Travel Guides: Vietnam
Vietnam (onext.ro)
The Socialist Republic of Vietnam is a state in south-east Asia.
Its economy has one of the largest growth rates in this region of the continent. Vietnam aims to become a developed nation by 2020. The Vietnam War caused great loss of lives on both sides, atrocities against the population, indiscriminate destruction and contamination of large parts of the landscape. The visit to Vietnam by US President Bill Clinton in November 2000 brought the normalization of relations with former enemy. Vietnam has struggled to recover after unification and at the beginning of this period tried to organize the economy based on agriculture on collectivist principles. Elements of market forces and private enterprises have been introduced in the late 1980s and opened a stock exchange in 2000.
Foreign investment has increased, and the U.S. is Vietnam’s main trading partner, trying to become a member of the World Trade Organization. There is a decreased standard of living gap between cities and villages. The Communist Party leaders worry that too much economic liberalization will weaken their power and decadent ideas will be introduced in the Vietnamese society. Vietnam has been accused of repression of religious freedom and political disagreements.
Around 200 BC was formed a distinct group Viet Nan as an independent kingdom, but was attached in the 1st century BC by China. The Vietnamese were under Chinese domination until 10th century AC. In the 19the century the French occupied the state. It became a unified country in 1976 after the Communist Party’s armed forces occupied the north south. In the 50s, the Communists fought against the colonial power France, then against South Vietnam, backed up by the US. In its last stages the Vietnam conflict drew the worldwide attention.
The Parliament confirmed Nguyen Minh Triet, the leader of the Communist Party in Ho Chi Minh City as president in June 2006. He has a good reputation in the fight against corruption and is seen as an economic reformer. The first head of state, Tran Duc Luong, has signed his resignation along with the Prime Minister and President of National Assembly. The change of power was expected. Communist Party holds the real power in Vietnam. In April 2006 it was reinstated Nong Duc Manh to the post of secretary general. Manh, who is seen as a modernizer, urged Vietnam to accelerate economic reforms and attack the entrenched bureaucracy and corruption. He says he wants to raise people out of poverty and hunger and to change Vietnam into a developed and industrialized country.
Communist Party leadership recommends candidates for president and prime minister. Vietnam has about 1650 km length and a width varying between 56 km and 550 km. North Vietnam is mountainous, there being the Fan-and-Pan, the country’s highest peak (3147 m). Red River is the main river. In South Vietnam is the Mekong delta. Between the 2 deltas of the river is a low plain. The forested area called Annam Sierra covers the West and central Vietnam, representing two thirds of the total area of the country. Northern State is rich in mineral resources, especially coal and phosphates. On the south coast there are some oil reserves. They grow rice, bananas, sugar cane, coffee and tea. Government has adopted several reforms for a capitalist economy. The most important industries are: food, fisheries, metals and phosphates.
Almost 90% of the population is Vietnamese; minorities include Chinese, Hmong, Thai, Khmer and Chan. The country’s population is 82,628,000 inhabitants. The official language is Vietnamese. Other languages are: French, English, Chinese and Khmer. Religion: Buddhism, Daoism, Confucianism, Christianity and Islam. Once in Vietnam any tourist is murmured because of the sublime beauty of the environment: the Red River Delta in the north, the Mekong Delta in the south. Despite the economic situation and its development, Vietnam has a rich culture and civilization which is enviable. Hanoi, capital of Vietnam, is a city surrounded by lakes, shaded boulevards and green parks. Vietnamese cuisine is famous for exotic foods.
Form of government: Communism – unicameral National Assembly consisting of 500 seats elected by popular vote for a period of five years. Sea: Gulf of Thailand, Gulf of Tonkin and South China Sea gives Vietnam 3.444 km of coastline (it does not include islands). Climate is determined by two monsoons, the winter monsoon, which comes from the north-east between October and March. It brings a cool and wet weather in the north, but warm and dry in the south. From April to October, the summer monsoon from the southwest brings a warm and humid weather in most regions, except in mountainous areas.
Area: 329.560 km². Neighborhood: Cambodia, China, Laos, South China Sea, Gulf of Thailand and the Gulf of Tonkin. Main Cities: Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Da Nang, Hue, Vinh, Hong Gai, Lao Cai. Administrative divisions: 59 provinces and 5 municipalities. Time Zone: UTC+7. Country code (phone): 84. Radio emission: AM 65, FM 7, ultra 29 (1999). Independence: Obtained on September 2, 1945 in front of France. Organization: Natural environment, geography, history and culture have created today’s tourist industry. Vietnam recorded in 2007 (until November) was 3,817,564 tourists. What to see: Dalat – the city in the central hills, Dien Bien Phu – the region located in the heart-shaped valley, Muong Thanh, Ha Tien – the city on the Gulf coast of Thailand, resorts offer white sandy beaches and seafood, Halong Bay – a small bay, Hanoi – the capital city, Ho Chi Minh City – the city considered the heart of Vietnam, Bac Ha Market, Mariamman Hindu Temple.
When to go: There is no good or bad time to travel to Vietnam, for very different areas and over an area the weather is pleasant. In the south are two seasons: wet season (May to November, the wet as in July and August) and dry (December-April). The hot and humid period is from February to May. In the north, there are two seasons: cool winters (November-April) and hot summers (May to October).
