Vietnam is made up of equatorial lowlands, high temperate plateaus like those found in Dalat, alpine peaks, and miles of beautiful white sandy beaches. Although Vietnam’s wildlife is rich, it is in precipitous decline because of the destruction of habitats and illegal hunting. Less than 20% of the country remains forested, and what remains is under threat from slash and burn agriculture and excessive harvesting. Fauna includes elephants, rhinoceros, tigers, leopards, black bears, snub-nosed monkeys, crocodiles and turtles.

Although Vietnam lies in the inter-tropical zone, local conditions vary from frosty winter in the far northern hills to the year-round subequatorial warmth of the coastal beach areas. At sea level, the mean annual temperature is about 27° C in the south, falling to 22°C in the North.