Shaped like an elongated S, Vietnam stretches the length of the Indochinese Peninsula and covers a surface area of 329,560 sq kms (128,000 sq miles). China lies to the north, Laos and Cambodia to the west, and the South China Sea to the east.

Although many still imagine Vietnam through the lens of war, it is in reality a country filled with captivating natural beauty and tranquil village life. Its highlands and rainforest regions, far from being devastated, continue to yield new species and team with exotic wildlife.

Topographically, Vietnam is a verdant tapestry of soaring mountains, fertile deltas, primeval forests inhabited by exotic fauna, sinuous rivers, mysterious caves, otherworldly rock formations, and heavenly waterfalls and beaches. Its islands and beaches are among the finest in all Southeast Asia, and its cuisine is very possibly the most delicious you will ever find. Over two decades have passed since Vietnam was officially united, and in that time it has done a remarkable job of healing its wounds. Today, this gracious and graceful country is an outstanding travel destination.

Eighty percent of its 77 million people are Ethnic Vietnamese, while the remaining twenty percent comprises more than 50 separate ethnic groups.