Why in News? 

Vietnam witnessed a historic spiritual event as over 17.8 million devotees participated in the nationwide veneration of Buddha’s sacred relics from India. 

About Vietnam 

• Location: Southeast Asia, sharing borders with China to the north, Laos to the northwest, Cambodia to the southwest, and the South China Sea to the east and south. 
• Capital: Hanoi 
• Major Rivers: The Mekong River in the south and the Red River in the north, both flowing into the South China Sea. 
• Currency: Vietnamese Dong (VND) 
• Independence: Declared on September 2, 1945, from French colonial rule. 
• Historical Events: The Vietnam War (1955–1975) involving the US and the two Vietnams; reunification of North and South Vietnam in 1976. 
• Festivals: Tet Nguyen Dan (Lunar New Year) and Vu Lan (Hungry Ghost Festival).

Map: Vietnam (Photo Credit: BBC)