Welcome to Vietnam! The country became one of the fast growing destinations in the world. It is the place of fascinating culture, spectacular landscapes, fantastic cuisine and friendly people. Vietnam borders China in the north, Laos and Cambodia in the west, and the Pacific Ocean in the east. It is a S-shaped country in Indochina Pennisula, with thousands of off-shore islands and archipelagoes. Vietnam's mainland covers over 331 thousand square kilometres .

According to archaeological discoveries made at Do Mountain, it is believed that prehistoric human life in Vietnam began as far back as 300,000 years ago. Officially, the history of Vietnam stretches back 4,000 years when it was founded by the Hung Kings. It was then named Van Lang.

When speaking upon the history of Vietnam, it is important to note the large role played by the French in Vietnam. It began in 1858, when the French took over Danang in southern Vietnam. Over time, more and more territory was won over by the French. It wasn't until 1954, when the French surrendered to to the Viet Minh, ending the French Indochina War, that the French colonial control in Vietnam ended.

The immediate image in the minds of most people at the mention of Vietnam is that of the war fought against the United States some forty years ago. Most people think of the country only in terms of the American conflict in Indochina. The war ended long time ago, and today the situation in Vietnam is markedly different. People have finally begun to look at the country from another perspective, now that travelers and tourists from the West are being welcomed into what was once a forbidden country. It may take a bit more effort and tenacity to plan an excursion into Vietnam than it would for another Southeast Asian country, but Vietnam has much to offer in terms of culture and sights.