Vietnam

The red national flag is displayed in front of homes or on the street . Traffic moves on the right side.

Vietnamese is written in the Latin alphabet , making it easy to distinguish from Cambodia and Laos.

There are red and white bollards . Also, sign poles are red and white striped .

In addition to regular cylindrical utility poles, you can find poles with holes in them .

The Annamite Range extends along the border.

The black areas below are believed to feature karst topography ( Tuan, L. C. 'Characteristics of karst polje in Vietnam and associated geohazards.' Int. J. Sci. Res 9 (2020): 1391-1398.). Many small, sharply pointed irregular mountains can be found, as shown in the photo below.

A web-like network of waterways spreads across the area, with many small bridges . Possibly due to geological reasons, there are no railways west of Mỹ Tho City in the Mekong Delta—transport relies on buses and river shipping. Most waterways are surrounded by trees or palm vegetation . A bridge with iron railings + lush vegetation around waterways + inverted triangle utility poles confirms the area (e.g. )?

Like the Mekong Delta, this delta is filled with rice fields and waterways . It has the highest population density in the country. Trees are less densely grown near the waterways .

Unlike the Mekong Delta, there is no dense network of waterways . The area is used for cultivating various crops like coffee and cabbage ( Tây Nguyên).

A major administrative reorganization is planned for 2025, consolidating 6 centrally governed cities and 57 provinces into 6 cities and 28 provinces. Note that this may change what is shown on Google Maps. The map below reflects the pre-reorganization boundaries (please zoom in to check).

Larger administrative areas are typically listed last (though city or province names may be skipped in major cities). The sign shown reads as Khâm Thiên Ward in Đống Đa District.

State-owned electric companies handle distribution regionally, so infrastructure like utility poles may vary ( 【Image Source】Collaboration Program with the Private Sector for Disseminating Japanese Technology for Electricity Distribution Planning System in Vietnam Final Report).

The Mekong River basin accounts for more than half of total rice production , though there are also rice fields in the northern plains . The Red River Delta, while smaller in area than the Mekong Delta, also contains many rice fields ( Vietnam’s Farmland Policy - Chief Researcher Yasushi Okae).

While not high in volume, mountain agriculture centers around tea and rice, and terraced fields can be observed ( Nghĩa Lộ (xã), Nghĩa Lộ).

Rubber plantations are commonly found in inland areas . Records indicate high concentrations around Gia Lai and Tây Ninh provinces ( Mapping rubber tree growth in mainland Southeast Asia using time-series MODIS 250 m NDVI and statistical data), although distributions may vary slightly by source.

Tea plantations are distributed in parts of mountainous regions ( Sustainable tea production through agroecological management practices in Vietnam: a review).

Coffee production thrives in regions with slightly higher elevation ( 【Image Source】Trends and Potential of Vietnam’s Coffee Industry - VietViz).

Detailed distribution is unclear, but it is thought to closely mirror that of coffee and is reportedly nearly absent in the north ( Main area produce pepper in Vietnam).

In central Vietnam, acacia plantations are found as a result of a large-scale reforestation project by the Vietnamese government over 30 years ago ( Mekong Eye: The Acacia Dilemma — Vietnam’s plantations may not be as green as they appear). Vietnam has the largest acacia cultivation area in the world, and it is a key material for flooring.

Some cities have logos included on street name signs, which can help identify the city. The image shows Hanoi ( Hanoi).

White sandy beaches stretch along the roadside .

Although coastal roads are not particularly numerous, unique submerged karst topography—formed by the partial flooding of limestone peaks—spreads along the coastline ( Submerged Karst Topography of Ha Long Bay – Geological Survey Institute, Sadahisa Sudo).

A southern offshore island. The roads are often either unpaved with red soil or four-lane roads with a large median strip .

Chinese-language signage and duty-free shops can be found . However, most signs include addresses, which are often a quicker clue.