Area: 921.8 sq. km Population: 3,216.7 thousand habitants (2006). Administrative divisions: - Districts: Hoan Kiem, Ba Dinh, Dong Da, Hai Ba Trung, Tay Ho, Thanh Xuan, Cau Giay, Long Bien, Hoang Mai. - Rural districts: Dong Anh, Soc Son, Thanh Tri, Tu Liem, Gia Lam. Ethnic groups: Viet (Kinh), Hoa... Hanoi is the capital of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, the center of culture, politics, economy and trade of the whole country.

Location: In Ba Dinh Square, Ba Dinh District, Hanoi. Characteristic: The construction of the Mausoleum started in September 1973, on the foundations of the old rostrum in Ba Dinh Square where president Ho Chi Minh used to chair national meetings. Ho Chi Minh's Mausoleum was completed nearly two years later on August 29, 1975.

In the early 17th century, Phu Quoc was a desolate area, where Vietnamese and Chinese immigrants earned their living from sea cucumbers. From 1782 to 1786, Phu Quoc became a stronghold of Lord Nguyen Anh, later Emperor Gia Long, in his confrontation with Tay Son forces. In 1869, the French occupied it and set up rubber and coconut plantations in the island. From 1967 to 1972, a P.O.W detention camp of 40,000 inmates during the war covering on 400 hectares was built at An Thoi by the Saigon regime. After being liberated on 30 April 1975, Phu Quoc has been converted into an ideal tourist destination for nature and sea lovers.

Area: 1,520.7 sq. km. Population: 1,803.4 thousand habitants (2006) Administrative divisions: - Districts: Hong Bang, Ngo Quyen, Le Chan, Kien An, Hai An, Duong Kinh, Do Son. - Rural districts: Thuy Nguyen, An Duong, An Lao, Kien Thuy, Tien Lang, Vinh Bao, Cat Hai, Bach Long Vi. Ethnic groups: Viet (Kinh), Hoa, Tay, Nung...

Area: 678,6 sq. km Population: 38,200 habitants Administrative division: - Townlet: Sapa - Communes: Ban Khoang, Ta Giang Phinh, Trung Chai, Ta Phin, Sa Pa, San Sa Ho, Ban Phung, Lao Chai, Hau Thao, Thanh Kim, Ta Van, Su Pan, Suoi Thau, Ban Ho, Thanh Phu, Nam Sai, Nam Cang.

Area: 11,136.3 sq.km. Population: 3,680.4 thousand habitants (2006) Capital: Thanh Hoa City. Administrative divisions: - Towns: Sam Son, Bim Son. - Districts: Muong Lat, Quan Hoa, Quan Son, Ba Thuoc, Cam Thuy, Lang Chanh, Thach Thanh, Ngoc Lac, Thuong Xuan, Nhu Xuan, Nhu Thanh, Vinh Loc, Ha Trung, Nga Son, Yen Dinh, Tho Xuan, Hau Loc, Thieu Hoa, Hoang Hoa, Dong Son, Trieu Son, Quang Xuong, Nong Cong, Tinh Gia. Ethnic groups: Viet (Kinh), Muong, Thai, H'Mong, Tho...

Area: 1,257.3 sq. km Population: 788.5 thousand habitants (2006) Administrative divisions: - Districs: Hai Chau, Thanh Khe, Son Tra, Ngu Hanh Son, Lien Chieu, Cam Le. - Rural districts: Hoa Vang, Hoang Sa. Ethnic groups: Viet (Kinh), Hoa, Co Tu, Tay...

Nha Trang City Area: 251 sq. km Population: 337,803 Administrative division: - Wards: Vinh Hoa, Vinh Hai, Vinh Phuoc, Vinh Tho, Ngoc Hiep, Van Thang, Phuong Son, Xuong Huan, Van Thanh, Phuong Sai, Phuoc Tan, Phuoc Tien, Phuoc Hai, Phuoc Long, Loc Tho, Phuoc Hoa, Tan Lap, Vinh Nguyen, Vinh Truong. - Communes: Vinh Luong, Vinh Phuong, Vinh Ngoc, Vinh Thanh, Vinh Hiep, Vinh Trung, Vinh Thai, Phuoc Dong. Ethnic groups: Mainly the Viet (or Kinh).

Location: Tuan Chau Tourist Resort was newly built on a location 8km from the centre of Halong City. Characteristics: It stretches for 220ha and built of gradual hills. A 2-km cement road connects the island with the mainland. Many constructions in Tuan Chau are underway

Ho Chi Minh City Area: 2,098.7 sq. km Population: 6,105.8 thousand habitants (2006) Administrative divisions: - Districts: District 1, District 2, District 3, District 4, District 5, District 6, District 7, District 8, District 9, District 10, District 11, District 12, Tan Binh, Binh Thanh, Phu Nhuan, Thu Duc, Go Vap, Binh Tan,Tan Phu. - Rural districts: Nha Be, Can Gio, Hoc Mon, Cu Chi, Binh Chanh. Ethnic groups: Viet (Kinh), Hoa, Khmer, Cham...

Hue City Area: 70.99 sq. km Population: 311,641 habitants (2002) Administrative Division: - Wards: Phu Nhuan, An Cuu, Truong An, Phuoc Vinh, Vinh Ninh, Phu Hoi, Xuan Phu, Vy Da, Tay Loc, Thuan Loc, Thuan Thanh, Thuan Hoa, Kim Long, Phu Hoa, Phu Cat, Phu Hiep, Phu Hau, Phu Binh, Phu Thuan and Phuong Duc. - Communes: Thuy An, Huong Long, Huong So, Thuy Xuan, Thuy Biều. Ethnic groups: Viet (Kinh)

Quang Nam Area: 10,438.3 sq. km Population: 1,472.7 thousand?habitants (2006) Capital: Tam Ky City Administrative divisions: - City: Hoi An - Districts: Dai Loc, Dien Ban, Duy Xuyen, Nam Giang, Thang Binh, Que Son, Hiep Duc, Tien Phuoc, Phuoc Son, Nui Thanh, Bac Tra My, Nam Tra My, Tay Giang, Dong Giang, Phu Ninh, Nong Son. Ethnic groups: Viet (Kinh), Co Tu, Xo Dang, M'Nong, Co (Cor)...

Dalat City Area: 390.5 sq. km Population: 130,000 habitants (2001) Administrative divisions: - Wards: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12 - Communes: Xuan Tho, Xuan Truong, Ta Nung Ethnic groups: M�nong, Ma, Co Ho...

Area: 823.1 sq. km. Population: 1009.8 thousand habitants (2006) Capital: Bac Ninh City Districts: Que Vo, Yen Phong, Tien Du, Tu Son, Thuan Thanh, Gia Binh, Luong Tai. Ethnic groups: Viet (Kinh), Tay, Nung, Muong...

Area: 110 sq. km Administrative divisions: Wards: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, Thang Nhat, Thang Tam, Nguyen An Ninh, Rach Dua. Commune: Long Son