VIETNAM’s history spans from the ancient Hoabinhians, who lived 20,000 years ago, to the modern Socialist Republic of Vietnam, which emerged after the Vietnam War in 1975. Along the way, Vietnam was ruled by various native and foreign dynasties, such as the Hồng Bàng, Lý, Trần, Nguyễn, and the French. Vietnam also interacted with other cultures, such as China, Cambodia, Laos, Thailand, and Champa. Vietnam fought for its independence from France in the First Indochina War and from the United States and South Vietnam in the Second Indochina War. Vietnam has since reformed its political and economic system and integrated with the world. Vietnam is now a fast-growing economy and a popular tourist destination.

• TOTAL AREA: 331,210 sq m
• POPULATION: 105,758,975 (2024 est.)
• CAPITAL: Hanoi (population 8,587,100 as of 2023); largest city: Ho : Chi Minh City (Saigon, before 1976 capital of South Vietnam) (population 9,456,700 — 2023)
• ETHNIC GROUPS: Kinh (Viet) 85.3%, Tay 1.9%, Thai 1.9%, Muong 1.5%, Khmer : 1.4%, Mong 1.4%, Nung 1.1%, other 5.5% (2019 est.)
• LANGUAGES: Vietnamese (official), English (increasingly favored as a : second language), French, Chinese, Khmer, mountain area : languages (Mon-Khmer and Malayo-Polynesian)
• MAJOR RELIGIONS: Buddhist 7.9%, Catholic 6.6%, Hoa Hao 1.7%, Cao Dai 0.9%, Protestant 0.9%, Muslim 0.1%, none 81.8%
• TIME DIFFERENCE: : UTC+7
• EXCHAGE RATES: Đồng (VNĐ) per US Dollar (USD) 25,100 (2024)
• TELEPHONE CODE: +84
• EMERGENCY PHONES: Ambulance: 115; Fire: 114; Police: 113
• TIPPING GUIDELINES: Tipping 5-10% of the bill, if a service charge is not added, is polite at restaurants. At the bar, leave loose change or round up the bill. Bellhops expect USD 1 per bag for a gratuity. Good housekeeping service deserves USD 1-2 per day. Taxis do not expect a tip, but drivers appreciate hearing “keep the change.”
• SOUVENIRS: Silk products, áo dài dresses, nón lá conical hats, coffee, ethnic minority handicrafts
• CLIMATE: Vietnam has a varied climate, depending on the region and season. The north has four seasons, with cool winters and hot summers. The center and south have two seasons, with warm and dry weather or hot and wet weather. The mountains are cooler and wetter than the lowlands, and the coasts are sunnier and drier than the inland areas. The Mekong Delta is the warmest and wettest region. Typhoons can occur from June to November, bringing strong winds and rains. The best time to visit Vietnam depends on your preferences and activities.