Geography of Vietnam

For historical geography of Vietnam, see History of Vietnam.

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Location: Southeastern Asia, bordering the Gulf of Thailand, Gulf of Tonkin, and South China Sea, alongside China, Laos, and Cambodia

Related Topics:
Asia - Gulf of Thailand - Gulf of Tonkin - South China Sea - China - Laos - Cambodia

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Geographic coordinates: {{coor dm|16|00|N|106|00|E|type:country}}

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Area:

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:total: 329,560 km²

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:land: 325,360 km²

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:water: 4,200 km²

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Area - comparative: slightly larger than the state of New Mexico in the United States.

Related Topics:
New Mexico - United States

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Land boundaries:

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:total: 4,639 km

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:border countries: Cambodia 1,228 km, China 1,281 km, Laos 2,130 km

Related Topics:
Cambodia - China - Laos

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Coastline: 3,444 km (excludes islands)

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Maritime claims:

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:contiguous zone: 24 nautical miles (44 km)

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:continental shelf: 200 nautical miles (370 km) or to the edge of the continental margin

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:exclusive economic zone: 200 nautical miles (370 km)

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:territorial sea: 12 nautical miles (22 km)

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Climate: tropical in south; monsoonal in north with hot, rainy season (mid-May to mid-September) and warm, dry season (mid-October to mid-March)

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Terrain: low, flat delta in south and north; central highlands; hilly, mountainous in far north and northwest

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Elevation extremes:

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:lowest point: South China Sea 0 m

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:highest point: Ngoc Linh 3,143 m

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Natural resources: phosphates, coal, manganese, bauxite, chromate, offshore oil and gas deposits, forests, hydropower

Related Topics:
Phosphates - Coal - Manganese - Bauxite - Chromate - Oil - Gas - Forest - Hydropower

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Land use:

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:arable land: 17%

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:permanent crops: 4%

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:permanent pastures: 1%

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:forests and woodland: 30%

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:other: 48% (1993 est.)

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Irrigated land: 18,600 km² (1993 est.)

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Natural hazards: occasional typhoons (May to January) with extensive flooding

Related Topics:
Typhoon - Flooding

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Environment - current issues:

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Logging and slash-and-burn agricultural practices contribute to deforestation and soil degradation; water pollution and overfishing threaten marine life populations; groundwater contamination limits potable water supply; growing urban industrialization and population migration are rapidly degrading environment in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City

Related Topics:
Logging - Slash-and-burn agricultural - Deforestation - Soil degradation - Water pollution - Overfishing - Marine life - Groundwater contamination - Potable water - Urban industrialization - Population migration - Environment - Hanoi - Ho Chi Minh City

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Environment - international agreements:

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party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands

Related Topics:
Biodiversity - Climate Change - Desertification - Endangered Species - Environmental Modification - Hazardous Wastes - Law of the Sea - Ozone Layer Protection - Ship Pollution - Wetlands

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signed, but not ratified: Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Nuclear Test Ban

Related Topics:
Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol - Nuclear Test Ban

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