Correct name for Vietnam. Vietnam on the world map: detailed location of resorts in Russian

Vietnam is often called the land of fairies and dragons - according to ancient legends, all Vietnamese consider themselves to be the descendants of the marriage of Fairy and Dragon. The fairy was in charge of the industry - she taught people to make silk, and the Dragon showed the children the wisdom of agriculture. Since then, the Vietnamese have thrived in both directions.

The name of the country is translated as “the country of the southern Vieta (the name of the nation), but the country was called Annam until 1945, and the name Vietnam was in use only in poetic speech. Emperor Bao Dai immortalized the new name.

Geographic characteristics

The state, elongated in the shape of the letter "S", is located in Southeast Asia, in the east of the Indochina peninsula. Neighbors from the west are Laos, Cambodia and China.

The coast of Vietnam is washed from the east and south by the South China Sea and the Gulf of Bakbo, a small southwestern tip has an outlet to the Gulf of Thailand.

Vietnam's area is 329.6 thousand sq. km. The capital of the state is Hanoi. The political system is a socialist republic. The official head of the state is the Communist Party.

Nature

More than 80% of the country is mountainous, descending to the sea. The highest point in the country is Mount Fansipan, 3143 meters high. The upland is located in the north-west of the country, in the Hoanglienshon mountain range. The Truong Son Mountains stretch along the western border of the country, separating Vietnam from Laos and China.

The central and southern parts of Vietnam are occupied by basement and basalt plateaus, on which several frozen volcanoes rise. The area between the volcanoes is covered with forest, and lakes have formed in the craters of some volcanoes, giving rise to several rivers of the Mekong River basin ...

Vietnam has more than 2,000 rivers of varying depths and sizes (the smallest reaches only 10 meters in length). The largest rivers in Vietnam - the Mekong and Hong Ha (Red River) - flow into the South China Sea.

The Mekong Delta is one of the largest and deepest deltas in the world. On the territory of Vietnam, the area with a delta that forms nine branches ("Devat Dragons") even received special economic importance - the Vietnamese first settled here, began to develop wetlands, began to breed fish in canals and man-made ponds.

In the Hong Ha River Delta, on the Bakbo Plain, stands the capital city of Hanoi. The area has the highest population density.

The largest lake in the country, Hoan Kiem, is an oxbow lake formed as a result of a change in the course of the Red River. The lake is of great cultural and historical importance for the people. It is also called the Lake of the Returned Sword: according to legend, one of the ancient rulers of Vietnam defeated the Chinese armies with an accidentally found sword that belonged to a magical golden turtle. After the victories, the turtles came out of the waters of the lake and took the sword.

To the north of the capital there is a chain of picturesque Ba Be lakes. Lakes Pelam, Pelu and Peleng are surrounded by waterfalls and caves ...

The coast of Vietnam is washed by one sea - South China, it is semi-enclosed and is included in the basins of the Indian and Pacific oceans and has the properties of both oceans.

The largest island in the South China Sea is Hainan. The area is comfortable for a tourist holiday, as the sea is clean and warm. However, there are many predatory fish and dangerous sharks in the sea. The sea is also rich in commercial fish species - tuna, herring and sardines are abundant here ...

Some unique plants in Vietnam have become national symbols of the country: for example, bamboo, red and black sandalwood.

In Vietnam, there are animals listed in the Red Book, which are almost gone in the wild in other parts of the world - these are the Asian buffalo, Javanese and Sumatran rhinos. Several species of monkeys, rodents and bats are endemic (animals that live exclusively in the specified area). An Asian elephant, a black gibbon, and an Indo-Chinese tiger are considered a rarity in Vietnam. Animals live both in the wild, in protected reserves, and on special farms ...

Due to the elongation of the country from north to south, the climate of Vietnam is heterogeneous, although in general the country is located in the subequatorial monsoon climate. In the south, winters are dry and hot (the temperature reaches 26 degrees Celsius), in the north it is colder, but wet and mild (up to 15 degrees Celsius). Summer is the monsoon season throughout the country, and the end of summer is usually marked by devastating typhoons.

There are frosts in the mountains, on the borders with China, from where the cool air penetrates, the temperature drops to 1 degree Celsius ...

Resources

The industrial centers of Vietnam - Ho Chi Minh City, Hanoi and Da Nang - are located in Central and South Vietnam. The industry is represented by metallurgical, machine-building, construction, chemical fields, light industry. Electronics and components, production of textiles and leather, glass, jewelry and cosmetic products went to the world export. A special branch of the economy is the global production of electricity thanks to an extensive network of hydroelectric power plants.

The fertile basalts of the area contribute to the successful growth of cultures in tropical and temperate latitudes, therefore, agriculture has been greatly developed on the highlands of Vietnam - 50% of the country's population is employed in this cluster. Basically, rice, tea and coffee are grown, the production of cashew nuts, spices, tropical fruits is highly developed ...

Culture

The indigenous population of the country is Vieta (kin), 54 more nationalities are recognized as related to them in the country. In the south, most of the population is Khmer (lower viet). There is a large proportion of the Chinese population, Polynesian, Malay and Thai peoples.

The Vietnamese language has the status of the state language. More than 85% of the population profess Buddhism, there are also religions of these national minorities, atheism, Christianity ...

Vietnam is one of the most ancient countries in Asia. The state is located in the eastern part of the Indochina Peninsula. Vietnam has a favorable geographical position: a narrow strip of the country's territory stretches from north to south along the coast of Bakbo Bay and the South China Sea. Vietnam's neighbors are Laos and Cambodia to the west, China to the north.

The first mentions of Vietnam date back to the second millennium BC. But the legends say that the Vietnamese are the descendants of the dragon emperor Lak Long and the fairy bird Au Ko, who fell in love with each other with unearthly love. To this day, Vietnam has retained a distinctive culture with ancient temples and thousand-year-old traditions. At the same time, many things in this country may seem painfully familiar to Russian tourists - from red-red flags to pioneers in ties. True, socialism does not prevent Vietnam from being a very attractive tourist destination. Amazing nature, magnificent beaches, a rich excursion program, modern comfortable hotels and an amazing friendliness towards travelers from Russia - not every country can boast of such a set of tourist benefits, but Vietnam has it all.

Capital	Hanoi
Population	90.5 million people
Population density	273 people / km²
	vietnamese
Religion	local animistic beliefs (80.8%), Buddhism (9.3%), Catholicism (6.7%)
Form of government	one-party unitary socialist republic
	vietnamese dong
Timezone
International dialing code
Domain zone
Electricity	220V or 110V, 50 Hz

Climate and weather

A pleasant feature of the climate in Vietnam is that at any time of the year in the country you can find a place where the weather will be truly resort.

South Vietnam is the best place to relax from December to April... At this time, the weather is mild and pleasant without the aggressive sun. The air temperature varies from +21 ° C in January to + 30 ° C in April. Rain season starts in May and lasts almost until October: sudden torrential rains occur almost every day, but they do not last more than 15-20 minutes.

It is optimal to go to the central part of the country in March - June. The fact is that from July to November typhoons, rains and fogs are frequent here, and in the winter months the sea is very restless. But in spring the weather is comfortable (+26 ° C on average) and a lot of sun.

In the north of Vietnam, humid hot summers and cool winters (+15 ° C). Frosts occur in winter only in the mountains. The rainy season is from May to October, so the ideal time to visit the northern regions of the country is April-May and October-November, when there is almost no rainfall and the sea water is warm.

Nature

The landscape of Vietnam is very picturesque. This is a country of mountain ranges and hills, which give way to spacious plains with lush vegetation. Highest mountain in Vietnam - Fansipan (3145 meters). The delta of the rivers appears to be an amazingly beautiful place Mekongand Hongha... The Vietnamese believe that it is from here that all life on earth originated.

Vietnam is famous for its forests - fragrant evergreen jungle. Trees of valuable species grow here: sandalwood, brown lim tree, bamboo, iron and mahogany. Of the useful plants, cardamom, anise, cinnamon and, of course, ginseng occupy a special place.

One cannot but admire the fauna of Vietnam. Here you can find elephants and rhinos, wild cats and leopards, tigers, bears, antelopes, wild bulls and deer. The jungle is inhabited by numerous subspecies of monkeys, lemurs, panthers. The country is home to about 400 species of birds and many species of reptiles. Every year in Vietnam, scientists discover new subspecies of animals, fish and birds, and even, what is especially interesting, animals that were considered extinct for a long time.

sights

There is a lot to see in Vietnam. The temple complexes of the most ancient civilizations, the most beautiful national parks, and even the architectural monuments of the socialist era are also worthy of admiration. It is interesting to visit not only the capital of Vietnam Hanoibut also in Ho Chi Minh City and in the city-museum Hoi An, in resorts Da Lat, Nha Trang, Phu Quoc, Phan Thiet.

The ancient capitals of Vietnam deserve special attention. This is, first of all, a city Hue on the shore Fragrant Riverwhere the imperial palaces and other architectural structures were restored. Travelers are also attracted by such former capitals as Koloa, Meling, Hoyle... All in all, Vietnam has 12 ancient capitals, each of which has an interesting history and many interesting sights.

The modern capital of the country Hanoi, or Thang long ("City of the flying dragon"), is famous not only for the historical vicissitudes of the struggle for independence. Such architectural masterpieces as Temple of the Turtlewhich is in the middle of the lake Hoan Kiem ("Lake of the returned sword"), and the pagoda Chua Mot Cot ("Pagoda on one pillar"), the original of which was built in 1049. Tourists from all over the world are eager to see Hanoi Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum - one of the four mausoleums in the world, where visitors are allowed access. The mausoleum is very reminiscent of the Moscow one, but the Vietnamese structure is much grander.

There are many picturesque places in Vietnam, but the true delight of travelers is the pearl of Vietnamese nature - the bay Halong ("The bay of the landing dragon") which many call the eighth wonder of the world. On the crystal clear sea surface there are about 1600 islands of the most incredible shapes: a stone frog, an old fisherman, a vase for incense sticks. On the rocky islands there are beautiful caves with stalactites and stalagmites.

Food

In the post-Soviet space, Vietnamese cuisine has gained a dubious reputation thanks to the notorious "aroma" of fried herring, which reigns in hostels where students from Vietnam lived. Meanwhile, in reality, Vietnamese culinary traditions ensure the preparation of fresh and healthy food, although it may seem unusual for a European to taste. The most important gastronomic difference between Vietnam and other Asian countries is that the products here are not subjected to prolonged heat treatment, in addition, little fat is used in the cooking process.

The basis of Vietnamese cuisine is rice (" lump"), Noodles (" mi») And a variety of seafood. In general, in their culinary preferences, the Vietnamese are omnivores, so here you can try fried grasshoppers, monkey brains, and bird's nest soup. But nevertheless, such national dishes as eel soup, rice noodle pancakes, green pho soup, boiled beef with bamboo shoots and cinnamon will be more familiar to the Russian traveler. bo ho ku».

There are many restaurants in Vietnam where you can enjoy Chinese, Indian, Thai and European cuisine. An important plus for tourists is that in Vietnam you will have relatively low food costs. In large cities, for $ 8-10, you can have a hearty dinner in a restaurant (along with coffee and beer), and in the daytime it is not difficult to find an institution where a hearty lunch will cost you $ 4-5.

Accommodation

There is no official system for evaluating the level of service in hotels in Vietnam. But for convenience, the European five-star hotel classification system is still used, however, you need to understand that the declared category does not always objectively correspond to the real state of affairs. For example, not every 4-star hotel has a restaurant, and instead of air conditioning, there is often only a fan in the room. However, do not worry, since the hotels of the world's hotel operators, of which there are many in Vietnam, meet generally accepted standards of service.

More and more comfortable hotels are being built in the country every year. Nevertheless, demand often exceeds supply, although there are more than 200 hotels of 3-5 * categories in Vietnam. Breakfast, by the way, is not always included in the cost of living.

In the south of Vietnam - in resorts Phan Thiet, Da Lat, Nha Trang - the most popular hotels and the highest cost of living. There are upscale tourist complexes, family half-board and guest houses with a basic set of services. You can save on accommodation by coming here in the off-season - in July and August.

There are not many 4-5 * hotels in the central part of Vietnam and in the north of the country. Exceptions are cities Hanoiand Ho Chi Minh City, where the hotel base boasts luxury hotels.

If you are traveling on your own and the luxury of accommodation is not a priority, you can find a budget hotel, guest house or private apartment in any major city. If you want to stay in a luxury hotel, we recommend that you take care of pre-booking.

Entertainment and recreation

Vietnam invariably delights its guests with a variety of entertainment: from water sports to nightclubs and casinos. In this country, you can ride elephants, soak up the beautiful beaches, visit crocodile farms, go sea fishing and diving. A real highlight among the entertainment is going to the partisan ku Chi tunnels.

If you are lucky enough to get to one of the colorful Vietnamese festivals and holidays, then the impressions will be enough for a long time. In Ho Chi Minh City, you can visit " Southern Fruit Festival", In Da Nang - on fireworks festival, in Nha Trang they arrange marine festivaland in Doshona there are bullfights.

In Vietnam, diving is very affordable in terms of price, and the level of diving organization is decent. There are many interesting diving sites in the country. The best dive sites are Hoi An, Nha Trang Phu Quocand Condao... There you can see corals, cuttlefish, octopuses, barracuda, molluscs, moray eels, squid and even blowfish and manta rays. And diving off the archipelago Condao, dugongs (sea cows) and large green turtles can be seen.

The beaches of Vietnam are white sand and clear water. No wonder the central and southern regions of the country are called " Vietnamese Hawaii". Here are the best beaches in Southeast Asia.

Purchases

Vietnam has an incredibly wide range of souvenirs and gifts. Moreover, the prices are the most democratic in the region. Trade is flourishing in both small gift shops and modern shopping malls in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City.

In the top list of shopping in Vietnam, it is worth adding products made of natural silk, crafts from rare wood, gold and silver jewelry, products made of stone, metal and bone. We advise you to focus on specialized stores if you want to buy high-quality silk, silver, pearls. Pottery is best bought in the suburbs of Hanoi Bat Chang, where there are many workshops making porcelain tableware. And the best pearls are bought on the island Phu Quoc... Be sure to also pay attention to green tea and coffee.

Shops are usually open daily from 07:30 to 17:30, but many are open until late at night.

In state stores, prices are fixed, but in private stores and markets, it is recommended to bargain, even if you see a price tag - be aware that this is only a starting point for bargaining.

Currency can be exchanged at a bank, hotel or exchange office. The first option is the most profitable, but banks are open for a limited time. Do not under any circumstances agree to offers of profitable currency exchange from passers-by - there is a risk of becoming a victim of scammers.

By plastic cards MasterCard, Visa, American Expressand JCB you can pay in all cities and towns where there are tourists. But in places remote from tourist areas it is better to take cash with you.

Transport

It is convenient to travel between the cities of Vietnam by buses. There are two types of them: Big bus (with air conditioning and seat according to the ticket) and Mini Bus (no air conditioning and fixed place).

Water transport is functioning well. Thousands of private cutters, coasters and boats cruise along the coast and lakes. The cost of the trip is in most cases negotiable and agreed with the captain of the vessel.

In cities, the most convenient way to get around is by taxi, motorcycle and bicycle rickshaws. Although there is a bus transport, it does not work regularly; moreover, the intricate system of stops is not very attractive for travelers. But the fare is only about $ 0.1.

Traveling by taxi, of course, is more expensive, but they are always available and paid strictly according to the meter readings. Companies such as Vina (yellow cars) and Mai Linh (green cars): taxi cabins are always clean and air conditioned. Taxi fares are the same for the capital and the province, the price is approximately $ 0.6 per kilometer.

Remember that the fare for bicycles and rickshaws must be negotiated in advance. Do not be afraid to bargain, otherwise the price will be significantly overpriced. In general, the reward for 15 minutes of travel should not exceed $ 1.

Communication

You can call anywhere in the world from a hotel, internet cafe, post office or mobile phone. Mobile communication, by the way, is absolutely accessible. You only need to purchase a SIM card from one of the local operators ( Viettel, Vinaphone, Mobifone). You can top up your account using prepaid cards (sold at any kiosk, store or post office). Keep in mind that calling from a hotel is several times more expensive than calling from a mobile phone.

Internet access services in the country are provided by the company " Internet Vietnam". Access to the network is available in large hotels, Internet cafes and post offices. Prices for services are quite affordable and, as a rule, do not exceed $ 0.5.

Security

Vietnam is quite safe to travel, even if you move around the country on your own. There is no religious fanaticism or racial prejudice here, Vietnam is one of the ten safest places in Eurasia.

The main problem lurking a tourist here is petty theft. Therefore, you should closely monitor personal belongings, especially in crowded places. Do not carry large sums of money with you. It is better to leave valuables in the hotel safe. Avoid rickshaw rides in the dark.

A separate "headache" is the intrusiveness of local residents, who are constantly trying to sell something, stopping tourists on the go. In no case do not give in to persuasion - not only will you receive a low-quality product at an inflated price, but instead of one, a whole crowd of new "sellers" will immediately appear. In addition, you can run into the most real scammers.

From a health standpoint, practice good personal hygiene and do not buy food from street stalls. We recommend drinking only bottled water.

Before traveling to Vietnam, vaccinations are not required - there are no raging infections in the country.

Business climate

A couple of decades ago, the prospect of starting a business in Vietnam would hardly have seemed reasonable to a Russian entrepreneur. But times are changing, and nowadays Vietnam is starting to attract foreign investors.

Although Vietnam is a country with a market socialist economy, the state practically does not interfere in the affairs of enterprises of various forms of ownership, if these are not strategic industries. Enterprises with 100% foreign capital are already allowed.

Positive factors for opening an enterprise in Vietnam include the stability of the political situation, cheap labor and a warm climate that does not require additional costs for heating the premises. On the other hand, transporting goods to, say, Russia is not very cheap.

Therefore, most often foreign investors invest not in production, but in the construction of tourist facilities, restaurants, cafes, and entertainment.

In general, it is not very easy to open a business in Vietnam. In terms of the complexity of obtaining licenses and the simplicity of the procedure for opening a company, Vietnam ranks 99th in the world. But for a foreigner, taking into account the assistance of local authorities to foreign investments, the process may not be very painful. However, you shouldn't expect easy and quick profits. According to experienced investors, patience is the main thing to stock up on when opening a business in Vietnam.

The property

Vietnam, as a country with a dynamically developing economy and tourist attraction, brings its real estate market to the world arena. But for foreigners, the laws are such that they can only buy apartments here. In this case, the following conditions must be met: marriage with a citizen of Vietnam, permanent residence in the country, investment in the Vietnamese economy. The purchased apartment can only be used for the owner's residence, that is, it cannot be rented out. We add that you can buy an apartment for a period of 50 years, after this time it will have to be sold or donated.

Therefore, investments are considered optimal not in private housing, but in the construction of commercial real estate in the tourism sector. The fact is that now the demand for comfortable hotel complexes in Vietnam exceeds the supply. Until the situation changes, such investments promise high returns in the not too distant future.

When planning a trip to Vietnam, keep customs regulations in mind. There are no restrictions on the import of foreign currency, but amounts over $ 3,000 must be declared: it is allowed to export only what has been declared. It is prohibited to export the national currency.

You can import 400 cigarettes or 0.5 kg of tobacco, 3 kg of coffee, 1.5 liters of strong alcohol or 2 liters of low-alcohol drinks, as well as 5 kg of tea. All equipment must be declared, otherwise it will not be possible to export it without paying customs duties. Be sure to pay attention to the list of items prohibited for import into the country: firearms, explosives, pornography, as well as drugs and narcotic drugs without a doctor's prescription. The last point is very serious, since the punishment up to the death penalty is provided for violation of the prohibition! In addition, you cannot export antiques, jewelry and art objects without permits.

Before entering a Buddhist temple, do not forget to leave your shoes outside the threshold and do not turn your back to the temple when leaving it. Photographs of temples and local residents are only allowed after a permit, which usually requires payment.

The state is located on the Indochina Peninsula and borders on Laos, Cambodia and China. From the east and south it is washed by the South China Sea and its bays.

In shape, the territory of Vietnam on the map resembles the Latin letter "S".

State symbols

Flag - is a panel with an aspect ratio of 2: 3 red, which depicts a yellow five-pointed star. The star represents the leadership of the Vietnamese Communist Party, the red signifies the success of the revolution, and the five points of the star symbolize the unity of workers, peasants, soldiers, intellectuals and youth. The flag was approved on November 30, 1955 as the flag of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam. Since 1976, when South Vietnam officially merged with the North, the flag has become the state symbol of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam.

Emblem - was originally adopted as the coat of arms of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam (North Vietnam) on November 30, 1955. Modeled after the design of the coat of arms of the People's Republic of China, with all the symbols of the Communist Party, including a yellow star on a red canvas, with a socialist theme. Gear and crops represent the union of agriculture and industrial labor in the overall communist model. Became the national coat of arms upon reunification with South Vietnam on July 2, 1976.

State structure of modern Vietnam

Form of government - a socialist parliamentary republic. According to the country's constitution, the leading role in the state and society belongs to the Communist Party of Vietnam. The supreme body of state power is the unicameral National Assembly, consisting of 498 deputies elected for 5 years by direct universal suffrage. Only the National Assembly can pass the Constitution and laws.
Head of state - the president. He is responsible to the National Assembly, elected by the National Assembly from among the deputies for a 5-year term.
Head of the government - Prime Minister.
Capital - Hanoi.
Largest cities - Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City.
Official language - Vietnamese.
Territory - 331 210 km².

Population - 92 477 857 people The Vietnamese government recognizes 54 nationalities, of which the Kinh (Viet) is the largest, accounting for 86%.
Currency - Vietnamese dong.
Economy - economic life is based on public, collective and private property, but private enterprise is under state control. Industry: processing of agricultural products, clothing, footwear, oil production, shipbuilding. Natural resources: phosphates, coal, manganese, bauxite, chromite, offshore oil and gas deposits, timber, hydropower. Electricity is generated primarily by hydroelectric power plants. The development plans include the construction of the first nuclear power plant in Ninh Thuan province according to a Russian project and with the help of Russian specialists. It is assumed that the new center for nuclear research "Center for Nuclear Science and Technology" will also be built by Russian specialists. Agriculture: rice, coffee, rubber plants, cotton, tea, pepper, soybeans, cashews, sugarcane, peanuts, bananas; bird; catch of fish and seafood. In 2012, Vietnam became the world's largest exporter of coffee beans for the first time in history.

Coffee plantation in Vietnam
Education – preschool education: from 1.5 to 5 years. When a child turns 4, he usually already knows how to read and count. Elementary education: upon reaching 6 years of age (1-5 grades). Incomplete education: from 6 to 9 grades. After 9 years of study, students take exams. Secondary education: studies literature, mathematics, law, history, biology and a foreign language. Gifted children can study a deeper and more complex program. After the end of the 12th grade, they take exams and receive a diploma of graduation. The level of knowledge is assessed on a ten-point scale. 5 points is the lowest, but a passing grade. Vietnamese schools do not have good financial support from the state. Incomplete secondary education is quite expensive; not many parents can afford to allow their child to study further. Teachers' salaries are very low.

Higher education: to enter the university, you need to pass 3 exams in different disciplines. There are public and private universities. There are many branches of foreign universities, colleges and technical schools.

Military establishment - The official name of the armed forces is the Vietnamese People's Army. It consists of the Border Guard Forces, the Navy, the Marine Corps, the Coast Guard, the Air Force and the Air Defense Force.

MiG-21 Vietnamese Air Force
Sport - popular football, table tennis, chess, traditional martial arts. Vietnamese athletes have taken part in the Summer Olympics since 1952. The Vietnamese have won two silver Olympic awards: Taekwondo Tran Hieu Ngan scored in Sydney in 2000, and weightlifter Hoang An Tuan in 2008 in Beijing.
Administrative division - 58 provinces and 5 large cities of central subordination with the same status as provinces (first level). Urban areas, cities of provincial subordination, small towns of local importance and rural areas - counties (second level). Urban neighborhoods, urban communes-communes and rural communes-communes (third level).
Religion - the main religion of the Vietnamese is the system of folk beliefs, the basis of which is the rituals of "tho kung to tien" (ancestor cult), strictly performed by the majority of the country's inhabitants. This cult does not have a formalized doctrine, hierarchy of clergy and social organization (communities, parishes, etc.) and, therefore, does not have the status of a religious denomination. Buddhist temples are often the place of worship of ancestors, which is another popular misconception that more than 80% of Vietnamese are Buddhists.
Buddhists 9.3%, Roman Catholic 6.7%, Hoa Hao 1.5%, Kaodai 1.1%, Protestant 0.5%. Orthodoxy in Vietnam is the smallest of the largest branches of Christianity in the country. Presented by the parish of the Russian Orthodox Church in honor of the Kazan Icon of the Mother of God in the city of Vung Tau, where several hundred Russian-speaking employees of JV Vietsovpetro live and work.

Tourism

The importance of tourism is constantly growing. Popular resorts of the country are Mui Ne, Nha Trang, Dalat. Due to the strong winds, the coast at Mui Ne is popular with kite and windsurfers. The resort has a developed tourist infrastructure.

The beaches of Nyanchang are attractive. There are healing springs and mud: there is a mud bath in the city. The unique climate of the high-mountainous resort Dalat, located at an altitude of 1500 m, made it a favorite vacation spot not only among locals, but also among tourists from various countries.
Popular among tourists are the cities of Hanoi, Hue, Ho Chi Minh City (formerly Saigon).

Halong Bay

The bay is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is located in Quang Ninh Province in the Gulf of Tonkin, South China Sea. It is a popular tourist destination.
The bay includes over 3000 islands, as well as small cliffs, cliffs and caves. Its area is about 1500 km². The terrestrial and underwater worlds are characterized by high biodiversity.
Halong translates as "where the dragon descended into the sea." According to legend, Halong Island was created by a large dragon. He always lived in the mountains, but when he went out, he gouged valleys and hollows of various shapes with his tail. After he plunged into the sea, the places dug by his tail were filled with water, and only small islands of land remained. Locals say to this day that a dragon lives in the bay.

Nature

Vietnam is divided into three climatic regions: North, Central and South. Due to the diversity of the relief and the change in the direction of the winds during the year, significant internal differences are traced in the regions themselves. The northern region is characterized by humid hot summers during the equatorial monsoon from the Pacific Ocean and wet, cool winters. The southern region has a typical tropical monsoon climate. The climate of the Central Region is significantly influenced by the Truong Son Mountains and their spurs, which serve as a barrier that in summer prevents the penetration of humid southwestern winds.

Flora

A significant part of Vietnam's territory, mainly in the mountains, is covered with forests, it is mainly secondary moist evergreen tropical forests, and in those areas in the south of the country where the rainfall is much less, there are savannas and sparse tropical forests. In Vietnam, many valuable tree species grow: iron, black, pink, camphor, ebony, sandalwood, more than 30 types of bamboo are common. 76 species of forest plants produce aromatic substances, 600 species - tannin, 200 - dyes, 260 species - oil. Red shellac, cinnamon, anise, pine extract are used as raw materials for various industries.

Camphor tree
The lower parts of the mountains (up to heights of 800-1000 m) are covered with humid tropical evergreen forests. Above, up to 1700-2000 m, there are broad-leaved subtropical mountain forests with undergrowth of various bamboos, and even higher - mixed forests: oak, maple, ash and conifers.
Mangroves are common in the coastal zone. In the low-lying areas there are groves of coconut trees.

Fauna

The fauna of Vietnam is quite diverse: it has about 170 species of mammals, about 970 species of birds, 270 species of reptiles, more than 1000 species of marine and freshwater fish. In coastal waters, crabs, shrimps, and shellfish are found.
In tropical forests, panthers, leopards, tigers, monkeys (macaques and gibbons), bears, tree civets, flying squirrels, large monitor lizards, white and green parrots, pheasants, and peacocks are common.

Woody civeters. The civerrids family is considered, along with the canine family, to be the most ancient in the order of carnivores. It is from the civet that hyenas and felines originated.
Rhinos are rare. There are many snakes (boas, cobras, etc.), turtles, lizards. The savannah forests and savannas are inhabited by the Indian elephant, antelopes, deer, buffaloes, wild boars, eagles and partridges. In river deltas and swamps, pink flamingos, storks, pelicans, herons, wild ducks, geese settle. The flooded fields are teeming with fish and small crabs. There are many freshwater fish in rivers and lakes.

Pink pelican
In order to preserve wildlife and rare plants (including medicinal ones), 87 specially protected areas with a total area of \u200b\u200b750 thousand hectares have been created in Vietnam: 7 national parks, 80 wildlife sanctuaries and reserves.

Culture

Aozai - a symbol of Vietnam

Aozai - Vietnamese costume, mostly female. This is a long silk shirt worn over the pants. In modern life, aozai is worn by Vietnamese women at festive events, in a solemn atmosphere, aozai is the uniform of schoolgirls, students and employees of many companies in Vietnam. It is also worn in everyday life.

Aozai with a high collar, two floors, hemmed with silk and mesh, is usually decorated with floral, ornamental or theme embroidery. Aozai, along with wide trousers and a national non hat, is one of the symbols of modern Vietnam.
There is a male version of the Aozai, which has a wider cut and increased fabric density. At receptions, Vietnamese men wear aozai as a formal dress. In 2006, at the APEC summit organized in Vietnam, the leaders of different countries put on the Vietnamese aozai.

Aozai and Khandong Aozai at the APEC Summit, Hanoi, Vietnam 2006
The formation of Vietnamese culture was strongly influenced by the largest religious and philosophical teachings of the East - Buddhism and Confucianism. During some periods of history, Chinese culture was imposed by violent methods, especially in the 1st and 7th centuries.
In the village environment, a national cultural tradition - ding-lang - was formed: religious performances, complex ceremonies and rituals, cult architecture and sculpture, folk painting. Many of the traditional arts have survived to this day.
From antiquity, famous bronze items of North Vietnam are known, belonging to the Dong Son culture (IX-VIII centuries BC - I-II centuries AD), found at the end of the XVII century. Among the bronze finds are tools, jewelry, household items, bronze drums used during agricultural rites.
In the era of Chinese expansion I-X centuries. glazed earthenware products are made of clay: bowls, lamps, incense burners, colored tiles. In the III century. the production of paper from the bark and leaves of the scarlet tree and seaweed begins. The art of artistic varnishes spreads, and weaving from jute, flax, and bamboo fibers develops. High level in the VIII-X centuries. reaches the art of making silk fabrics.
In the XI-XII centuries, in the era of Buddhism, temples, pagodas and monasteries were actively built. But the buildings of that period have practically not survived. An indispensable attribute of the temple decor was the image of the dragon, which was one of the four sacred animals, along with the phoenix, unicorn and turtle. The dragon was considered the patron ancestor of the Vietnamese and was revered as the master of the element of water.

Roof detail, imperial edging (Hue)
The motif of sacred animals is most common in the decorative arts of Vietnam. Other common elements are the "eight precious objects" symbolizing wealth and education: pumpkin fruit, brush tip, fig leaf fan, flute, basket of flowers, sword, gong, feather broom; “Eight fruits” - peach, pomegranate, plum, pear, “Buddha's hand” fruit (a kind of citron), grapes, calabash, round pumpkin; “Four plants” - peach blossom, chrysanthemum, bamboo, orchid; "four Seasons".

Citron
At the end of the XIX century. the popular picture is spreading. These paintings were made in many villages and, due to the low price, could be purchased by any peasant.

Folk painting "Wealth"
During the period of French colonization, the people of Vietnam get the opportunity to become familiar with European culture. Vocational schools and the Higher School of Fine Arts are opening in the country. The Vietnamese are discovering a new type of fine art - easel painting.

To Ngoc Wam "Girl at the Lily" (1943)

UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Vietnam

Hue Monument Complex

Thien Mu pagoda

The complex includes several hundred architectural objects of the Nguyen dynasty (temples, palaces, mausoleums) in the city of Hue, built over a century and a half: the remains of the imperial citadel; Thien Mu pagoda with a seven-story twenty-meter octagonal tower Thap Phyok Duen dedicated to Buddha; royal tombs (eight huge complexes of tombs of monarchs, very different from each other in style and interior decoration: with temples, wooden buildings and pavilions, granite stairs, mosaics, bronze statues of people and animals, tombstone obelisks, towers, boat docks); Museum of Antiquity Hue. A monument of special value with wood panels on which his poems were inscribed with the hand of one of the emperors, pieces of royal furniture and clothing, a collection of bronze and ceramics exhibits and personal belongings of monarchs; Fu Kam Cathedral. The temple, created in 1965 according to the classical Vietnamese traditions, but using the latest architectural concepts at that time.

Hoi An historic city

Old town view
In the 1st century. n. e. was the largest port in Southeast Asia. It was part of the Champa state. In the West, it was known under the name Fife. Hoi An is called an open-air museum city. To date, there are 844 officially recognized buildings of historical importance in Hoi An. Among them are old Chinese houses, Cham temples, shops, public buildings, graves. The city is also famous for its traditional and souvenir shops, a large number of sewing workshops.

Old temple

Michonne shrine

The temple complex of the Champa Empire in the central part of Vietnam was the capital of the empire in the 4th-12th centuries. The Champa culture was heavily influenced by Indian culture, this is reflected in the worship of the Hindu god Shiva and in art.
The excavations, funded by UNESCO, began in 2002.

The most famous tower, 24 m high, was decorated with sculptures of lions and elephants. It was destroyed by American bombing during the war in 1969. During these bombings, 50 of the 70 temples were completely or partially destroyed.

Fong Nya Kebang National Park

The park is located in Quang Binh province, 500 km south of Hanoi. It was created to protect the karst area, which contains about three hundred caves and grottoes, and which protects the limestone ecosystem of the Truong Son Mountains of the north-central coast of Vietnam.
The plateau on which the park lies is one of the most characteristic examples of the complex karst landscape in Southeast Asia. In April 2009, the largest cave in the world, Son Dong, was discovered by members of the British Speleological Association.
Fongya Kebang is famous for its system of caves and grottoes with a total length of about 70 km.

Thang Long Imperial Citadel (Hanoi)

Remains of the Imperial City were discovered at the site of the Badinh Assembly Hall when it was demolished in 2008 to make way for a new parliament building. Various archaeological finds that have been found are on display at the National Museum. Until now, only a small part of Thang Long has been excavated. The royal palaces and most of the buildings in Thang Long were destroyed to some extent by the end of the 19th century. due to the actions of the French army during the conquest of Vietnam (Thang Long is the old name of Hanoi).

Huo Dynasty Citadel

The citadel of the Ho dynasty in Vietnam is the center of the former capital of Vietnam in the late 14th-early 15th centuries, the political, economic and cultural center of the northern region of Vietnam from the 16th to the 18th centuries.
The citadel system includes stone walls made of large stone blocks, the outer defensive wall of the citadel, and the altar of Namzhao (the site of a ceremony honoring the Heavenly Sovereign). Cultural layers underground store information about palaces, temples, roads, decorative arts, even ancient villages, landscapes are preserved in a relatively intact state, clearly reflecting the historical period of the culture and civilization of Vietnam.

Other sights of Vietnam

Cattienne (national park)

The park is home to lowland tropical forests with a large number of protected species of animals and plants. The park was founded in 1978. 105 species of mammals, more than 360 species of birds, 120 species of reptiles and amphibians and more than 150 species of freshwater fish live here. The park is inhabited by about 440 species of butterflies and many species of other insects.

Yellow-cheeked crested gibbon - one of the inhabitants of the park

Perfume pagoda

An extensive complex of Buddhist temples and shrines built in the limestone mountains in Hanoi, it is one of the most popular pilgrimage sites in the country. It hosts a major religious festival, Huong, which attracts pilgrims from all over Vietnam. The temples that make up the Perfume Pagoda complex are scattered among the hills in the forest on the Huong Mountains.

Petroglyphs in Shapa

Stones with petroglyphs in the city of Shapa (Sapa), Vietnamese province of Lao Cai, were discovered by a French archaeologist in 1925. The stones depict stairs, people, a road, circular grooves, male and female figures.

Nha Trang

Coastal city and capital of Khanh Hoa province. Nha Trang is famous for its beaches, there are very good conditions for snorkeling. The city is the center of marine science based on the Oceanographic Institute.

Can Tho

The largest city in the Mekong Delta. Like any other city, it has its own attractions and features. A special feature of Can Tho is the floating markets where people buy and sell things on the river.

History

In the 1st millennium BC. e. on the territory of modern southern China and modern northern Vietnam, there were several states of ancient Vieta.
But already at the end of the II century. BC e. the country falls under the rule of the Han emperors. Chinese rule lasted here until the 9th century, although it should be said about short-term independence as a result "Uprising of two sisters". Chung sisters (about 12 AD - 43 AD) - the leaders of the uprising against the Chinese governors. They are considered Vietnam's national heroines. Chung Chak and Chung Ni were nam the Vietnamese nation did not exist in those years.

The Chung Sisters Lead Elephants to Battle. Drawing by Bắc Ninh
At the same time, Buddhism, preached by Indian monks, was spreading in the country, which coexisted with traditional cults of ancestors and the forces of nature.
In 880, the Chinese troops left their South Vietnamese governorship, and in 968 the territory was united by Din Bo Lin under the name Daikoviet - The great ancient Viet. The heating of the central government began. But in the second half of the XIII century. the Mongols began to invade Daivyet and other states of Southeast Asia, with whom the Vieta fought desperately. In 1407, the country was again seized by the Chinese, Le Loi in 1427 proclaimed himself the new emperor, founding the Late Le dynasty, which ruled until the end of the 18th century.
In the second half of the 15th century. Vietnam is again switching to an offensive policy, capturing neighboring Champa and the eastern regions of Lansang. Buddhism is inferior to Confucianism and traditional beliefs. By the end of the first quarter of the 17th century. the actual power in the country belonged to two influential clans: in the north of the Nghe An province - the Chiney family, in the south - the Nguyenam.
Thirty Years Civil War (1773-1802) ended with the creation of a unified state based on Confucian principles. At the beginning of the XIX century. the strengthened Vietnam waged a long struggle with Siam for control over Cambodia.
In 1858, under the pretext of the Vietnamese government's refusal to accept demands for free trade, the French invasion of Vietnam began. All of southern Vietnam fell under French influence. In 1882 the French took Hanoi, and in 1883 they signed a protectorate treaty with Vietnam. The colonial regime was finally established in 1885.
In the second half of the XIX century. Vietnam falls into colonial dependence on France. The country is artificially divided into three parts: the Cochin Khin colony (South Vietnam), the Annam protectorates (Central Vietnam) and Tonkin (North Vietnam). Together with Laos and Cambodia, Vietnam became part of French Indochina.
But in the 1930s, a powerful national liberation movement began in the country, led by the Communist Party of Indochina, its leader was Ho Chi Minh.

During the Second World War, Vietnam was captured by the Japanese, who first disarmed and then completely neutralized the French garrisons. But by the end of the war, the Japanese were forced to withdraw their troops to strengthen the defense of Japan and Manchuria, the communists took advantage of this: they elected a Provisional Government headed by Ho Chi Minh and announced the creation of a new state throughout Vietnamese territory - Democratic Republic of Vietnam (DRV).
But the French wanted to restore the colonial system - on November 20, 1946, they shelled and occupied Haiphong and Lang Son. A "nation-wide, all-round and long war" began with a protracted partisan character. Northern Vietnam became the main arena of battles, but the French suffered a major defeat and were forced to retreat, suffering heavy losses. France abandoned offensive operations, went over to the defense of the occupied regions of the DRV and decided "to fight against the Vietnamese by the hands of the Vietnamese themselves." In May 1948, the colonialists formed the puppet government of Nguyen Xuan in the occupied territory, and a year later announced the creation of the state of Vietnam, headed by the former emperor Bao Dai (the last representative of the Nguyen dynasty). In the 1950s, the United States began direct intervention in the war on the side of France.
In 1953, the Vietnamese People's Army launched a general offensive on all fronts, which lasted until July 1954. In the spring of 1954, it defeated the forces of the French colonial army at the Battle of Dien Bien Phu. Major military defeats and anti-war protests in France itself forced the French government to negotiate a settlement of the Indo-China problem. In July 1954, at the Geneva Conference, agreements were signed to restore peace in Indochina. The armed forces of the DRV and France were to cease fire and, within 300 days, complete the regrouping of troops in two zones, respectively, to the north and south of the demarcation line, established approximately along the 17th parallel. After 2 years, it was planned to hold general elections, which were to form a unified government of Vietnam and complete the unification of the country. The signing of the Geneva Agreements meant international recognition of the sovereignty and independence of Vietnam. Before the elections, the territory of Vietnam was temporarily divided along the Benhai River into two halves. This did not suit the United States - the elections were disrupted, in the south the Republic of Vietnam was proclaimed with the capital in Saigon, headed by Ngo Dinh Diem.

Partition of Vietnam
In 1959, the leadership of the northern Democratic Republic of Vietnam came to the conclusion that it was necessary to unite the country by force. The National Front for the Liberation of South Vietnam was created, which, with partisan operations, tried to undermine the influence of the Saigon regime in the periphery and in 1965 controlled about 30% of the territory of South Vietnam. The United States took advantage of the Tonkin incident (the attack by Vietnamese boats on an American destroyer, allegedly in neutral waters) and began systematic bombing of the DRV, began the transfer of troops to South Vietnam. The Vietnam War began.

It was one of the largest military conflicts in the second half of the 20th century. The decisive actions of the guerrillas in the south and the successful confrontation of the DRV with air raids (with significant support from the USSR) led to impressive losses among the Americans and forced Washington to sign the Paris Peace Agreements in 1973, according to which American troops were withdrawn from Vietnam. Without American support, the Saigon regime, in deep crisis, quickly collapsed as a result of the North Vietnamese advance. On April 30, 1975, South Vietnamese troops surrendered Saigon.

On July 2, 1976, the North and South of Vietnam merged into the Socialist Republic of Vietnam. In 1976, a new constitution of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam was adopted, and Saigon was renamed Ho Chi Minh City.
In February - March 1979, there was an armed conflict between Vietnam and China, in which other countries were also involved. The SRV army managed to stop the offensive of the Chinese troops invading the country, inflicting heavy losses on them. The diplomatic intervention of the USSR forced the PRC to abandon further actions against Vietnam. After that, armed incidents periodically occurred on the Sino-Vietnamese border.
Relations between the PRC and the Socialist Republic of Vietnam were restored only in 1991 following the results of high-level talks held on November 5-10.
Currently, Vietnam has experienced a partial liberalization of the economic system and a significant expansion of contacts with foreign countries, with some weakening of party control over all spheres of public life.

Modern Hanoi

Vietnam is famous for its paradise beaches, and go there primarily for them. However, this paradise will also appeal to diving enthusiasts - diving here it is one of the cheapest in the world, but at the same time it is well organized, and there are interesting dive sites, and you can dive all year long, simply by changing resorts.

Those who like sightseeing vacationwill appreciate the wealth and preservation of historical monuments. There are medieval imperial citadels, French colonial quarters, and guerrilla catacombs during the Vietnam War. And the natural nature of such a small country amaze with its grandeur: the giant Mekong delta, the largest cave in the world, Shondong, the bay of 3000 Halong islands. An excellent seasoning for holidays will be local kitchen with a pleasant French accent.

Vietnam Tours

Popular resorts

Vietnam on the map is stretched along the meridian by a winding line. Above, in the north, is the country's capital -. In the center is the ancient capital of Hue, popular with fans of sightseeing holidays.

Beach resorts begin a little further south, in Nha Trang, the most famous and popular of them. Further south are followed, especially suitable for surfers and kiters. Below begins the Mekong Delta, as well as the "Paris of the East", an industrial and tourist center -.

In the extreme south of the country, the sea gives way to the Gulf of Thailand. In it, on the very borders of Cambodia, the largest island of Vietnam is located. Paradise beaches with white sand and coconut palms are to be found there, on its western coast.

Hotels

The level of service of hotels in Vietnam is very high: even hotels of the category "3 stars" in their comfort and quality of service are close to the European "four". And local "fours" and even more so "fives", especially when it comes to historical hotels, is already a real luxury.

Animation for children, kids clubs and special entertainment programs are not yet available in every resort hotel, information about them needs to be clarified in advance. Also, not all hotels operate in the all-inclusive format, which, by the way, is not so much in demand. In Vietnamese resorts, you don't want to sit around the clock in a hotel when there are so many interesting and tasty things around.

You can come to Vietnam even without booking a hotel in advance. In large tourist centers, you can always find free rooms right on the spot.

Vietnam Tours

Prices for tours for 2 people for 7 nights with a departure from Moscow

Weather

Currency

The national currency of Vietnam is the Vietnamese dong. Its cost is such that as a "small change" you should have banknotes of 50,000 and 20,000 dongs in order to pay off a cycle rickshaw ("Cyclo") or buy a glass of freshly squeezed juice. The largest bill is half a million dong.

It is best to take on a trip with you u.S. dollars: here you can pay with them as freely as with the national currency. The euro does not have such circulation.

Visa

Visa for Vietnam need not for Russians who are going to come for a period of up to 15 days.

Those who plan to stay in the country longer need to get a visa. It can be single or multiple, but in both cases it is issued for a period of 1 or 3 months. To obtain a visa, you must collect a package of documents and contact the consular department of the Vietnamese Embassy. The visa is issued within 5 - 7 working days. However, you can also apply for a visa upon arrival at any of the main airports in Vietnam. It is both faster and easier.

Round-trip flights to Vietnam

These are the ticket prices for 1 person departing from Berlin

What to bring from Vietnam

Even by the standards of Southeast Asia, prices in Vietnam are very low, so no one comes from here without souvenirs. Russians often bring tropical fruits, medicinal artichoke tea and coffee from Vietnam, including such an exotic and expensive variety as "kopi luwak": it is also cheaper here than, for example, on. Snake wine and medicinal tinctures on snakes, scorpions and other poisonous animals have become classic souvenir classics. Men consider them beneficial for their health.

Women love Vietnamese island pearl jewelry and silk clothing. On vacation, many even order from local dressmakers the national women's aozai costume, which consists of a long silk shirt and trousers. A traditional conical palm leaf hat is perfect for him.

Vietnam is a state in southeast Asia, located on the Indochina Peninsula and washed from the east and south by the South China Sea. The country is officially called the Socialist Republic of Vietnam. The neighboring states of Vietnam are Laos and Cambodia, with which Vietnam borders in the west, as well as China, with which the border lies in the north. The total area of \u200b\u200bthe country is 331,212 square kilometers, which is only 65th in the world. B aboutmost of Vietnam is occupied by low or medium-high mountains and plateaus. The highest point of the country is Mount Fansipan (3143 meters) of the Hoanglien Son mountain range. In addition, the largest Indo-Chinese rivers Mekong and Hongha flow through Vietnam, which flow into the South China Sea.

For a long time, Vietnam was an Indo-Chinese colony of France and achieved independence only in the middle of the 20th century - this happened in 1945, although armed clashes continued for several years in the country. Vietnam is also the scene of the 1965-1973 war with the United States, which cost many people on both sides.

Modern Vietnam is a socialist state that has chosen the Chinese version of development - modernization and liberalization of the economy. As of 2016, the population of Vietnam is 94,569,072 people.

Visa

To enter Vietnam for a period of more than 15 days, citizens of the Russian Federation need to have a visa obtained at the Vietnam Consulate; you can also apply for a visa right upon arrival.

In order to obtain a visa at the consulate, you must provide the following documents: foreign passport (minimum validity period - 6 months from the end of the trip); 2 photographs measuring 4 × 6 cm; 2 questionnaires completed in Russian, English or French; invitation, travel voucher or reservation. The visa is issued within 5 working days, and its validity period is 30 days. In addition, there is a US $ 25 consular fee.

When obtaining a visa directly at the border, at a Vietnamese airport, you need to provide 2 photos of 3 × 4 size, one completed application form, as well as a visa permit from the Ministry of Public Security of Vietnam, which is issued within 5-7 working days. Upon arrival, citizens must go to the "Visa on arrival" window, and from this moment the rest in Vietnam begins.

Among other things, the visa indicates the points of entry and exit through which a guest of the country can cross the border. To change the indicated location, you must contact the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh City. This service is paid.

If the period of stay in Vietnam does not exceed 15 days, then Russian citizens do not need to apply for a visa. In addition, similar rules apply in neighboring Laos and Cambodia (in Cambodia, a visa can be obtained without any problems at the border), so after a 15-day stay in Vietnam, you can go to one of the neighboring countries and then return again for 15 days. Often, when entering Vietnam for a period of less than 15 days, border guards may require you to present a ticket to leave the country - this is prescribed by the rules, but not always fulfilled.

Customs regulations

When entering Vietnam, certain customs regulations apply. So, an unlimited number of foreign convertible currency can be imported into the country, but if the amount exceeds $ 3,000, then the currency must be declared, since no more than the declared amount can be exported from the country.

It is also possible to carry, without paying a duty, the following goods: maximum 1.5 liters of strong alcohol or 2 liters of drinks with a maximum alcohol content of 22 degrees; either 400 cigarettes, or 100 cigars, or 500 grams of tobacco; 5 kilograms of tea; maximum 3 kilograms of coffee, as well as two cans of black or red caviar weighing not more than 100 grams. In addition, other goods are also transported, the total value of which does not exceed 5 million VND (Vietnamese dong).

As in other countries of Southeast Asia, the punishment for attempting to smuggle drugs is the most severe - up to the death penalty. In addition, it is categorically impossible to transport medicines containing narcotic substances without the permission of doctors to use them, as well as explosives, firearms, pornographic products or offending local culture.

Current time in Hanoi:
(UTC +7)

Upon arrival, all tourists undergo sanitary and epidemiological control, and on board the aircraft fill out the Declaration of Health. If, when passing the control, the visitor does not show any symptoms of diseases such as AIDS, plague, tuberculosis, cholera, yellow fever and others, then no problems will arise. Otherwise, the tourist is waiting for treatment in one of the local hospitals, and not a full rest in Vietnam.

How to get there

It is relatively easy to get to Vietnam from Russia - there are two airlines operating regular flights, but the list of Russian cities from where you can fly directly to Vietnam is limited to Moscow. But during the tourist season (in the winter months) charter flights are also carried out from other cities, for example, from Yekaterinburg, St. Petersburg, Krasnoyarsk.

You can fly from Moscow to Hanoi directly with Aeroflot and Vietnamese Airlines. Aeroflot flies daily, Vietnam Airlines - three times a week, on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays.

Both Aeroflot and Vietnamese Airlines operate direct flights from Sheremetyevo Airport to Hanoi, Noi Bai Airport. The flight is very long, so the passengers are provided with meals twice. The time in the air is 9 and a half hours.

You can also fly to Ho Chi Minh City from Sheremetyevo with Aeroflot without a stopover, with a direct flight. Travel time is about the same as to Hanoi.

From Vladivostok, Novosibirsk and Irkutsk by S7 planes you can fly directly to the resort town of Nha Trang.

Connecting flights

From Russia to Hanoi

• Airline "Emirates" from Moscow and St. Petersburg with a transfer in Dubai.

From Russia to Ho Chi Minh City

• Airline "Turkish Airlines" from Moscow, St. Petersburg, Yekaterinburg, Kazan, Samara and Ufa with a transfer in Istanbul.
• Airline "Thai" from Moscow with a transfer in Bangkok.
• Air China Airlines from Moscow with a transfer in Beijing.
• Airline "Qatar Airways" from Moscow and St. Petersburg with a transfer in Doha.
• The airline "Korean Air" from Vladivostok, Irkutsk, Moscow and St. Petersburg with a transfer in Seoul (Incheon airport).
• Airline "Japan Airlines" from Moscow with a transfer to Tokyo (Narita airport).

There are more difficult options - with two transfers. However, during periods of airline sales, it makes sense to use them because of the attractive prices. For example, you can reach both Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City with Air France from Moscow and St. Petersburg with transfers in Paris and Bangkok.

It is worth remembering that long flights are associated with a certain risk to the health of passengers who do not tolerate such loads poorly.

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Climate and weather in Vietnam

So that your vacation in Vietnam is not spoiled by weather conditions, we recommend that you familiarize yourself with the climatic data for the country. The climate in Vietnam is tropical monsoon, so the humidity is quite high - an average of 84% throughout the year. However, the climate often differs markedly from region to region. This happens due to the difference in latitudes and in the features of the relief of a particular area. The winter dry season, which lasts from November to April, is only dry compared to the rainy season, as there is sufficient rainfall during these months, thanks to the monsoon winds blowing from the northeastern coast of China. In the southern regions of the country it is quite hot in winter - about 25 degrees, in the north it is on average 10 degrees colder. The lowest temperatures are in December and January, sometimes reaching only 1 degree above zero. In any case, it is most comfortable in the south of the country, where in any of the seasons the temperature rarely drops below 20 degrees, and in April, the hottest month, sometimes even reaches 37 degrees.

Average annual rainfall ranges from 1200-3000 millimeters per year, with 90% of all rainfall occurring between May and October. At this time, each region of the country receives its portion of precipitation, but in the winter months in the south of Vietnam, the probability of rain is much less than in the north. It is also worth knowing that at the end of summer and the beginning of autumn, the time of typhoons comes, often with a truly destructive force.

Cities and regions

Vietnam consists of 59 fairly small provinces, plus there are 4 cities of central subordination - these are the cities of Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Haiphong and Da Nang. The most economically developed provinces are located in the northeast of the country, which is not so popular among tourists, as well as in the south of the country in the area of \u200b\u200bHo Chi Minh City.

Administrative divisions of Vietnam

Provinces of Vietnam

Laiteau Lao Cai Hau Ziang Caobang Dien Bien Shonla Yen Bai Tuen Quang Buck Kang Lang Son Futo Vinh Fook Thai nguyen Bak ziang Bak Ninh

Hai Duong Quang Ninh Hung Yen Haiphong city Thaibin Ha Nam Nam Dinh Ninh Binh Hoa Binh Thanh Hoa Nghean Hatin Quang Binh Quang Tri Tua Thien Hue

Quang Nam Kontum Quang Ngai Zia Lai Bin ding Fu Yen Duck Lac Khanh Hoa Duck Nong Lam dong Ninh Thuan Binh Thuan Binh Phuoc Dong Nai Baria-Vung Tau

Tai Ninh Binh Duong Long An Tienziang Dong Thap Vinh Long Benche Canto Hau Ziang Chavin An Giang Shokchang Buckleu Kien Giang Kamau

Major cities and islands of Vietnam

Ho Chi Minh City - the largest city in Vietnam and the economic capital of the country. A lot of industries are developed here; it is estimated that 40% of Vietnamese exports come from Ho Chi Minh City. The city was founded by French colonialists in 1874 (the official date of foundation is March 15, 1874). Until 1975, the city was called Saigon.

Nha Trang

Nha Trang city is the capital of Khanh Hoa province and at the same time the capital of beach holidays in Vietnam. Quite simply - the most popular resort in the country. Nha Trang is home to about 200,000 people, and almost all of the life of local residents is associated with the tourism industry.

Halong

Halong is both a city and a bay. The city itself does not represent anything special, and Halong Bay is the real pearl of this area and of all Vietnam. This bay is included in the UNESCO World Heritage List. Surprisingly, over an area of \u200b\u200b1,500 square kilometers, more than 1,600 islets and rocks of various shapes, sometimes very bizarre, are scattered, which makes the bay more like a fabulous than a real place. It's no surprise that Halong Bay is one of the most visited destinations in Vietnam.

Phu Quoc

The Vietnamese island of Phu Quoc is located in the Gulf of Thailand, just 15 kilometers from the coast of neighboring Cambodia. The island, whose area reaches 567 square kilometers, is also called "the island of 99 mountains". Fukuoka is home to 85,000 people, mostly employed in tourism or agriculture.

What to see

By clicking on the links in the text, you can get more detailed information about a specific object (description, location on the map, cost of entrance tickets, opening hours, ways to get there, photos, tourist reviews, etc.). If you are interested in the sights of Vietnam in general, without dividing into cities, there is a special section for this.

Hanoi

Ho Chi Minh City

In Ho Chi Minh City, you can see many interesting buildings - colonial buildings, the Cathedral of Our Lady of Saigon, Buddhist temples and pagodas, the Presidential Palace, mosques and much more.

In addition, from Ho Chi Minh City itself, you can easily get to the neighboring Tai Ninh province, where there are many beautiful Caodai temples, as well as to the Mekong Delta region.

As for the sights, there are several very interesting places for tourists in the central part of the city. And if you come to Ho Chi Minh City in the summer, from mid-May to late August, you can find "Southern Fruit Festival" held here every year.

Nha Trang

Among the sights of Nha Trang, it is necessary to highlight the Long Son Pagoda, behind which, on the top of the hill, there is a large stone statue of Buddha sitting on a lotus flower. You can also look at the Chamov towers of the 13th century, which were built during the era of the Champa state. It is also possible to swim with an excursion to Monkey Island, located 12 kilometers north of Hon Che Island. The excursion includes a cruise around the islands, fishing, a visit to the Bajo waterfall, mud and mineral springs, local craft villages. If you wish, you can visit the Circus of Dogs and Monkeys, the Circus of Elephants and Bears and much more on the island.

Halong

An obligatory item on the program is a boat trip or any other ship around the islands. At the pier in the city, you can find out in detail about all possible routes, which can be both short and long and even include an overnight stay on the ship. The usual excursion includes a visit to a fishing village on one of the islands, a cave, as well as an island named after German Titov, the famous Soviet cosmonaut who rested here in the 70s. You can also go night fishing right from the boat, which, however, must be ordered in advance. But then you can enjoy the taste of your own catch yourself! Popular islands in Halong Bay are Tuan Chau and Catba islands.

Phu Quoc

Phu Quoc has many beautiful beaches stretching from Duong Dong town to An Thoi town. The island has many beautiful hills and mountains covered with rainforest. In addition, in Fukuoka, you can watch the sunset at sea, which cannot be done in other resorts in Vietnam, which face to the east.

Resorts of Vietnam

Tourists in Vietnam, first of all, will be interested in its numerous beaches and warm sea, and only then the Ho Chi Minh mausoleum and everything else. There are plenty of resort towns in the country. Of course, not all of them correspond to the European level of quality, equipment and infrastructure. It is noteworthy that the resorts stretch along the entire coast of Vietnam - from the southern Phu Quoc Island to the Mongkai resort in the north of the country.

The waters of the South China Sea are quite salty - saltier than in the neighboring Gulf of Thailand, but at the same time they are healthier. At the confluence of rivers (especially the Mekong and Krasnaya), the water is more fresh.

sights

Museums and galleries

Entertainment

Parks and recreation areas

Leisure

Transport

Shops and Markets

Wellness holiday

Private guides in Vietnam

Russian private guides will help you get acquainted with Vietnam in more detail.
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Getting around the country

In Vietnam, in one or another quantity, you can find and use all modern forms of transport - from domestic aircraft to intercity buses and taxis. Some of them are very well developed, some are not enough, but in some cases they can be irreplaceable. In any case, it is possible to get even to remote places in Vietnam, even if you have to make several transfers from one mode of transport to another, or, say, from one bus route to another.

The following types of transport are developed in the country: air transport, rail transport, buses, water passenger transport and various types of taxis. You can find recommendations on how to get around the country and learn more about each type of Vietnamese transport in our special material "Transport in Vietnam: from a motor scooter to an airplane".

Communication

Vietnamese is part of the Vietnamese group of the Australo-Asian language family and is the native language of the Viet and Kinh people. Neighboring China has had a great influence on the Vietnamese language and culture: two-thirds of the words in Vietnamese are of Chinese origin.

For tourists, it is very convenient that instead of hieroglyphs in the Vietnamese language, Latin is used, although with the addition of diacritical marks under or above the letter in the vowels, which denote a particular tone. Due to the fact that there are a huge number of tones and semitones in Vietnamese speech, it is very difficult to perceive it by ear. At the same time, the Vietnamese themselves have problems with the correct pronunciation of European words. It is often very difficult to make out that a Vietnamese speaks English.

English is the most widely spoken foreign language among locals, which, however, is not surprising. It is studied at school, at universities, on courses, etc. Also, in educational institutions in Vietnam, Chinese is taught - the second most popular foreign language after English. English and Chinese are followed by French, Russian and German, but they are much less common. Thus, Russian is most often known by adults who studied at the universities of the USSR, as well as Vietnamese traders who returned from Russia, but their level of language proficiency is very low. Recently, due to the increase in the number of tourists from Russia in resort areas, local residents are slowly beginning to master the Russian language.

Culture

Throughout its centuries-old history, Vietnamese culture has been subjected to numerous influences from its powerful neighbors or the metropolis, but each time melting them into something peculiar and unique in its own way. India and China play a special role in the development of Vietnamese culture. China introduced into the Vietnamese language more than half of the words and hieroglyphic writing (replaced by the Latin alphabet in the 20th century), and Confucianism and elements of Taoism into the culture. In addition, in the Middle Ages, the influence of Indian culture was noticeable, and later, after the colonization of Vietnam by the French, and the French. This was reflected, in particular, in the architecture of many cities, especially Ho Chi Minh City. In the second half of the 20th century, with the coming to power of the Communists, many elements of culture began to be borrowed from the Soviet Union.

Vietnamese literature has a rich history - from ancient folklore, including the legend of the Dragon King Lac Long Quan, the Muong epic "The Birth of Water and the Birth of the Earth", and to books of the 20th century, similar in themes to European literature. The most significant writers in the history of Vietnam, Nguyen Chai in the 15th century, Nguyen Binh Khiem in the 16th century and Nguyen Dhu at the turn of the 18th-19th centuries, worked in the New Time. Nguyen Chai is one of the first major Vietnamese writers, as well as an eminent statesman and philosopher. Nguyen Binh Khiem was an outstanding poet with a world outlook close to Taoism, and Nguyen Zu, who wrote the poems "The Wail of a Tormented Soul" and "The Narrative of Kieu", is as significant a figure in Vietnam as Pushkin is in Russia.

Vietnamese folk music is quite original. A large number of vocal genres can surprise, and among the main musical instruments one can distinguish an amazing disc-like guitar, which can be either four or five strings, and also given there (three-stringed guitar), given not (a violin with only two strings ) and om dit is a Vietnamese bamboo flute.

Theater is popular in Vietnam, presented in several interesting genres. Theo is an ancient folk theater, which at one time originated among the peasants who lived in the Krasnaya River delta. Today it exists in the provinces of Thaibin and Haihung. Theatrical performances include folk music and the use of traditional folklore subjects.

The Vietnamese opera is called Tuong. Tuong originated in a courtly atmosphere and is considered a high theatrical genre that combines dance, music, pantomime, poetry, acrobatic arts and more. By the way, there are no decorations on the stage, and a heroic character is always in the center of the performance.

Especially interesting is the water puppet theater, which has no analogues in the world. It also originated in the Red River delta. The dolls move on the water during sunset, and the whole action is accompanied by pleasant melodic music. The dolls are controlled by actors standing up to their waist in the water, hidden behind a bamboo screen, so that they have the opportunity to observe the dolls. The performances begin with the appearance of the boy-doll Tau, who says: “Hello everyone! I probably don't need to introduce myself? "

Kitchen

Vietnam is a gourmet paradise. The culinary traditions of this country amaze with their richness and variety of dishes and ingredients. Many recipes were borrowed from China, India and France, but it is by no means possible to say that Vietnamese cuisine is a clone of any of them.

A variety of sauces and seasonings are widely used in Vietnamese cuisine. By the way, dishes prepared only from fresh products often contain spices of garlic, onions and ginger root, as well as purely Vietnamese sauces "nyok mam" and "nyok cham". Various herbs and even bamboo are very popular in Vietnam, the young shoots of which are readily eaten.

The most popular foods used in Vietnamese cuisine are rice, seafood, pork, noodles, herbs, and more.

It is especially worth focusing on rice. This culture is one of the symbols of all of Southeast Asia, and Vietnam is the second largest exporter of rice in the world. In addition, they refused to grow genetically modified rice in Vietnam, so there is no doubt about the quality of the product. In every Vietnamese family, rice is the main dish on the table, but it is also part of countless of the most amazing and original recipes.

In Vietnam, vegetarian cuisine is also developed, which is explained, first of all, by Buddhist gastronomic traditions. Among the Vietnamese non-meat dishes, one can distinguish rice with fried dou-fu soy curd and rau vegetables. In general, soy and products from it in Vietnamese cuisine replace dairy products, which are practically not used among Vietnamese. There is, for example, a special soy milk called sya-dau-nan. Soy sauce is very popular.

Various fruits are widely used, which grow in abundance on the territory of Vietnam. These are coconuts, durian, guayava, lemons, litchi, Javanese apple, Siamese persimmon, papaya, rambutan and many other exotic fruits.

As for meat dishes, the Vietnamese usually eat the familiar beef, pork and poultry. Various insects or reptiles are now considered rare delicacies that are not served in every restaurant.

In general, Vietnamese cuisine is rich in exotic meat. For example, you can taste boa constrictor meat, which is considered extremely healthy. Or try a snake dish, which is a whole ritual-like action that can really shock the impressionable. The waiter makes a small incision on the still living snake, then removes the heart from it and drains the blood. The person who ordered the dish eats the beating snake heart and drinks rice vodka mixed with snake blood. Then vodka is used, mixed with snake bile. After a while, a ready-made dish is served - snake meat fried with spices and nuts. The head of the snake is cut off during cooking so that the poison cannot get into the dish.

Other exotics include dishes from field rats, dogs, cats (although they are officially banned) and many other amazing ingredients.

Purchases

Shopping is an indispensable part of any vacation. Somewhere it is developed so that it seems that there is nowhere to develop further, but somewhere in terms of purchases everything is not the best way. Vietnam is somewhere in the middle, with a tilt towards the first group. Shopping here is not on the same level as in neighboring Thailand, but with the growing number of tourists there are good reasons for quality development. Moreover, Vietnam has something to offer its guests.

Communication

For calls to other countries in Vietnam there are special telephone offices, as well as street payphones. Residents of hotels have the opportunity to make calls directly from there, but this is quite expensive.

Vietnam's international code is 84.

• For calls from Vietnam to Russia, you need to dial: 007 - area code - subscriber number
• For calls from Russia to Vietnam dial: 8-10-84 - area code - subscriber number

Major city codes

• Hanoi - 4
• Ho Chi Minh City - 8
• Haiphong - 32
• Da Nang - 511
• Hue - 54

There are no problems with cellular communications, since all three largest Russian operators - MTS, Beeline and Megafon - have agreements with Vietnamese companies. Vietnamese operators: MobiFone, VinaFone, S-Fone, G-Tel, Vietnamobile, Viettel Mobile. A SIM card from a Vietnamese operator costs about $ 5, which includes 30 minutes of conversation.

You need to be careful when dealing with local "priestesses of love" who often do not mind taking advantage of their clients' wallets. Foreigners can only gamble in special establishments, and an attempt to involve local residents in them may result in criminal prosecution. Everything related to drugs - possession, distribution, use, is especially severely punished. The punishments in this case are the most severe, up to the death penalty. This is a traditional practice in Southeast Asian countries.

Tourists should exercise discretion while on holiday. In particular, this applies to the use of alcohol, since a tourist who has gone overboard in Vietnam can easily get into trouble, become a victim of a robbery, etc. When swimming, watch out for the ocean surf, which can become a source of danger. In the period from September to November, typhoons and severe flooding in some parts of the country often approach Vietnam.

As for health issues, before coming to Vietnam, you need to take care of the issue of obtaining medical insurance (regular or extended). You can also pay a fee to International SOS and use the medical services they provide at branches in Vietnam. The address in Hanoi is 31 Hai Ba Trung in the central part of the city. Phone - 9340555.

In the Vietnamese province, the sanitary conditions are not very good - both in local hospitals and in hotels. Almost everywhere, doctors are paid for their services only in cash, and treatment under policies is carried out only in some of the capital's clinics. However, it is worth noting that prices in Vietnam are lower than in neighboring Thailand.

You need to be careful when ordering Vietnamese cuisine, which is quite unusual for Europeans because of its pungency, abundance of spices and exotic products. If you overestimate your strength, then problems with the stomach and intestines are likely.

Where to stay

Vietnam will delight all visitors with a large selection of accommodation options - there are not only many hotels and guesthouses, but also a wide range of prices, and the level of service is quite high. In addition, Vietnamese hotels have a unique Asian flavor that adds color to the entire holiday. All in all, Vietnam has about 11 thousand hotels, while not experiencing a serious shortage of guests.

Cheap accommodation options are hotels of 2 and 3 stars, which correspond in quality to Turkish hotels of 3 and 4 stars, so many experts rightly point out that the class of Vietnamese hotels is somewhat underestimated. 2-star hotels are usually located in old 4-6-storey buildings, well finished inside. The rooms have a bathroom or shower with hot water, air conditioning, satellite TV and even a minibar. three-star hotels occupy more modern and larger buildings, and the level of service and equipment in them is quite high. Prices in hotels of categories 2 and 3 stars are about 15-40 dollars per night.

An even more budget option are guesthouses, where prices are often below $ 10, and the number of them in tourist places is truly huge. In Ho Chi Minh City, for example, many guesthouses and cheap hotels can be found in Pham Niu Lao, considered a backpacker district. True, it is not a fact that there will be hot water in cheap guesthouses and hotels.

In resort cities, in particular in Nha Trang, accommodation is likely to be more expensive than in the capitals. Many tourists come to these cities, who are poorly versed in the intricacies of the Vietnamese tour business and are able, moreover, to easily part with large sums of money. For such tourists, there are luxury 4- and 5-star hotels with their own swimming pools, private beaches, etc.

For the more economical lovers of Vietnamese beaches, there are many bungalows. True, the amenities in them are minimal, besides, if the walls of the bungalows are bamboo, then mosquitoes can fly inside through the cracks. However, mosquito ointments may well correct the situation. In any case, the most vivid memories of a vacation in Vietnam almost always remain!