Vietnam covers an area of over 331,000 square kilometers, stretching longitudinally from north to south over 1,650 kilometers with a coastline of more than 3,260 kilometers. Administratively, Vietnam is divided into three regions: North, Central, and South, with 63 provinces and cities. Here is a quick overview of the geography and climate of each region.
Northern Vietnam consists of three sub-regions: Northwest, Northeast, and the Red River Delta, comprising 25 provinces. The terrain is diverse, including mountains, plains, coastline, and continental shelf. The Northwest and Northeast regions are mainly mountainous, while the vast plains lie in the Red River basin. The North experiences a humid subtropical climate with two distinct seasons: hot and humid summers from April to October, and cool, dry winters from November to March, with occasional drizzle.
Central Vietnam is divided into three sub-regions: North Central Coast, South Central Coast, and Central Highlands, comprising 19 provinces. The terrain is varied, with mountains in the west and narrow coastal plains in the east. The climate differs between the North Central Coast and the South Central Coast, with the latter being drier. A distinctive feature of Central Vietnam’s climate is that its rainy and dry seasons do not coincide with those of the northern and southern regions. Generally, Central Vietnam experiences less rain in the summer and more rain in the winter. The Central Highlands share a climate similar to that of Southern Vietnam.
Southern Vietnam is divided into two sub-regions: Southeast and the Mekong River Delta, comprising 19 provinces. The terrain is generally flat, mainly consisting of alluvial plains formed by the Dong Nai and Mekong Rivers. The Mekong Delta is a low-lying region, with some areas below sea level, prone to frequent flooding. The South has a tropical monsoon climate with two distinct seasons: the rainy season from May to November and the dry season from December to April, with high temperatures year-round, averaging about 27°C.
