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The country has only 59 provinces, each with its own specificities, but it is usually common to divide the country into larger regions: North, South and Central Vietnam.

Northern Vietnam is located on the border with China. This is the oldest part of the country: there are many architectural and cultural monuments, ancient buildings and other evidence of the past epochs. Hanoi, the capital of Vietnam, is the most historical landmark of all, combining the culture of the East and West, ancient traditions and new technologies, French architecture and the powerful influence of China. There are also important agricultural lands in the region: coffee and tea plantations, rice fields, farms and national parks. North Vietnam is the least suitable for beach holidays, as it is quite cool in winter and suffocatingly hot in summer. The only time when the weather is comfortable here is spring.

Most beach resorts are concentrated in Central Vietnam. It has a pleasant climate almost at any time of year, sandy coastline, beautiful views and Hang Son Dong - the largest cave in the world with an underground river inside. The largest city in the region is Danang, where ancient stone-cutting workshops have been preserved. It is also one of the party capitals of Vietnam, with bars and discos scattered all over the coast which are open until dawn. Danang and the city of Hue have ancient temples and palaces, some of them are on the UNESCO World Heritage List.

South Vietnam is the most economically developed region in the country. It is where the best hotels, roads and other benefits of civilization are built. There are also popular resorts such as in Nha Trang, where youngsters go with pleasure. The central city of the region is Ho Chi Minh City, a modern metropolis with 24-hour bustling life and the business capital of the country. If it is a family trip, it would be the best to go to Fanthiet - there is an entire infrastructure for young travelers, including a modern amusement park. Also one of the most luxurious beach resorts is considered to be Fukuok Island, where they go for seclusion and respectable rest in the tropical jungle.

Approximately one third of Vietnam is located at the level of 500 m above the sea, so the climate there is subtropical, and in some areas it is above 2000 m. From April to May until October, the southeastern monsoons bring warm and humid weather to the country - except for the areas protected by the mountains.

In the south of Vietnam (from Ho Chi Minh City to Fan Thiet) two seasons can be distinguished - wet and dry. The first traditionally lasts from May to November, and the rainy months are June-August. The second usually starts in December and ends in April. This is the most favorable time for European tourists. "The Velvet Months are January and February: soft sunshine, refreshing sea water. From late February to May, there are hot days without rain.

The best time to visit Vietnam is when the rains are on descending: April-May to October-November.

Central Vietnam's climate (from Nha Trang to the ancient capital Hue): from February to August it is clear that the rains are rare, with temperatures of +30 ... +35 °C. Heavy rains in mid-December, typhoons are possible in October-November near Danang and Hue, with temperatures of +20...+28 °C.

In the north of the country (from Hanoi to the sea resort of Halong) winter and summer seasons are more clearly marked than in the south. Winters are cool and humid from November to February, and in February and March there is constant drizzling rain. The summer season begins sharply in May with high humidity and temperatures of up to +40°C.

Between 1860 and 1880, Vietnam was colonized by the French, who built industrial enterprises in the cities and began growing rubber on plantations. French domination came to an end in 1954, when guerrilla groups of communists captured the north of the country, and it split into North and South Vietnam. In 1956, the United States military forces took the side of the Southern Vietnamese against the Communists of North Vietnam.

The armed conflict escalated into a fierce war. The Government of Southern Vietnam was overthrown in 1975. American troops left the country, and in 1976 South Vietnam and North Vietnam united. The country's economy was severely damaged by the war and the political isolation caused by that war. However, in the post-war years, much was done to restore the destroyed economy.

"Unspoiled" by tourist whims, the amazing Asian country hospitably opens the carved gates to the fragrant jasmine gardens, to the courtyards of pompous ancient temples, to fascinating beaches shrouded in the mist of dawn fog. The bustle of colorful streets, the tightness of the intersections causes a smile and a desire to plunge into the sincere cheerful crowd of bilingual pilgrims, traders and seekers of happiness.

North Vietnam is primarily associated with Hanoi, with its palette of colours for Europeans who love the spaciousness of avenues and parks, the height of skyscrapers, and for lovers of the narrow quarters with colonial mansions and charming pagodas. There is also a large number of attractions in the surrounding area of Hanoi. The list begins with Ha Long Bay (the "place where the dragon descended into the sea"), the water surface of which is covered by 3000 miniature islands of the Baytylong archipelago.

The capital of the last emperors of the Nguyen Hue dynasty is the abode of excellent imperial palaces, whose air pagodas seem to float in the transparent air. The ruins of Kinh Thanh Citadel, "Nine Holy Instruments", the forbidden Purple City of Dai Noi, Tien Mu pagoda with a piercing bell Dai Hong-Chung are of great value.

The Vietnamese "necropolis" holds hundreds of "Tombs of Emperors", each of which is built in the form of miniature cities.

Just south of this is the museum city of Hoi An, through which the Great Silk Road ran. The number of temples here is overwhelming, and the legendary Quan Kong is located in Hoi An, as is the Kaodai Pagoda, Fyoklam and others. Danang (Da Nang) is known for the country's best water park, Danang Water Park, and trackers from around the world come here for the Hawaiwan Pass ("Cloud of the Sea") and the beautiful Nguhanshon Mountains ("five poetic mountain peaks"). It is not forbidden to lie down on perfectly clean beaches.

The mountain resort of Da Lat is 60 km away from Kamran port. You can stay in the "madhouse" of the Hang Nga Hotel, choose from the exclusive visit of the art gallery of Madame Dang Viet Nga, Thung-Lung Tinh You ("valley of love"), walk through the Flower Gardens (Vaon Hoa Dalat) and have a snack on Vietnamese toast of European origin in the French quarter. Nha Trang is primarily known for the Po Nagar Cham Towers, of which there are only 4 today, the Buddha Statue and Long Shawn Pagoda are also of interest. The Sea Fauna Museum, which displays 8000 species of marine and freshwater animals, is also fascinating. The Chinguen Aquarium is a lake divided into three parts, each of which contains ornamental fish, edible and predatory.

To get to the metropolis of Ho Chi Minh City is only necessary to plunge into the bustling sea of Asian quarters, markets, and narrow streets, feel the thrill of motley crowds, touch the Imperial Jade Pagoda, and compare the elegance and beauty of Trang Hang-Dao Temple and Notre Dame and Duke Ba Cathedral.

A fascinating journey through the tunnels of Cu Chi, 70 km from Ho Chi Minh City, near Bendinh Village, is a unique excursion experience. From the South Vietnamese capital to the Cambodian border, there is a network of hand-digging tunnels dug by partisans underground.

March 8 - International Women's Day.

April 30 is the anniversary of Saigon liberation or Victory Day.

May 1 - Labor Day.

May 19 - Anniversary of President Ho Chi Minh's birthday.

June 1 - Child Protection Day.

August 15 - August 1945 Revolution Day.

September 2, Independence Day of Vietnam.

October - Teacher's Day.

December 25 - Catholic Christmas.

Many Vietnamese holidays are celebrated by the lunar calendar, and the exact dates can be found only for the current year. The 1st day of the first lunar month (the period from January 20 to February 20) is Vietnamese New Year Day - Tet, celebrated over four days.

The 15th day of the first lunar month is the Lantern Festival.

The 5th-7th day of the third lunar month is the Tao Pagoda Festival with a puppet theatre performance.

The 10th day of the third lunar month is the Day of Remembrance for the Founding Kings Hung of ancient Vietnam.

Mid-June - Hi Ja Ja Holidays in Laocay province with a black buffalo sacrifice.

15th day of the fourth lunar month - birthday of Gautama Buddha End of August - beginning of October - bull race in Anjang Province.

The Vietnamese don't like to sunbathe. They think that the lighter the skin, the more beautiful it is.

The traditional Vietnamese pointy hat was born as a protection against coconuts falling from trees. Falling on such a hat, a coconut, of course, will hit a man, but not deadly, after which it will bounce away. Without a hat, the fall of a coconut on its head most often ends in death.

Vietnam is the world's second most per capita rice consuming country. Rice is really eaten here with everything. There are many dozens of rice varieties, by the way.

Vietnamese dong, local money, is made of plastic, not paper. They don't tear, get wet or get dirty (see interesting facts about currencies).

Vietnam is the world's second largest coffee producer, second only to the palm tree of the Brazilian championship, and the Vietnamese themselves have almost no coffee. The entire harvest is for export.

The Vietnamese most often bathe in clothes.

The Vietnamese jungle is an extremely dangerous place, an unprepared person simply will not survive here.

At funerals in Vietnam it's customary to have fun, not grieve.

For a wedding in Vietnam it is customary to call at least a couple of hundred people. Comes to several thousand. There's a wedding like this for five days, and every day the guests are different.

In Vietnamese families there are often only two children, because for the third child has to pay huge taxes. However, it's only relevant to the city residents.

In the tourist village of Mui Ne, located in southern Vietnam, more people speak Russian than English.

In Vietnam you can find a huge number of monuments dedicated to the friendship of this country with the Soviet Union.