Economic and geographical position of Vietnam
The official name of the state is the Socialist Republic of Vietnam. The country is located on the Indochina Peninsula, in its southeastern part.
In the east, Vietnam has open access to the South China Sea, and the land border in the west is with Laos and Cambodia, and in the north with China.
Of the neighboring countries, Laos and Cambodia are developing countries, with the exception of China, which in its region is currently a superpower and the largest trading partner of Vietnam.
The territory of Vietnam is a narrow strip stretched along the meridian. The eastern coast of Vietnam is very long, and this feature of its geographical location has a great influence on the formation of the climate.
The adjacent islands and two large archipelagos - Hoang Sa and Truong Sa are part of its territory.
The length of the sea border excluding islands is 3444 km, and the length of the land border is 4639 km. From north to south the country stretches for 1800 km.
The territory of the country is conventionally divided into three parts - Northern, Central, Southern Vietnam, which differ significantly from each other. The shape of the country is S-shaped. Its northern and southern parts are quite wide, while the central part is very narrow and has a width of about 50 km.
The north and south of Vietnam are the main breadbaskets.
The area of the country and territory have changed over time. This former French colony abolished the colonial system in 1945 and defended its independence.
Vietnam, divided during the colonial period into North and South, united in 1976 and began to develop as a single state.
Land connections with neighbors are carried out using road and rail transport, and air transport can be used. Long-distance international transport uses sea and air transport.
Modern Vietnam is one of the world's largest exporters of rice, coffee, and pepper. Seafood, natural rubber, tropical vegetables and fruits, cashew nuts, tea, milk, and sugar are also supplied to the foreign market.
The country's share in exports is approaching 75%, with oil accounting for 20%. The rest of the export portion is made up of products from the light and electrical industries and some types of mechanical engineering.
The structure of Vietnamese imports is almost 70% finished goods, 7% food, 3% agricultural raw materials, 17% fuel and energy products.
Vietnam's main trading partners for the export of crude oil, rice, coffee, clothing and footwear, and tea are the USA, Japan, China, Australia, and Germany.
Our partners for the import of industrial products, petroleum products, fertilizers, grain, cotton, cement, and motorcycles are China, Singapore, Japan, Taiwan, South Korea, Thailand, and the USA.
There is a problem in relations between Vietnam and China related to territorial disputes over the Spratly and Paracel islands. This problem leads not only to diplomatic scandals, but also to various incidents.
Note 1
Generally speaking, the economic and geographical position of Vietnam is quite favorable, taking into account the country’s wealth of natural resources and climatic conditions, which makes it possible to develop both the industrial and agricultural sectors.
Natural conditions of Vietnam
The geographical location of the country influences its topography and climatic conditions.
More than half of Vietnam's territory is occupied by low and medium-high mountains. Block-folded ridges stretch parallel to each other in the north of the country. Among them, the Hoang Lien Son ridge and its highest point, the city of Fansipan (3143 m), the Shusung Chaotai and Sham Shao ridges, stand out. The ridges are separated from each other by narrow and deep longitudinal valleys.
In the west of the country along the border with Laos and Cambodia are the Chiong Son Mountains. Their northern spurs have steep dissected slopes, and the southern ridges alternate with plateaus and plateaus.
In the center and south of Vietnam there are basement and basalt plateaus - Pleiku, Dak Lak, Lam Vien, Zilin, Central Plateau.
Large alluvial-deltaic lowland plains formed in the deltas of the Hong Ha and Mekong rivers, Bac Bo and Nam Bo, respectively.
A narrow strip of accumulative coastal plains stretches along the shores of the Gulf of Tonkin and the South China Sea.
In mountainous areas, karst is quite widespread in the form of peaked outcrops, caves, underground rivers, etc. Ha Long Bay, included in the World Heritage List, is known for its flooded karst outcrops, forming a picturesque archipelago of rocky islets.
Located south of the Tropic of Cancer, Vietnam lies in the subtropical, tropical, subequatorial zones.
The northern part of the country is located in a subtropical monsoon climate with northerly, cold and humid air in winter. The summer monsoon from the ocean brings muggy and rainy weather.
The climate of Central Vietnam is tropical. January temperature is +20 degrees. Rain falls from August to January. Rain falls mainly in the foothills, leaving the coastal plains dry.
The climate of South Vietnam is subequatorial and less dependent on monsoons. The weather is warm throughout the year, with temperatures of +26, +28 degrees. There are two distinct seasons here – the dry season, starting in October, and the wet season, from April to October. The difference between summer and winter temperatures is 2-3 degrees.
The country's climate, formed under the influence of monsoons, is quite often subject to typhoons. When typhoons hit the coast, they cause great destruction, accompanied by loss of life. North and Central Vietnam are most susceptible to typhoons, but they also occur in South Vietnam.
Natural resources of Vietnam
Vietnam is rich in natural resources, including minerals.
Among them are hydrocarbons – oil and natural gas. Their deposits have been identified within Northern and Southeastern Vietnam.
Coal deposits of Kokshau, Kaoshon, Wang Giang, etc.
The Chaikau iron ore deposit is in the northeast of the country and in the central part is the Tha Khe deposit.
Bauxite deposits in the northeast are Tap Na, Lang Son, Dong Dang. There are deposits of manganese - Langbai, Toktak, deposits of chromium, tin, tungsten.
Copper and gold are mined in the north of the country - the Sinkuen deposit, lead and zinc - Tödien. There is antimony, mercury, molybdenum, rare and radioactive elements, there is kaolin, rock and potassium salt, gypsum, apatite, and natural building materials.
Precious and ornamental stones - sapphire, zircon, beryl, amethyst, garnet, etc.
The country's river network is quite dense. The rivers belong to the South China Sea basin. Rivers are of great importance both in internal transportation of goods and in irrigating fields.
In the northern part of the country, the main river is the Hong Kha (Red River) and its major tributary, the Da (Black River).
In the south of the country, the main river is the Mekong, but only its lower course is located within Vietnam, the length of which is about 220 km.
The rivers are mainly fed by rain. There are few lakes on Vietnamese soil and they are small in size.
Mountain red-yellow ferrallite soils are predominant in the country, while dark red soils form on basalt plateaus. The Mekong Delta has swampy saline soils. The country's soils are mostly plowed.
Half of Vietnam's territory is occupied by forests, woodlands, and bushes, including beech trees.
The Americans, using chemicals, almost completely destroyed mangrove forests - 500 thousand hectares and 30% - more than 100 thousand hectares of lowland forests. The ecological balance of the country has changed greatly, the microbiological composition of the soil has been disrupted, and plants have been poisoned. The species composition of tropical rainforest species has declined sharply.
General information about the countryThe official name is Nu "oc Cong Hna Ha Hoi Chu Nghia Viet Nam.
The capital is Hanoi (2,672,122).
The year of independence was 1945.
Standard time is GMT plus 7.
Total area (sq. km) - 330,363. Farmland (sq. km) - 67,000, forests (sq. km) - 97,000.
Population (persons) - 81,098,416.
Population density (persons/sq.km) - 245.5.
Part of the urban population (%) - 20.
Fertility rate (persons/1000 people) - 21.
Mortality rate (persons/1000 people) - 6.
Average life expectancy (years) - 70.
The adult literacy rate (%) is 93.7.
Food (calories per day per capita) - 2250.
Annual fuel consumption (kg per capita) - 106.
Currency - 1 dong (VND) = 10 hao = 100 sou.
GNP ($US per capita) - 2100.
Languages: Vietnamese (official), Chinese, French, English, Khmer.
Ethnic groups: Vietnamese (88%), Chinese (2%), Thai (2%), Khmer (1%), Muong (1%), Nang (1%), Zay (1%) and several dozen other nationalities.
Religious composition of the population: Buddhists (55%), Catholics (7%), Muslims (1%), Taoists, Confucians, Protestants, animists, etc.
State structure
The head of state is the president. The highest body of state power and legislative body is the unicameral National Assembly. Administrative division: 57 provinces and 4 cities of central subordination.
Story
The oldest Vietnamese state on the current territory was Van Lang - 7th century. BC e. It was replaced by Aulak and Nam Viet in the 3rd century. BC e. In 221 BC. e. Northern Vietnam became part of the Chinese Empire. It was part of it for more than 1100 years - until 939 AD. e., when in the battle on the river. Bah, the Chinese suffered a crushing defeat and independence was proclaimed. In the 11th century the state of Dai Viet (formed in 1069) was considered one of the largest in Southeast Asia. In the 13th century Dai Viet repelled the encroachments of the Mongol conquerors three times, and at the beginning of the 15th century. - Chinese feudal lords to subjugate the country. In the XVI-XVIII centuries. the country was in a state of feudal fragmentation. In 1802, the states of Annam and Tonkin were united by the Annamese general Nguyen Phuc Anh and proclaimed himself Emperor Gia Long. In 1804, his monarchy with its center in Hue received the name Vietnam (Southern Viet). The French helped him. France established a protectorate over the Vietnamese state of Cochin China, which was located in the south of what is now Vietnam, in 1862 (a colony since 1864). A French protectorate was established over Annam and Tonkin in 1883. Weak monarchical power remained. In 1887, the Vietnamese states, Laos and Cambodia formed the French Indochina Union. During World War II, Japanese troops occupied Vietnam in 1941, but they allowed the Vichy French government to administer the colony until March 1945. After the war, the Communist Party of Vietnam, led by Ho Chi Minh (party pseudonym Nguyen Tat Thanh), came to power. On September 2, 1945, he declared the independence of Vietnam. On September 23 of the same year, French troops landed in Vietnam, and a war broke out - first in the south, and then in other regions. Vietnamese communist troops inflicted several significant defeats on the French. The largest of these was the defeat at Dien Bien Phu in 1954. France was forced to agree to negotiations. The Geneva Conference of 1954 divided Vietnam along the 17th parallel into two parts. In the north, power remained in the hands of the communists, and in the south, a non-communist republic was proclaimed on October 26, 1955. North Vietnam contributed to the development of anti-government armed struggle in South Vietnam. North Vietnam began sending in its guerrillas in 1958. On November 2, 1963, the South Vietnamese army led by General Nguyen Van Hieu overthrew President Ngo Dinh Diem. This contributed to the strengthening of the guerrilla activities of the communist insurgents ("Viet Cong"). The government of South Vietnam received assistance from the United States and its allies. After the 1964 attack on American ships in the Gulf of Tonkin (either real or staged), US President L. Johnson had a free hand, and the United States directly intervened in the hostilities. In the summer of 1965, there were 125 thousand American soldiers in South Vietnam. American planes intensively bombed North Vietnam. In 1967, the number of American troops reached 400 thousand. Military units from Australia, South Korea, Thailand, and New Zealand also took part in the battles. The number of American troops in April 1969 had already reached 543 thousand. After the successes of the North Vietnamese in 1968, it was decided to take the path of “Vietnamization” of the war, that is, to provide military assistance to the South Vietnamese government, and to curtail the direct participation of the United States and its allies in hostilities . On September 2, 1969, the founder of independent Vietnam, Ho Chi Minh, died and was replaced as leader of the Communist Party by Le Duan. On January 27, 1973, an armistice agreement was concluded in Paris between North Vietnam, South Vietnam and the United States. This made it possible for the United States to withdraw its troops from Vietnam, and for North Vietnam to prepare for an attack on South Vietnam. On April 30, 1975, Saigon was captured by communist troops, and the Republic of South Vietnam was proclaimed. The following year, the political unification of the two Vietnams took place. On July 2, 1976, the Socialist Republic of Vietnam was proclaimed. A united Vietnam established control over Laos, removed the Khmer Rouge regime in Cambodia in early 1979, and intervened in a short-term war with China in February 1979. “Socialist transformations” in the south of the country caused mass escapes of Vietnamese (about 750 thousand people) by boat to other countries. The decision to transition to market economic development was made in 1986, when, after the death of Le Duan on July 10, Nguyen Van Linh became the leader of the Communists on December 18. In 1989, Vietnam withdrew its troops from Cambodia. After the collapse of the USSR, the country normalized its relations with the United States. On April 15, 1992, a new constitution was adopted aimed at introducing significant political and economic reforms that would mark a departure from “barracks socialism.” Today's Vietnam is no longer the Vietnam of the times of Ho Chi Minh, whose embalmed body is in a mausoleum in the capital of the country. On July 31, 1997, Bao Dai, the former emperor of Annam (1926-1945), Vietnam (1945), head of state of South Vietnam (1949-1955), died. ) On September 24 of the same year, Tran Duc Liong was elected president (he replaced the conservative Le Duc An), and on December 26, the new General Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Vietnam, Le Kha Pheu (replaced Do Moy). In August 1999, the United States opened its consulate in Ho Chi Minh City (until 1975 - Saigon) in the building of the former US Embassy during the South Vietnamese pro-American regime. On April 29, 2000, an outstanding politician, Pham Vam Dong, former Prime Minister of North Vietnam (1955-1976) and the Socialist Republic of Vietnam (1976-1987), died. In November of the same year, he visited the country at the head of a delegation of 2000 people US President B. Clinton. On April 22, 2001, Nong Duc Manh was elected General Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Vietnam.
Natural resource potential
Most of the country's territory is occupied by forested mountains and plateaus. The highest point reaches 3143 m (Fanshinan). Lowlands extend along the coast of the Gulf of Tonkin and the South China Sea. Lowlands are especially characteristic of the Hong Ha (Red) river delta in the north and the Mekong river in the south. There are rice fields in the wet lowlands of the north and south.
The climate is tropical monsoon. Annual precipitation is 1500-3000 mm. In the south, the difference between the average temperature of April and December is insignificant - 29 and 26 °C, respectively. In the north, this difference is noticeable: 15 in January and +28 °C in July. In autumn there are typhoons and floods in the north and southwest.
Mineral resources: oil and gas deposits on the continental shelf, coal, iron and manganese ores, chromites, titanium ore, copper, lead, bauxite, zinc, tin, tungsten, molybdenum, antimony, gold, phosphorites, apatites, salt, kaolin, marble.
Economy
Agriculture. This sector of the economy employs 70% of the workforce. The war led to a decrease in the rural population and damaged forests and agricultural land. The main crops are rice, sugar cane, tea, coffee, rubber, fruits. While rice paddies dot the plains, rubber and other crops are grown in the higher elevations. Cotton and jute are also grown. Fruit growing, vegetable growing, silkworm breeding. In some areas, 2-3 harvests are harvested annually. Cattle are used as draft power, and pigs are raised. Fishing, harvesting valuable wood species, in particular mahogany.
Industry. Oil, coal, iron ore, chromites, tin, tungsten, and apatites are mined.
There are enterprises of ferrous and non-ferrous metallurgy, metalworking, mechanical engineering, chemical, and construction industries.
There are woodworking, pulp and paper, rubber factories and factories, as well as enterprises in the light and food industries.
Transport. The length of railways is more than 2.5 thousand km, roads - more than 100 thousand km, inland waterways - 6 thousand km. Maritime transport is of great importance. The main seaports are Ho Chi Minh City, Haiphong, Da Nang, Hong Gai, Kam Pha. International airports in the capital and Ho Chi Minh City.
International trade. The main export goods are oil, coal, minerals, rice, rubber, sugar, fish and seafood, timber, bamboo, tea.
Import machinery and equipment.
The main foreign trade partners are Japan, Singapore, South Korea, France, Australia, Germany, China.
Tourist sites
Bach Ma Haiwan National Park; reserves and wildlife sanctuaries Bantum, Kinda, Krong-Poko, Kuk-Phiong, Langbyan.
There are more than 400 temples and pagodas in the capital; the most famous are the Dien Bo Pagoda on one pillar (1049), the Lien Pai Pagoda, the Temple of the Two Ching Sisters, the Jade Mountain Temple on Lake. of the Turning Sword, Chang-Wu Temple, Temple of Literature dedicated to Confucius (1070), Fu-Dong Temple; museums: Historical, Revolution, Vietnamese People's Army, Art; zoo; Botanical Garden; near the city there is the But-Tap temple complex (XIV century).
In Hue - the Thai Hoa Palace (perfect harmony, 1805-1833), the main fortress gate of Ngo Mon with a two-tier pavilion (1833), the tombs of the Annam emperors.
In Da Nang - Museum of Cham Relics.
In Mishon there are the ruins of the Buddhist temple Bo-Khat-Re-Soa (X century).
In Nha Trang there are four Buddhist temples (VII-XII centuries).
In Ho Chi Minh City there are the pagodas of Saloy (XVIII century), Vinh Nghiem (XVIII century), a Hindu temple, a Catholic cathedral (1883), a National Museum, a botanical garden.
Terraced rice plantations can be seen everywhere in Vietnam. The only piece of land where they are not present is the island of Phu Quoc...
Geographical position
The territory of Vietnam stretches a narrow strip 1600 km long along the eastern coast of the Indochina Peninsula. From the east, Vietnam is washed by the South China Sea, from the west by the Gulf of Thailand. The length of the borders with Laos is 2067 km, with China - 1400 km, with Cambodia - 1030 km, the length of the coastline is 3,260,000 km, the area of the mainland is 329,241 km2. The outline of the country on the map suggests the Latin letter s, stretched from north to south. The northern and southern “edges of the letter” are large (600 and 400 km, respectively), and the width of the narrowest part is only about 50 km. The Vietnamese compare their country to a bamboo beam with baskets of rice hanging at the ends. Vietnam also owns several thousand islands. The largest archipelagos are the Hoang Sa and Truong Sa islands. Some islands are very remote from land and are still the subject of territorial disputes.
Climate of Vietnam
Vietnam is located in the tropical and subtropical zones, so almost everywhere (except for the northernmost part) there is high temperature and high humidity all year round. The proximity of the sea has a significant impact on all areas of the country. Vietnam has two huge climate zones. Northern Vietnam is under the influence of the monsoons. There are clearly 4 seasons here and it is always humid. During the winter (northeast) monsoon it is generally uniformly warm, while during the summer (south or southwest) monsoon it is extremely hot. The climate of South Vietnam is least affected by the monsoon, with the exception of the southwestern and southeastern parts of the country, where there is a season of southeasterly winds. There are clearly two seasons in South Vietnam: the rainy season (May to October) and the dry season (November to April). Typhoons arrive on the coast in spring and autumn. Due to its complex terrain, Vietnam has several areas with their own microclimates. On the plains, the lowest temperatures range from 16 °C in the north to 25 °C in the south. In Hanoi in December 2002, the temperature dropped to 8 ° C, and about 30 years ago it snowed once. In summer the temperature averages 28 °C (32 °C in Hanoi, 30 °C in Ho Chi Minh City). In June and July, it occasionally rises to 38 °C. In the mountains, the temperature is 5–10 °C lower at any time of the year. The average temperature ranges from 21–31 °C. In the mountainous regions of Northern Vietnam, temperatures occasionally drop below freezing and snow falls. The least amount of precipitation - about 1400 mm - falls on the Dak Lak plateau and in the Nha Trang region, the highest - up to 3000 mm - in the Truong Son mountains. In spring, humidity can reach 90%.
Relief
Three quarters of the country's area is occupied by mountains and hillocks, which stretch from north to south for 1,400 km. The highest mountains are in the western and northwestern regions. There are a lot of grottoes and waterfalls in the northeast of the country. The highest mountain in the area is Tay Con Linh (2431 m). In the north-west of Vietnam, Mount Sapa (1500 m above sea level) and the highest peak of Southeast Asia - Mount Fansipan (3143 m) are notable. In the central part of Vietnam, along the borders with Laos and Cambodia, stretches the 800-kilometer Truong Son mountain system with altitudes up to 2598 m (Ngo Clinh, ngoc linh). To the south is the central Tay Nguyen Highlands with prevailing heights from 500 to 1200 m and individual mountain ranges with a height of about 2000 m. The mountains, especially in the north, are composed mainly of limestone rocks. Under the influence of a humid tropical climate, the limestone eroded, resulting in the formation of numerous caves. In some places the mountains come straight to the sea. Half of Vietnam's borders stretch along the South China Sea and the Gulf of Thailand. There are many good beaches along the coastline: Chaco (tra co), Sham Son (sam son), Non nuoc (non nuoc), Nha Trang (nha trang), Vung Tau (vung tau), Ha Tien (ha tien). A special area is occupied by Halong Bay, which is included in the UNESCO World Heritage List. There are several large ports on the coast: Haiphong (hai phong), Da Nang (da nang), Cam Ranh (cam ranh), Vung Tau (vung tau). The deltas of the Red (15,000 km2) and Mekong (40,000 km2) rivers lie in the Bac Bo and Nambo plains.
Rivers, lakes, seas of Vietnam
There are more than 2000 rivers in Vietnam, the shortest of which is 10 km long. Most rivers carry their waters to the sea; As a result, for every 20 km of seashore there is one lower reaches. The soil brought by rivers settles on the seabed, which leads to the formation of new islands and land areas. The two largest rivers in Vietnam are Hong Ha (Red, approx. 1183 km) in the north and Mekong (in Vietnamese - Tien, Cuu Long or Tien Giang, approx. 4500 km) in the south. The silt carried by the Hong Ha River and its tributaries, limited by dams with a total length of about 3000 km, raises the level of the delta above the level of the surrounding plains. The rivers are mostly fed by rain, so floods often occur during the monsoon season. Sometimes this leads to the destruction of dams. Between these two largest deltas there are a number of small, narrow plains that are located on the coast in the central part of the country. There are relatively few lakes in Vietnam and they are small in size, but huge reservoirs have been created on the rivers. Fish are bred in these reservoirs, as well as in ponds and canals.
Vegetation of Vietnam
The plains of Vietnam are almost completely plowed, and in areas unsuitable for agriculture, pools for breeding shrimp and fish have been built. Natural vegetation in the lowlands remains only in wetlands and mangroves along the coast. In places not affected by economic activity, over 12,000 species of plants, 800 species of lichens, and 600 species of mushrooms grow. More than 2,000 plant species are used as food or used to make medicines. About fifty percent of the country's territory is occupied by forests, woodlands and bushes, including beech. In the foothills humid tropical evergreen forests predominate, and in the north there are also deciduous forests. In the mountains more than 600 m above sea level. m. in the north and 1000 m in the south, humid subtropical evergreen forests predominate. State national parks have been created to protect forests; including Cat Ba (Haiphong) - cat ba (haiphong), Cuc Phuong (periphery of Ninh Binh) - cuc phuonh (ninh binh), Cat Tien (periphery of Dong Nai) - cat tien (dong nai).
Fauna of Vietnam
More than 275 species of mammals live in Vietnamese forests. Among them are monkeys, rhinoceroses, Indian elephants, wild bulls and buffaloes, deer, tigers, leopards, crocodiles, turtles, squirrels, rats, porcupines, hares, bats, fruit bats. There are more than 800 species of birds in Vietnam. Kingfishers, parrots, pheasants, peacocks, weaver birds, and pigeons are seen in the forests. There are many swifts and swallows on the coast and islands. Herons, storks, ibises, cranes, snipes, wild geese and ducks live in the swamps. In addition, Vietnam is home to 180 species of reptiles (mainly geckos and agamas), 80 species of amphibians, more than 2,400 species of fish and over 5,000 species of insects (termites, ants, beetles, butterflies, mosquitoes). The fauna of Vietnam has not yet been fully explored. Biologists are constantly finding new species, including some quite interesting ones.
VIETNAM (Viet-Nam), Socialist Republic of Vietnam (Cong hoa Хa hoi chu nghia Viet-Nam), is a state in the southeastern, eastern part of the Indochina Peninsula (15% of the peninsula's area). It borders on the north with, and on the west. In the south and east it is washed by the waters of the South China Sea and the bays of Bakbo and Siam. Area 332.6 thousand km2. The territory of Vietnam also includes a significant number of islands located in the South China Sea: Phu Quoc (568 km 2), Cat Ba (180 km 2), Con Dao (56 km 2). Population 54 million (1981 estimate). The capital is Hanoi (2.57 million inhabitants in 1979). Administratively, Vietnam consists of 36 provinces, 3 central cities (Hanoi, Haiphong, Ho Chi Minh City) and one special purpose region (Vung Tau Con Dao). The largest city is Ho Chi Minh City (3.4 million inhabitants in 1979). The official language is Vietnamese. The monetary unit is dong. Vietnam - member (since 1978).
General characteristics of the farm. Industry and handicraft production in Vietnam account for more than 50% of the total gross industrial and agricultural output (1980). The country has significant mineral resources for industrialization. The main industries are metalworking and mechanical engineering, mining, electric power, woodworking, and textile production. Handicraft industry is developed. In 1981, 3845 million kWh of electricity was produced. Imports are important for the development of the country's national economy, contributing to the technical re-equipment of economic sectors. Through imports, Vietnam satisfies its needs for many types of machinery and equipment, petroleum products, rolled ferrous and non-ferrous metals, etc. The length of railways is about 1 thousand km (being reconstructed), roads 40.5 thousand km, river shipping routes 6 thousand km ( 1970). The largest ports: Ho Chi Minh City, Haiphong, Da Nang, Hong Gai, Kam Pha.
Nature. The territory of Vietnam is almost entirely located within the tropical zone of the Northern Hemisphere. The banks are mostly low and slightly indented. Most of the territory of Vietnam is occupied by mountain ranges (the maximum absolute elevation is 3143 m - the city of Fansipan) and only in the far north and south there are low-lying areas confined to the deltas of large rivers - Hong Ha (Red) and Mekong. The climate is subequatorial monsoon, with hot winters in the south (25.6°C) and cool winters in the north (16.6°C) and a pronounced maximum precipitation during the wet monsoon. Precipitation is over 1500 mm per year (in some places – over 3000 mm). All rivers of Vietnam belong to the South China Sea basin. They make it possible to satisfy the water needs of agriculture and industry, contribute to the development of water transport, and contain huge hydropower resources. The country's largest rivers are Hong Ha, Da, Ma and Mekong. More than 30% of the country's area is occupied by natural tropical forests. There are woodlands and savannas. The forests of Vietnam are not homogeneous, mixed, with valuable species.
Geological structure. Vietnam is located at the junction of and. Separate parts of the territory of Vietnam are associated with the following large regional tectonic units - the Catasian Caledonian mobile part, the East Indochina (North Vietnamese) folded system, the Indosinian middle massif, and the West Indochina (Laotian-Malayan) folded system. The peculiarities of the geological structure make it possible to divide the territory of the republic into four regions.
Northeastern Bakbo belongs to the mobile margin of the South China Plate and the southwestern end of the Catasian system. Formations of the ancient foundation of the platform (granitoids) are covered by Upper Proterozoic and Paleozoic. Along the northeastern coast of Bakbo Bay (southwest of the Catasian system) there are terrigenous-effusive deposits, and are strongly folded with the formation of the lower fold complex. volcanic-sedimentary and terrigenous strata perform separate and. Late Paleozoic and Mesozoic acidic and basic compositions are associated with. In this part of the country, deposits have been established in Late Triassic, titanomagnetite ores associated with gabbroids, in Mesozoic intrusions, hydrothermal and in Permo-Triassic granitoids and acidic volcanics, in sediments, and with granites of the Cretaceous-Paleogene age and in modern and etc. and are installed in Hanoi, and the waters of Bac Bo Bay are potentially promising for and.
Northwestern Bakbo and northern Chungbo are Early Hercynian and Indosinian (Late Triassic) geosynclinal-folded systems. Northern Chungbo is composed of terrigenous and volcanogenic formations of the Lower Paleozoic and Devonian with large concordant massifs of granitoids; Upper Paleozoic carbonate sediments form the nappes. Northwestern Bakbo is characterized by special Permo-Triassic ophiolite formations transformed into the block-fold zone of the Indosinian complex. Chromites in - were found here, formed due to the destruction of serpentinized harzburgites; ore deposits associated with differentiated and gabbro-norite intrusions; deposits of ores of rare earth elements, and - with alkaline intrusions of the Late Cretaceous, Paleogene; hydrothermal-metasomatic deposits of copper ores and rare earth elements, deposits of pyrite ores - with volcanogenic formations. In northern Chungbo, ore deposits have been established in skarns of Mesozoic granitoids. Here, ore occurrences and deposits associated with Triassic and Cretaceous-Paleogene granitoids, hydrothermal deposits of lead and zinc ores in and near fault zones, etc. have been discovered.
Central Chungbo is occupied by the Indosinian Median Massif (with the prominence of the Kontum Plateau). (Proterozoic) crystalline formations of the basement of the massif in some areas are covered by strata. Cenozoic plateau basalts are widespread here. The intrusions are dominated by Paleozoic and Mesozoic granitoids. In this area there are known deposits in crystalline shales of the basement, lateritic bauxites in basalts, gold in quartz among Precambrian rocks, ore occurrences of lead, zinc, etc.
The southern Chungbo-Nambo region belongs to the West Indochina geosynclinal-folded system, which is composed of a complex of folded Upper Paleozoic and Mesozoic volcanic-sedimentary formations with widespread Early and Late Mesozoic granitoids. Large areas are occupied by Cenozoic loose sediments of the Mekong delta trough and plateau basalt covers. Tin ore occurrences have been established here, and in connection with the Late Mesozoic granitoids, bauxite deposits in the weathering crusts of basalts, etc. Oil and gas have been discovered in the adjacent Neogene troughs of the South China Sea.
Hydrogeology and engineering geology. In the mountain structures of Vietnam, pore and karst fresh waters are developed, which feed numerous springs. There are three main aquifer complexes: Quaternary sedimentary, Carboniferous-Triassic carbonate-sedimentary and Neogene-Quaternary basaltic. Hundreds of springs and hydrothermal waters with temperatures of 36-80°C, sometimes 95-100°C, have been identified. For some areas, the conditions for exploiting these waters are difficult (small, deep water).
In engineering and geological terms, the territory of Vietnam is divided into mountainous, hilly and flat areas. In the mountainous and hilly regions, landslide processes, landslides, mudflows and karst phenomena are observed, in the plains there are phenomena of subsidence, washout of sediments, swamping and erosion of river banks; In some places there are outlets of high-pressure waters that penetrate into the basins of structures and into.
The territory of the country lies on a relatively stable substrate. However, sometimes they happen with a force of up to 6-7 points, very rarely up to 8-9 points.
Minerals. Vietnam is one of the richest countries in the Indochina Peninsula in terms of reserves and diversity. Deposits of over 60 types of valuable minerals have been discovered: oil and gas, coal, iron ores, manganese, tin, copper, lead, zinc, rare earth elements, bauxite, various building materials, etc., which is an important prerequisite for creating reliable raw materials bases for industrial development (see map).
Oil and gas deposits were discovered within the shelf of South Vietnam, in the Neogene deposits of the Hanoi Depression in the north of the country. Both areas are located in the vast Cenozoic trough of the South China Sea, which is very promising, but little studied.
Most of the coal deposits are located in the northeast of the country. Coal grades range from brown to anthracite. The main coal basin is Quang Ninh (Hong Gai) of late Triassic age (northeastern Vietnam), where a section of coal strata with a total thickness of 1500-1700 m contains about 30 with an average thickness of 2.7-10.7 m. Geological reserves reach 5-6 billion tons , incl. explored 2 billion tons. Main: Kokshau (reserves 500 million tons), Deonai (250), Hatu (350), Kaoshon (400), Maoxe (381), Wang Giang (about 400). Neogene coals are represented by brown varieties and are located mainly in the Hanoi depression. The productive part of the coal-bearing strata with a thickness of more than 300 m contains about 40 coal seams with an average thickness of 1-2 m. Estimated reserves are estimated at several tens of billions of tons. The engineering and hydrogeological conditions of coal development are complex. Deposits occur in Quaternary deposits.
Ferrous metal ores. Numerous manifestations and deposits of various genetic types are known, which are located mainly in the northeast and west of the country. The total ore reserves are estimated at 1 billion tons. Skarn deposits are of greatest industrial importance; the largest of them is Thach Khe (Ngeth Tinh province), whose reserves are estimated at 500-600 million tons of ore with a Fe content of over 60%. Chromium ores have been identified in placers of Quaternary deposits and in bedrock; their proven reserves amount to tens of millions of tons. All of them are concentrated in the Thanh Hoa region. Small deposits of manganese ores (Toktak, Langbai) and titanium are known.
Non-ferrous metal ores. are represented by bauxites of two genetic types. In northeastern Vietnam, sedimentary bauxites are known (Tap Na, Dong Dang, Mameo deposits), overlying carbonate rocks of Late Permian age. The main ore-forming minerals are with a content of Al 2 O 3 40-56%, SiO 2 1-12%. Reserves reach 100 million tons of ore. In the south of Vietnam, lateritic bauxites are found in the weathering crusts of Neogene-Quaternary basalts (Van Khoa, Dak Nong, Buna, Bao Loc). The main ore - with a content of Al 2 O 3 35-49%, SiO 2 1-8%, the thickness of the deposits varies from 2 to 10 m. The forecast reserves of lateritium bauxites are estimated at several billion tons. They are represented by segregation sulfide copper-nickel deposits associated with, and hydrothermal-metasomatic copper-sulfide deposits with, rare earth elements and. Proven copper reserves exceed 1 million tons. At the Xin Quyen deposit (northeastern Vietnam), proven copper reserves amount to 550 thousand tons with an average Cu content of 1.07%. The deposits are located within three tin mining districts in northeastern Bakbo and northern Chungbo. The predicted reserves of tin ore reach several hundred thousand tons. The main reserves are associated with alluvial deposits. Explored placer reserves amount to several tens of thousands of tons of tin. The content in placers ranges from 200 to 2000 g/m3, averaging 400-500 g/m3. Bedrock ores have been studied extremely poorly. Ores of rare earth elements (mainly the cerium group) have predicted reserves of several million tons (for the amount of oxides of rare earth elements) with a content of these oxides from 2 to 10%. There are known deposits and occurrences of lead, zinc, antimony, mercury, gold, molybdenum, tungsten, radioactive elements, etc., among which only some deposits of lead, zinc and antimony have been explored. In the Tödien and Langhit deposits, the total reserves of lead and zinc reach 569 thousand tons, the Langbai deposit has antimony reserves of 60 thousand tons.
Mining chemical raw materials. The deposits are of greatest importance. Apatite deposits are concentrated in the zone of development of Late Precambrian - Early Cambrian deposits along the right bank of the Hong Ha River (Lao Cai deposit). The thickness of apatite layers varies from several meters to tens of meters. The P 2 O 5 content ranges from 8 to 41%. Apatite reserves reach several billion tons, of which about 400 million tons have been explored.
Non-metallic industrial raw materials and non-metallic building materials. On the territory of Vietnam, deposits of pyrophyllite, graphite, quartz sand, etc. have been explored. Kaolin deposits are represented by two main genetic types: weathering and hydrothermal (kaolinite and pyrophyllite). Kaolin reserves (weathering deposits) are estimated at 27 million tons. Reserves of the Tan Mai pyrophyllite deposit (Quang Ninh Province) are established at 5 million tons. Graphite deposits are available in the Nam Thi, Maya, and Nuong Khuong regions. They are associated with crystalline shales and processed by hydrothermal-metasomatic processes. The explored reserves of the three deposits are 5 million tons, the forecast reserves are 10-15 million tons with the ore content ranging from 8 to 35%.
Precious stones in Vietnam are found in various formations: in basalts (,), (garnet, corundum, sphene), pegmatites and hydrothermal veins (, smoky, etc.). The most common are rich accumulations (forecast reserves are estimated at hundreds of kilograms).
Mining. Historical sketch. Metals have been used in Vietnam since the late 2nd millennium BC. (Dongshon culture). Periodic primitive mining of ores of gold, silver, copper, lead, iron, tin and other metals continued until the end of the 9th century. AD In the 10th century intensive development of mining began, caused by the increased need for metals for the production of tools, weapons, coins, etc. In the 14th century. The extraction of zinc ores increases (since 1323 it has been used for making coins), in the 16th-18th centuries. — red copper (about 450 tons of metal were produced annually at the Tulong deposit). In 1839, coal mining began in the country. In the 1st half of the 20th century. its annual volume averaged 1.5 million tons. Thus, in 1913-40, about 40 million tons of coal were mined (mainly from the deposits of the Quang Nin basin). During the same period, 337 thousand tons of zinc ores were obtained (in terms of metal) (at the deposits of Tödien, Langhit, etc.), 40 thousand tons of tin, 360 thousand tons of iron and manganese ores, 280 thousand tons of phosphates, as well as 5 thousand tons tungsten ores (in terms of oxides) - deposits of Tintuk, Piaoak, etc. High rates of development of the mining industry were noted in 1928-29. Exports of mineral raw materials during this period amounted to 0.5% of its total volume in Indochina.
general characteristics. The mining industry accounts for 5% of GNP (1982). Deposits of 30 types of minerals are being developed on a relatively small scale.
The greatest importance in the structure of the mining industry is the extraction of coal, iron ores, tin, chromium, apatite, etc. (Table). The country pays great attention to the development of the industry based on the reconstruction and construction of new mining and processing enterprises, equipping them with modern mining equipment. (For the location of mountain objects, see the map.)
Coal mining in the country (and) is carried out on a small scale - in 1980, 5.3 million tons of coal were produced. The level of production is explained by the fact that the coal industry is in the recovery stage (since 1973). The main coal-mining region is Quang Ninh Province. The development is carried out by enterprises mainly of three coal associations: Hong Gai in Quang Ninh province - Deonai, Hatu, Kok Shau, Thong Nyang, Ha Lam, Kaoshon deposits; Wangbi in the same province - Wang Giang, Maoxe; Bak Thai - Hapyoanui-Hong deposits (in Bak Thai province), Na Duong (Lang Son). The production capacity of the largest ones is about 0.5-1 million tons per year, up to 1 million tons. The products of the enterprises are of high quality - the calorific value of anthracite is 33.6-35.7 MJ/kg, 14.5-16%, S content 0.4%. The country, with the assistance of the CMEA member countries, is carrying out technical re-equipment of the industry. Dump trucks have also begun to be used in quarries, and excavation and other mining equipment is being introduced in mines. A further increase in coal production is planned. A project is being developed to reconstruct the Maoxe mine, bringing its annual production capacity to 2.1 million tons.
Iron ore mining is carried out in Bak Thai province. Since 1963, the Chaikau deposit has been developed, where 360 thousand tons of ore are produced (1979). The raw materials are supplied to the Thai Nguyen metallurgical plant. Chromium ores are mined in Thanh Hoa province at the Co Dinh deposit, which has been exploited since 1956. Of the deposits of non-ferrous metal ores, only tin and antimony are mined. Non-ferrous metallurgy is a new industry in Vietnam. The first enterprises for the extraction and production of tin and antimony were built in the 1950-1970s.
The largest mining enterprises are the Tin Thuk and Son Duong mines. The first was built and put into operation in 1955, in the 60-70s it was reconstructed with an increase in annual production capacity to 900 tons of tin concentrate per year. The Son Duong mine annually produces about 200 tons of tin concentrate. The main mining transport equipment is excavators and dump trucks. Gravity enrichment is used for ore processing.
The development of apatite deposits in the country began in 1940 at the Laokai deposit, then production was suspended; resumed in the 50s at the Cam Duong mine. The enterprise was restored and modernized with technical assistance. In 1963, the production of apatite concentrate here reached 925 thousand tons. In the early 80s, the mine was the largest mining enterprise of its kind in Southeast Asia. Its concentrate production capacity reached 1 million tons (1982). The product contains 35% P 2 O 5 .
During the Second World War (1939-45), the development of phosphorite deposits also began in the country. Minerals were extracted by hand (from a depth of about 2 m), crushed and used to produce fertilizers. Modern development of phosphate deposits provides raw materials for the large superphosphate plant at Lam Thao.
In Vietnam, the non-metallic building materials industry has been created and is developing (over 500 small enterprises). Development of deposits of limestone, granite, sand, pebbles - open pit. The largest production is in the provinces of Hanam Ninh (since 1960), Haiphong (since 1970), and others. The quarries are part of the building materials association. The industry provides the industry with the necessary raw materials. It is based on large cement plants in Binh Son (built with the help of CCCP), Hoang Thak (with technical assistance from Denmark), as well as the restored and expanded Hai Phong and Ha Tien plants. The total capacity of cement production enterprises is 705 thousand tons (1979).
Mining engineering. In Vietnam, small quantities of impact-rope drilling machines, screens for sorting coal, equipment for enriching coal by gravity and flotation methods, etc. are produced. There are factories for the production and repair of mining equipment in Kam Pha, Yen Vien and Vinh Phu. Mining and drilling equipment and vehicles are imported mainly from socialist countries, and primarily from the CCCP.
Subsoil protection and land reclamation. The importance of the problem of environmental protection was reflected in the first Constitution of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam (1946). In the early 80s, organizations for the protection of the environment and mineral resources operated in Vietnam. State control is exercised by the Department for the Protection of Mineral Resources under the Main Geological Directorate.
Geological Survey. Scientific institutions. Personnel training. Seal. The exploration and development of mineral deposits in Vietnam is the responsibility of the General Geological Administration, the Ministry of Mining and Coal Industry, and the Ministry of Mechanical Engineering and Metallurgy. Scientific research in the field of geology and mining is carried out at the Institute of Geosciences (National Center for Scientific Research of Vietnam, established in 1976), the Institute of Geology and Mineral Resources (General Geological Administration, 1976), the Institute of Non-ferrous Metallurgy and the Institute of Scientific and Technical Information for Mechanical Engineering and metallurgy (Ministry of Mechanical Engineering and Metallurgy, 1967), Institute for Planning and Design of Coal Mining and Coal Research (Ministry of Mining and Coal Industry, 1967), Institute of Oil and Gas (1980). Training of personnel in mining and geological specialties is carried out by the Hanoi Mining and Geological Institute (1966), geological faculties of universities in Hanoi (since 1967), Ho Chi Minh City (until 1975) and the Polytechnic Institute in Ho Chi Minh City (since 1977), geological and technical schools (since 1962) .
The subsoil of the territory has been poorly explored, but explored reserves indicate rich deposits of mineral resources. There was a lot of coal in the region, only in the north of Vietnam there are insignificant reserves. Oil and gas are produced offshore in Indonesia, Malaysia and Brunei. The world's largest metallogenic "Tin Belt" stretches through the region. Asia
Mesozoic deposits provided the richest reserves of non-ferrous metals: tin (in Indonesia - 1.5 million tons, Malaysia and Thailand - 1.2 million tons each), tungsten (reserves in Thailand - 25 thousand tons, Malaysia - 20 thousand tons). The region is rich in copper, zinc, lead, molybdenum, nickel, antimony, gold, cobalt, the Philippines is rich in copper and gold. Nonmetallic minerals are represented by potassium salt (Thailand, Laos), apatites (Vietnam), and precious stones (sapphire, topaz, ruby) in Thailand.
Agroclimatic and soil resources.
The warm and humid climate is the main prerequisite for the relatively high efficiency of farming; 2-3 crops are harvested here throughout the year. On fairly fertile red and yellow feralite soils, many hot zone crops are grown (rice, coconut palm, rubber tree - hevea, bananas, pineapples, tea, spices). On the islands, not only coastal areas are used, but also mountain slopes smoothed by volcanic activity (terraced agriculture).
Water resources are actively used for irrigation in all countries. The lack of moisture in the dry season requires considerable expenses for the construction of irrigation structures. The mountain waterways of the Indochina Peninsula (Irrawaddy, Menam, Mekong) and numerous mountain rivers of the islands are capable of meeting the needs for electricity. Forest resources are exceptionally rich. The region is located in the Southern forest belt, forests cover 42% of its territory. Brunei (87%), Cambodia (69%), Indonesia (60%), Laos (57%) have numerous forests, and in Singapore the total forest area is only 7% (the lowest in the region). The forests of the region are especially rich in wood, which has very valuable properties (strength, fire resistance, water repellency, attractive color): thok, sandalwood, legume trees, local species of pine, sundri (mangrove) tree, palms.
Fish resources of the coastal zone of seas and inland waters are of considerable importance in every country: fish and other marine products are widely used in the diet of the population. On some islands of the Malay archipelago, pearls and mother-of-pearl shells are mined.
The rich natural resource potential and favorable climatic conditions of the region make it possible to engage in farming throughout the year, and the diverse reserves of mineral resources contribute to the development of the mining industry and oil refining. Thanks to the existence of valuable tree species, the traditional area is forested. However, due to intensive deforestation, their area decreases every year, which worsens the eco-balance. This predetermines the need for environmental protection measures that are carried out in Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines and other countries to preserve the unique flora and fauna of the region.
Age of medieval settlement
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Balkhash
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Hydrography
The area is dominated by: river floodplains, four terraces and a watershed plain. The first terrace is developed in the valleys of large rivers - Malaya Sosva, Vorya, Lousiya, Konda, Mulymya, Supra, Bolshoy Tapa; the surface of the terrace is flat, usually swampy; average relative heights of the terrace are from 2 to 6 m. The second terrace...
