In the central region of Vietnam, few places are more than 150km from the sea. The broader areas are the deltas of the Red River in the north and the Mekong River in the south. The interior is mountainous. It is a varied, lush and lovely country. The climate is tropical and sub-tropical. The middle calendar months are hot and sticky. Winters in the north are fresh, elsewhere they are mild. Most communities are village-based, and the Vietnamese roots are in agriculture and fishing. In spite of urban drift family ties remain strongly influential. The dominant religion was Buddhism. Vietnamese people have great charm and humour, are very welcoming and impressively industrious.