Environment

LANDSCAPES

Vietnam is divided into 5 Landscapes which are 5 geographical areas These are Mekong Delta, Red River Delta, Northern Mountains, Coastal Plains and Central Highlands.

Mekong Delta - The most important agricultural area in Vietnam where major crops of rice are grown

Red River Delta- Is where most of Vietnam's people live.

Northern Mountains- Are where the ethnic people live and coal and metals are found.

Coastal Plains- Is a narrow strip that runs the length of the coast line which is 3, 260 km long.

Central Highlands- Account for 16% of Vietnam's arable land and 22% of it's total forest area.

There is plenty of water in Vietnam, with the average annual rainfall between 1600mm and 2,500mm.

More than two hundred rivers flow from Vietnam's Mountains to the coast. The two longest rivers in Vietnam are the Red River in the North of Vietnam, and Mekong River in the South. These two rivers have formed deltas.

	The delta areas are covered with rich soil, have plenty of water, and as the weather is warm the farmers can grow   2-3 rice crops a year. Rice is one of Vietnam's most important industries and extra rice is exported.  Coffee and pepper, which are cash crops are also exported.  Many varities of fruit and vegetables grow in Vietnam's tropical climate.
Across the deltas you see many small areas where each farmer grows his crops to sell in the town or village market. On the sides of the mountains crops grow on what look like giant steps.

After the war when the land was heavily bombed the government needed food for the people and introduced Vac Vina.

Vac Vina is a system of farming that uses a combination of fruit trees, bees, animals, and fish. Mud from the dam is used as fertilizer on the farm .

Vac Vina

V means Vuong - vegetable garden

A means Ao - pond ; aquarium

C means Chuong - animal rearing/cage

Vina means - Vietnam

In Vietnam rice is grown in paddy fields, the farmers plant their crops by hand and use water buffaloes to plough their fields. Now some machinery is replacing the animals. Some fields have irrigation but in the rural areas water is still collected in straw buckets and poured in to flood the field which is surrounded by low levees. The rice is cut with a sharp, curved knife and then left in the sun to dry. Water buffaloes are also used to carry heavy loads and crops to market.

Many farms are being sold to make way for 'housing estates'.

'Slash and burn was used by farmers and has led to deforestation. The government introduced education programs and declared some areas National parks to stop this practice and the logging of forests.

Flowers are important to the Vietnamese, and the markets have beautiful flower stalls and displays. The people buy flowers to decorate their houses, especially at Tet. flower Huge wreaths are also made for funerals.

By Patrice and Ivana