Vietnam is a country located in Southeast Asia, known for its diverse geography, which includes mountains, plains, and a long coastline along the South China Sea. Its strategic location has played a key role in its history, economy, and cultural exchange with neighboring countries. The country's varied climate and rich natural resources further contribute to its economic development and cultural diversity.
Vietnam, located in Southeast Asia, occupies the eastern part of the Indochina Peninsula. It borders China to the north, Laos and Cambodia to the west, and is bounded by the South China Sea to the east and south. As part of the Eurasian continent, Vietnam has strategic access to the Pacific Ocean through the South China Sea.
The 105ºE meridian crosses Vietnam, placing the entire country in the UTC+7 time zone.
Geographic Coordinates
• Length: Approximately 1,650 km (1,025 miles) from north to south.
• Width: Around 600 km (373 miles) at its widest point.
• Latitude: Between 8°30′ and 23°22′ North.
• Longitude: Between 102°8′ and 109°27′ East.
Extreme Points
• Northernmost Point: Latitude 23°23′N, Longitude 105°20′E, in Lũng Cú Commune, Đồng Văn District, Hà Giang Province.
• Southernmost Point: Latitude 8°34′N, Longitude 104°40′E, in Đất Mũi Commune, Ngọc Hiển District, Cà Mau Province.
• Westernmost Point: Latitude 22°22′N, Longitude 102°09′E, in Sín Thầu Commune, Mường Nhé District, Điện Biên Province.
• Easternmost Point: Latitude 12°40′N, Longitude 109°24′E, in Vạn Thạnh Commune, Vạn Ninh District, Khánh Hòa Province.
The nation’s islands extend as far south as Latitude 6°50′N and from Longitude 101°E to 117°20′E in the South China Sea.
*Vietnam’s Terrain
Vietnam's landscape is diverse, encompassing mountains, plains, plateaus, coastal lowlands, and islands.
Mountains
• Cover approximately 75% of the country’s land area.
• The highest peak is Fansipan (3,147.3 m or 10,326 ft), located in the Hoàng Liên Sơn Range and often referred to as the "Roof of Indochina."
• Mountainous regions are concentrated in the northwest, Central Highlands, and along the Annamite Range.
Plains and Deltas
• The Red River Delta (north) and the Mekong Delta (south) are the most fertile and densely populated regions.
• These deltas account for around 24% of Vietnam’s total land area.
Coastal Lowlands
• Narrow plains stretch along the 3,260 km (2,026 miles) coastline, often featuring lagoons, sand dunes, and fertile areas for agriculture.
Plateaus
• Found mainly in the Central Highlands (Tây Nguyên), known for rich basalt soil ideal for coffee, pepper, and rubber plantations.
Islands and Archipelagos
• Includes major island groups like the Spratly Islands (Trường Sa) and Paracel Islands (Hoàng Sa).
• Notable islands: Phú Quốc, the largest, covering 574 km² (222 square miles), and Côn Đảo.
*Territorial Scope of Vietnam
Land Territory
• Vietnam spans 331,212 km², with approximately 93.5% land and 6.5% water.
• The narrowest point, measuring only 50 km (31 miles) wide, lies in Quảng Bình Province.
Borders
Vietnam shares 4,639 km (2,884 miles) of land borders with three countries:
• China: Over 1,400 km (870 miles), shared by 7 provinces (Điện Biên, Lai Châu, Lào Cai, Hà Giang, Cao Bằng, Lạng Sơn và Quảng Ninh).
• Laos: Over 2,100 km (1,305 miles), shared by 10 provinces (Điện Biên, Sơn La, Thanh Hóa, Nghệ An, Hà Tĩnh, Quảng Bình, Quảng Trị, Thừa Thiên Huế, Quảng Nam, Kon Tum).
• Cambodia: Over 1,100 km (684 miles), shared by 10 provinces (Kon Tum, Gia Lai, Đắk Lắk, Đắk Nông, Bình Phước, Tây Ninh, Long An, Đồng Tháp, An Giang, Kiên Giang).
The borders of Vietnam are typically defined by distinctive natural features such as mountain peaks, river paths, watersheds, and streams.
• Vietnam's coastline stretches 3,260 km from Móng Cái City in Quảng Ninh Province to Hà Tiên City in Kiên Giang Province.
There are 28 coastal provinces and cities in Vietnam, including:
Quảng Ninh, Hải Phòng, Thái Bình, Nam Định, Ninh Bình, Thanh Hóa, Nghệ An, Hà Tĩnh, Quảng Bình, Quảng Trị, Huế, Da Nang, Quảng Nam, Quảng Ngãi, Bình Định, Phú Yên, Khánh Hòa, Ninh Thuận, Bình Thuận, Bà Rịa - Vũng Tàu, Ho Chi Minh City, Tiền Giang, Bến Tre, Trà Vinh, Sóc Trăng, Bạc Liêu, Cà Mau, and Kiên Giang.
Sea Territory
Vietnam's sea territory covers about 1 million km² (386,102 square miles) and includes:
Internal Waters: Enclosed waters within the baseline.
Territorial Sea: A 12-nautical-mile belt where Vietnam has full sovereignty, allowing innocent passage under international law.
Contiguous Zone: Extends 24 nautical miles from the baseline for law enforcement related to customs and security.
Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ): Extends up to 200 nautical miles, granting sovereign rights over resources.
Continental Shelf: Includes the seabed and subsoil beyond 200 nautical miles if geologically justified.
Key features include the Paracel Islands and Spratly Islands, administered by Đà Nẵng City and Khánh Hòa Province, respectively.
*Climate
Vietnam’s climate is influenced by its latitude and monsoons, resulting in regional variations:
• Northern Vietnam
+ Four distinct seasons: spring, summer, autumn, and winter.
+ Winters are cold and dry, while summers are hot and humid.
• Central Vietnam
+ Tropical monsoon climate.
+ Experiences hot summers, prolonged rainy seasons, and typhoons.
• Southern Vietnam
+ Tropical monsoon climate with two main seasons:
- Rainy Season: May to October.
- Dry Season: November to April.
+ Temperatures are stable year-round.
• Monsoons
+ Northeast Monsoon: November to April, bringing cold air to the north.
+ Southwest Monsoon: May to October, bringing warm, moist air and heavy rains.
*Regions and Provinces of Vietnam
Vietnam is divided into three main regions and eight subregions, comprising 63 provinces and cities (5 centrally governed cities and 58 provinces).
Northern Region (3 Subregions):
• Northwest (6 provinces): Hòa Bình, Sơn La, Điện Biên, Lai Châu, Lào Cai, Yên Bái
• Northeast (9 provinces): Hà Giang, Tuyên Quang, Cao Bằng, Bắc Kạn, Lạng Sơn, Phú Thọ, Thái Nguyên, Bắc Giang, Quảng Ninh
• Red River Delta (10 provinces): Hanoi (capital city), Hải Phòng, Bắc Ninh, Hưng Yên, Hà Nam, Nam Định, Thái Bình, Ninh Bình, Hải Dương, Vĩnh Phúc
Central Region (3 Subregions):
• North Central Coast (6 provinces): Thanh Hóa, Nghệ An, Hà Tĩnh, Quảng Bình, Quảng Trị, Thừa Thiên Huế
• South Central Coast (8 provinces): Da Nang (city), Quảng Nam, Quảng Ngãi, Bình Định, Phú Yên, Khánh Hòa, Ninh Thuận, Bình Thuận
• Central Highlands (5 provinces): Kon Tum, Gia Lai, Đắk Lắk, Đắk Nông, Lâm Đồng
Southern Region (2 Subregions):
• Southeast (6 provinces): Ho Chi Minh City, Bà Rịa - Vũng Tàu, Đồng Nai, Bình Dương, Bình Phước, Tây Ninh
• Mekong Delta (13 provinces): Long An, Tiền Giang, Bến Tre, Đồng Tháp, Vĩnh Long, Trà Vinh, An Giang, Cần Thơ (city), Hậu Giang, Sóc Trăng, Kiên Giang, Bạc Liêu, Cà Mau
*Geographic Highlights
• Largest Province
Nghệ An: 16,490 km².
• Smallest Province
Bắc Ninh: 822 km².
• Highest Point
Fansipan Peak (3,143 meters), in the Hoàng Liên Sơn range.
• Lowest Point
Cà Mau Peninsula, averaging 0.5–1 meter above sea level.
• Longest River
Đồng Nai River, spanning 586 km (364 miles).
• Largest Natural Lake
Ba Bể Lake: Covers 5 km², located in Bắc Kạn Province.
• Largest Cave
Sơn Đoòng Cave, the world’s largest, located in Phong Nha - Kẻ Bàng National Park, Quảng Bình Province.
Vietnam’s geographical location is important for its economy, politics, and culture:
*The Significance of Vietnam's Geographical Location
Vietnam’s geographical location is important for its economy, politics, and culture:
• Strategic Location: Vietnam lies in Southeast Asia, bordered by China to the north, Laos and Cambodia to the west, and the South China Sea to the east and south. This makes it a key gateway connecting regional countries to global economies.
• Climate and Agriculture: With a tropical monsoon climate, Vietnam is well-suited for agriculture, especially rice and aquaculture, though it also faces natural disasters like floods and typhoons.
• Coastal Advantage: Vietnam has a long coastline near major international shipping routes, supporting its maritime trade and regional security role.
• Natural Resources: Its location provides abundant resources, including forests, minerals, and marine life, which support various industries and exports.
• Cultural Influence: Positioned at the crossroads of major cultures, Vietnam has a rich and diverse cultural heritage shaped by influences from China, India, and the West.
Overall, Vietnam's geographic position helps drive its economic growth, security, and cultural exchange.
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