9781422275580

C H A P T E R

VIETNAM’S GEOGRAPHY & LANDSCAPE

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O nce a one-party Communist state, Vietnam currently has one of the fastest growing economies in Southeast Asia, with aspirations to become a developed nation by the year 2020. The lush mountains, golden sand beaches, and bustling cities attract visitors year after year, and while there is much modernization in Ho Chi Minh City (formerly Saigon), there are still countless, time-honored traditions that remain intact among the local residents. The country of Vietnam is made up of mountains covered in dense forests, rolling green hills, and tropical lowlands. Approximately 20 percent of the country is considered low-level land. One of the most agriculturally important areas is the Red River Delta, with hills that rise gently into the higher mountains to the northwest, while the Annam Highlands cover much of the bigger, central landscape. There’s a fertile, yet narrow, coastal lowland that extends from the south of the Red River Delta, reaching the Mekong Delta. The geography of Vietnam is suited for the agricultural industry that the country thrives on and provides rich, fertile lands for growing food and other resources.

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