20 Questions
What is the approximate north-to-south distance of Vietnam?
1,650 km
How wide is Vietnam at its narrowest point?
31 mi
What is the claimed limit of Vietnam's territorial waters?
22.2 km
What is Vietnam's exclusive economic zone in square miles?
161,261 sq mi
When was the boundary with Laos formally defined?
1985
What is the primary physiography of Vietnam?
Highlands and the Hong River Delta
Which river is about 1,200 kilometers long and rises in China's Yunnan Province?
Red River
What is the historical significance of the Red River Delta?
It accounted for almost 70% of the agriculture and 80% of the industry of North Vietnam before 1975
What has been an integral part of the culture and economy of the delta region?
Extensive system of dikes and canals
What type of land covers less than 20% of Vietnam's area?
Level land
What process can lead to air becoming saturated and result in precipitation?
Cooling the air
What is the main difference between fog/mist and precipitation?
Fog/mist does not result in the falling of water droplets
What type of clouds are likely to form when moisture is lifted over a layer of sub-freezing air at the surface?
Nimbostratus and cumulonimbus clouds
What term is used to describe short, intense periods of rain in scattered locations?
Showers
What serves as the focus for forcing and rising air near the area of freezing rain?
Stationary front
What is responsible for depositing most of the fresh water on the planet?
Convective processes
Where does lake-effect snowfall become a concern?
Downwind of the warm lakes within the cold cyclonic flow
What can be possible within a cyclone's comma head and within lake effect precipitation bands?
Thundersnow
In which areas is desert climate possible due to compressional heating?
Leeward sides of mountains
What brings rainy seasons to savannah regions?
Monsoon trough
Study Notes
Geography of Vietnam
- The north-to-south distance of Vietnam is approximately 1,025 miles (1,650 km).
- Vietnam is narrowest at about 30 miles (48 km) wide.
- Vietnam claims territorial waters up to 200 nautical miles from its coastline.
- The country's exclusive economic zone covers approximately 1 million square miles.
Border and Physiography
- The boundary with Laos was formally defined in 1986.
- Vietnam's primary physiography consists of hills and mountains, with low-lying deltas along the coasts.
Rivers and Deltas
- The Mekong River, approximately 1,200 kilometers long, rises in China's Yunnan Province.
- The Red River Delta has historical significance as a hub for agriculture and trade.
- Agricultural activities have been an integral part of the culture and economy of the delta region.
Land and Climate
- Mountains and hills cover about 80% of Vietnam's area, with less than 20% consisting of low-lying coastal plains.
- Air becomes saturated, leading to precipitation, when it cools to its dew point.
Precipitation and Clouds
- The main difference between fog/mist and precipitation is the size of water droplets.
- Altocumulus clouds are likely to form when moisture is lifted over a layer of sub-freezing air at the surface.
- Short, intense periods of rain in scattered locations are described as "heavy thunderstorms".
- The focus for forcing and rising air near the area of freezing rain is the updraft.
Weather Patterns
- Most of the fresh water on the planet is deposited by precipitation.
- Lake-effect snowfall becomes a concern near large lakes.
- Heavy snowfall can occur within a cyclone's comma head and within lake effect precipitation bands.
- Desert climate is possible in areas with compressional heating.
- Rainy seasons in savannah regions are brought by the Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ).
Learn about the geography of Vietnam, including its size, shape, borders, and coastline. Gain insights into the country's location on the eastern margin of the Indochinese peninsula and its neighboring countries.
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