Physical Features

This is a map showing the elevation of Vietnam and surrounding countries, Cambodia and Laos. It shows that Vietnam has more hills than Cambodia, but is flatter than Laos. The river to the south, the Mekong, flows from Cambodia, across Vietnam and into the South China Sea. The place where it flows into the sea is called the Mouths of Mekong.



Some parts of the country are hilly and mountainous, with dense forests. In contrast, 20% of Vietnam is lower land, fertile and separated by tributaries of the major rivers Song Hong (or Red River) and Mekong. The best example of Vietnamese lowlands is the narrow strip of land running along the coast from the Red River Delta and, the place shown in the picture, the Mekong River Delta.



To the northwest are high mountains; thick jungles and mangrove swamps lie in the far south and central Vietnam is covered by the Truong Son (Annam Highlands). Overall, Vietnam presents a diverse and unique landscape, dominated by the Mekong river (shown in picture), a waterway that is considered one of the greatest in the world.