The Socialist Republic of Vietnam has a high percentage of territorial waters. Looking at the map, Vietnam is located in the center of the Southeast Asia, and is shaped like the letter "S". The country lies in the eastern part of the Indochina peninsula, bordered by China to the north, Laos and Cambodia to the west, and the East Sea and Pacific Ocean to the southeast. Vietnam's coast line is 3,260 km long and its inland border measures 3,730 km.

The country's total length is 1,650 km from the northernmost point to the southernmost point.Its width, stretching from the eastern point to the western point is 600 km at the widest point in the north, 400km in the south, and 50 km at the narrowest part in the Quang Binh province on the central coast. Vietnam is also a transport junction from the Indian Ocean to the Pacific Ocean.

Vietnam is located in both a tropical and a temperate zone. It is characterized by strong monsoon influences, but has a considerable amount of sun, and a high rate of rainfall and humidity. Regions located near the tropics or in the mountainous regions are endowed with a temperate climate.

The annual average temperature ranges from 22°C to 27ºC. In Hanoi, the average temperature is 23ºC, in Ho Chi Minh City it is 26ºC, and in Hue it is 25ºC.

There are two distinguishable seasons in the whole country, the cold season occurs from November to April and the hot season occurs from May to October. The difference in temperature between the two seasons in southern Vietnam is almost unnoticeable, averaging at 3ºC. The most noticeable variations are found in the northern provinces where differences of 12ºC have been observed. There are essentially four distinct seasons, however, which are most evident in the northern provinces.

Three quarters of Vietnam's territory consists of mountains and hills. Vietnam is divided into four distinct mountainous zones.

• The Northeastern Zone (Viet Bac)

This zone stretches from the Red River Valley to the Gulf of Tonkin. The mountainous area of Viet Bac is scattered with famous sights: Dong Nhat Grotto, Dong Nhi Grotto, and Tam Thanh Grotto in Lang Son Province; Bac Bo Grotto and Ban Gioc Waterfall in Cao Bang; Ba Be Lake in Bac Can; Yen Tu Mountain and Ha Long Bay in Quang Ninh; and Tay Con Linh, the highest mountain peak in the region reaching 2,341 meters above sea level.

• The Northwestern Zone

This zone comprises of mountains that run from the north of the Sino-Vietnamese Border to the west of Thanh Hoa Province. This magnificent mountain range is nationally known for its resort town of Sapa in Lao Cai Province, perched 1500 meters above sea level. Several ethnic groups such as the H'mong, Dao, Kinh, Tay, Giay, Hoa, and Xa Pho still reside in this region.

The northwestern zone is also famous for the historical site of Dien Bien Phu and for its Fanxipang Mountain Peak which measures 3,143 meters above sea level.

• The North Truong Son Zone

This zone runs from the western part of Thanh Hoa Province to the Quang Nam-Da Nang Mountains. This region is known locally for its picturesque Phong Nha Grotto and its two breathtaking passes, the Ngang Pass and the Hai Van Pass. It is also known worldwide for being the location of the legendary Ho Chi Minh Trail that was constructed in the great second war of resistance.

• The South Truong Son Zone

This zone is located on the western side of the south central coast provinces. Behind these huge mountains are located a vast area of red soil known locally as "Tay Nguyen" (the Central Highlands). There are numerous legendary accounts of the flora and fauna and of the lives of several different ethnic minorities living in the Central Highlands. Dalat is a popular resort town in this part of Vietnam and was established during the 19th century.

Vietnam has two major deltas which are the Red River Delta in the north and the Mekong River Delta in the south.

• The Red River Delta, or Northern Delta

This region stretches for 15,000 sq.km. Over the passage of time, deposits of alluvium that was carried from the Red River and the Thai Binh River have accumulated to form the delta. The junction of the two rivers was where the ancient Viet people settled. Since then, the wet rice civilization was established.

• The Mekong River Delta, or Southern Delta

This region is approximately 36,000 sq. km. The land is very fertile and has favorable climate conditions for agriculture. As a result, it is the largest rice growing region in Vietnam.

Vietnam is crisscrossed with thousands of streams and rivers. There is a river discharging every 20 kilometers along the Vietnamese coastline. The waterways are a very convenient means of transport with major rivers like the Red River in the north and the Mekong River in the south.

Vietnam's coastline is 3,260 km long. If you get a chance to go along the coast of Vietnam, you can enjoy the beautiful beaches of Tra Co, Sam Son, Lang Co, Non Nuoc, Nha Trang, Vung Tau, or Ha Tien. In some places, you will see mountains jutting out to the sea. One such magnificent place is Ha Long Bay, which has recently been listed as a World Heritage Site by the UNESCO.

Vietnam's coast has been awarded a series of large sea ports such as the ones at Hai Phong, Da Nang, Qui Nhon, Cam Ranh, Vung Tau, and Saigon. Offshore from Vietnam's mainland are thousands of islands and islets lying scattered from north to south. Among the most popular tourist destinations are Truong Sa and Hoang Sa Archipelagos.

The forests of Vietnam accounts for most of the total land area. National parks are preserved by the state and follow a steady development plan. Some of the more famous national parks that are spread throughout the country include: Ba Vi in Ha Tay, Cat Ba in Hai Phong, Cuc Phuong in Ninh Binh, Bach Ma in Hue, and Cat Tien in Dong Nai.

Vietnam has a variety of mineral resources. Beneath the forests are valuable minerals such as tin, zinc, silver, gold, antimony, precious stones, and coal. Vietnam also has large deposits of oil and gas in its offshore islands and on its land area.

Vietnam also has abundant subterranean mineral water sources. These are found at Quang Hanh in Quang Ninh, Hoi Van in Binh Dinh, Vinh Hao in Binh Thuan, Duc My in Nha Trang, Kim Boi in Hoa Binh, Binh Chau in Vung Tau.