Vietnam, the complete official name - the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, is a country in Southeast Asia, located on the Indochina Peninsula. To the west it is bordered by Laos and Cambodia, to the north - by China, in the east and south – by the South China Sea. The total area of the country is about 333 thousand square kilometers; the population is 90.6 million people. The capital of Vietnam is Hanoi. The official language is Vietnamese.

Vietnam's terrain is mostly covered with mountains, hills and forests. The climate of the country is highly various due to the topography.

The national currency is the Vietnamese Dong (VND). You can exchange currency at banks (but keep in mind that most banks accept only clean and not torn banknotes). ATM’s network is rather developed. Outside the country the Dong is not accepted (only in Cambodia and Laos), so do not forget to exchange all dongs left before leaving Vietnam.

In this ancient country you will find stunning landscapes and superb beaches, vibrant modern cities and tranquil traditional villages.

Those who are interested in archeology, architecture and history will praise My Son Sanctuary, amazing temples built for Hindu ceremonies in 4-14th centuries; numerous historic monuments of Hue, the former imperial capital of the Nguyen dynasty; charming historic architecture of Hoi An’s Old Town, whose age is about two thousand years; the imperial citadel of Hanoi, containing various artifacts from 6-20th centuries. Nature lovers can enjoy its beauties and wonders in the Halong Bay, where there are around 1600 islands, creating truly surrealistic scenery, shown in many films; in Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park, which occupies about 2 thousand square kilometers of tropical rainforest and contains underground rivers and about 300 various caves; on the beaches of Mui Ne, where you can go sand-sledding on the slopes of red and white dunes. In Mekong Delta, often called Vietnam’s rice bowl, you can see how local farmers create a real agricultural miracle. And do not to listen to traditional Vietnamese music, try delicious street food, buy some craftworks in street markets, ride on an elephant and take a boat trip along one of leisurely Vietnamese rivers.

Airports

Noi Bai International Airport (HAN), the largest airport in the northern part of the country and the main airport serving Hanoi.

Da Nang International Airport (DAD), an important gateway to access central Vietnam, located in Da Nang.

Tan Son Nhat International Airport (SGN), the largest international airport in Vietnam.

Diving in Vietnam

Throughout a year divers from all over the world come to Vietnam to take pleasure in its azure waters. And leave the country with strong desire to come again and again.

The best-known dive destination in Vietnam is Nha Trang, loved by tourists for coral pillars and pyramids.

Off Whale Island you can see amazing coral gardens and 40-meter deep walls. The marine life is diverse, though you will hardly meet here sharks or whales, despite the name of the island.

In the waters of the Con Dao Archipelago, a thousand hectares of which are occupied by the National Marine Park, you can find a lot of sea turtles, which are highly protected here. You will also see here plenty of bright corals, inhabited by various fish, including endangered dugong.

The marine park Cu Lao Cham consists eight islands, inhabited by 4 species of lobster, 84 species of molluscs, 155 species of corals and about 200 species of fish.

The water temperature is 21-25 degrees Celsius. There are almost no currents in the coastal dive sites which makes them ideal for beginning divers.