Vietnam, officially the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, covers an area of 332,000 square kilometers. It shares common borders with China, Laos and Cambodia. With a population of more than 80 million, it is the most populous country in South Asia. The vast majority of the Vietnamese population. Other ethnic groups include Chinese, Muong, Thai, Meo, Khmer, Cham and Man.
Vietnam topography varies from low, flat delta in south and hills to the north, the terrain in central, north and northwest. Three quarters of Vietnam is hilly or mountainous. Hanoi is the capital and Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) is the largest city in the country.
Vietnam, once the country, prohibited for tourists, now attracts hundreds of thousands of visitors (with numbers increasing) every year. Rich culture, tradition, and a patriotic people characterize this fascinating country. This exotic destination offers such wonders as magical islands and pristine waters of the historic and cultural sites like temples, pagodas and churches. Traveling to Vietnam will be an unforgettable experience and leave the visitors very impressed.
CLIMATE
Vietnam shares borders with Cambodia, Laos and China, and has 3200 km of coastline bordering the Eastern Sea. With an area of 332,000 square km, Vietnam's topography varies from coastal plains to the mountains.
Vietnam stretches over 1800 km from north to south, so the weather in the principle cities are very different.
North: Winter lasts from November to April, with temperatures averaging 10 - 16C, in fog and drizzle January - March.
Summer begins in May and lasts until October with an average temperature of -30 ° C, heavy rains and sometimes violent typhoon.
Center: Vietnam is a transitional climate, with heavy rains between November and December and dry, hot summer months.
South: Temperatures are relatively constant over the years; 25C - 30C. The seasons are determined by the rains - the dry season lasts from November to April and the rainy season from May to October. The hottest period is March and April. Typhoons are quite common in coastal areas between July and November.
Highland areas: In the hill resorts of Dalat (1,500 m), Buon Me Thuot and Sapa, nights are cool throughout the year and during the winter months, October to March, it can be cold with distinctly temperatures falling to 0C. Even in the hottest months of March and April the temperature rarely exceeds 26C.
CUSTOMS AND FORMALITIES
All visitors to Vietnam must fill in declaration forms and their luggage to show to customs officials upon request.
Visitors can bring with them unlimited amounts of foreign currency, objects in gold, silver, precious stones and precious metals or plated with silver or gold, all of which must be reported in detail on customs documents. Commercial video and printed materials that are considered offensive are usually confiscated and sent to the Ministry of Culture for inspection.
Goods prohibited to import: weapons, ammunition, explosives, military technical equipment, drugs, toxic chemicals, debauched and reactionary products, firecrackers of all kinds, toys with negative impacts on the dignity of education, social security and safety, cigarettes beyond the stipulated quantity, etc.
Prohibited the export of weapons, ammunition, explosives, military technical equipment, antiques, drugs, toxic chemicals, wild animals of rare and precious animals and plants, documents relating to the national security, etc.
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