This document provides information about Vietnam through maps, statistics, and descriptions. It includes: 1) A map showing Vietnam's location in Southeast Asia, with its capital Hanoi and key geographical features like islands and neighboring countries. 2) Basic facts about Vietnam like its size, population, languages, independence day, and administrative divisions. 3) Images and brief descriptions of some of Vietnam's major cities, regions, and landmarks like Ha Long Bay, Hue, Da Nang, Ho Chi Minh City, and Sapa. 4) Short passages about aspects of Vietnamese culture like traditional dress, tea, and Lunar New Year celebrations.

1. VIETNAM

2. China
Socialist Republic of Vietnam
Hanoi
Laos
Hoang Sa Islands
Mainland
Cambodia Vietnam
Phu Quoc
Island
Con Dao Truong Sa Islands
Island

3. Geography 329,560 sq km
Population 85,262,356 (July 2007 est.)
Language Vietnamese
Independence Day, 2
National holiday
September (1945)
Capital Hanoi
59 provinces and 5
Administrative divisions
municipalities
Kinh (Viet) 86.2%
Ethnic groups
& 53 others 13.8%

4. Sapa
Hanoi (the capital)
Ha Long Bay

5. Hue
Da Nang
Tay Nguyen

6. Phan Thiet
Da Lat
Ho Chi Minh city (Saigon)

7. One nation, 54
ethnics

8. 85 million people
54 ethnic groups
1 nation

9. Áo dài (long dress) is the
essence of the Vietnamese girls.

10. An elegant, yet demure garment…

11. Nón lá (palm-leaf conical hat).

12. Under influences of Chinese culture and Western culture, so have
Vietnamese adopted the Western elegance and Eastern grace.

13. Recent years, we have achieved rapid Industrialization
and modernization

14. The peaceful pace of life and intimate social
interaction seem to remain unchanged over time.

15. Ha Long Bay

16. Breath-taking landscape, Ha Long bay is a world-classed tourist destination.

17. With its spectacular sight view and miraculous limestone structures…

18. You can enjoy fresh breeze, along an energetic culture with the
hospitability of people.

19. Recognized by UNESCO as a World Heritage, Ha Long bay is
ranked the First position in the vote for new 7 Wonders of Nature.*
*: Data on 7th April 2008 from
New7Wonders website:
http://www.new7wonders.com

20. The bay consists of 1,969 limestone monolithic islands,
several of the islands has enormous caves.

21. Đầu Gỗ (Wooden Stakes Cave) is the
largest grotto in Ha Long bay.

22. “Ha Long” means
“the descending dragon” in
English.

23. The Story of Lotus Tea

24. Lotus Tea
Purity and grace

25. The astonishing Vietnamese tea art.

26. Tea leaves need to be collected on hills and then dried under hot
sunshine.

27. Lotus flowers must be picked
at early time in the morning,
when they are still wet…

28. Collection lotus flowers’ bud to make the spectacular scent for the tea

29. Ingredients of one variation of lotus tea.

30. Vietnamese Lotus Tea - a
spirit that has rooted deeply
in every single Vietnamese’s
soul.

31. Beautiful and graceful.

32. Lunar New Year – Tết

33. Tết (or New Lunar Year’s Eve) is one of the most
significant uniqueness in Vietnamese culture.

34. Crowded street in Hanoi as the New Lunar Year’s coming
People always try to go back to their families, and the streets and markets are often
overcrowded as this occasion comes.

35. Young Vietnamese ladies are
making traditional pictures, which
are symbol for luck and wishes,
using engraved wood plates.

36. Peach blossoms are thought as the
sign of prosperity in Northern
Vietnam…

37. While Apricot blossoms appear everywhere in the South.

38. Chung (층) Cake, which is
symbolized for the earth and
prosperity; is an essential specialty
to worship ancestors during Tet
holiday of Vietnamese.

39. Made from rice, green bean and pork, the cake is tightly wrapped using
special leaves, which only grow on high mountains.

40. It could take up to a day to cook Chung Cake, and this is the best
chance for family members to gather and talk right beside the fire.

41. Dishes are well-prepared to worship Gods and ancestors in the New
Year’s Eve.

42. People now often go out to watch the firework on the streets.

43. The firework in New Year’s Eve in Hanoi.

44. Firecracker was once used to
threaten the evil souls and pray for
luck; however, the government has
banned the use of it due to high injury
rate. Nonetheless, the Tet holiday
have never been less exciting.

45. During the first days of a new year, people always visit relatives, friends,
neighbors, and go to pagodas and temples to pray for luck and
prosperity. Adults give each other best wishes, while children are often
given “lucky money” as a wish for new year.

46. Nowadays, Vietnamese still follow many old traditions, such as getting a holy
letter from scholars, or bring home some small tree branch as a sign for new
seeds of success in the following year.

47. THANK YOU