Landscapes Of Vietnam – A Country Of Water

Landscapes of Vietnam

Written by root

July 7, 2014

I have been in Vietnam for more than two months now, and I want to share with you this collection of the unique landscapes of Vietnam from my travels

Vietnam is a land of water. Because Vietnam is a long thin country, much of the population is on or near the coast. Because there are mountain ranges running the length of the interior, there are numerous streams and rivers. Don’t forget of course, the role that water plays in the cultivation of rice – rice paddies have to be perfectly flat and meticulously irrigated to maximize yield (as it is not possible to plant rice more densely as it is with corn). Like other countries that experience a monsoon cycle, Vietnam relies heavily on it’s annual rainy season for prolific agriculture.

Landscapes of Vietnam

Ha Long Bay

In Ha Long bay, there are more than 1000 islands (they should make a salad dressing or something!). The limestone karsts, which create the dramatic land/sea contrast, are also responsible for the numerous caves in the bay. Similarly, inland karst topography is what makes Vietnam home to the two largest caves in the world.

The local legend is that the limestone humps are the back of the mother dragon which protects Vietnam. For thousands of years, Ha Long Bay has been an impenetrable defensive position for Vietnamese military forces.

Landscapes of Vietnam

Cat Ba Town harbor, Cat Ba Island, Ha Long Bay

Landscapes of Vietnam

Ha Long Bay

I have always loved the way agriculture imposes a new geometry to a landscape. These rice terraces in Sapa are beautiful, and also seem like the most labor intensive form of agriculture.

Landscapes of Vietnam

Rice terraces in Sapa

Landscapes of Vietnam

Rice terraces in Sapa

The farther south you go in Vietnam, the more rice harvests per year: one in the north, two in the central highlands, and three in the south. Rice tastes so much better when you think about  how beautiful the rice fields are, and how much work rice takes to grow.

Landscapes of Vietnam

Rice paddies at sunset, Lien Son, Central Highlands

I’m consistently amazed at how Vietnam is such a population dense, yet wild feeling country. I’m also reminded how rain creates such a special atmosphere for taking photos!

Landscapes of Vietnam

Sunset after a rainstorm in the central highlands

Landscapes of Vietnam

Wicker bridge after a rainstorm, Central Highlands

The Vietnam government is creating more lakes and reservoirs by building dams on many of it’s smaller rivers. It will be interesting to see how this effects the traditional use of rivers for commerce.

Landscapes of Vietnam

Lake in Bac Ha, northern highlands

Landscapes of Vietnam

Riverboats in Hoi An

Landscapes of Vietnam

The Song Con river, which flows from Phong Nha cave

If you want to get a sense of the culture and people of Vietnam, follow my Instagram feed, where I document daily life, and the human side of our travels in Vietnam.

You May Also Like…

8 Comments

  1. Mary

    Beautiful pictures!! I love your thoughtfulness in viewing the land!

    • derek

      Thanks buttercup!

  2. cb

    I love your photos and the info you share about the country.

  3. Kathy Krieg

    Derek,

    Stunning photography ! ! ! You have an artist’s eye.

    Aunt Kathy

    • derek

      Thanks, I appreciate you following along!

  4. Jenner

    amazing photos Derek!

  5. David

    Great pictures Derek! Wish I was there.

    • derek

      Thanks David!