About three quarters of the land is mountainous and hilly, its highest peak, the Mount Fansipan, rising more than 3 000 meters in north-west Vietnam.

Over 3 000 km of coastline offers endless white sand beaches bordered by coconut grooves. In some places, you can see mountains towering right above the sea. The most famous example, Ha Long Bay, with over 3000 small islets rising from the clear, emerald waters of the Golf of Tonkin, was recently listed as a World Heritage by the Unesco.

The whole country is criss-crossed with countless rivers, streams and channels, waterways being still one of the most convenient means of transportation, and an endless source of beauty spots.

From tropical in the South to temperate zones in the North, Vietnam offers a variety of climate conditions. Whereas in the South the warm rainy season, characterised by hard and short showers in the late afternoon, lasts from May to November, the winters in the far northern hills can be harsh. Average temperatures vary from about 27 degrees in the South to about 21 degrees in the far North.

According to the legend, the founders of the Vietnamese people were the 100 children that a northern mountain Princess "Au Co" bore to "Lac Long Quan", a sea dragon, thus creating a race under the double signs of the mountains and the sea.

A product of ancient Chsinese and Indian cultures, Vietnam's unique character and cultural identity come from the past with a long history of invasion and resistance over thousands of years.

In a country of about 75 millions inhabitants, 54 ethnic minority groups coexist. The Kinh (or Viet) people account for nearly 90% of the population.

The ethnic minorities (the major group including the Tay, Thai, Muong, H'mong, Dao and Kmer) live mainly in mountainous areas and have developed their own language and cultural identity. However, these various groups have always shown, over the course of history, a strong solidarity, particularly in the struggle against foreign invaders.

Vietnam's population is essentially rural and Vietnamese people are traditionally and strongly attached to their villages and native lands.

Throughout the country, visitors can enjoy the festive atmosphere of a village festival or be entertained by one of the most interesting features of Vietnamese life : The marketplace, where goods are exchanged and produced (amazing floating markets in the Mekong Delta provinces, its "junks" overloaded with agricultural produce). It is also a time to socialise (colourful markets of the Highland areas with large groups of ethnic minorities) and even look for potential lovers ("love markets").

Thanks to the Vietnamese people's creativity and hard work, handicraft products are an important source of income and a national pride.
Some of these numerous products are internationally recognised : tapestries, embroidery and silk products, ceramics and porcelains, jewellery, copper and lacquer ware, wood products.

There are many ways to enjoy Vietnam.
Some visitors will be attracted by the sobriety and simplicity of the life style, touched by the sight of a conical hat emerging from vibrant green rice paddies, charmed by the graceful women in their traditional Aao Dai tunics&. Others will enjoy a trekking trip into the Northern hills to be rewarded by a friendly "talk" with ethnic minorities and a pristine environment, but all will recognise the majesty of the Mekong River.