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Topography
Viet Nam's two major cultivated areas are its two deltas:
The Red River Delta, in the North, is 15,000 sq km. Over time, deposits of alluvium carried from the Red River and the Thai Binh River formed the delta. The ancient Viet people settled at the junction of the two rivers. It is the cradle of the Vietnamese civilization and rice culture.
The Mekong Delta, in the South, is approxi¬mately 40,000 sq. km. This is a very fertile land with a favourable climate. As such, it is the largest rice growing area in Viet Nam. The delta is criss-crossed by thousands of large and small rivers that flow into the East Sea, providing convenient navigation routes.
Three quarters of Viet Nam's territory consists of mountains and hills
The North-East, or Viet Bac, stretches from the Red River Delta to the Gulf of Bac Bo. This mountainous area is crowned with famous sights, with magnificent grottoes (Dong Nhat, Dong Nhi, Tam Thanh, Pac Bo, etc.), as well as Ban Gioc Waterfall in Cao Bang Province, Ba Be Lake in Bac Kan, Yen Tu Mountain and Ha Long Bay in Quang Ninh Province, and Tay Con Linh, the highest mountain peak in the region at 2,431m above sea level.
The North-West runs from the north on the Sino-Vietnamese border to the west in Thanh Hoa Province. This magnificent, high mountain range is famous nation-wide for the town of Sa Pa in Lao Cai Province, at 1,500m above sea level. Several ethnic groups, such as the H'Mong, Dao, Kinh, Tay, Giay, Hoa, and Xa Pho, still reside in this region. The North-West is famous for the historical site of Dien Bien Phu and for the peak of Fansipan Mountain, which stands at 3,143m above sea level.
The Truong Son Mountains Range, separates Viet Nam from Laos and Cambodia. It is reputed for its picturesque Phong Nha Grotto and its two breathtaking passes, the gang Pass and the Hai Van Pass, but most of all, it is the location of the legendary Ho Chi Minh Trail from the second great resistance war against the American.
The Central Highlands, or Tay Nguyen, are known for their fertile red volcanic soil. There are home to many different hill tribes. Da Lat, which was established during the 19'h century, is an ideal resort in Viet Nam.
The coastline is 3,260km long and lined with 125 beaches. From the North to the South, there are many beautiful beaches, such as Tra Co, Sam Son, Lang Co, Non Nuoc, Nha Trang, Vung Tau, and Ha Tien. In some places, karst mountains can be seen jutting out from the sea. One such magnificent place is Ha Long Bay, which has been twice listed as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. Viet Nam's coast has been awarded a series of large seaports, such as Hai Phong, Da Nang, Qui Nhon, Cam Ranh, Vung Tau, and Ho Chi Minh City.
Offshore, Viet Nam's territory includes thousands of islands and islets scattered along the coast. Among these are Truong Sa (Spratley Islands) and Hoang Sa (Paracel Islands).
Forests account for the rest of the land and are now protected. National parks are preserved by the State and follow a steady development plan. There are 31 national parks. Some of the famous national parks include Ba Vi in Ha Tay Province, Cat Ba in Hai Phong City, Cuc Phuong in Ninh Binh Province, Pu Mat in Nghe An, Bach Ma in Thua Thien Hue Province, and Cat Tien in Dong Nai Province...