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?