VIETNAMVIETNAM

Cambodia

China

Laos

Socialist Republic of Vietnam

Hoang Sa Islands

Truong Sa Islands

Phu Quoc Island

Con Dao Island

Mainland Vietnam

Hanoi

Geography 329,560 sq km 329,560 sq km

Population 85,262,356 (July 2007 est.)85,262,356 (July 2007 est.)

Language Vietnamese Vietnamese

Ethnic groups Kinh (Viet) 86.2%& 53 others 13.8%Kinh (Viet) 86.2%

& 53 others 13.8%

Capital Hanoi Hanoi

Administrative divisions 59 provinces and 5 municipalities

59 provinces and 5 municipalities

National holiday Independence Day, 2 September (1945)

Independence Day, 2 September (1945)

Sapa

Hanoi (the capital)

Ha Long Bay

Hue

Da Nang

Tay Nguyen

Da Lat

Phan Thiet

Ho Chi Minh city (Saigon)

One nation, 54 ethnics

85 million people

54 ethnic groups

1 nation

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

An elegant, yet demure garment…

Nón lá (palm-leaf conical hat).

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

Recent years, we have achieved rapid Industrialization and modernization

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

Ha Long Bay

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

With its spectacular sight view and miraculous limestone structures…

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

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

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

Đ u G (Wooden Stakes Cave) is the ầ ỗlargest grotto in Ha Long bay.

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

The Story of Lotus Tea

Lotus Tea

Purity and grace

The astonishing Vietnamese tea art.

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

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

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

Ingredients of one variation of lotus tea.

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

Beautiful and graceful.

Lunar New Year – Tết

T t (or New Lunar Year’s Eve) is one of the most ếsignificant uniqueness in Vietnamese culture.

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.

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

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

While Apricot blossoms appear everywhere in the South.

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

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

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.

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

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

The firework in New Year’s Eve in Hanoi.

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.

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.

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.

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