cultural and historical significance for the people. It is also called the Lake of the Returned Sword: according to legend, one of the ancient rulers of Vietnam defeated the Chinese armies with a accidentally found sword that belonged to a magical golden turtle. After the victories, the turtle came out of the waters of the lake and took the sword.

To the north of the capital there is a chain of picturesque Ba Be lakes. Lakes Pelam, Pelu and Peleng are surrounded by waterfalls and caves...

The coast of Vietnam is washed by one sea - the South China Sea, it is semi-enclosed and belongs to the basins of the Indian and Pacific oceans and has the properties of both oceans.

The largest island in the South China Sea is Hainan. The area is comfortable for tourist holidays, as the sea here is clean and warm. However, there are many predatory fish and dangerous sharks in the sea. The sea is also rich in commercial fish species - tuna, herring and sardines are found here in abundance...

Some unique plants of Vietnam have become national symbols of the country: for example, bamboo, red and black sandalwood.

In Vietnam there are animals listed in the Red Book, which are almost not left in the wild in other parts of the world - these are the Asian buffalo, Javan and Sumatran rhinoceroses. Endemics (animals that live exclusively in a specified territory) are several species of monkeys, rodents and bats. The Asian elephant, black gibbon, and Indochinese tiger are considered rare species preserved in Vietnam. Animals live both in the wild, in protected reserves, and on special farms...

Due to the elongation of the country from north to south, the climate of Vietnam is heterogeneous, although in general the country is located in the subequatorial monsoon climate zone. In the south, winter is dry and hot (temperatures reach 26 degrees Celsius), in the north it is colder, but humid and mild (up to 15 degrees Celsius). Summer is the monsoon season throughout the country; the end of summer is usually marked by destructive typhoons.

There are frosts in the mountains; on the borders with China, where cool air penetrates, temperatures drop to 1 degree Celsius...

Resources

The industrial centers of Vietnam - Ho Chi Minh City, Hanoi and Da Nang - are located in Central and Southern Vietnam. Industry is represented by metallurgical, mechanical engineering, construction, chemical fields, and light industry. Electronics and components, production of textiles and leather, glass, jewelry and cosmetics were exported to the world. A special branch of the economy is the global production of electricity thanks to an extensive network of hydroelectric power stations.

The fertile basalts of the area contribute to the successful growth of crops in tropical and temperate latitudes, so agriculture has developed greatly on the plateaus of Vietnam - this cluster employs 50% of the country's population. Mainly rice, tea and coffee are grown; the production of cashew nuts, spices, tropical fruits is highly developed...

Culture

The indigenous population of the country is the Viet (Kinh), and 54 other nationalities are recognized as related to them in the country. In the south, most of the population is Khmer (Lower Viet). There is a large proportion of Chinese, Polynesian, Malay and Thai populations.

Vietnamese has the status of the state language. More than 85% of the population professes Buddhism, and the religions of these national minorities, atheism, Christianity are also present...

The Socialist Republic of Vietnam is located in Southeast Asia. The sights of this distant country have been little studied, but this makes them no less interesting and attractive. Tourists come here to enjoy the unique landscapes and the pompous beauty of ancient oriental temples.

Where is the country located?

Where is the Socialist Republic of Vietnam located, whose attractions are attracting more and more attention from foreign tourists?

The state is located in the southeastern part of Asia, on the Indochina Peninsula. From the east it is washed by the warm waters of the South China Sea, in the west it borders with Cambodia and Laos, and in the north - with China. The country's territory is small (331.2 thousand square kilometers). However, over 90 million people live here.

Vietnam is very elongated in the submeridional direction. The temperature difference between the northern and southern regions of the country can sometimes reach 10-12 degrees.

The Embassy of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam is located in Moscow. It is located on Bolshaya Pirogovskaya Street, building 13. There are also consulates of this distant one in Vladivostok and Yekaterinburg.

Official name: Socialist Republic of Vietnam. and administrative division of the country

The name of the country is very ancient. It was first mentioned in the book of the poet Khiem, written in the 16th century. A geographical toponym consists of two words: viet(Viets are the indigenous and main people of Vietnam) and nam, which means "south", "southern". The full and official name of the state today is: Socialist Republic of Vietnam.

The country is divided into 58 provinces and five major cities, which have a similar legal status. Is Vietnam a monarchy or a republic? According to the government system, the country is a republic. The main (and only legal) political party in the state is the Communist Party of Vietnam. The Vietnamese, by the way, call it briefly and succinctly: the party.

History of the formation of Vietnam

It is worth noting that until the mid-twentieth century, the state of Vietnam did not exist within its modern borders. For a long time the country remained dependent on France. During World War II, Vietnam was captured by Japanese troops. At the same time (in August 1945), an uprising led by Ho Chi Minh took place in Hanoi. At a rally of 500,000 people, he solemnly announced that a new independent state had emerged in southeast Asia - the Democratic Republic of Vietnam.

However, Vietnam did not remain a sovereign country for long. Since Japan officially lost World War II, its troops were disarmed. The territory of Vietnam was occupied by the armies of several states at once - China, England and France. The new government of Ho Chi Minh signed a number of agreements with the French side, but very soon it became clear that the French intended to restore their rights to Vietnamese territory. At the end of 1946, Vietnam entered a phase of war that lasted on its territory for almost thirty years.

At first, Ho Chi Minh's troops "went into the forests" and fought exclusively guerrilla battles. But later they managed to launch an active counter-offensive. The so-called First Indochina War ended only in 1954 with the signing of the Geneva Agreements, which fully recognized the independence of the young state.

Soon a new round of military aggression began in Vietnam. Another important geopolitical player, the United States, intervened in the situation in Southeast Asia, with the goal of limiting the spread of the ideas of communism in the Asian region. With the direct support of the Americans, a republic was formed in the south with its capital in Saigon. In turn, the Democratic Republic of Vietnam (DRV), which was actively supported by the Soviet Union, decided to annex its southern territories by force. Thus, on a small piece of Asian land, the two superpowers of the planet essentially came together in a real war.

Lasted until the mid-70s. The DRV, with the strong support of Soviet troops and with the help of the active actions of its partisan detachments in the south of the country, was able to win this war. The long-awaited merger of North and South and the formation of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam took place in July 1976. The city of Saigon was renamed Ho Chi Minh City in honor of the outstanding Vietnamese military leader.

Socialist Republic of Vietnam: attractions and tourism potential of the country

A country not spoiled by tourists - this is how one can characterize the young republic. What is attractive about this state? First of all, it is the unique nature, varied landscapes, unusual architecture and hospitality of the Vietnamese themselves.

The capital of Vietnam, Hanoi, will appeal to any European who is accustomed to big cities, cozy parks and modern buildings. But lovers of antiquity should definitely go to the city of Hue. Here the traveler is greeted by the most beautiful pagodas, imperial palaces, and ruins of ancient fortresses. But in Ho Chi Minh City (formerly Saigon) you can fully experience the flavor of the ancient East Asian city.

Lovers of wildlife and a calm, peaceful holiday should definitely visit the mountain resort of Dalat.

Mausoleum of Ho Chi Minh

The Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum is located in Hanoi and is an entire architectural complex consisting of five objects. The ideological leader of the Vietnamese, as we know, did not live to see the unification of the country for which he fought. Construction of the mausoleum in his honor began back in 1973.

Today, anyone can go up to the second floor of the grandiose building and look at Ho Chi Minh lying in a glass coffin. The complex also houses the Presidential Palace and the wooden house of the President.

Mekong Delta

Another place in Vietnam that all tourists love is the Mekong Delta. Here you can experience in all its glory the essence and exoticism of local life. The bed of the Mekong River, when it flows into the sea, forms hundreds of narrow branches. For the Vietnamese, this place is as sacred as the Dnieper for the Ukrainians or the Nile for the Egyptians.

Some tourists come here for a day or two, while others stay here for a week to leisurely swim along the canals and explore the wildest corners of the local landscapes. In the Mekong Delta, travelers are attracted by local houses, floating markets, exotic fruit plantations, and an island where real coconut candies are produced.

Dalat and Longbian Mountain

Dalat is one of the best and most popular resorts in Vietnam. But in the city itself, you should definitely visit Long Biang Mountain. From its top there is a wonderful view of Dalat, bright green hills and pastures.

The mountain is located a thirty-minute drive from the resort and looks like a chain of five peaks of volcanic origin. The height of the highest of them is 2400 meters. You can go to the Longbian observation deck, but you can only get to the highest peak on foot.

Conclusion

On the shores of the South China Sea is the Socialist Republic of Vietnam. The sights of this amazing country are rarely mentioned in popular guidebooks. But this makes them even more attractive to tourists and travelers who are ready for new discoveries.

Ancient temples, stunning nature, the warmth and hospitality of the Vietnamese - this is what makes it worth going to this state. The Republic of Vietnam is not yet spoiled by tourists, and therefore looks forward to each of its guests.

Hello. Holidays in Vietnam are a great option! If Vietnam suddenly magically found itself closer to Central Russia (say, somewhere in the vicinity of), the tourist flow to this country would, without a doubt, increase many times over. Indeed, among the tangible disadvantages of this direction is only a long and, therefore, expensive flight.

Almost everything else is a complete plus: an unusual and exciting “excursion”, beautiful beaches with ample opportunities for active recreation, an extensive and high-quality hotel base. And with all this - low prices in hotels, restaurants, on excursions and generally everywhere.

Despite all this, Vietnam has thoroughly spoiled the image of itself with creepy consumer goods markets with bales of all kinds of rubbish, talkative inhabitants and the aromas of fried herring. Perhaps many today will wrinkle their noses when they hear an offer to go there: “I’ve seen enough of this here.”

Meanwhile, the real Vietnam is ancient temple complexes of unknown civilizations and the natural beauty of national parks, healthy and tasty food (dietary rice and delicious fresh seafood), the cheapest diving in the world (coupled with an abundance of underwater inhabitants) and resorts with a distinct European flair: after all, a former French colony.

In addition, here there is an opportunity to have plenty of nostalgia for the recent social past: the flag is almost like our former one, and the pioneers in ties, and even the leader in the mausoleum.

The capital is Hanoi. Interesting cities: Ho Chi Minh City, Hue; popular resorts: Phan Thiet, Phu Quoc, .

About a third of the country is located at a level above 500 m above the sea, so the climate there is subtropical, and in areas above 2000 m it is even temperate. From April-May to October, the southeast monsoons bring warm and humid weather to the country - except in areas protected by mountains.

In the south of Vietnam (from Ho Chi Minh City to Phan Thiet) two seasons can be distinguished - wet and dry. The wet season traditionally lasts from May to November, with the rainiest months being June-August. The dry season usually starts in December and ends in April. This is the most favorable time for European tourists. The “velvet” months in the south of Vietnam are January and February: soft sun, refreshing sea water. From the end of February to May there are hot days without rain.

Climate of central Vietnam (from the resort of Nha Trang to the ancient capital of Hue): from February to August - clear, rain is rare, temperature +30...+35 °C. In mid-December there are heavy rains, in October - November typhoons are possible in the area of ​​Da Nang and Hue, temperatures are +20...+28 °C.

In the north of the country (from Hanoi to the seaside resort of Ha Long), the winter and summer seasons are more clearly defined than in the south. Winter, cool and wet, lasts from November to February, with constant drizzling rain "fung" in February and March. The summer season begins abruptly in May: high humidity, temperatures up to +40 °C.

Vietnam customs

The import of foreign currency is not limited, but amounts over 3,000 USD must be declared: export of currency from the country is allowed only within the amount declared upon entry. The export of national currency is prohibited.

You can import duty-free 400 cigarettes or 100 cigars or 500 g of tobacco, 1.5 liters of strong alcoholic drinks or 2 liters of alcoholic drinks with a strength of up to 22°, 5 kg of tea, 3 kg of coffee, as well as other goods with a total value of no more than VND 5 million.

Household and computer equipment must be declared: all undeclared equipment will be allowed for export only if customs duties are paid or there is a receipt confirming its purchase in the country.

The export of art and antiques, jewelry and handicrafts without the appropriate permits is prohibited.

Transport

In Vietnam, which stretches from north to south, to travel between distant cities, it is best to use domestic flights with Vietnam Airlines or Jetstar Pacific. Most often, planes fly between two megacities - Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City (up to 10 flights per day), but other large cities are not deprived of regular flights.

Vietnamese trains are comfortable and run on schedule. The main route, Hanoi - Ho Chi Minh City, will last 30 hours. Purchase tickets It is recommended at least 3 days before the travel date directly at the station ticket office (local travel companies can easily cheat on the cost of the ticket and class of carriage).

It makes sense to use intercity buses for relatively short trips: constant speed limits on highways result in unreasonably long journeys. On the other hand, the prices for bus trips are negligible: you can get from Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh City for only 450,000 VND.

When traveling at night, you should be very careful with your luggage: cases of theft are not uncommon (petty thieves are everywhere). It is better to put away players and other gadgets at the first sign of drowsiness.

Urban transport is well developed only in large capital cities: these are taxis, various motorcycle and pedicabs (“cyclo” or “cyclo”). Taxi fares do not need to be negotiated in advance: all cars have a meter that indicates the fare, and taxi drivers usually know some English. Taxi fare: VND 5,500-9,500 per kilometer plus VND 15,800-23,700 per landing.

Motorcycle and pedicabs will be happy with VND 15,800 for a 15-minute ride, but the amount of payment should be agreed upon in advance and bargaining is simply necessary in this case. Traffic on the roads is poorly regulated, so traffic jams in big cities are a common occurrence.

For diving enthusiasts

Diving in Vietnam is one of the cheapest in the world. At the same time, it is really interesting and organized at a quite decent level. There are many interesting dive sites off the coast of Vietnam. The best in this regard are considered to be Nha Trang, Hoi An, and Con Dao Islands. In addition to a wide variety of corals, you can see all kinds of mollusks, cuttlefish, octopus, squid, clown fish, moray eels, puffer fish, groupers, manta rays and barracudas.

The best time for diving is from October to April. The best season for diving in Nha Trang is February-October, and on Phu Quoc Island - from November to May. Near Nha Trang there are famous diving spots: Muren Beach, Rainbow Coral Reef and many islands near the resort.

The Con Dao Archipelago National Reserve consists of 14 islands and is located 300 km from the coastline. There you can find very rare mammals - dugongs (sea cows), large green turtles and many endemics - animals and plants that cannot be found anywhere else.

Shopping and stores in Vietnam

Local shopping has two pleasant features: a wide selection of purchases and the lowest prices in the region (if, of course, you don’t forget to bargain). Shops are open almost every day, seven days a week, from 7:30 until late in the evening. Many supermarkets in the capital and major cities are open 24 hours a day.

From Vietnam you can bring things made of lacquer, bamboo, mother-of-pearl, items made of silver, pearls, mahogany and ebony - including very beautiful cutlery and boxes.

Another category of successful purchases is clothing and accessories made of silk, linen and cotton. Even in Saigon you can find very high-quality and beautiful gold products - not exactly at bargain prices, but quite reasonable prices, as well as products made from pearls - mainly from artificially grown river pearls, less often - cultured sea pearls.

It is worth purchasing various spices, especially Fukuoka black pepper. Representatives of the fair sex are guaranteed to pay attention to the national costume “ao dai”, consisting of a tight-fitting long shirt-dress with slits and pants (they are usually sewn to order).

Wonderful exotic souvenirs literally cost pennies here, and beautiful silver items cost almost nothing. Travelers returning from Vietnam usually take out silver jewelry and dishes, products made from natural silk, linen and cotton, souvenirs made from mahogany and bamboo, lacquerware and ceramics from their suitcases.

Vietnamese cuisine and restaurants

Vietnamese cuisine, although “omnivorous” (down to fried grasshoppers in bags made of newspapers instead of seeds), is at the same time quite light and, despite its unusualness, healthy. The products here are not subjected to long-term heat treatment. The basis of the cuisine is rice, noodles and spices, a variety of seafood.

Many dishes are seasoned with “nuok-mam” sauce made from fermented (read: “fermented in its own juice”) fish - however, the taste and smell is not at all as terrible as it might seem. As for soups, you should try the light and tasty “pho”: rice noodles with lean beef or chicken.

The French, former colonialists, also made a mark in local cuisine, making baguettes cut in half with all sorts of fillings popular as a “snack”. Green tea is traditionally popular in the country, and local coffee is considered very decent.

And they produce good red and white wines.

In state hotels and restaurants, 5% “for services” is usually added to the bill. In private establishments, if you liked the food and service, you can leave a tip of 5-10%.

Legends and stories of Vietnam

Here is a brief excursion into the complicated history of the Vietnamese people. More than three thousand years BC, the dragon king Lac Long Quan ruled the lands of what is now Vietnam. Once, puzzled by the continuation of the family, he decided to ask the fairy bird Au Ko for his hand in marriage.

The beauty was not slow to accept the offer and, on time, gave birth... a bag in which one hundred eggs were found, and from each came one heir-progenitor of one hundred Vietnamese families.

Whether the lady hatched the offspring or placed the offspring in an incubator - history is silent, but since then every self-respecting Vietnamese speaks of himself as “the child of the dragon, the grandson of the gods.”

The end of the story is very modern: after some time the couple separated - Lac Long Quan chopped off half of their sons and went to sea with them, and Au Ko took the remaining fifty and went to live in the mountains.

How correctly our Lev Nikolaevich noted about happy and unhappy families!

Entertainment, excursions and attractions of Vietnam

Vietnam is ready to delight guests from the north with a variety of diverse entertainment: from elephant riding, visits to snake restaurants with crocodile sanctuaries, national parks and fishing - to casinos and nightclubs.

The highlight of the country's excursion program is the Ku Chi guerrilla tunnels, but besides them, there are more than enough attractions here.

Halong Bay National Park has some of the most beautiful scenery on the planet. Several thousand small limestone islands and cliffs rising from the sea waters and having a bizarre shape make one believe in the legend of this place. It says that the Ha Long Islands were created by a giant dragon that lived in the mountains. Bizarre cliffs and rocks are shaped like a turtle, camel, cat, dog's head or dragon.

Hanoi has Buddhist, medieval and recent communist sites, as well as natural beauty in abundance.

Da Nang is home to the beautiful Ngu Nan Son Marble Mountains and pagodas with unique statues. In Phan Thiet there is the famous statue of the Reclining Buddha.

Vietnam hotels

In the major cities of Vietnam, the choice of hotels is very diverse - from mini-hotels to De Luxe establishments. Their service is, in general, at the average European level. Type of meals - breakfast (most) or half board, there is practically no all-in. The buffet is extremely varied.

All rooms from three to five stars are equipped with air conditioning, TV with satellite channels and a telephone; more expensive rooms also have bathrobes, a hairdryer, tea and coffee making facilities, safes and minibars.

Mains voltage 220 V, frequency 50 Hz. Plugs generally have flat connectors. Rooms in many hotels are equipped with universal sockets, to which plugs of almost any configuration will fit - and if the plug still does not fit, the hotel staff will find the necessary adapter.

Do you need a visa and who?

Exotic Vietnam is moderately loyal to Russian tourists: on the one hand, entry into the country is simplified almost to the maximum (a visa for up to 15 days for tourism purposes is not needed), on the other hand, a visa will still be required for a longer visit.

But even in this case there should not be any difficulties: a visa to Vietnam can be obtained without any unnecessary hassles directly at the border upon arrival. What’s nice is that there is no visa fee for Russian citizens. Well, if you don’t want to wait for a visa to be issued at the airport, you can get it in advance at the Vietnamese Embassy in Moscow.

A visa-free 15-day stay in Vietnam is possible no more than once every 30 days. If you plan to leave and return to Vietnam (for example, as part of a combined tour), you will need a visa to re-enter.

Thus, Russian citizens arriving in Vietnam have three options:

1. Applying for a visa upon arrival

If your stay in Vietnam lasts more than 15 days, a visa can be obtained upon arrival at one of the international airports in Vietnam: Ho Chi Minh City, Hanoi or Da Nang. To do this, at the “Visas upon arrival” counter before passport control you will need to present:
a foreign passport valid for at least six months at the end of the trip;
return tickets;
visa permission - confirmation letter (Approval Letter).

By the way, the confirmation letter is a document with a unique code issued by the Vietnamese Immigration Department. It is not difficult to obtain; the easiest way is to order it online on one of the specialized websites (the price ranges from 15 to 38 USD, depending on the type of visa and the speed of processing). A confirmation letter will be sent by email and must be printed and then presented at the border control point.

The time to obtain a visa at the airport is approximately half an hour to an hour; tourists from Russia are issued it free of charge.

2. Applying for a visa at the consulate

Of course, we cannot say that this is absolutely all of Vietnam, especially since we left one of the interesting regions (Sapa and the surrounding area) for the next time, but nevertheless, during this time we formed both a general impression of the country and recorded many details about the characteristics of Vietnam and the Vietnamese.

We regularly make notes about all the interesting facts both during preparation for the trip and, of course, during the trip itself, and now we have systematized our notes and present to your attention 90 facts about Vietnam that surprised us.

In many ways, these facts are based on our observations and this is the Vietnam that we saw. If your opinion on some points differs from ours, welcome to the comments!

1. Second place in rice consumption per capita is firmly held by Vietnam, losing first place to Burma. The average Vietnamese eats 169 kg (!) of rice per year, i.e. a family of two people needs almost a kilogram of rice per day. Well, you don’t even have to stutter about the variety of rice varieties (there are dozens of them here), or do you still think that there are 3-5 types :)?

2. Pho soup is one of the most popular Vietnamese dishes. This is a soup with rice noodles and, most often, beef, although it also happens with chicken or fish. Pho soup is served in almost every cafe and restaurant, there is even a chain of establishments called PHO24. The Vietnamese eat it with chopsticks, mainly for breakfast.


3. Banh mi or French baguette sandwich– This is another very popular dish in Vitenam. The baguette is cut and a variety of fillings are placed inside: meat, fish, tofu, eggs, herbs, it turns out to be a street Subway.


4. Fish sauce is very popular in Vietnamese cuisine.– it is made from fish that has been subjected to a fermentation process. Simply put, fish sauce is what comes out of fish that has been mixed with salt and kept in barrels under pressure for several months. Doesn't sound too nice, does it? In general, the smell is even worse =) But the locals cannot imagine life without it.

5. Plastic trash can, which stands under every table - a mandatory attribute in very cheap local eateries. If this is not provided, then visitors simply throw garbage under the table. Also, the waiter, when clearing the table, can sweep the garbage directly onto the floor. We had previously seen the same habit of littering in local catering establishments only in


6. In the simplest cafes - “for locals” As a rule, there is no menu; there is a choice of 2-3 standard dishes (rice and noodles) with several variations.

7. In tourist places in Vietnam– complete culinary abundance. Any cuisine of the world, a large selection of seafood, coffee shops, in general, everything your soul and stomach desire. Of all the variety, we only tasted crocodile and frog legs, but here you can try almost any exotic meat - turtle, scorpion, ostrich, eat the heart of a snake or drink the blood of a cobra


8. Hot Pot is a popular tourist attraction in Vietnamese restaurants. A gas stove is placed on the table, and a pan of broth is placed on it, where the ingredients are added during the process either independently or with the help of a waiter.

9. Low, child-like chairs and tables right next to the roadway– another bright and memorable feature of Vietnamese catering. Moreover, decently dressed office employees can dine in such places.


10. Hanoi has, where instead of tables and chairs there are bathtubs with toilets, and food and drinks are served in mini-urinals and medical ducks :)

11. Vietnam is the largest exporter of dragon fruit (pitahaya)– we drove past huge, endless “cactus” plantations strewn with red fruits several times


12. Vietnamese money(dongs, 20,000 VND ~ $1 USD) are made of plastic (polymer money) - they do not get wet, do not tear and practically do not get dirty.

13. Vietnamese traders, for the most part, they didn’t seem very friendly to us. If they don’t understand something, for example, an order in a cafe or at a market, they will often simply brush it off, saying go ahead, and then they will delve into the situation and give you some advice. Although if they still manage to sell their products to tourists, then they become more satisfied


14. In general, the Vietnamese– quite friendly and helpful people. They often look more gloomy than Thais, but when you communicate with them, they begin to smile widely

15. Vietnam ranks second in coffee production and exports(second to Brazil), and in terms of production and export of robusta - first. In 2012, Vietnam managed to overtake Brazil in total coffee exports, and this despite the fact that the total area of ​​Vietnam is almost 30 times smaller!

16. Coffee shop – this is a place where you can meet representatives of any segment of the local population. Absolutely everyone loves coffee, and is ready to drink it several times a day, sipping sip after sip for hours, at least that’s the impression we got.

17. At the same time, according to coffee consumption per capita, Vietnam is only in 93rd place (considering that Russia occupies 57th place, and the first, unexpectedly, is Finland). About 95% of the coffee grown is exported.

18. Vietnamese coffee– very tasty and aromatic, simply divine drink. We had never been fans of coffee before, but we got hooked on it in Vietnam.

19. Traditional way of brewing coffee– using a special metal filter, which is installed directly on the cup. Ground coffee is placed in it and boiling water is poured, and the finished drink slowly, drop by drop, enters the cup, thus the brewing process is a meditative part of the coffee ritual


20. The coffee drinking process is also ritualistic.– despite the fact that only a small amount of the drink is strained through such a filter, a real Vietnamese can stretch it out for almost an hour, sipping it in small sips

21. This type of coffee is usually very strong.. Sometimes they drink it just like that, but more often - with condensed milk (milk/white coffee), and the amount of condensed milk and coffee turns out to be approximately the same

22. In the southern part of the country, by default, it is assumed that the coffee will be cold, with ice - this is how they are used to drinking it here. Therefore, if you want a hot drink, it is better to clarify this when ordering. Cold coffee is brewed in the same way, just then poured into a glass with ice.

23. When ordering coffee, Almost everywhere they bring green tea for free. Often - hot in the morning, and cold at lunch, with ice. Oh, how many dirty dishes are left after a very small company)). Guess how many people actually were at this table?

24. Shops and markets have a large selection of coffee by weight- both in grains and ground, in a wide variety of varieties. There are both pure varieties of Arabica or Robusta, as well as all kinds of mixtures; Luwak is also popular. Prices: 150,000 - 500,000 VND ($7.5-$25) per 1 kg. There is also tea and ground bitter cocoa.

25. As a decoration, on cafe tables, Instead of a vase of flowers, you can often see a pot of green rice sprouts

26. A typical Asian name for a cheap hotel is “guesthouse.”, which is so common among backpackers, is practically not used here - instead, “motel” is more often used. At the same time, compared to or, for the same money, you can get more decent accommodation here, for example, for $10/day you can rent a room with air conditioning, a refrigerator, a TV, wi-fi, a balcony, towels (which will also be changed every day ), hygiene items (soap, toothpaste, toothbrushes) and flip-flop slippers =)

27. Flip-flops – in Vietnam it’s not just women, but also slippers (they are also flip-flops, they are also flip-flops). They are so popular here that they are required in almost any hotel/guesthouse, and we most often came across blue ones, apparently this is the general standard. It is very convenient, especially when traveling light, to find flip-flops in your room - we wore them to the beach and took them on excursions to the islands and beaches.

28. Numbers that are called single here(single) are 30% cheaper than double, but are quite suitable for two, because the bed is still a double and all accessories (toothbrushes, towels, flip flops) are presented in duplicate. But this rule does not apply in expensive hotels (4* and 5*).

29. Standard practice when checking into inexpensive hotels- pick up passports and return them only after check-out; apparently, there are cases when guests leave in the morning without paying. Since we are very careful about our passports, we always tried to leave some other ID with a photo (for example, a water ID), but this does not work everywhere. In decent hotels they do not collect passports.

30. Guesthouses are often narrow buildings, one room-room wide, most often with balconies on the front side facing the road. The remaining rooms have windows to the side or no windows at all.

31. Often guesthouses, and houses in general, are built close to each other, so that common walls are obtained. From the outside it even seemed to us that there was one building in front of us, but in fact there were 4 different ones.


32. At night, motorbikes are driven into the lobby of guesthouses, and even quite decent ones - with marble floors, mirrored walls and antique furniture

33. Numbering of floors in buildings - as in, The traces of French colonization can be seen here. The lowest floor is ground, and then comes the first, second, etc. With the exception of Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, buildings everywhere are mostly low - 4-5 floors, less often 7-8.

34. However, there are several places in Vietnam where you can see the city from above. In Hanoi, we climbed to the SKY72 observation deck on the 72nd floor and a 360-degree panorama of the entire city. In Ho Chi Minh City we went to the observation deck in the Bitexco Financial Tower building, and in Vung Tao we admired the city and the South China Sea from the statue, just like in Rio de Janeiro.

66. Ticket offices for many natural attractions(waterfalls, parks), they close at 4-5 pm, and daylight hours last until 6, so if you accidentally arrive at the place after the ticket office closes, you can save on entrance tickets - this happened to us a couple of times completely unplanned.

67. In Vietnam you can not only ride the elephants familiar to Asia, but also arrange an ostrich ride.

68. Vietnamese people love to swim, however, they hardly swim, but go waist-deep into the water and splash in the waves, and do this in clothes

69. They even snorkel with their clothes on, and even in life jackets

70. Due to the mountainous terrain, the climate in different regions of Vietnam varies significantly. For example, you can swim and sunbathe in Nha Trang, but having driven just 140 kilometers to Dalat, it’s great to freeze - early in the morning and after sunset, the temperature drops to +16.

71. Even at +20 it’s really cold here. When we had to ride a bike in the wind in T-shirts and light jackets, we were cold, we even had a runny nose and a sore throat. In this weather, locals wear warm jackets and hats, and brag their heads in horror when we report that in Russia it can be -20 in winter))

72. Two-toed socks are popular among locals so that even in cold weather you can continue to wear flip-flops instead of closed shoes.

73. In some cities, French architecture, embankments and streets, made us nostalgic for European travel, and Dalat, which is called the Paris of Vietnam, even has its own “Eiffel Tower”. There are flower beds on the streets, the city really resembles in some places

74. You can often see in cities neatly trimmed lawns, in the form of flowers, boats, teapots, etc.

In recent years, the Vietnamese government has been making efforts to ensure that in the minds of foreigners this country is not associated with the wars of the 20th century. The Vietnamese authorities strive to show everyone the culture of their country and its amazing nature. Vietnamese people are very friendly. This country has picturesque landscapes, delicious cuisine and excellent beaches. In addition, it is important for tourists that Vietnam is the safest country for travelers in Asia.

Geography of Vietnam

Vietnam is located on the Indochina Peninsula in Southeast Asia. Vietnam borders China in the north, Laos in the northwest, and Cambodia in the southwest. In the east, this country is washed by the waters of the South China Sea. The total area of ​​Vietnam is 331,210 square meters. km, including the islands, and the total length of the state border is 4,639 km.

Vietnam owns many islands in the South China Sea. The largest of them is Phu Quoc Island.

About 80% of Vietnam's territory is occupied by mountains, although all of them are not very high. The highest peak in Vietnam is Mount Fansipan, whose height reaches 3,143 m.

The Mekong and Hong Ha rivers, which are considered the longest in all of Southeast Asia, flow through the entire territory of Vietnam.

Capital

The capital of Vietnam is Hanoi, which is now home to more than 6.5 million people. Hanoi was built in 1010 by order of the Vietnamese Emperor Ly Thai To.

Official language

The official language in Vietnam is Vietnamese, which belongs to the Vietnamese languages ​​of the Austroasiatic language family.

Religion

About 85% of the population of Vietnam profess Buddhism, about 8% are Christians (mostly Catholics, but there are also Protestants).

Government structure of Vietnam

According to the current Constitution of 1992, Vietnam is a socialist republic. Its head is the President.

Legislative power belongs to a unicameral parliament - the National Assembly (consists of 498 deputies). Deputies of the National Assembly elect a President from among themselves, who appoints the Prime Minister.

The 1992 Constitution states that the central role in the political and social life of Vietnam belongs to the Communist Party.

Climate and weather

The climate in Vietnam ranges from tropical monsoon to temperate. Monsoons have a great influence on the climate in Vietnam. In Hanoi, the average annual temperature is +23C, in Ho Chi Minh City - +26C, and in Hue - +25C.

The cold season in Vietnam is from November to April, and the hot season is from May to October.

Based on weather conditions, the best time to visit Northern Vietnam (Hanoi) is November-March, Middle Vietnam (Hue) is May-June, and Southern Vietnam (Ho Chi Minh City) is November-April.

Average air temperature in Hanoi, Vietnam:

January - +17C
- February - +18C
- March - +20C
- April - +24C
- May - +28C
- June - +30C
- July - +30С
- August - +29C
- September - +28C
- October - +26C
- November - +22C
- December - +19C

Sea in Vietnam

The shores of Vietnam are washed by the waters of the South China Sea. In August, the sea off the coast of Vietnam warms up to +29C. The coastline is 3,444 km. It should be noted that from September to January the sea in Vietnam (and coastal areas) are prone to typhoons. The rest of the time, the sea in Vietnam is very calm and warm, there are many exotic fish and corals.

Rivers and lakes

The Mekong and Hong Ha rivers, which are considered the longest in all of Southeast Asia, flow through the entire territory of Vietnam. The Vietnamese grow rice in the valleys of these rivers. Thus, in the Mekong Valley, more than 10 thousand square kilometers are allocated for rice cultivation.

History of Vietnam

The first states on the territory of modern Vietnam appeared around the 3rd century BC. In 111 BC. The Vietnamese state became part of the Chinese Empire. By the beginning of the 10th century, Vietnam gained autonomy within the Chinese Empire.

Vietnam during the reign of the Tran dynasty repelled three invasions by Tatar-Mongol troops. At the same time, Buddhism became the state religion in Vietnam.

In the 16th century, the political life of Vietnam was characterized by an intensification of the struggle for power. During this period, Vietnam was engulfed in several civil wars.

In the mid-19th century, France intensified its colonial policy towards Vietnam. As a result, Vietnam becomes a French colony (i.e. Vietnam became part of French Indochina).

French dominance in Vietnam continued until World War II, when Japanese troops invaded French Indochina in 1941. During World War II, the communist movement became widespread in Vietnam. As a result, the Democratic Republic of Vietnam was formed in September 1945.

Then, with the support of the United States, the Republic of Vietnam was created in southern Vietnam. Hostilities broke out between the Democratic Republic of Vietnam, which was helped by the USSR, and the Republic of Vietnam (which was helped by the USA). In 1965, the United States was forced to send its troops into the territory of South Vietnam, because Vietnamese communists won a number of major victories there.

The United States continued the war in Vietnam until 1973, losing several tens of thousands of soldiers and officers killed in it. Only in 1973, according to the Paris Peace Agreement, the United States withdrew its troops from Vietnam.

The War of Vietnamese Unification ended in April 1975 after North Vietnamese troops entered Saigon.

In 1977, Vietnam became a member of the UN.

Vietnamese culture

Until the 1980s, most Vietnamese lived in villages. Now in Vietnam there are already several megacities whose population exceeds more than 1 million people (Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Haiphong and Cant Tho).

Vietnamese traditions are based on respect for parents and ancestors. The head of a Vietnamese family is its oldest man. Parents choose wives or husbands for their children based on their own ideas about what is best for their child.

However, the French brought Western values ​​(individual and sexual freedom, for example) to Vietnam, and this began to undermine the traditional way of life of the Vietnamese. Now the Vietnamese authorities are seeking to combat Western influence on traditional Vietnamese culture.

Art (ceramics, pottery production) appeared among the inhabitants of Vietnam back in the Neolithic era. Buddhism contributed to the development of ceramics (Buddhist statues were made from ceramics).

There are still craftsmen in Vietnam who do wood carving. We advise tourists in Vietnam to definitely buy any items made by these masters.

Festivals are an essential part of Vietnamese life. Every year, several dozen large and small festivals are held in this country. The most popular of them are the Huong Pagoda Festival, the Da Lat Flower Festival, the Elephant Festival in Dak Lak Province, the Da Nang Fireworks Festival, the Holy Whale Festival, and the Do Son and Bab Bullfights.

Separately, you need to remember about the Vietnamese New Year according to the lunar calendar - Tet. In terms of scale, nothing can compare with this holiday in Vietnam.

Kitchen

We are confident that Vietnamese dishes will please anyone, even the most demanding traveler. When preparing dishes, the Vietnamese often use lemongrass, mint, ginger, and soy sauce. Traditionally, the Vietnamese add very little oil to their dishes. Therefore, Vietnamese cuisine can be safely called one of the healthiest in the world.

The main foods in Vietnam are rice, vegetables, meat (pork, beef, poultry), fish and seafood. Note that many Vietnamese are supporters of vegetarian cuisine, adhering to Buddhist precepts.

Pho soup - rice noodles drenched in chicken broth, green onions and aromatic herbs;
- Nem - a pancake with a variety of fillings (meat, fish, shrimp);
- Ban Cuon – Vietnamese steamed rice dough dumplings;
- Banh Trang – rice dough pancakes with various fillings;
- Ka Kho To – fish in caramel sauce;
- Ka Ran Chua – fried fish with sweet and sour sauce.

A traditional Vietnamese soft drink is green tea (Tra). The Chinese drink tea hot (Tra Nam) and cold (Tra Da). Green tea in Vietnam is most often drunk in rural areas, while black tea is most often drunk in cities.

As for alcoholic drinks in Vietnam, we recommend trying (in moderation, of course) local wine, Lua Moi vodka (its strength is 45 degrees), HA NOI vodka (its strength is 29.5 or 33.5 degrees), as well as Vietnamese rum

Sights of Vietnam

The history of Vietnam goes back many centuries. During this time, the Chinese, Japanese, French, and Americans visited (and were expelled from) Vietnam. Many countries tried to impose their traditions and customs on Vietnam. However, despite this, Vietnam has remained a unique country with many different attractions. The top ten best Vietnamese attractions, in our opinion, may include the following:

1. Thien Mu Pagoda in Hue
2. "Pillar Pagoda" in Hanoi
3. "White Horse Temple" in Hanoi
4. "Palace of Supreme Harmony" in Hue
5. "Tombs of the Emperors" in Hue
6. Seven-tier Vinh Nghiem Pagoda in Ho Chi Minh City
7. Turtle Tower in Hanoi
8. Guerrilla tunnels in Cu Chi
9. Bao Tang Ku Wat Emperors Museum in Hue
10. Cat Co Tower in Hanoi

Cities and resorts

The largest Vietnamese cities are Hanoi (more than 6.5 million people), Ho Chi Minh City (more than 7.4 million people), Hai Phong, Cant Tho, Da Nang (more than 900 thousand people), and Bien Hoa (more than 800 thousand . people).

Vietnam has many excellent beach resorts that offer good recreational facilities including fishing, diving and excursions. The most popular beach resorts in Vietnam are Phan Thiet, Nha Trang, Phu Quoc Island, Da Nang, Vung Tau and Ha Long.

In recent years, foreigners have increasingly begun to come to Vietnam, appreciating the beaches of this country.

Nha Trang - the beaches of this resort are recognized as one of the best in all of Vietnam. This is a favorite place for divers because... There are a lot of fish and corals in its vicinity. Nha Trang has 5-star hotels and many entertainment options, including an amusement park.

Another popular beach resort in Vietnam is Phan Thiet. It is located 3 hours drive from Ho Chi Minh City. Wealthy foreigners and Ho Chi Minh City residents flock to Cape Mui Ne Beach near Phan Thiet to relax on the unusual pink dunes.

However, many tourists admit that the best beaches in Vietnam are on the island of Phu Quoc, which is located in the west of the country. The sand on the beaches of Fukuoka is fine white.

It should be noted that almost every hotel in Vietnam offers spa services to its guests. In Nha Trang, for example, there is a very large spa center with mud and salt baths, in Hanoi there is a Traditional Medicine Center, and there are excellent spa hotels in Quimboy (it is located on mineral waters). In general, mud therapy is very developed in Vietnam.

Spa treatments in Vietnam are developed according to French standards, and, of course, French cosmetics are used.

Separate mention should be made of the Sapa resort, located in the north-west of Vietnam. It is classified as a mountain climatic resort, and it is no less popular among tourists than beach resorts.

Souvenirs/shopping

Tourists from Vietnam usually bring silk or cotton clothing, handicrafts, Vietnamese headdresses, bronze Buddhist bells, traditional Vietnamese musical instruments (such as flutes and jew's harps), souvenirs reminiscent of the Vietnamese-American War, tea and much more.

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