Regions in Vietnam Travel Guide

Normally, the Vietnamese government groups the various provinces into eight regions: Northwest, Northeast, Red River Delta, North Central, South Central, Central Highlands, Southeast, and Mekong River Delta. However, for convenience, the country can be thought of as comprising three unique areas: North Vietnam, Central Vietnam, and South Vietnam.

North Vietnam

Northwest (Tay Bac) contains 6 provinces: Dien Bien, Hoa Binh, Lai Chau, Lao Cai, Son La, and Yen Bai.

Northeast (Dong Bac)contains 9 provinces that lie to north of the highly populated Red River lowlands. Many of these provinces are mountainous: Bac Giang, Bac Can, Cao Bang, Ha Giang, Lang Son, Phu Tho, Quang Ninh, Thai Nguyen, Tuyen Quang.

Red River Delta (Dong Bang Song Hong)contains the national capital - Hanoi and Hai Phong city (centrally-controlled municipallity) and 8 provinces around Hanoi Capital: Bac Ninh, Ha Nam, Hai Duong, Hung Yen, Nam Dinh, Ninh Binh, Thai Binh, Vinh Phuc.

Central Vietnam

North Central (Bac Trung Bo)contains six provinces in the northern half of Vietnam's narrow central part. All provinces in this region stretch from the coast in the east to Laos in the west: Ha Tinh, Nghe An, Quang Binh, Quang Tri, Thanh Hoa, Thua Thien Hue.

South Central (Nam Trung Bo) contains seven coastal provinces and Danang city (centrally-controlled municipallity)in the southern half of Vietnam's central part: Binh Dinh, Binh Thuan, Khanh Hoa, Phu Yen, Ninh Thuan, Quang Nam, Quang Ngai.

Central Highlands(Tay Nguyen) contains the five inland provinces of south-central Vietnam: Dak Lak, Dak Nong, Gia Lai, Kon Tum, Lam Dong. Almost of this region is mountainous. While mostly inhabited by ethnic minorities, there are many Vietnamese living here.

South Vietnam

Southeast (Dong Nam Bo)contains those parts of lowland southern Vietnam which are north of the Mekong delta. There are five provinces, plus the municipality of Ho Chi Minh City (formerly Saigon): Ho Chi Minh City, Ba Ria - Vung Tau, Binh Duong, Binh Phuoc, Dong Nai, Tay Ninh.

Mekong River Delta (Dong Bang Song Cuu Long)is Vietnam's southernmost region, mostly containing small but populous provinces in the delta of the Mekong. There are twelve provinces, plus the municipality of Can Tho: Can Tho City, An Giang, Ben Tre, Bac Lieu, Ca Mau, Dong Thap, Hau Giang, Kien Giang, Long An, Soc Trang, Tien Giang, Tra Vinh, Vinh Long.

Regions in Vietnam Travel Guide

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