Vietnam, officially the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, is a country situated at the eastern edge of mainland Southeast Asia. It is bordered by China to the north, Laos and Cambodia to the west, and shares extensive maritime borders with Thailand, the Philippines, Indonesia, and Malaysia through the South China Sea. With an area of 331,212 km² and a population of approximately 97.3 million people, Vietnam is a rapidly developing nation with a rich history spanning from ancient kingdoms to modern socialist governance. Its geography is highly diverse, featuring coastal plains, mountainous regions, and extensive river deltas.