Vietnam is a dynamic country located on the eastern side of the Indochina Peninsula in Southeast Asia, with a population of approximately 100 million. Its S-shaped territory, rich food culture, long history, and rapidly growing economy attract travelers and businesspeople from around the world.
🍽️ Food
Vietnamese cuisine is renowned for its healthy dishes based on fresh herbs, rice noodles, and nuoc mam (fish sauce).
Top 10 Dishes
Dish
Vietnamese
Description
Pho
Pho
Beef bone broth with rice noodles and beef or chicken
Banh Mi
Banh Mi
French baguette sandwich with meat, vegetables, and sauce
Bun Cha
Bun Cha
Grilled pork with rice noodles dipped in fish sauce, a Hanoi specialty
Banh Xeo
Banh Xeo
Crispy turmeric crepe filled with shrimp, pork, and bean sprouts
Broken Rice
Com Tam
Broken rice topped with grilled pork ribs, a Saigon staple
Spring Rolls
Goi Cuon
Fresh rice paper rolls with shrimp, herbs, and vermicelli
Cao Lau
Cao Lau
Hoi An specialty thick noodles with pork and herbs
Bun Bo Hue
Bun Bo Hue
Spicy beef noodle soup from Hue
Banh Cuon
Banh Cuon
Steamed rice rolls filled with minced pork and mushrooms
Egg Coffee
Ca Phe Trung
Traditional Hanoi coffee topped with egg yolk cream
Food Streets and Markets
Hanoi Old Quarter: The 36 streets (Pho Co) are a street food paradise
Ho Chi Minh Ben Thanh Market: Local food and souvenir shopping
Hoi An Night Market: Famous for Cao Lau and White Rose dumplings
Da Lat Night Market: Highland strawberries and artichoke drinks
Food Etiquette
Chopsticks and spoons are used together
Saying "Xin moi" (please eat first) before meals is polite
Holding the rice bowl while eating is common
Nuoc mam is the universal condiment served with nearly every dish
🏛️ Tourism
Top 10 Attractions
Rank
Attraction
Location
Highlights
1
Ha Long Bay
Quang Ninh
UNESCO World Heritage, approximately 1,600 limestone islands
2
Hoi An Ancient Town
Quang Nam
UNESCO World Heritage, famous for lantern festivals
3
Hue Imperial City
Hue
UNESCO World Heritage, Nguyen Dynasty palace
4
Sapa
Lao Cai
Terraced rice paddies and ethnic minority village trekking
5
Ninh Binh
Ninh Binh
"Ha Long Bay on land," Trang An UNESCO landscape
6
War Remnants Museum
Ho Chi Minh City
Museum documenting the Vietnam War
7
Mekong Delta
Southern Vietnam
Floating markets and tropical fruit tours
8
Ba Na Hills
Da Nang
Famous for the Golden Bridge (golden hands bridge)
9
Phong Nha-Ke Bang
Quang Binh
UNESCO World Heritage, home to Son Doong cave
10
Mui Ne
Binh Thuan
Red and white sand dunes, water sports
UNESCO World Heritage Sites (8 sites)
Ha Long Bay, Hoi An Ancient Town, Complex of Hue Monuments, My Son Sanctuary, Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park, Imperial Citadel of Thang Long, Citadel of the Ho Dynasty, and Trang An Landscape Complex.
Best Time to Visit
North (Hanoi, Sapa): October to April (dry season, cool climate)
Central (Da Nang, Hoi An): February to May
South (Ho Chi Minh City): November to April (dry season)
🎭 Culture and People
National Character and Customs
Vietnamese people are hardworking, family-oriented, and place great emphasis on education. Confucian values remain deeply embedded in society, with strong respect for elders.
Religion
Buddhism (approximately 16%), Catholicism (approximately 7%), Cao Dai, Hoa Hao
Ancestor worship is the most common form of spiritual practice
Major Festivals
Festival
Time
Description
Tet
Lunar New Year
Vietnamese New Year, the biggest holiday
Mid-Autumn Festival
15th of 8th lunar month
Children's festival with lantern processions
Hung Kings Festival
10th of 3rd lunar month
Commemoration of founding ancestors
Hoi An Lantern Festival
14th of each lunar month
Lantern festival in Hoi An Old Town
Basic Vietnamese Phrases
English
Vietnamese
Pronunciation
Hello
Xin chao
Sin chow
Thank you
Cam on
Kahm uhn
How much?
Bao nhieu tien?
Bow nyew tee-en?
Delicious
Ngon lam
Ngon lahm
Help me
Giup toi
Yoop toy
📜 History
Historical Timeline
Period
Event
2879 BC
Van Lang kingdom founded (legendary)
111 BC–938 AD
Chinese domination (approximately 1,000 years)
938
Ngo Quyen defeats Chinese at Bach Dang River, independence restored
1010–1225
Ly Dynasty, Thang Long (Hanoi) established as capital
1802–1945
Nguyen Dynasty, followed by French colonial rule
1945
Ho Chi Minh declares independence, establishes Democratic Republic
1955–1975
Vietnam War
1975
Fall of Saigon, national reunification
1986
Doi Moi economic reform policy launched
2007
WTO accession, full globalization
Key Historical Points
A Thousand Years of Chinese Rule: From 111 BC to 938 AD, Vietnam was under Chinese domination but maintained its distinct cultural identity.
French Colonial Period (1858–1945): Under French Indochina, modernization and resistance movements developed simultaneously.
Ho Chi Minh and Independence: Ho Chi Minh declared independence in 1945 and established the Democratic Republic of Vietnam.
Vietnam War (1955–1975): A Cold War proxy conflict that resulted in approximately 3 million deaths.
Doi Moi Reforms (1986): The introduction of market economics laid the foundation for economic growth.
🏆 Notable People
Person
Field
Achievement
Ho Chi Minh
Politics
Leader of Vietnamese independence, first president
Vo Nguyen Giap
Military
General who led victory at Dien Bien Phu
Phan Boi Chau
Independence
Pioneer of early 20th century Vietnamese nationalism
Tran Hung Dao
Military
Commander who repelled Mongol invasions three times in the 13th century
Nguyen Du
Literature
Author of Truyen Kieu, Vietnam's greatest epic poem
Dang Thai Son
Music
Winner of the 1980 International Chopin Piano Competition
Nguyen Thi Anh Vien
Sports
Southeast Asia's greatest swimmer, multiple SEA Games gold medalist
Pham Nhat Vuong
Business
Founder of Vingroup, Vietnam's wealthiest person
💰 Economy
Key Economic Indicators (2025, World Bank/IMF)
Indicator
Value
GDP
Approximately 465 billion USD
GDP per capita
Approximately 4,600 USD
GDP Growth Rate
Approximately 6.5%
Major Exports
Electronics, garments, footwear, seafood, coffee
Minimum Wage
Approximately 180–260 USD/month (varies by region)
Unemployment Rate
Approximately 2.1%
Major Industries
Manufacturing: Samsung produces approximately 50% of its global smartphones in Vietnam
Agriculture: World's 2nd largest coffee producer (Robusta), 3rd largest rice exporter
Tourism: Approximately 18 million foreign tourists annually (pre-COVID figures)
Seafood: Major exports include shrimp, tuna, and Basa fish
Cost of Living (Ho Chi Minh City)
Item
Cost
Local restaurant meal
2–4 USD
Mid-range restaurant for two
15–25 USD
Cup of coffee
1–2 USD
Studio apartment (city center)
300–600 USD/month
Taxi base fare
Approximately 0.50 USD
💻 IT Ecosystem
Overview
Vietnam is one of the fastest-growing IT hubs in Southeast Asia, with approximately 500,000 IT workers and a strong reputation as a software outsourcing powerhouse.
Major IT Companies
Company
Focus
FPT Software
IT outsourcing, digital transformation
VNG Corporation
Gaming, messenger (Zalo), fintech
Viettel
Telecommunications, military tech, international expansion
VNPAY
Mobile payments, QR payments
Tiki
E-commerce platform
Popular Tech Stack
Languages: Java, JavaScript, Python, PHP
Frameworks: React, Spring Boot, Laravel, Node.js
Mobile: React Native, Flutter
Cloud: AWS, Google Cloud
Key Apps and Services
Zalo: Vietnam's national messenger (approximately 75 million users)
Grab: Ride-hailing, delivery, payments (Southeast Asian super app)
MoMo: Mobile payment app (approximately 30 million users)
Shopee: E-commerce platform
Be: Local Vietnamese ride-hailing service
✈️ Business Travel Guide
Visa Information (Korean Passport)
Visa-free: Up to 45 days (extended since August 2023)
Business visa: Separate application required with invitation letter
Basic Information
Item
Details
Capital
Hanoi
Currency
Vietnamese Dong (VND), 1 USD approximately 25,000 VND
Time Difference
2 hours behind Korea (UTC+7)
Voltage
220V, 50Hz, Type A/C plugs
Emergency
Police 113, Fire 114, Ambulance 115
Language
Vietnamese (English increasingly common)
Business Etiquette
Exchange business cards with both hands and take a moment to read them
Start first meetings with light conversation (weather, food)
Toasting during meals is important for relationship building
Meeting times may be flexible, so allow extra time
Present gifts with both hands; avoid white wrapping (associated with funerals)
Transportation
Taxi: Use the Grab app (prevents meter manipulation)
