Vietnamese cuisine can be very diverse due to its geography and climate. There is no precise average temperature for the entire country. Vietnamese national culture emerged from a concrete living environment: a tropical country with many rivers and the confluence of great cultures (Country of Vietnam). Vietnam is a long, narrow country in southeast Asia that borders southern China, eastern Laos and Cambodia. Vietnam is practically the size of Italy and Japan combined; and is divided into three regions: the north, the center and the south. Vietnam offers a variety of food types for every occasion, from everyday meal to food for New Year festivities. The flavor of Vietnamese cuisine varies between sweet, sour, salty and spicy . However, rice, the mainstay of the Vietnamese diet, is grown throughout the country, but particularly in the Red River Delta in the north and the Mekong Delta in the south. As Vietnam's population began to increase, farmers also had to produce more quickly; making Vietnam the third country to produce the most rice. In fact, the Vietnamese say their country looks like a bamboo pole (the narrow central region) with a basket of rice at each end. (Food in Vietnam) Rice is eaten almost every day in the Vietnamese diet. Although three-quarters of the country is hills or mountains, the long river that runs along the country provides a small variety of seafood such as fish or shrimp. Among the variety of sauces, the most famous and popular sauce is called nouc mam and in English it is called fish sauce. Of course, the name "fish sauce" does not sound very pleasant, but its taste is irreplaceable. Nouc mam is a liquid condiment made from fermented fish; the most common fish for making Nouc mam in Vietnam, is the ancient...... middle of paper...... History of Vietnam - Vietnamese culture - Vietnamese national - Vietnamese people. "Vietnam Information Guide Asia Travel Asian Tiger Travel Vietnam. Web, November 11, 20113. “Vietnam Travel Guide – Vietnamese Cuisine,” Vietnam Hotel and Travel Guide, November 11, 2011.4. "Vietnamese cuisine, traditional and popular dishes, Diet, History, Common, Meal, Rice, Main, People, Types, Brand, Customs, Fruits, Country, Bread, Vegetables, Bread " Food in all countries. Web. November 11, 2011.5. “HERITAGE OF VIET NAM.” Heritage Vietnam Web. November 11, 2011.6. "All about Vietnamese cuisine | Travel to Vietnam." Vietnam Travel Guide | Advice and information with video and images. Web. November 11, 2011.7. “Vietnam Culture – History, people, clothing, traditions, women, beliefs, food, customs, family.” Countries and their Cultures.Web November 11.. 2011