The Geography of The Geography of VietnamVietnam

Vietnam is one of the Vietnam is one of the ten countries that ten countries that compose Southeast compose Southeast AsiaAsia

It is bordered by China It is bordered by China on the north, Cambodia on the north, Cambodia and Laos on the west, and Laos on the west, the Gulf of Tonkin to the Gulf of Tonkin to the northeast, the Gulf the northeast, the Gulf of Thailand to the of Thailand to the southwest, and the southwest, and the South China Sea to the South China Sea to the east. east.

The country is divided The country is divided into 3 regions:into 3 regions:– NorthNorth– CentralCentral– SouthSouth

North VietnamNorth Vietnam

With Hanoi as the urban center, With Hanoi as the urban center, northern Vietnam developed more northern Vietnam developed more rapidly than other sections of the rapidly than other sections of the countrycountry

Fertile soil of the Red River allowed Fertile soil of the Red River allowed for an agrarian-based society to for an agrarian-based society to develop and prosperdevelop and prosper

Central VietnamCentral Vietnam

Central Vietnam is very narrow. In Central Vietnam is very narrow. In some sections, only 50 kilometers some sections, only 50 kilometers separates neighboring country, Laos, separates neighboring country, Laos, from the sea.from the sea.

Due to the limited land area, most Due to the limited land area, most inhabitants are employed in sea-inhabitants are employed in sea-related activitiesrelated activities

South VietnamSouth Vietnam

Southern Vietnam corresponds to Southern Vietnam corresponds to America’s “Wild West”America’s “Wild West”

The frontier area is underdeveloped The frontier area is underdeveloped compared to the rest of the country, compared to the rest of the country, however, the rich land of the Mekong however, the rich land of the Mekong Delta today makes the area the Delta today makes the area the world’s third leading exporter of rice world’s third leading exporter of rice

Rain ForestsRain Forests

½ Vietnam covered ½ Vietnam covered by jungle-like rain by jungle-like rain forestsforests

4/5 covered by 4/5 covered by trees & tropical trees & tropical vegetationvegetation

Also sandy beaches Also sandy beaches & grassy prairies & grassy prairies

Home to elephants, Home to elephants, wild boar, tigers wild boar, tigers

“two baskets of rice slung on a pole.” The baskets are the deltas of the Red River in the north and the

Mekong in the south, and the carrying pole is a series of mountain chains along the western border.

PopulationPopulation

VN is size of New VN is size of New MexicoMexico

1212thth most populous most populous nation in worldnation in world

70 million residents 70 million residents (1/4 of U.S. pop.)(1/4 of U.S. pop.)

ClimateClimate

Warm and HumidWarm and Humid Monsoon season is from June to Monsoon season is from June to

NovemberNovember The monsoon brings intense heat The monsoon brings intense heat

and typhoons, along with heavy rainand typhoons, along with heavy rain Average yearly rainfall is 59 inches, Average yearly rainfall is 59 inches,

though Hanoi receives 72 inches though Hanoi receives 72 inches annuallyannually

Houses on the Red River and Mekong Delta are elevated on poles as an

adaptation to thwart the powerful rivers that regularly overflow their banks.

Rice is LifeRice is Life Rice fields extend Rice fields extend

over more than 12 over more than 12 million acresmillion acres

The rice kernels The rice kernels provide food, while provide food, while the rest of the plant the rest of the plant is utilized for making is utilized for making flour, beer, wine, flour, beer, wine, fuel, fertilizer, straw fuel, fertilizer, straw mats, and garmentsmats, and garments—nothing goes to —nothing goes to wastewaste

““A Farmer’s Calendar”A Farmer’s Calendar”The twelfth moon for potato growing,The twelfth moon for potato growing,

the first for beans, the second for eggplant.the first for beans, the second for eggplant.In the third, we break the landIn the third, we break the land

to plant rice in the fourth while the rains are to plant rice in the fourth while the rains are strong.strong.

The man plows, the woman plants,The man plows, the woman plants,and in the fifth: harvest, and the gods are goodand in the fifth: harvest, and the gods are good——an acre yields five full baskets this year.an acre yields five full baskets this year.

I grind and pound the paddy, strew husksI grind and pound the paddy, strew husksto cover manure,to cover manure,and feed the hogs with bran.and feed the hogs with bran.

Next year, if the land is extravagant,Next year, if the land is extravagant,I shall pay the taxes for you.I shall pay the taxes for you.

In plenty or in want, there will still be you and me,In plenty or in want, there will still be you and me,always the two of us.always the two of us.

Isn’t that better than always prospering, alone?Isn’t that better than always prospering, alone?