Vietnam's borders: three neighbours and 3,260 km of coast

Vietnam is like a narrow balcony turned towards the sea: on one side, mountains and three land neighbours; on the other, thousands of kilometres of beaches and islands. In simple terms, here's who Vietnam borders on land and where, which seas wash its shores, and where Nha Trang sits on this map.

A balcony-country by the sea

Vietnam stretches almost 1,700 kilometres from north to south and is very narrow — in places only about 50 kilometres wide. To the west it is propped up by mountains and land neighbours, while the whole east is one continuous sea coast.

In all, the country has more than 4,500 kilometres of land borders and around 3,260 kilometres of coast. So Vietnam has almost as much sea as land around it — and that largely defines its character.

Three land neighbours

On land Vietnam borders just three countries: China to the north, Laos to the west and Cambodia to the south-west. The borders mostly run along mountains and rivers.

The lengths vary greatly: the border with Laos is the longest (around 2,130 km), with China around 1,280 km, and with Cambodia around 1,230 km. Together that's more than 4,500 kilometres.

The border with China in the north

The northern border with China runs for about 1,280 kilometres through mountains and rivers. Here lie the famous mountain provinces — Lao Cai, Lang Son, Ha Giang — with terraced rice fields and misty passes.

Trade has crossed this border for centuries, so there are many busy checkpoints here. The influence of the northern neighbour is felt in the cuisine and traditions of the border regions.

The longest border — with Laos

The border with Laos is the longest, about 2,130 kilometres, and also the most 'wild'. It follows the Truong Son range (the Annamite Mountains), which runs along the entire spine of Indochina.

This is sparsely populated land, covered in jungle, with many ethnic peoples and nature reserves. This border is more of a green wall of mountains and forest than a busy line of cities.

The border with Cambodia in the south-west

To the south-west Vietnam borders Cambodia — for about 1,230 kilometres. Unlike the mountainous north, the land here is flat: plains and the Mekong Delta with rice fields and canals.

Through this border the Mekong enters Vietnam to fan out towards the sea. There are many river crossings, markets and busy border traffic here.

3,260 kilometres of coast

Vietnam's main treasure is its shore. The coastline runs for about 3,260 kilometres, from the town of Mong Cai in the north, at the Chinese border, to Ha Tien in the south-west, by Cambodia.

Along this line sit dozens of resorts and ports — Ha Long, Da Nang, Hoi An, Nha Trang, Vung Tau, Phan Thiet. It's precisely thanks to this long shore that Vietnam became a favourite beach destination.

Seas and gulfs

To the east and south Vietnam is washed by the South China Sea — which the Vietnamese themselves call the East Sea (Biển Đông). It's part of the Pacific Ocean, warm and rich in fish.

In the north the Gulf of Tonkin reaches into it — with Ha Long Bay and its thousands of rock-islands. And in the south-west lies the Gulf of Thailand, home to the country's southern islands.

Thousands of islands

Vietnam owns a great many islands — from tiny rocks to large inhabited lands. In the Gulf of Tonkin alone there are about three thousand, including the famous Ha Long and Cat Ba.

The country's largest island is Phu Quoc in the Gulf of Thailand, off the coast of Cambodia, today a major resort. Con Dao in the south and Ly Son in the centre are also well known — each with its own character and nature.

Disputed archipelagos: Hoang Sa and Truong Sa

Far out at sea lie two archipelagos that Vietnam considers its own — Hoang Sa (the Paracel Islands) and Truong Sa (the Spratlys). These are scatterings of small islets, reefs and atolls.

These territories are disputed: several countries in the region lay claim to them, and diplomatic arguments around them never quite die down. For Vietnam itself they matter both as a symbol and as a fishing and resource zone.

Where Nha Trang sits on this map

Nha Trang lies on the south-central coast, on the shore of that same East Sea, roughly in the middle of the country's sea line. Nearby are the deep Cam Ranh Bay and many islands with clear water.

It's the sea that shapes the city's life: beaches, islands, diving, seafood cuisine and a warm climate almost all year round. Here, the border of land and sea is the main attraction itself.

What it means for a visitor to Nha Trang

Understanding the borders helps you see Vietnam as a whole: mountains and neighbours to the west, a long shore and islands to the east, and Nha Trang right on the sunny sea side of this balcony-country.

And if you'd like to delight a loved one, partner or friend right here — we'll deliver a fresh bouquet or helium balloons to a hotel, villa or office the same day. Message us on WhatsApp, Telegram or KakaoTalk.