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Topography of
Vietnam
Three quarters of Vietnam's
territory consists of mountains and hills. Vietnam is
divided into four distinct mountainous zones.
The Northeastern Zone (Viet Bac)
This zone stretches from the Red River Valley to the
Gulf of Tonkin. 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 Can; 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.
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 1500 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.
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.
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.
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, or Northern Delta
This region 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, or Southern Delta
This region is approximately 36,000 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.
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'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 listed as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO.
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.
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.
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.
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