1 • INTRODUCTION

As a matter of fact, “Vietnam” is a combination of two Vietnamese words, “Viet” in ancient

Vietnamese language meaning preeminent or descendants of a dragon soaring to the
sun, “Nam” means of the southern territory.
The Socialist Republic of Vietnam, widely known as Vietnam, is not a strange name to
the whole world. The country becomes a nation going places.
Although our country is ravaged by a series of wars which causes serious damages,
Vietnam in the eyes of the world is nice and peaceful.
The Socialist Republic of Vietnam, commonly known as Vietnam, is located in
Southeast Asia, with Hanoi as its capital.
With an area of 331,690 sq. kilometers, to the north of Vietnam is China, to the west is
Laos and Cambodia, to the east is Gulf of Tonkin and East Sea, and to the south is
Thailand Gulf.
The land is a center of trading, cultural interaction, and even conflicts for centuries. It
proves that Vietnam has an advantageous position in the region with long coastline and
numerous attractions.
Having a tropical climate, Vietnam is well known for from magnificent scenery and
colorful hill tribes to wide terraced fields in Red River and Mekong River Delta, to
majestic mountains, and white sandy beaches. Vietnam, nowadays, is one of should-
not-miss destinations in Asia.
Vietnam has nearly 100 million people, making it one of the most populous countries in
the world. 
Vietnam structure is long and slender, stretching in an S-shape more than 1,000 miles
(1,600 kilometers) from China in the north to Cambodia in the south. It is only 50 miles
(80 kilometers) wide at its narrowest point. Red River and Mekong River Deltas sit at
each end of the country, yielding enormous quantities of rice.

In 1955, Vietnam was politically divided into two parts. The area north of the
seventeenth parallel became North Vietnam, led by Ho Chi Minh and the communists;
south of the line lay South Vietnam, run by a pro-Western prime minister, Ngo Dinh
Diem. The United States sent advisors and soldiers to help South Vietnam fight
communism. This led to years of devastating war.

LANGUAGE
The Vietnamese language has been influenced by Chinese more than any other
language. Chinese was the language used by government officials, scholars, and artists
during the thousand years that China ruled Vietnam, but Vietnamese remained the
popular language.
 By the end of the nineteenth century, quoc ngu , had replaced the Chinese system of
writing. Quoc ngu uses diacritical marks above or below letters to indicate pronunciation
and tone.
Vietnamese is a tonal language, so that a change in tone alone can change the
meaning of a word. Vietnamese language has the sound of poetry, but it is very difficult
for English-speakers to learn to pronounce.
Vietnamese use their father's family name, but unlike Americans, they use the family
name first to reinforce the importance of family over the individual. The family name
comes first and the individual's name second.

3. History
Vietnam has a long-lasting history starting from 1000-2000 years BC. After experiencing
over centuries with many dynasties of Ly, Tran, Le, Nguyen, Vietnam became the
colony of the French. After August Revolution 1945, the Democratic Republic of
Vietnam came into being. In 1954, the French colonialism ended by the Battle of Dien
Bien Phu. However, Vietnam at that time was divided into two separate parts: the
Democratic Republic of Vietnam in the North and the Republic of Vietnam in the South.
After April 30, 1975, Vietnam was reunified. Since July 2, 1976, the Socialist Republic of
Vietnam is the official name of the country. Currently, Vietnam is a socialist state with
single political party, the Communist Party of Vietnam. From January 11, 2007,
Vietnam officially became the 150th member of the World Trade Organization. On
October 16, 2007, at a poll which was placed at the meeting of the United Nations
General Assembly in New York, Vietnam was officially elected as non-permanent
members of the UN Security Council for the 2008-2009 term.
Geography
Vietnam geography has for a long time owned precious benefits nowhere else could be
found. Vietnam, officially called The Socialist Republic of Vietnam is situated on the
eastern part of Indochina Peninsula in Southeast Asia. Whole Vietnam's territory runs
along the eastern coast of the peninsula, in which the mainland extends from the
longitude 102°8'E to 109°27'E and between the latitude 8°27'N and 23°23'N. In addition,
Vietnam also considers Paracel Islands and Spratly Islands as its territory. The S-
shaped country has a north-to-south distance of 1,650 kilometers and is about 50
kilometers wide at the narrowest point. The country also has a land border with China
(1,281 km), Laos (2,130 km), Cambodia (1,228 km) and a long coastline, adjacent to
the Gulf of Tonkin, South China Sea and Gulf of Thailand. Located in the area of
tropical monsoon climate with high humidity of over 80% all the year round, with the
diversification in topography, three main regions of Vietnam stretch in different climate
zones. The climate in Vietnam varies from North to South, from mountains to plains and
coastal. The divisions of Vietnam weather may cause certain effects on travel
decisions of tourists.
WEATHER
Located just north of the equator, Vietnam has a tropical monsoon climate. In northern
Vietnam, the rainy season extends from April to October. In the southern part of
Vietnam, the rainy season extends from May to November. Humidity is high throughout
the year. Summers are generally hot and wet and winters are mild and dry. The typhoon
season extends from July through November, often causing serious damage to crops
and people especially along the central coast area.

HERO.
Ho Chi Minh (1880–1969), the first president of North Vietnam, is a national hero. Ho
Chi Minh traveled extensively, becoming committed to the goal of freeing his country
from French colonialism. He is revered as a communist patriot.
Politics
Vietnamese politics is formed under the model of a single socialist republic party. In this
political system, the State of Vietnam is led by the President, and the Government of
Vietnam is led by the Prime Minister under Communist Party. Executive power is ruled
by the Vietnamese government and President. Legislative power is authorized by the
National Assembly of Vietnam. The Judiciary is not dependent on the executive. The
National Assembly of Vietnam is the highest representative organ of the people, and it
is the only organ holding the legislative power. This agency has a huge responsibility in
monitoring all functions of Vietnam government. At present, Vietnam has six socio-
political organizations, including Vietnam Fatherland Front, Trade Unions, Vietnam
Women's Union, Ho Chi Minh Youth Union, Veterans Association, and Farmers
Association. Leaders of these organizations are Communist Party members and
organizations governed by the Communist Party.

5 • RELIGION
The Vietnamese sometimes practice several religions at the same time.
Confucianism(đạo Khổng), which came from China over 2,000 years ago, emphasizes
good behavior, education, and respect for hierarchy and has been very influential in
Vietnam.
Another religion inherited from China is Taoism(đạo Lão), which emphasizes beliefs in
the spirit world and ancestor worship. Most homes have an altar to the ancestors
holding a small vase of flowers, some incense, a plate or two of food, and candles.
Taoism also includes belief in geomancy, which focuses on the importance of aligning
human objects and activities with the landscape. Thus, a father's grave must face the
proper direction or his son will suffer.
In addition, most Vietnamese call themselves Buddhists. Vietnamese Buddhists believe
in reincarnation and karmic destiny (the belief that people get what they deserve). If a
man is good in this life, he will have a better life the next time round. If he is bad,
however, the opposite will happen.
There are also several million Catholics( đạo thiên chúa), mostly in urban areas in the
south, where the French missionaries had the greatest influence.
Cao Dai, a small but important religion, is followed by more than 1 million people. It
combines elements from Buddhism, Christianity, and history. Its saints include Jesus
Christ, the Buddha, Joan of Arc, and Charlie Chaplin. Cao Dai maintains a standing
army, which was involved in the Vietnam War. Cao Dai adherents believe they are
combining the best beliefs of all the world's religions.
Vietnamese folk religion or Vietnamese indigenous religion (Vietnamese: tín
ngưỡng dân gian Việt Nam), is the ethnic religion of the Vietnamese people. About
45.3% of the population[1] in Vietnam are associated with this religion.
Vietnamese folk religion is not an organized religious system, but a set of local worship
traditions devoted to the thần, a term which can be translated as "spirits", "gods" or with
the more exhaustive locution "generative powers". 

Vietnamese are likely to marry young and have four or five children, although many
continue to have as many as possible either out of desire or the inaccessibility of birth
control. Children are highly valued, not least for their potential in helping with family
chores and supporting their parents in their older years.
Marriage is viewed as a social contract between two people and their families. It is
arranged by intermediaries and approved by parents who may or may not allow their
children some choice in their spouse.
Vietnamese say that family is the most important element of their lives, and the
obligations of children to their parents, wives to husbands, and younger people to their
elders are constantly emphasized. Individual interests are less important than family
interests, and each individual is seen as one in a long family line that includes ancestors
already dead and current and future family members.
Vietnamese families are patriarchal (headed by the father). Families generally live in
nuclear family groups, although grandparents sometimes share the home with a grown
child and family. Families also socialize together, gathering with other extended family
members for festivals, marriages, funerals, and other important occasions.
Individuals are identified primarily by their patrilineal ties, and larger kin groups are
defined through men rather than women. Women join their husbands' families, children
belong to their father's family, and male children are preferred over female children.
Although the government has attempted to equalize relationships between men and
women, most Vietnamese continue to hold traditional views of family, marriage, and
childrearing.
Children assist in the support of their family. In rural areas, boys help their fathers with
farm work. In cities, boys are more likely to go to school, help their mothers with house
chores or errands, or take part-time jobs on their own.
Girls assist their mothers with housework, caring for younger siblings, and helping with
work outside the home. For children in rural areas, that includes farming, gardening,
and caring for animals. For urban children, it includes helping their mothers in the shop
or preparing food to sell.
Animals are primarily for eating, selling, or working. Dogs are used for guarding the
home, hunting, and as food. Cats are kept to keep down rats and mice. Animals kept
strictly as pets are a luxury most families cannot afford.

Economy.
Vietnam is a developing country. Emerging from an under-developed country, Vietnam
is recovering and developing after the damage of wars. After 1986, with Economic
Reform, the economy of Vietnam has gained a huge accomplishment with the average
growth rate of 9%. As being a market economy, highly dependent on crude exports and
foreign direct investment (FDI), Vietnam is the 6th largest economy in Southeast Asia
and the 57th one in the world, in terms of nominal gross domestic product in 2011.
Vietnam owns a mixed economy, but the state intervention in the economy is still at a
high level. Currently, the State of Vietnam has been applying measures of
administrative price control by requiring economic groups and corporations to adjust
levels of investment, gasoline price, and prices of steel, cement, and coal. There are
seven economic regions in Vietnam, including Northwest, Northeast, Red River Delta,
North Central Coast, South Central Coast and Highlands, Southeast, and Mekong
Delta.