9781422275580

Geography Vietnam is a long and narrow country made up of various geographical regions. A coastal plain runs along the east side of the country. However, most of the country is made up of densely forested mountains. Approximately 20 percent of the entire country is covered by low-level land where the majority of its citizens live. A narrow yet fertile coastal lowland extends south from the Red River Delta all the way to the Mekong Delta. This low-lying, level plain was once covered by hundreds of different canals and small rivers. The far southern part of the country is swathed in mangrove swamps and thick jungles. The most significant rivers in Vietnam include the Mekong and the Red River, also known as Song Hong. Each has several tributaries, and the Mekong is considered one of the great rivers in the entire world. The highest point in Vietnam is Fan Si Pan, with the lowest point being the South China Sea. The source of the water that flows into the Red River Delta comes from the hills above it that rise gently into the higher mountains of the northwest region. The Annam Highlands cover quite a bit of the central landscape, and in the southern regions, coastal lowlands merge with the Mekong River Delta. The Climate Vietnam’s climate is divided into temperate and tropical zones. It is known for the strong monsoon influences and the country receives a good amount of sun, a high level of rainfall, and high levels of humidity, which can make the region feel somewhat uncomfortable. The areas further north and close to the mountains have a temperature that’s somewhat cooler, with a more temperate climate. Annually, the average temperature of Vietnam ranges from 71° Fahrenheit (22° Celsius) to 80° Fahrenheit (27° Celsius) throughout the year. There are usually no great differences in the temperature in Vietnam’s southern regions, but the northern areas are often quite cold during the winter months. There are four distinct seasons that are mostly experienced in the northern part of the country.

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