Vietnam is a Southeast Asian country on the South China Sea known for its beaches, rivers, Buddhist pagodas and bustling cities. Hanoi, the capital, pays homage to the nation’s iconic Communist-era leader, Ho Chi Minh, via a huge marble mausoleum. Ho Chi Minh City (formerly Saigon) has French colonial landmarks, plus Vietnamese War history museums and the Củ Chi tunnels, used by Viet Cong soldiers.
Capital: Hanoi
Dialing code: +84
Currency: Vietnamese dong
Points of interest: Ha Long Bay, Cu Chi Tunnels, Phú Quốc, more
Official language: Vietnamese