Describe an important river, lake or area of water in your country You should say: • where this water body is located • how big it is • what it is used for • and explain why this river, lake or water area is important to your country.

I’d like to talk about the Mekong River, which is one of the most important rivers in Vietnam. It enters the country in the south and flows through the Mekong Delta before reaching the East Sea. The delta covers a huge area of southwestern Vietnam, and the river itself is part of a much longer river system that runs through several countries in Southeast Asia. In terms of size, it’s enormous. The Mekong River is thousands of kilometres long in total, and in Vietnam it branches into a network of rivers, canals and smaller waterways. These waterways are used for many purposes, especially farming, fishing, transport and tourism. For example, local people use boats to carry fruit, rice and other goods, and visitors often take boat trips to floating markets. I think the Mekong is extremely important to Vietnam because it supports millions of people’s livelihoods. The delta is often called the country’s rice bowl, as it produces a large amount of Vietnam’s rice, fruit and seafood. It is not just a natural feature; it is closely connected to the economy, food supply and culture of the region. Without it, life in southern Vietnam would be completely different.