The very name of Vietnam conjures up images of a country at war for decades, of a fiery people filled with pride and strong will to persevere. Other images that come to mind immediately are the spectacular Halong Bay, farmers in seemingly endless rice fields, the Perfume River and bustling Saigon street life. The truth is that Vietnam is much more than these images. Emerging from decades of war and self-imposed socialism, the country is struggling to establish itself again as a strong industrial and commercial hub in Southeast Asia. From architecturally beautiful but poor Hanoi to fast-living and bustling Saigon (Ho Chi Minh City) the visitor revels in the sights of splendid Halong Bay, the famous Perfume River, the scenic Hai Van Pass (pass of the clouds), the ancient Cham temple ruins, stretches of white sandy beaches, ethnic minorities at Pleiku, the extravagant church of Cao-Daism in Tay Ninh and Cholon, the China town of Saigon. Moreover, the historical and socio-political aspects of Vietnamese life make traveling in Vietnam an unforgettable experience and will more than likely leave the visitor deeply impressed.

With a population of 72 million, Vietnam is the most densely populated country in Southeast Asia. There's a vigorous campaign to limit children to one or two per family. A variety of ethnic groups inhabit the Central Highlands and northern mountain regions. Population distribution is roughly 80% rural and 20% urban. The largest cities in the north are Hanoi (Greater Hanoi district 2.5 million, urban Hanoi around 1.5 million) and Haiphong (Greater Haiphong district 1.5 million, urban area about 500,000) ; in the center, Danang (500,000), Nha Trang (250,000), and Hue (250,000) in the south, Saigon (Ho Chi Minh district four million, urban Saigon perhaps two million). Vietnam shares borders with Cambodia, Laos and China, and features 3,200 km of coastline bordering the Eastern Sea.

With an area of 332,000 square km, Vietnam's topography varies from coastal plains to mountain ranges. Vietnam stretches over 1,800 km from north to south; therefore weather patterns in the principle cities are very different depending on location as follows:

North: Winter lasts from November to April, with temperatures averaging 10-16C, fog and drizzle in February and March. Summer begins in May and lasts until October, with an average temperature of 30C, heavy rainfall and the occasional violent typhoon.

Center: Central Vietnam experiences a transitional climate, with heavy rainfalls between November and December and dry, hot summer months.

South: Temperatures are fairly constant through the year; 25C - 30C. Seasons are determined by the rains - the dry season runs from November to April and the wet season from May to October. The hottest period is March and April. Typhoons are quite common in coastal areas between July and November.

Highland areas: In the hill resorts of Dalat (1,500 m), Buon Ma Thuot and Sapa, nights are cool throughout the year, and in the winter months, October to March, it can be distinctly chilly with temperatures falling to 4C. Even in the hottest months of March and April the temperature rarely exceeds 26C.