|
|
ç Introduction Viet Nam Viet Nam
Topography è
|
|
|
|
|
|
Topography
|
|
|
|
|
The Coasts
|
|
|
|
|
|
Vietnam's coast has been awarded a
series of large seaports, such as the ones at Haiphong,
Danang, Qui Nhon, Cam Ranh, Vung Tau, and Saigon.
There are thousands of islands and islets scattered offshore from North to
South. Among the most popular tourist destinations are the Truong Sa and
Hoang Sa Archipelagos.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Vietnam's coastline is 3,260
km long. If you have a chance to travel along the coast of Vietnam,
you will be able to enjoy the beautiful beaches of Tra Co, Sam Son, Lang
Co, Non Nuoc, Nha Trang, Vung Tau, and Ha Tien. In some places, you will
see mountains jutting out to the sea. One such magnificent site is Halong Bay,
which has recently been two times listed as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO
is one of five World Heritage Sites in Viet Nam
Vietnam has a variety of
mineral resources. Beneath the forests are valuable minerals such as tin,
zinc, silver, gold, antimony, precious stones, and coal. Vietnam also has large deposits
of oil and gas on its offshore islands and on the mainland.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Vietnam also has abundant subterranean
mineral water sources. These are found at Quang Hanh in Quang Ninh, Hoi Van
in Binh Dinh, Vinh Hao in Binh Thuan, Duc My in Nha Trang, Kim Boi in Hoa
Binh, and Binh Chau in Vung Tau.
|
|
The forests
|
|
The forests of Vietnam
account for most of the total land area. National parks are preserved by
the state and follow a steady development plan. Some of the more famous
national parks located throughout the country include Ba Vi in Ha Tay, Cat
Ba in Haiphong, Cuc Phuong in Ninh Binh, Bach Ma in Hue, and Cat Tien in
Dong Nai.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
The Mountains & hills
|
|
|
Three quarters of Vietnam's territory consists of
mountains and hills. Vietnam
is divided into four distinct mountainous zones.
|
|
|
|
|
|
1. The Northeastern Zone (Viet Bac)
|
|
|
|
This zone stretches from the Red River
Valley to the Gulf of Tonkon.
The mountainous area of Viet Bac is scattered with famous sights: Dong Nhat
Grotto, Dong Nhi Grotto, and Tam Thanh Grotto in Lang Son Province; Bac Bo
Grotto and Ban Gioc Waterfall in Cao Bang; Ba Be Lake in Bac Kan; Yen Tu
Mountain and Halong Bay in Quang Ninh; and Tay Con Linh, the highest
mountain peak in the region reaching 2,341 meters above sea level.
|
|
|
|
2. The Northwestern Zone
|
|
|
This zone is comprised of mountains that run from the north of
the Sino-Vietnamese border to the west of Thanh Hoa
Province. This
magnificent mountain range is nationally known for its resort town of Sapa in Lao
Cai Province,
which is perched 1,500 meters 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 northwestern zone is also famous for the historical site of
Dien Bien Phu and Fansipan
Mountain, which
measures 3,143 meters above sea level at the peak.
|
|
|
|
3. The North Truong Son Zone
|
|
|
|
|
|
This zone runs from
the western part of Thanh Hoa Province
to the Quang Nam-Da Nang
Mountains. This
region is known locally for its picturesque Phong Nha Grotto and its two
breathtaking passes, the Ngang
Pass and the Hai Van
Pass. It is also known worldwide for being the location of the legendary Ho
Chi Minh Trail constructed during the second great resistance war.
|
|
|
|
4. The South Truong Son Zone
|
|
|
|
This zone is located
to the west of the south central coast provinces. Behind these huge
mountains is a vast area of red soil known locally as "Tay
Nguyen" (the Central Highlands). There are numerous legendary accounts
of the flora and fauna and of the lives of several different ethnic
minorities living in the Central Highlands. Dalat, established during the
19th century, is a popular resort town in this part of Vietnam.
|
|
|
|
|
The
Deltas
|
|
|
Vietnam is crisscrossed by
thousands of streams and rivers. There is a river discharging every 20
kilometers along Vietnam's
coastline. The waterways are a very convenient means of transport with
major rivers like the Red River in the north and the Mekong River
in the south.
Vietnam has two major
deltas, including the Red River Delta in the North and the Mekong River
Delta in the South.
·
The Red River Delta stretches for 15,000 sq.km.
Over time, deposits of alluvium carried from the Red River and Thai Binh River
have accumulated to form the delta. The ancient Viet people settled at the
junction of the two rivers . At that time, the wet
rice civilization was established.
·
The Mekong River Delta is approximately
40,000 sq. km. The land is very fertile and has favorable climate
conditions for agriculture. As a result, it is the largest rice growing
region in Vietnam
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Source : Vietnam Tourism info
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
