Vietnam

Vietnam comprises the eastern coast of the Indochina Peninsula in Southeastern Asia. Its primary coast borders the South China Sea, and the southwestern shore borders the Gulf of Thailand. The Mekong River Delta drains to the Pacific Ocean on Vietnam’s southern coast. Lowlands rise to central highlands and northern mountains. Most of the country is used for human activities, in its majority by rainfed agriculture. Vietnam has high biodiversity rarity of terrestrial land vertebrates at a global scale. When analysed as single taxons, the rarity of amphibians, birds, mammals and reptiles is also high. The rarity of marine fish and mammals is also high. Challenges to biodiversity include deforestation; soil degradation; water pollution and overfishing; air pollution; and urban migration.