Map Of Vietnam Created By The CIA

The map of Vietnam above comes from the CIA World Factbook

Vietnam Location Map

Vietnam Facts

Full Official Name: Socialist Republic of Vietnam
Demonym: Vietnamese, Viet

Flag:

Area

Total Area: 331,210 km²
Total Land Area: 310,070 km²
Total Water Area: 21,140 km²

Demographics

Population: 105,758,975

Population Growth Rate: 0.89% (2024 est.)

Largest City: Ho Chi Minh City (Population: 9,456,700)

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.)

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.)

Economy

Currency: Vietnamese đồng

Real GDP at Purchasing Power Parity ($ PPP): $1.354 trillion (2023 est.)

GDP per capita (PPP): $13,700 (2023 est.)

Exports Value Per Year: $374.265 billion (2023 est.)

Biggest Export Partners: US 29%, China 15%, South Korea 6%, Japan 6%, Hong Kong 3% (2022)

Imports Value Per Year: $339.767 billion (2023 est.)

Biggest Import Partners: China 38%, South Korea 17%, Japan 5%, Taiwan 4%, Thailand 4% (2022)

Government

Type: communist party-led state

Capital City: Hanoi (Ha Noi) (Population: 8,587,100)

Other Facts

Time Zone: UTC+07:00 (Vietnam Standard Time)

Country Code: VN

Internet TLD: .vn

Climate Map of Vietnam

The climate map of Vietnam above was created by Beck, H.E., Zimmermann, N. E., McVicar, T. R., Vergopolan, N., Berg, A., & Wood, E. F.Climate: tropical in south; monsoonal in north with hot, rainy season (May to September) and warm, dry season (October to March)

Topographic Map of Vietnam

The topographic map of Vietnam was created by Sadalmelik

Flag Map of Vietnam

Map created by Fry1989

Odd Shape?

Vietnam was included in my list of The 17 Oddest Shaped Countries In The World & How They Came To Be.

Vietnam has a notably odd shape, it appears as a long, narrow, winding “S,” stretching along the eastern coast of the Indochina peninsula.

This distinctive “S-shaped” curve is rare among countries and results from a combination of geological and historical factors.

Here’s clearly why and how Vietnam’s unique shape came about:

What’s Odd About Vietnam’s Shape?

Vietnam has an unusual, elongated, narrow form that curves in a clear “S-shape”.
The country is extremely long (about 1,650 kilometers from north to south) but very narrow (just about 50 kilometers wide at its narrowest point).
This shape creates significant geographic, climatic, and cultural differences from north to south.

How Vietnam Got Its Odd Shape:

Geological Formation:

Vietnam’s shape partially follows the natural contours created by mountain ranges and river systems.
The western boundary is defined largely by the Annamite Mountains, which run parallel to the coastline.
This mountain chain pushes Vietnam into its long, narrow coastal form.

Coastline and Erosion:

Over millions of years, rivers, ocean currents, and weather patterns eroded coastlines into bays and peninsulas, accentuating the curves of the coastline.
The coast shaped itself into natural curves due to erosion, sedimentation, and delta formation (notably the Red River Delta in the north and Mekong Delta in the south).

Historical & Political Reasons:

Historically, Vietnam expanded southward (a process called “Nam tiến” or “March to the South”) from the northern Red River Delta to the southern Mekong Delta, gradually shaping its elongated territory.
Colonial-era treaties, conflicts, and boundary agreements with neighboring Laos, Cambodia, and China cemented the current borders, further defining Vietnam’s long and narrow shape.

Consequences of Vietnam’s Odd Shape:

Climate variation: The north experiences cooler seasons, while the south has tropical climates year-round.
Diverse cultures and traditions: The elongated shape contributes to differences in language, food, and customs from north to south.
Transportation challenges: Infrastructure and logistics become challenging because of the long distances north-south, coupled with narrow east-west connectivity.