Vietnam is a Southeast Asian country known for its beaches, rivers, Buddhist pagodas and bustling cities. Hanoi, the capital, pays homage to the nation’s iconic Communist-era leader, Ho Chi Minh, via a huge marble mausoleum. Ho Chi Minh City (formerly Saigon) has French colonial landmarks, plus Vietnamese War history museums and the Củ Chi tunnels, used by Viet Cong soldiers.

Capital: Hanoi
Dialing code: +84
Currency: Vietnamese dong
Population: 9.55 crores (2018) World Bank
Points of interest: Hạ Long Bay, Phú Quốc, Cu Chi Tunnel