Map of Vietnam
Vietnam is a country in Asia with its capital at Hanoi, home to about 101.60 million people across 331,690 km². The interactive map below plots 60 cities and towns, 8 rivers, 3 mountain summits and 9 ports recorded for Vietnam in YearMaps.
- Population
- 101.60 million
- Area
- 331,690 km²
- Capital
- Hanoi
- Continent
- Asia
Interactive Map of Vietnam
Centred on Hanoi at 21.0353° N, 105.8481° E. Use the layer panel to switch on rivers, dams, ports, peaks and historical borders.
About Vietnam
Vietnam, officially the Socialist Republic of Viet Nam (SRV), is a country at the eastern edge of Mainland Southeast Asia. With an area of about 331,000 square kilometres and a population of over 102 million, it is the world's 16th-most populous country. One of two communist states in Southeast Asia, Vietnam is bordered by China to the north, and Laos and Cambodia to the west; it lies along the Gulf of Thailand to the southwest and the South China Sea to the east, where it has shared and disputed maritime borders with other countries. Its capital is Hanoi, while its largest city is Ho Chi Minh City.
Vietnam was inhabited by the Paleolithic age, with states established in the first millennium BC on the Red River Delta in modern-day northern Vietnam. The Han dynasty annexed northern and central Vietnam, which were subsequently under Chinese rule from 111 BC until the first dynasty emerged in 939. Successive monarchical dynasties absorbed Chinese influences through Confucianism and Buddhism, and expanded southward to the Mekong Delta, conquering Champa. During most of the 17th and 18th centuries, Vietnam was effectively divided into two domains, Đàng Trong and Đàng Ngoài. The Nguyễn—the last imperial dynasty—surrendered to France in 1883. In 1887, its territory was integrated into French Indochina as three separate regions. In the immediate aftermath of World War II, the communist-led Viet Minh coalition front launched the August Revolution and declared Vietnam's independence from the Empire of Japan in 1945.
Vietnam went through prolonged warfare in the 20th century. After World War II, France returned to reassert colonial control in the First Indochina War, but was defeated in 1954 amid the global Cold War. As a result of the accords signed between the Viet Minh and France, Vietnam was also separated into two parts. The Vietnam War later broke out between the communist North Vietnam, supported by the Soviet Union and China, and the anti-communist South Vietnam, supported by the United States. Upon the North Vietnamese victory in 1975, Vietnam reunified as a communist state that self-designated as a socialist state under the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) in 1976.
An ineffective planned economy, a trade embargo by the West, and wars with Cambodia and China crippled the country further. In 1986, the CPV launched economic and political reforms similar to the Chinese economic reforms, transforming the country to a socialist-oriented market economy. The reforms facilitated Vietnamese reintegration into the global economy and politics.
Summary adapted from Wikipedia: Vietnam (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Geography and Climate of Vietnam
Vietnam's early history included periods of occupation by outside forces and eventual power consolidation under Vietnamese dynastic families. A succession of Han Chinese emperors ruled the area, which was centered on the Red River Valley, until approximately the 10th century. The Ly Dynasty (11th-13th century) created the first independent Vietnamese state, which was known as Dai Viet, and established their capital at Thang Long (Hanoi). Under the Tran Dynasty (13th-15th century), TRAN Hung Dao, one of Vietnam’s national heroes, led Dai Viet forces to fight off Mongol invaders in 1279. After a brief Chinese occupation in the early 1400s, Vietnamese resistance leader LE Thai To made himself emperor and established the Le Dynasty, which lasted until the late 18th century despite decades of political turmoil, civil war, and division. During this period, Dai Viet expanded southward to the Central Highlands and Mekong Delta, reaching the approximate boundaries of modern-day Vietnam by the 1750s. Dai Viet suffered additional civil war and division in the latter half of the 18th century, but it was reunited and renamed Vietnam under Emperor NGUYEN Phuc Anh (aka Gia Long) in 1802. France began its conquest of Vietnam in 1858 and made Vietnam part of French Indochina in 1887. Vietnam declared independence after World War II, but the French continued to rule until communist forces under Ho Chi MINH defeated them in 1954. Under the Geneva Accords of 1954, Vietnam was divided into the communist North and anti-communist South. Fighting erupted between the two governments shortly afterwards with the North supporting communist rebels in the South and eventually committing thousands of combat troops. The US provided to the South significant economic and military assistance, including large numbers of US military forces, which reached a peak strength of over 500,000 troops in 1968. US combat forces were withdrawn following a cease-fire agreement in 1973. Two years later, North Vietnamese forces overran the South, reuniting the country under communist rule. The conflict, known as the Second Indochina War (1955-1975), devastated Vietnam, spilled over into the neighboring countries of Cambodia and Laos, and is estimated to have resulted in the deaths of up to 3 million Vietnamese civilians and soldiers. It also caused more than 58,000 US combat and non-combat deaths and created deep domestic divisions in the US. Despite the return of peace, the country experienced little economic growth for over a decade because of its diplomatic isolation, leadership policies, and the persecution and mass exodus of citizens, many of them successful South Vietnamese merchants. However, since the enactment of Vietnam's "doi moi" (renovation) policy in 1986, the economy has seen strong growth, particularly in agricultural and industrial production, construction, exports, foreign investment, and tourism. Nevertheless, the Communist Party maintains tight political and social control of the country, and Vietnam faces many related challenges, such as rising income inequality and corruption.
- Location
- Southeastern Asia, bordering the Gulf of Thailand, Gulf of Tonkin, and South China Sea, as well as China, Laos, and Cambodia.
- Climate
- Tropical in south; monsoonal in north with hot, rainy season (May to September) and warm, dry season (October to March)
- Terrain
- Low, flat delta in south and north; central highlands; hilly, mountainous in far north and northwest.
- Highest point
- Fan Si Pan 3,144 m.
- Lowest point
- South China Sea 0 m.
- Coastline
- 3,444 km (excludes islands)
- Land borders
- Total: 4,616 km; border countries: Cambodia 1,158 km; China 1,297 km; Laos 2,161 km.
- Major rivers
- Sông Tiên Giang (Mekong) river mouth (shared with China [s], Burma, Laos, Thailand, Cambodia) - 4,350 km; Pearl river source (shared with China [m]) - 2,200 km; Red river mouth (shared with China [s]) - 1,149 km note: [s] after country name indicates river source; [m] after country name indicates river mouth.
- Natural resources
- Antimony, phosphates, coal, manganese, rare earth elements, bauxite, chromate, offshore oil and gas deposits, timber, hydropower, arable land.
- Land use
- Agricultural land: 39.2% (2023 est.); arable land: 21.5% (2023 est.); permanent crops: 15.7% (2023 est.); permanent pasture: 2% (2023 est.); forest: 47% (2023 est.); other: 13.7% (2023 est.)
- Natural hazards
- Occasional typhoons (May to January) with extensive flooding, especially in the Mekong River delta.
- Geographic note
- Note 1: extending 1,650 km (1,025 mi) north to south, the country is only 50 km (31 mi) across at its narrowest point note 2: Son Doong in Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park is the world's largest cave (greatest cross-sectional area) and is the largest known cave passage in the world by volume at 38.5 million cu m (about 1.35 billion cu ft); it connects to Thoong cave, but not yet officially -- when recognized, it will add an additional 1.6 million cu m; it is so massive that it contains its own jungle, underground river, and localized weather system, with clouds forming inside the cave and spewing from its exits.
- Languages
- Vietnamese (official); English (often as a second language); some French, Chinese, and Khmer; mountain-area languages (including Mon-Khmer and Malayo-Polynesian)
- Religions
- Catholic 6.1%, Buddhist 5.8%, Protestant 1%, other 0.8%, none 86.3% (2019 est.)
- Ethnic groups
- Kinh (Viet) 85.3%, Tay 1.9%, Thai 1.9%, Muong 1.5%, Khmer 1.4%, Mong 1.4%, Nung 1.1%, other 5.5% (2019 est.)
- Economy
- Lower middle-income socialist East Asian economy; rapid economic growth since Đổi Mới reforms; strong investment and productivity growth; tourism and manufacturing hub; TPP signatory; declining poverty aside from ethnic minorities; systemic corruption.
From the CIA World Factbook (public domain), archived edition of 2026-01-22. The Factbook is no longer updated, so figures reflect that edition.
Vietnam in Numbers
- Population
- 101.60 million
- GDP
- US$514.7 billion
- GDP per person
- US$5,066
- Life expectancy
- 74.7 years
- Population growth
- 0.60% a year
- Population density
- 322 per km²
- Urban population
- 38.8%
- Surface area
- 331,338 km²
- Forest cover
- 47.1%
- Arable land
- 21.5%
- Access to electricity
- 100.0%
- Internet users
- 84.2%
Indicators from World Bank Open Data (CC BY 4.0). The year under each figure is its reference year.
Vietnam in Depth
History
Archaeological excavations have revealed the existence of humans in what is now Vietnam as early as the Paleolithic age. Stone artefacts excavated in Gia Lai province have been claimed to date to 780,000 years ago, based on associated find of tektites, however this claim has been challenged because tektites are often found in archaeological sites of various ages in Vietnam. Homo erectus fossils dating to around 500,000 BC have been found in caves in Lạng Sơn and Nghệ An provinces in northern Vietnam. The oldest Homo sapiens fossils from Mainland Southeast Asia are of Middle Pleistocene provenance, and include isolated tooth fragments from Tham Om and Hang Hum.
Geography
Vietnam is located on the eastern Indochinese Peninsula between the latitudes 8° and 24°N, and the longitudes 102° and 110°E. It covers a total area of 331,210 km2 (127,881 sq mi) or 331,699 km2 (128,070 sq mi). The combined length of the country's land boundaries is 4,639 km (2,883 mi), and its coastline is 3,444 km (2,140 mi) long. At its narrowest point in the central Quảng Bình province, the country is as little as 50 kilometres (31 mi) across, though it widens to around 600 kilometres (370 mi) in the north. Vietnam's land is mostly hilly and densely forested, with level land covering no more than 20%. Mountains account for 40% of the country's land area, and tropical forests cover around 42%. The Red River flows past Hanoi in Northern Vietnam before emptying into the Gulf of Tonkin.
Economy
Throughout the history of Vietnam, its economy has been based largely on agriculture—primarily wet rice cultivation. Bauxite, an important material in the production of aluminium, is mined in central Vietnam. Since reunification, the country's economy is shaped primarily by the CPV through Five-Year Plans decided upon at the plenary sessions of the Central Committee and national congresses. The collectivisation of farms, factories, and capital goods was carried out as part of the establishment of central planning, with millions of people working for state enterprises. Under strict state control, Vietnam's economy continued to be plagued by inefficiency, corruption in state-owned enterprises, poor quality, and underproduction.
Demographics
As of 2021, the population of Vietnam stands at approximately 97.5 million people. The population had grown significantly from the 1979 census, which showed the total population of reunified Vietnam to be 52.7 million. According to the 2019 census, the country's population was 96,208,984. Based on the 2019 census, 65.6% of the Vietnamese population lives in rural areas while only 34.4% live in urban areas. The average growth rate of the urban population has recently increased, which is attributed mainly to migration and rapid urbanisation.
Sections adapted from Wikipedia: Vietnam (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Vietnam: Key Facts
| Currency | Vietnamese đồng |
|---|---|
| Official language | Vietnamese |
| Head of state | Tô Lâm |
| Head of government | Phạm Minh Chính |
| Form of government | unitary state, one-party state |
| Calling code | +84 |
| Internet domain | .vn |
| Highest point | Fansipan |
| Lowest point | South China Sea |
| Established | 2 July 1976 |
Facts from Wikidata Q881 (CC0).
History of Vietnam: Empires and States
The atlas records 42 polities whose mapped territory included part of Vietnam, from Âu Lạc in 256 BCE to 2024 CE. They are listed in the order they first appear.
| Polity | Period here | Extent |
|---|---|---|
| Âu Lạc | 256–207 BCE | A large part |
| Nanyue | 206–111 BCE | A large part |
| The Han Dynasty | 110 BCE – 237 CE | A large part |
| Xin Dynasty | 6–29 CE | A large part |
| Trưng sisters | 43–50 CE | A large part |
| Funan | 51–640 CE | A large part |
| Chámpa | 207–1652 CE | A large part |
| Eastern Wu | 238–282 CE | A large part |
| Western Jin | 283–425 CE | A large part |
| Liu Song Dynasty | 426–479 CE | A large part |
| Southern Qi | 480–509 CE | A large part |
| Liang Dynasty | 510–545 CE | A large part |
| Early Lý Dynasty | 546–601 CE | A large part |
| Chenla | 555–717 CE | A large part |
| Sui Dynasty | 602–625 CE | A large part |
| The Tang Dynasty | 626–910 CE | A large part |
| Water Chenla | 718–805 CE | A large part |
| Nanzhao | 755–865 CE | A small part |
| The Khmer Empire | 806–1699 CE | A large part |
| Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms | 911–946 CE | A large part |
| Southern Han | 911–946 CE | A large part |
| Ngô Dynasty | 947–1406 CE | A large part |
| Lan Xang | 1363–1708 CE | A small part |
| The Ming Dynasty | 1407–1428 CE | A large part |
| Lê Dynasty | 1429–1571 CE | A large part |
| Đại Việt | 1529–1682 CE | A large part |
| Nguyễn lords | 1572–1775 CE | A large part |
| Trịnh lords | 1572–1787 CE | A large part |
| First Toungoo Empire | 1579–1587 CE | A small part |
| Cambodia | 1700–1802 CE | A large part |
| Kingdom of Luang Phrabang | 1709–1889 CE | A small part |
| Tây Sơn dynasty | 1775–1802 CE | Most |
| Nguyễn dynasty | 1791–1884 CE | Most |
| Second French Empire | 1860–1870 CE | A large part |
| The French Colonial Empire | 1860–1955 CE | Nearly all |
| French Indochina | 1860–1955 CE | Nearly all |
| French Third Republic | 1871–1939 CE | Nearly all |
| French Fourth Republic | 1946–1955 CE | Nearly all |
| Democratic Republic of Vietnam | 1956–1975 CE | A large part |
| Republic of Vietnam | 1956–1975 CE | A large part |
| United States of America | 1967–2005 CE | A large part |
| Socialist Republic of Vietnam | 1976–2024 CE | Nearly all |
Historical Maps of Vietnam
Vietnam on the world map in each year one of these states held it:
Derived by testing mapped cities against dated territorial polygons. Dates are when the polygons cover this place, not the polity's whole lifespan, and polities absent from the source dataset are not listed.
Visiting Vietnam
Vietnam (Vietnamese: Việt Nam) is a country in Southeast Asia with great food and a wealth of natural and cultural attractions. Despite the turmoil of the Vietnam War (called the American War in Vietnam), Vietnam has emerged from the ashes since the 1990s and is undergoing rapid economic development, driven by its young and industrious population. It remains less developed as a tourist destination than Thailand.
Travel notes adapted from Wikivoyage: Vietnam (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Largest Cities in Vietnam
60 cities recorded. Ranked by metropolitan population. A port city's harbour is written up on the page of its sea.
| # | Name | Population | Region | Role |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ho Chi Minh City | 5.31 million | H? Chí Minh city | Populated place |
| 2 | Hanoi | 4.38 million | Thái Nguyên | National capital |
| 3 | Haiphong | 1.97 million | Qu?ng Ninh | Populated place |
| 4 | Can Tho | 1.12 million | d?ng b?ng sông C?u Long | Admin-1 capital |
| 5 | Da Nang | 1.00 million | Ðà N?ng | Admin-1 capital |
| 6 | Hue | 950,000 | Th?a Thiên - Hu? | Admin-1 capital |
| 7 | Qui Nhon | 805,290 | Bình Ð?nh | Admin-1 capital |
| 8 | Biên Hòa | 652,646 | Ðông Nam B? | Admin-1 capital |
| 9 | Vinh | 593,645 | Ngh? An | Admin-1 capital |
| 10 | Thái Nguyên | 500,000 | Thái Nguyên | Admin-1 capital |
| 11 | Nha Trang | 411,556 | Khánh Hòa | Admin-1 capital |
| 12 | Cà Mau | 356,636 | Cà Mau | Populated place |
| 13 | Việt Trì | 350,000 | Phú Th? | Admin-1 capital |
| 14 | Long Xuyen | 350,000 | An Giang | Admin-1 capital |
| 15 | Buon Me Thuot | 349,945 | Dak Lak | Admin-1 capital |
| 16 | Phan Thiet | 336,846 | Bình Thu?n | Admin-1 capital |
| 17 | Rạch Giá | 300,000 | Kiên Giang | Admin-1 capital |
| 18 | Sóc Trăng | 300,000 | Sóc Trang | Admin-1 capital |
| 19 | Da Lat | 256,019 | Lâm Ð?ng | Admin-1 capital |
| 20 | Quảng Ngãi | 250,000 | Qu?ng Ngãi | Admin-1 capital |
| 21 | Vung Tau | 248,767 | Bà R?a - Vung Tàu | Populated place |
| 22 | Thu Dau Mot | 244,277 | Bình Duong | Admin-1 capital |
| 23 | Nam Định | 243,186 | Nam n?nh | Populated place |
| 24 | Bạc Liêu | 225,000 | B?c Liêu | Admin-1 capital |
| 25 | Thái Bình | 210,000 | ThMi Bmnh | Admin-1 capital |
The other 35 (population, region, role)
- Thanh Hóa · 197,551 · Thanh H · Admin-1 capital
- Sơn Tây · 189,547 · Hà Tây · Populated place
- Đồng Hới · 189,265 · Qu?ng Bình · Admin-1 capital
- Phan Rang · 179,773 · Ninh Thu?n · Populated place
- Hong Gai · 172,915 · Qu?ng Ninh · Admin-1 capital
- Hà Tĩnh · 165,396 · Ha Tinh · Admin-1 capital
- Cao Lãnh · 149,837 · Ð?ng Tháp · Admin-1 capital
- Lạng Sơn · 148,000 · L?ng Son · Admin-1 capital
- Cam Ranh · 146,771 · Khánh Hòa · Populated place
- Play Ku · 142,900 · Gia Lai · Admin-1 capital
- Tan An · 137,498 · Long An · Admin-1 capital
- Cẩm Phả · 135,477 · Qu?ng Ninh · Populated place
- Tra Vinh · 131,360 · TrM Vinh · Admin-1 capital
- Ninh Bình · 130,517 · Ninh Bmnh · Admin-1 capital
- Tây Ninh · 126,370 · Tây Ninh · Admin-1 capital
- Mỹ Tho · 124,143 · B?n Tre · Admin-1 capital
- Kon Tum · 105,489 · Qu?ng Nam · Admin-1 capital
- Hoa Binh · 105,260 · Hòa Bình · Admin-1 capital
- Vĩnh Long · 103,314 · Vinh Long · Admin-1 capital
- Yên Bái · 96,540 · Yên Bái · Admin-1 capital
- Quảng Trị · 72,722 · Qu?ng Tr? · Admin-1 capital
- Châu Đốc · 70,239 · An Giang · Admin-1 capital
- Tuy Hòa · 69,596 · Phú Yên · Admin-1 capital
- Lao Chi · 67,206 · Lào Cai · Admin-1 capital
- Truc Giang · 59,442 · B?n Tre · Admin-1 capital
- Hai Duong · 58,030 · H?i Duong · Admin-1 capital
- Bắc Giang · 53,728 · B?c Giang · Admin-1 capital
- Cao Bằng · 41,112 · Cao B?ng · Admin-1 capital
- Hon Quan · 40,279 · BNnh Phu?c · Populated place
- Ha Giang · 38,362 · Hà Giang · Admin-1 capital
- Tuyên Quang · 36,430 · Tuyên Quang · Admin-1 capital
- Bắc Kạn · 29,227 · Ðông B?c · Admin-1 capital
- Sơn La · 19,054 · Son La · Admin-1 capital
- Đông Hà · 17,662 · Qu?ng Tr? · Admin-1 capital
- Luan Chau · 7,335 · Vi?n Bi · Admin-1 capital
Highest Mountains in Vietnam
3 mountains recorded. Ranked by summit elevation above sea level. A summit on a border is listed under both countries.
| # | Name | Elevation | Feet | Region |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Fan Si Pan | 3,142 m | 10,308 ft | Asia |
| 2 | Ngoc Linh | 2,598 m | 8,524 ft | Asia |
| 3 | Chuo Yang Sin | 2,420 m | 7,940 ft | Asia |
Fan Si Pan
Mountain · 3,142 m
Fan Si Pan is a mountain rising to 3,142 metres (10,308 ft) in Vietnam, in the Asia region.
Fansipan (Vietnamese: Phan Xi Păng IPA: [fān.ʂī.pɐ̄ŋ], ) is a mountain in Vietnam. Its height was originally measured at 3,143 metres (10,312 ft) in 1909, but this value was later adjusted to 3,147.3 metres (10,326 ft). It is the highest mountain on the Indochinese peninsula (comprising Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia), hence its nickname, "the Roof of Indochina". It is located in the Lào Cai province of the Northwest region of Vietnam, nine kilometres (5+1⁄2 miles) southwest of Sa Pa, in the Hoang Lien Son mountain range. Administratively, it is shared between Tam Đường District, Lai Châu and Sa Pa town.
Adapted from Wikipedia: Fansipan (CC BY-SA 4.0).
- Elevation
- 3,142 m (10,308 ft)
- Global rank
- #207 of 641 indexed
- Region
- Asia (#83)
- Country
- Vietnam
- Coordinates
- 22.3133°, 103.7721°
Of the 641 named summits indexed in YearMaps, Fan Si Pan ranks #207 by elevation, below Mount Andrew Jackson (3,184 m) and above Ayrybaba (3,137 m).
- Ranges:
- Dalou Mountains (Asia), Dângrêk Range (Asia)
- Neighbouring summits:
- Phou Bia (2,830 m), Daxue Shan (3,500 m), Loi Leng (2,673 m)
More about Fan Si Pan
Geography
Fansipan is the tallest mountain in the Hoang Lien Son range, situated on the border of Lào Cai and Lai Châu provinces, with its peak located on the Lào Cai side. The mountain is part of Hoàng Liên National Park. It has a topographic prominence of 1,617 metres (5,305 ft), ranking sixth in Vietnam.
Geology
Fansipan was formed around 250–260 million years ago, between the Permian period in the Paleozoic era and the Triassic period in the Mesozoic. The Himalayan orogeny since Late Mesozoic has further uplifted Fansipan and the Hoang Lien Son range and created the Red River Fault to the east.
Sections adapted from Wikipedia: Fansipan (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Fan Si Pan: Key Facts
| Topographic prominence | 1,613 m |
|---|---|
| Mountain range | Hoàng Liên Sơn mountain range |
Facts from Wikidata Q123782 (CC0).
Ngoc Linh
Mountain · 2,598 m
Ngoc Linh is a mountain rising to 2,598 metres (8,524 ft) in Vietnam, in the Asia region.
Ngọc Linh (a Sino-Vietnamese name meaning "Jade Mountain") is a 2,598-metre-high (8,524 ft) mountain of the Annamite Range in Vietnam.
Adapted from Wikipedia: Ngọc Linh (CC BY-SA 4.0).
- Elevation
- 2,598 m (8,524 ft)
- Global rank
- #317 of 641 indexed
- Region
- Asia (#121)
- Country
- Vietnam
- Coordinates
- 15.1616°, 108.0150°
Of the 641 named summits indexed in YearMaps, Ngoc Linh ranks #317 by elevation, below Grauspitze (2,599 m) and above Devils Paw (2,593 m).
- Ranges:
- Dângrêk Range (Asia), Dalou Mountains (Asia)
- Neighbouring summits:
- Wuzhi Shan (1,840 m), Phnom Aural (1,813 m), Phou Bia (2,830 m)
- Settlements below:
- Quảng Ngãi (87 km), Kon Tum (87 km), Da Nang (103 km)
More about Ngoc Linh
History
Its name Ngọc-linh liên-sơn (Ngoc-linh Mountains) was originated from Ngơl k'iàng or Ngơk kariàng in Jeh-Tariang language. It means "the great mountain".
It’s located in the province Quảng Nam and the former province of Kon Tum. It is considered "the roof of Southern Vietnam".
Sections adapted from Wikipedia: Ngọc Linh (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Ngoc Linh: Key Facts
| Topographic prominence | 2,079 m |
|---|---|
| Mountain range | Annamite Range |
Facts from Wikidata Q7022474 (CC0).
Rivers in Vietnam
8 rivers recorded. Listed alphabetically. A river is listed where its mapped reach lies, so long rivers appear under more than one country.
Ports in Vietnam
9 ports recorded. Ranked by approach channel depth, the figure that limits which ships can call. Harbours link to their write-up on the page of the sea or coast they lie on.
| # | Name | Channel Depth | Class | Sea | Max Vessel |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Thanh Hoa | 53 m | Very Small | South China Sea & Gulf of Thailand | point_of_interest |
| 2 | Nghe Tinh | 53 m | Small | South China Sea & Gulf of Thailand | point_of_interest |
| 3 | Cat Lai | 42.1 m | Very Small | South China Sea & Gulf of Thailand | medium vessels |
| 4 | Vinh Cam Ranh | 42.1 m | Small | South China Sea & Gulf of Thailand | large vessels |
| 5 | Nha Trang | 34.7 m | Small | South China Sea & Gulf of Thailand | medium vessels |
| 6 | Duong Dong | 31.1 m | Very Small | South China Sea & Gulf of Thailand | large vessels |
| 7 | da Nang | 31.1 m | Small | South China Sea & Gulf of Thailand | medium vessels |
| 8 | Phu My | 5.5 m | Very Small | South China Sea & Gulf of Thailand | medium vessels |
| 9 | Dai Hang | — | Very Small | South China Sea & Gulf of Thailand | medium vessels |
UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Vietnam
8 World Heritage Sites recorded. Listed by year of inscription, earliest first. Sites shared with another country appear under each.
| # | Name | Inscribed | Type | Criteria |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ha Long Bay | 1994 | Natural | (vii) (viii) |
| 2 | Hội An | 1999 | Cultural | (ii) (v) |
| 3 | Mỹ Sơn | 1999 | Cultural | (ii) (iii) |
| 4 | Phong Nha–Ke Bang National Park | 2003 | Natural | (viii) (ix) (x) |
| 5 | Imperial Citadel of Thang Long | 2010 | Cultural | (ii) (iii) (vi) |
| 6 | Citadel of the Hồ Dynasty | 2011 | Cultural | (ii) (iv) |
| 7 | Tràng An | 2014 | Mixed | (v) (vii) (viii) |
| 8 | The Complex of Yen Tu Monuments and Landscape | 2025 | Cultural | (iii) (vi) |
Largest Islands of Vietnam
1 island recorded. Ranked by mapped area. An island divided between countries is listed under each, with the area of the whole island.
| # | Name | Area | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Paracel Islands | 21,227 km² | Island group |
Paracel Islands
Island group · 21,227 km²
Paracel Islands is an island group in Asia (South China Sea), covering an estimated 21,227 km². It extends across China, Vietnam and Taiwan.
The Paracel Islands, also known as the Xisha Islands (simplified Chinese: 西沙群岛; traditional Chinese: 西沙群島; pinyin: xīshā qúndǎo; lit. 'West Sand Archipelago') and the Hoàng Sa Archipelago (Vietnamese: Quần đảo Hoàng Sa; Chữ Hán: 羣島黃沙, lit. 'Yellow Sand Archipelago'), are an archipelago in the South China Sea. It is under the control of the People's Republic of China, but its sovereignty in whole or in part is disputed by Taiwan and Vietnam.
The word paracel is of Portuguese origin, meaning placer (a submerged bank or reef), and appears on 16th-century Portuguese maps. The archipelago includes about 130 small coral islands and reefs, most grouped into the northeastern Amphitrite Group or the western Crescent Group. They are distributed over a maritime area of around 15,000 square kilometers (5,800 sq mi), with a land area of approximately 7.75 square kilometers (2.99 sq mi). The archipelago is located about 220 miles (350 km) southeast of Hainan Island, equidistant from the coastlines of the People's Republic of China (PRC) and Vietnam, and approximately one-third of the way between central Vietnam and the northern Philippines.
Adapted from Wikipedia: Paracel Islands (CC BY-SA 4.0).
- Feature class
- Island group
- Mapped extent
- 21,227 km²
- Size rank
- #108 of 445 islands
- Region
- Asia
- Subregion
- South China Sea
- Countries
- China, Vietnam, Taiwan
- Coordinates
- 16.5464°, 112.1989°
- Summits:
- Ngoc Linh (2,598 m), Fan Si Pan (3,142 m)
- Ranges:
- Dângrêk Range (Asia), Wuyi Mountains (Asia)
- Settlements:
- Quảng Ngãi (392 km), Da Nang (425 km), Qui Nhon (447 km)
More about Paracel Islands
Geography
air mass. The air mass over the Paracel Islands has about a 5 °C (9.0 °F) variation in annual temperature compared to the 2.2 °C (4.0 °F) observed over the Spratly Islands.
The Amphitrite group was named after the French frigate Amphitrite, which observed the islands while carrying a Jesuit mission to Canton in 1698–1700.
Lying in the northeast of the Paracel Islands at 16°53′N 112°17′E, the group consists of low, narrow islands with sand cays and enclosed shallow lagoons connected by reefs of rock. It is about 37 km (23 mi) northwest of Lincoln Island. The group approximately forms an ellipse with a north–south axis of 22 km (14 mi).
Sections adapted from Wikipedia: Paracel Islands (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Paracel Islands: Key Facts
| Area | 7.8 km² |
|---|---|
| Surrounded by | South China Sea |
Facts from Wikidata Q274388 (CC0).
Visiting Paracel Islands
The Paracel Islands (Chinese: 西沙群岛, Xīshā Qúndǎo; Vietnamese: Quần đảo Hoàng Sa) are an archipelago in the South China Sea, administered by China as part of Hainan Province, but also claimed by Taiwan and Vietnam. They are a minor destination for patriotic Chinese citizens, not yet open to visitors from other countries.
Travel notes adapted from Wikivoyage: Paracel Islands (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Mountain Ranges, Deserts and Landforms of Vietnam
6 mountain ranges, deserts and other landforms recorded. Ranked by mapped area. Covers mountain ranges, deserts, plateaus, named glaciers, plains, basins, peninsulas and capes. One that crosses a border is listed under every country it lies in, with the area of the whole feature.
| # | Name | Area | Type | Region |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Asia | 46.28M km² | Continent | Asia |
| 2 | Indochina Peninsula | 1.90M km² | Pen/cape | Asia |
| 3 | Central Highlands | 65,512 km² | Range/mtn | Asia |
| 4 | Mekong Delta | 3,597 km² | Delta | Asia |
| 5 | Cà Mau Point | 476 km² | Pen/cape | Asia |
| 6 | ChaîNe Annamitique | 159 km² | Range/mtn | Asia |
Countries Bordering Vietnam
Land and maritime neighbours.
More Maps in Asia
Vietnam: Quick Answers
- What is the capital of Vietnam?
- The capital of Vietnam is Hanoi.
- What is the population of Vietnam?
- Vietnam has a population of about 101.60 million, the #16 largest of 225 countries in YearMaps. Source: World Bank, 2025.
- How big is Vietnam?
- Vietnam covers 331,690 km², ranking #69 by area, with about 306 people per square kilometre.
- Which continent is Vietnam in?
- Vietnam is in Asia.
- Which countries border Vietnam?
- Vietnam shares a land or maritime border with China, Cambodia, Laos.
- What is the largest city in Vietnam?
- Ho Chi Minh City is the largest city in Vietnam, with a metropolitan population of about 5.31 million.
- What is the highest mountain in Vietnam?
- The highest summit recorded for Vietnam in YearMaps is Fan Si Pan at 3,142 m (10,308 ft). Summits on a border are counted for both countries.