the Indochina peninsula. To the east is the South China Sea and the Bay of Tonkin is to the south.

To the west lies the countries Laos and Cambodia. To the north is the People?s Republic of China.

Viet Nam has an area of 130 654 square miles. The length from the north to the south is

approximately 1000 miles. Viet Nam is only 35 miles wide at Viet Nams' narrowest point . The

widest Viet Nam becomes is 300 miles in the north. The majority of Viet Nam is on the highlands'

of the Annamite Chain. This is the mountain range that creates the backbone of the Peninsula. At

some place the highlands come into direct contact with the ocean. The result of this is stunning

drops, at heights up to 8000 feet. In the north the Annamite Chain merge with high plateaus that

continue into Laos and China. To the south the highlands evolve into the Moi Plateaus. They in turn

descend into the Mekong delta. The only significant river in the south is the Mekong river, which

flows from China into Laos. Then, from Laos the Mekong travels through Cambodia into Viet

Nam. It created the Mekong delta and continues to extend it. There are many canals built their for

drainage, irrigation and transportation. The main river in the north is the Song Roi, known as the

Red River in English. It Flows from Southern China into Viet Nam. It has created the 6000 square

mile Tonkin Lowland. For over 2000 years there have been canals, irrigation and dikes built on the

Lowland. These two lowlands are some of the best rice fields in the world.