Mountains covered with tropical forests, lagoons with cozy beaches and steep rocky islands sticking out right in the middle of the sea and the delta of the muddy Mekong River hidden among the jungle - all this can be found in Vietnam. The country is not as touristy as, say, Thailand, so there are many wild and truly untouched places preserved here. Let's take a closer look at the geography of Vietnam. You will find a description of all the natural features of this country further in the article.
Briefly about the country
Vietnam is a Southeast Asian country located on the Indochina Peninsula. It stretches in a long narrow strip for 1,600 kilometers along the coast of the South China Sea and the Gulf of Tonkin. In the south, a small section of it is washed by the Gulf of Thailand. To the west and north, the country borders Cambodia, Laos and China.
The state covers an area of 331,210 km2. Approximately two-thirds of this area is mountainous, the rest is occupied by lowland river valleys, converted shrimp farms and plantations of rice, coffee, tea, sugar cane and fruit. The country is among the world leaders in rice production.
Vietnam's wildlife is preserved mainly in the territory national parks, where you can meet the rarest and most exotic representatives of the planet’s flora and fauna. Most of them are located within tropical forests, which account for about 30% of the country's area.
Wildlife of Vietnam
Indochina is one of the richest regions in biological resources. The hot tropical climate with humid air and long rainy seasons took their toll. Thanks to them, a huge number of evergreen trees and shrubs, various flowers and vines grow here, among which it is convenient for various representatives of the fauna to hide.
Vietnam is no exception. Plants and animals of this country make up a tenth of the planet's biological resources. In its jungles grow industrially important bamboo, mahogany, sandalwood, ironwood, rubber trees, as well as anise, ginseng and cardamom, used in medicine and cooking. There are also many coconut palms and fruit trees, such as passion fruit, bananas, rambutans, mangoes, and papaya. Plants that are unusual for us include lychee, mangosteen, sapodilla, durian, custard apple, longan and other species.
Animal world Vietnam has a huge number of reptiles, amphibians, various fish, strange and sometimes dangerous insects, colorful birds and all kinds of mammals. Clouded leopards, tigers, Asian buffalos, rare imperial peacocks and parrots live in the tropical thickets of the country. In the mountains of Vietnam there are Malayan bears with black fur and a bright yellow spot on the chest. And one of the most exotic animals is the binturong, which looks like a mixture of marten and raccoon.
Mekong River
The Mekong is an inseparable part of not only the nature of Vietnam, but of the entire Southeast Asia. The river flows through six states and is the largest watercourse on the peninsula. It begins in the mountains of Tibet, cutting through narrow canyons and gorges. Then, through China, Myanmar, Laos, Thailand and Cambodia, it gradually descends to the plains of Vietnam, where it flows into the South China Sea.
The mouth of the Mekong forms a vast delta with an area of 39 thousand km 2. Before flowing into the sea, it branches into several branches and many straits and channels. The delta's wetlands are covered with mangroves and are a treasure trove of biodiversity. Over the past few years alone, 160 species of animals and plants have been discovered there that were previously unknown to science.
Due to the characteristics of the local soil, the river’s waters are very muddy, but this does not prevent it from being the main waterway of Vietnam. The Mekong is used for rice cultivation, fish farming and fishing, electricity generation and, of course, tourism. The main entertainment for guests of the country is boat trips along the delta, as well as visiting the floating markets located right in it.
Ha Long
Halong Bay is Vietnam's most famous natural attraction, which fully justifies its popularity. It is a scattering of three thousand islands and inaccessible rocks emerging from the depths of the Gulf of Tonkin.
According to legend, all these beauties appeared from the blows of the mighty dragon’s tail on the ground. When he went to sea, water filled the voids formed between the rocks and a bay was formed, which was named in his honor. From Vietnamese, the word “halong” is translated as “dragon descending into the sea.”
The waters of the bay are very light and transparent, which undoubtedly delights divers. There are many fish, sea snakes and turtles, and coral reefs are located near the coasts. The islands are also full of life. The largest of them, Cat Ba, is a national park and an important natural site in Vietnam. It is inhabited by more than 300 species of animals, including rare langur monkeys, which are also called “temple monkeys.”
and white dunes
The typical nature of Vietnam is mostly rainforests and water meadows in the valleys of wide rivers. However, in these parts you can find something unusual. Thus, in the southern part of the country there is a real desert landscape in the form of white sand dunes and sparsely growing shrubs.
They are located approximately 30 kilometers from famous resort- Mui Ne villages. On the way to them there are also Red Dunes, distinguished by the characteristic reddish color of the sand, but they look less impressive.
In the middle of the White Dunes, a real oasis, there is a lake covered with a carpet of lotuses. You can see the beautiful pink and white flowers only during the short period from July to September, but the rest of the time the area is impressive.
Tam Kok
Dry, Tam Coc can be described as flat rice fields, surrounded by tall limestone cliffs. In reality, this is one of the most impressive places, where the nature of Vietnam appears in all its beauty.
Between the rocks lie the branches of the Ngo Dong River, which you can ride along by renting a boat. In some places, its waters thoroughly eroded the rocks, forming caves and grottoes. This place is very similar to Ha Long, but it is located exclusively on land, which is why it attracts close attention.
Some tourists, having read various Internet forums, sometimes panic, and they have thoughts about abandoning the place, which is supposedly infested with poisonous inhabitants that pose a mortal danger. Let's figure out what representatives of the animal world tourists can meet on vacation, and whether they really are dangerous.
Marine life
- Australian sea wasp and Portuguese man-of-war
Touching the tentacles of these jellyfish to the human body causes severe burns and can even be fatal. However, the presence of jellyfish in the water does not mean that tourists should spend their entire vacation by the pool. In order to protect yourself from meeting unpleasant creatures, you should pay attention to the notices posted on the beach, and also avoid swimming in the rain and during strong surf. If unwanted contact with a jellyfish occurs, the affected area of skin should be washed with lime juice or vinegar solution and immediately consult a doctor.
- Sharks
It should be noted that many tourists are afraid of sharks. This fear can be called practically groundless, since sharks do not swim into areas of mass tourist bathing, and over the past decade, not a single attack on a person has occurred in the coastal waters of Vietnam.
- Sea snakes
Tourists are also concerned about sea snakes, of which about three dozen species live off the coast of Vietnam. But you can only find a sea snake on a wild beach in one of the sparsely populated areas of Vietnam.
Land dwellers
Land snakes, like sea snakes, live in sparsely populated areas, mainly where they can only be encountered local residents. Sometimes small snakes crawl out into the streets resort towns in the evening, but they are not aggressive and do not pose a danger.
- Sand fleas
Also, tourists are often frightened by sand fleas, which periodically appear on Vietnamese beaches. Indeed, some visitors may encounter these insects, but their bites are more unpleasant than dangerous. Flea bites are not painful, but they can itch for a long time and not heal. To protect yourself from flea bites, vacationers are not recommended to lie on bare sand.
Serious harm to tourists can be caused by mosquito bites that carry
On the map below, blue letters P and F indicate places accessible to tourists, where wild birds and animals live, as well as farms for breeding wild animals and attractions.
After clicking on such a letter, a page about animals or birds of the area will open.
The water buffalo, or Asiatic buffalo, is perhaps the most numerous species of large mammal in Vietnam. Its lifestyle is closely related to fresh water bodies with stagnant water. There is almost none left in the wild. In former times, these animals lived in huge numbers across vast areas of Asia. Nowadays they are used in agriculture and in various works. In the photo: buffalos for tourists to ride.
Wild animals
In Vietnam, animals from the tropics, subtropics and, a little, the temperate zone live in the wild. The number of individuals of some animal species continues to decrease, while others have stabilized at different quantitative levels thanks to the measures taken by local authorities and international organizations for the protection of wildlife.
Wild animals are shot and captured for food and for the use of certain organs in Eastern medicine. Less often - for making jewelry.
Endangered mammal species that are found in Vietnam are:
- golden-headed langur, a monkey that lives only on Cat Ba Island;
- monkey Rhinopithecus tonkinese (endemic), a monkey living in the forests of northern Vietnam;
- Delacour's langur (endemic), a monkey that lives in the forests of northern Vietnam;
- the Javan rhinoceros (a Vietnamese subspecies, also called the Annamese rhinoceros), is believed to have remained in national park Cat Tien;
- Sumatran rhinoceros;
- Kouprey (a species of bovid, sometimes considered a hybrid of gaur and banteng);
- dormouse hooded hamster (endemic), a rodent from the forests of northern Vietnam;
- small-toothed mole (endemic), lives underground;
— funnel-eared leaf-nosed bat (endemic), bat.
Rare species of mammals at risk include:
- Indian or Asian elephant;
- banteng, an artiodactyl mammal of the genus of true bulls of the bovid family, externally resembling cows;
- black gibbon, monkey;
- Nemean tonkotel, monkey;
- Pygatrix black-plused, a monkey related to the previous species;
— arrow-tailed flying squirrel, squirrel;
- saloa or pseudoorix, an even-toed ungulate of the bovid family, belongs to the subfamily of bulls;
- tiger, Indochinese subspecies.
Animals can be seen not only in the jungle, including in nature reserves, but also on special farms, for example, on the monkey island of Hon Ryu Dat, on a tiger farm in Thanh Hoa province and similar places.
Birds in the wild
Notable bird species living in Vietnam include some species of pheasants, peacocks, storks, vultures, and parrots.
There are several places where storks gather (up to several tens of thousands of birds in a small area).
Pets
The main domestic animal is the water buffalo or Azatian. It is used as draft power.
Pigs, cows, dogs, chickens and ducks are raised for food. Opinions in Vietnamese society are divided on the issue of eating dogs.
Dairy farming has begun to develop recently. The number of cows is steadily increasing.
In some remote areas, the customs of sacrificing domestic animals have been preserved, which increasingly began to focus on the curiosity of tourists. IN Lately this became frowned upon in Vietnamese society.
Vietnam is often called the land of fairies and dragons - according to ancient legends, all Vietnamese consider themselves descendants of the marriage of a Fairy and a Dragon. The Fairy was in charge of industry - she taught people how to produce silk, and the Dragon showed children the wisdom of agriculture. Since then, the Vietnamese have prospered in both directions.
The name of the country is translated as “the country of the Southern Vietnamese (the name of the nation), but the country was called Annam until 1945, and the name Vietnam was used only in poetic speech. The new name was immortalized by Emperor Bao Dai.
Geographical characteristics
The state, elongated in the shape of the letter “S”, is located in Southeast Asia, in the east of the Indochina Peninsula. Neighbors to the west are Laos, Cambodia and China.
The coast of Vietnam is washed from the east and south South China Sea and Bakbo Bay, the small southwestern tip has access to the Gulf of Thailand.
The area of Vietnam is 329.6 thousand square meters. km. The capital of the state is Hanoi. Political system - socialist republic. The state is officially headed by the Communist Party.
Nature
More than 80% of the country is mountainous, descending with access to the sea. The most high point country - Mount Fansipan, 3143 meters high. The hill is located in the north-west of the country, in the Hoanglien Son mountain range. By western border The country is stretched by the Truong Son Mountains, 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 in the craters of some volcanoes lakes have formed, giving rise to several rivers of the Mekong River basin...
There are more than 2,000 rivers in Vietnam 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 forming nine branches (“Nine of the Dragons”) even acquired special economic importance - the Vietnamese settled here for the first time, began to develop the wetlands, and began to raise fish in canals and man-made ponds.
In the Hong Ha River delta, on the Bac Bo Plain, stands the capital Hanoi. The territory is marked by the highest population density.
The country's largest lake, Hoan Kiem, is an oxbow lake formed as a result of changes in the course of the Red River. The lake has great cultural and historical significance 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 a accidentally found sword that belonged to a magical golden turtle. After the victories, the turtle 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 - the South China Sea, it is semi-enclosed and enters the basins of the Indian and Pacific Oceans and has properties of both oceans.
The largest island in the South China Sea is Hainan. The area is comfortable for tourist recreation, since the sea here is clean and warm. However, there is a lot in the sea predatory fish And dangerous sharks. The sea is also rich in commercial fish species - tuna, herring and sardines are found here in abundance...
Some unique plants of Vietnam have become national symbols countries: for example, bamboo, red and black sandalwood.
In Vietnam there are animals listed in the Red Book, which are almost not left in the wild in other parts of the world - these are the Asian buffalo, Javan and Sumatran rhinoceroses. Endemics (animals that live exclusively in a specified territory) are several species of monkeys, rodents and bats. The Asian elephant, black gibbon, and Indochinese tiger are considered rare species preserved 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 zone. In the south, winter is dry and hot (temperatures reach 26 degrees Celsius), in the north it is colder, but humid and mild (up to 15 degrees Celsius). Summer is the monsoon season throughout the country; the end of summer is usually marked by destructive typhoons.
There are frosts in the mountains; on the borders with China, from where cool air penetrates, temperature drops of up to 1 degree Celsius have been recorded...
Resources
The industrial centers of Vietnam - Ho Chi Minh City, Hanoi and Da Nang - are located in Central and Southern Vietnam. Industry is represented by metallurgical, mechanical engineering, construction, chemical fields, and light industry. Electronics and components, production of textiles and leather, glass, jewelry and cosmetics were exported to the world. 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 crops in tropical and temperate latitudes, so agriculture has developed greatly on the plateaus of Vietnam - this cluster employs 50% of the country's population. Mainly 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 the Viet (Kinh), and 54 other 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 Chinese, Polynesian, Malay and Thai populations.
Vietnamese has the status of the state language. More than 85% of the population professes Buddhism, and the following religions are also present national minorities, atheism, Christianity...
