Vietnam is located in south-east Asia bordering the South China Sea between Laos and Philippines. The country occupies a total area of 329,560 sq km of which 325,360 sq km is on land. It has a 3,818 km long land boundary and 3,444 km of coastline.

The climate is tropical in the south, monsoonal in the north with hot rainy season from mid-May to mid-September and warm, dry season from mid-October to mid-March. There is occasional typhoons with extensive flooding.
The terrain is consists mostly of low, flat delta in the south and north with central highlands, hilly mountainous in the far north and north-west. Natural resources include phosphates, coal, manganese, bauxite, chromate, offshore oil deposits and forests.

Vietnam has a total population of 71,787,608 (July 1993 est.). Nationals of Vietnam are known as Vietnamese. The main ethnic group is Vietnamese (90%) and religions include Buddhist, Taoist, Roman Catholic, indigenous beliefs, Islamic and Protestant. Languages spoken include Vietnamese (official), French, Chinese, English and Khmer.