1999 Edition
CIA World Factbook 1999 (Internet Archive)
Geography
Area
total: 329,560 sq km land: 325,360 sq km water: 4,200 sq km
Area--comparative
slightly larger than New Mexico
Climate
tropical in south; monsoonal in north with hot, rainy season (mid-May to mid-September) and warm, dry season (mid-October to mid-March)
Coastline
3,444 km (excludes islands)
Elevation extremes
lowest point: South China Sea 0 m highest point: Ngoc Linh 3,143 m
Environment--current issues
logging and slash-and-burn agricultural practices contribute to deforestation and soil degradation; water pollution and overfishing threaten marine life populations; groundwater contamination limits potable water supply; growing urban industrialization and population migration are rapidly degrading environment in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City
Environment--international agreements
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Nuclear Test Ban
Geographic coordinates
16 00 N, 106 00 E
Irrigated land
18,600 sq km (1993 est.)
Land boundaries
total: 4,639 km border countries: Cambodia 1,228 km, China 1,281 km, Laos 2,130 km
Land use
arable land: 17% permanent crops: 4% permanent pastures: 1% forests and woodland: 30% other: 48% (1993 est.)
Location
Southeastern Asia, bordering the Gulf of Thailand, Gulf of Tonkin, and South China Sea, alongside China, Laos, and Cambodia
Map references
Southeast Asia
Maritime claims
contiguous zone: 24 nm continental shelf: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin exclusive economic zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 12 nm
Natural hazards
occasional typhoons (May to January) with extensive flooding
Natural resources
phosphates, coal, manganese, bauxite, chromate, offshore oil and gas deposits, forests
Terrain
low, flat delta in south and north; central highlands; hilly, mountainous in far north and northwest
People and Society
Age structure
0-14 years: 34% (male 13,377,315; female 12,603,906) 15-64 years: 61% (male 22,934,553; female 24,277,488) 65 years and over: 5% (male 1,645,288; female 2,472,660) (1999 est.)
Birth rate
20.78 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Death rate
6.56 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Ethnic groups
Vietnamese 85%-90%, Chinese 3%, Muong, Tai, Meo, Khmer, Man, Cham
Infant mortality rate
34.84 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)
Languages
Vietnamese (official), Chinese, English, French, Khmer, tribal languages (Mon-Khmer and Malayo-Polynesian)
Life expectancy at birth
total population: 68.1 years male: 65.71 years female: 70.64 years (1999 est.)
Literacy
definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 93.7% male: 96.5% female: 91.2% (1995 est.)
Nationality
noun: Vietnamese (singular and plural) adjective: Vietnamese
Net migration rate
-0.53 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Population
77,311,210 (July 1999 est.)
Population growth rate
1.37% (1999 est.)
Religions
Buddhist, Taoist, Roman Catholic, indigenous beliefs, Islam, Protestant, Cao Dai, Hoa Hao
Sex ratio
at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.06 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.94 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.67 male(s)/female total population: 0.96 male(s)/female (1999 est.)
Total fertility rate
2.41 children born/woman (1999 est.)
Government
Administrative divisions
58 provinces (tinh, singular and plural), 3 municipalities* (thu do, singular and plural); An Giang, Bac Giang, Bac Kan, Bac Lieu, Bac Ninh, Ba Ria-Vung Tau, Ben Tre, Binh Dinh, Binh Duong, Binh Phuoc, Binh Thuan, Ca Mau, Can Tho, Cao Bang, Dac Lac, Da Nang, Dong Nai, Dong Thap, Gia Lai, Ha Giang, Hai Duong, Hai Phong*, Ha Nam, Ha Noi*, Ha Tay, Ha Tinh, Hoa Binh, Ho Chi Minh*, Hung Yen, Khanh Hoa, Kien Giang, Kon Tum, Lai Chau, Lam Dong, Lang Son, Lao Cai, Long An, Nam Dinh, Nghe An, Ninh Binh, Ninh Thuan, Phu Tho, Phu Yen, Quang Binh, Quang Nam, Quang Ngai, Quang Ninh, Quang Tri, Soc Trang, Son La, Tay Ninh, Thai Binh, Thai Nguyen, Thanh Hoa, Thua Thien-Hue, Tien Giang, Tra Vinh, Tuyen Quang, Vinh Long, Vinh Phuc, Yen Bai
Capital
Hanoi
Constitution
15 April 1992
Country name
conventional long form: Socialist Republic of Vietnam conventional short form: Vietnam local long form: Cong Hoa Chu Nghia Viet Nam local short form: Viet Nam abbreviation: SRV
Data code
VM
Executive branch
chief of state: President Tran Duc LUONG (since 24 September 1997) and Vice President Nguyen Thi BINH (since NA October 1992) head of government: Prime Minister Phan Van KHAI (since 25 September 1997); First Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Tan DUNG (since 29 September 1997); Deputy Prime Ministers Nguyen Cong TAN (since 29 September 1997), Ngo Xuan LOC (since 29 September 1997), Nguyen Manh CAM (since 29 September 1997), and Pham Gia KHIEM (since 29 September 1997) cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president on the proposal of the prime minister and ratification of the National Assembly elections: president elected by the National Assembly from among its members for a five-year term; election last held 25 September 1997 (next to be held when National Assembly meets following legislative elections in NA 2002); prime minister appointed by the president from among the members of the National Assembly; deputy prime ministers appointed by the prime minister election results: Tran Duc LUONG elected president; percent of National Assembly vote--NA
Flag description
red with a large yellow five-pointed star in the center
Government type
Communist state
Independence
2 September 1945 (from France)
International organization participation
ACCT, APEC, AsDB, ASEAN, CCC, ESCAP, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), ISO, ITU, NAM, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO (applicant) Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador LE VAN BANG chancery: 1233 20th Street NW, Washington, DC 20036, Suite 400 consulate(s) general: San Francisco Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Douglas B. "Pete" Peterson embassy: 7 Lang Ha Road, Ba Dinh District, Hanoi mailing address: PSC 461, Box 400, FPO AP 96521-0002 consulate(s) general: Ho Chi Minh City
Judicial branch
Supreme People's Court, chief justice is elected for a five-year term by the National Assembly on the recommendation of the president Political parties and leaders: only party--Communist Party of
Legal system
based on communist legal theory and French civil law system
Legislative branch
unicameral National Assembly or Quoc-Hoi (450 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms) elections: last held 20 July 1997 (next to be held NA 2002) election results: percent of vote by party--CPV 92%, other 8% (the 8% are not CPV members but are approved by the CPV to stand for election); seats by party--CPV or CPV-approved 450
National holiday
Independence Day, 2 September (1945)
Suffrage
18 years of age; universal
Economy
Agriculture--products
paddy rice, corn, potatoes, rubber, soybeans, coffee, tea, bananas; poultry, pigs; fish
Budget
revenues: $5.6 billion expenditures: $6 billion, including capital expenditures of $1.7 billion (1996 est.)
Currency
1 new dong (D) = 100 xu
Debt--external
$7.3 billion Western countries; $4.5 billion CEMA debts primarily to Russia; $9 billion to $18 billion nonconvertible debt (former CEMA, Iraq, Iran)
Economic aid--recipient
$2.2 billion in credits and grants pledged by international donors for 1999
Economy--overview
Vietnam is a poor, densely populated country that has had to recover from the ravages of war, the loss of financial support from the old Soviet Bloc, and the rigidities of a centrally planned economy. Substantial progress has been achieved over the past 10 years in moving forward from an extremely low starting point, though the regional downturn is now limiting that progress. GDP growth of 8.5% in 1997 fell to 4% in 1998. These numbers masked some major difficulties that are emerging in economic performance. Many domestic industries, including coal, cement, steel, and paper, have reported large stockpiles of inventory and tough competition from more efficient foreign producers, giving Vietnam a trade deficit of $3.3 billion in 1997. While disbursements of aid and foreign direct investment have risen, they are not large enough to finance the rapid increase in imports; and it is widely believed that Vietnam may be using short-term trade credits to bridge the gap--a risky strategy that could result in a foreign exchange crunch. Meanwhile, Vietnamese authorities continue to move slowly toward implementing the structural reforms needed to revitalize the economy and produce more competitive, export-driven industries. Privatization of state enterprises remains bogged down in political controversy, while the country's dynamic private sector is denied both financing and access to markets. Reform of the banking sector is proceeding slowly, raising concerns that the country will be unable to tap sufficient domestic savings to maintain current high levels of growth. Administrative and legal barriers are also causing costly delays for foreign investors and are raising similar doubts about Vietnam's ability to maintain the inflow of foreign capital. Ideological bias in favor of state intervention and control of the economy is slowing progress toward a more liberalized investment environment.
Electricity--consumption
14.88 billion kWh (1996)
Electricity--exports
0 kWh (1996)
Electricity--imports
0 kWh (1996)
Electricity--production
14.88 billion kWh (1996)
Electricity--production by source
fossil fuel: 12.1% hydro: 84% nuclear: 0% other: 3.9% (1996)
Exchange rates
new dong (D) per US$1--13,900 (December 1998), 11,100 (December 1996), 11,193 (1995 average), 11,000 (October 1994), 10,800 (November 1993), 8,100 (July 1991)
Exports
$9.4 billion (f.o.b., 1998 est.)
Exports--commodities
crude oil, marine products, rice, coffee, rubber, tea, garments, shoes
Exports--partners
Japan, Germany, Singapore, Taiwan, Hong Kong, France, South Korea
Fiscal year
calendar year
GDP
purchasing power parity--$134.8 billion (1998 est.)
GDP--composition by sector
agriculture: 28% industry: 30% services: 42% (1996 est.)
GDP--per capita
purchasing power parity?$1,770 (1998 est.)
GDP--real growth rate
4% (1998 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share
lowest 10%: 3.5% highest 10%: 29% (1993)
Imports
$11.4 billion (f.o.b., 1998 est.)
Imports--commodities
machinery and equipment, petroleum products, fertilizer, steel products, raw cotton, grain, cement, motorcycles
Imports--partners
Singapore, South Korea, Japan, France, Hong Kong, Taiwan
Industrial production growth rate
12% (1998 est.)
Industries
food processing, garments, shoes, machine building, mining, cement, chemical fertilizer, glass, tires, oil, coal, steel, paper
Inflation rate (consumer prices)
9% (1998)
Labor force
32.7 million
Labor force--by occupation
agriculture 65%, industry and services 35% (1990 est.)
Population below poverty line
50.9% (1993 est.)
Unemployment rate
25% (1995 est.)
Communications
Radio broadcast stations
AM NA, FM 228, shortwave 0
Radios
7.215 million (1992 est.)
Telephone system
while Vietnam's telecommunication sector lags far behind other countries in Southeast Asia, Hanoi has made considerable progress since 1991 in upgrading the system; Vietnam has digitized all provincial switch boards, while fiber-optic and microwave transmission systems have been extended from Hanoi, Da Nang, and Ho Chi Minh City to all provinces; the density of telephone receivers nationwide doubled from 1993 to 1995, but is still far behind other countries in the region; Vietnam's telecommunications strategy aims to increase telephone density to 30 per 1,000 inhabitants by the year 2000 and authorities estimate that approximately $2.7 billion will be spent on telecommunications upgrades through the end of the decade domestic: NA international: satellite earth stations--2 Intersputnik (Indian Ocean region)
Telephones
800,000 (1995 est.)
Television broadcast stations
NA
Televisions
2.9 million (1992 est.)
Transportation
Airports
48 (1994 est.) Airports--with paved runways: total: 36 over 3,047 m: 8 2,438 to 3,047 m: 3 1,524 to 2,437 m: 5 914 to 1,523 m: 13 under 914 m: 7 (1994 est.) Airports--with unpaved runways: total: 12 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 914 to 1,523 m: 5 under 914 m: 5 (1994 est.)
Highways
total: 93,300 km paved: 23,418 km unpaved: 69,882 km (1996 est.)
Merchant marine
total: 123 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 527,920 GRT/820,515 DWT ships by type: bulk 7, cargo 98, chemical tanker 1, combination bulk 1, oil tanker 12, refrigerated cargo 4 (1998 est.)
Pipelines
petroleum products 150 km Ports and harbors: Cam Ranh, Da Nang, Haiphong, Ho Chi Minh City, Hong Gai, Qui Nhon, Nha Trang
Railways
total: 2,835 km (in addition, there are 224 km not restored to service after war damage) standard gauge: 151 km 1.435-m gauge narrow gauge: 2,454 km 1.000-m gauge dual gauge: 230 km NA-m gauges (three rails)
Waterways
17,702 km navigable; more than 5,149 km navigable at all times by vessels up to 1.8 m draft
Military and Security
Military branches
People's Army of Vietnam (PAVN) (includes Ground Forces, Navy, and Air Force), Coast Guard
Military expenditures--dollar figure
$650 million (1997)
Military expenditures--percent of GDP
9.3% (1997)
Military manpower--availability
males age 15-49: 20,492,806 (1999 est.) Military manpower--fit for military service: males age 15-49: 12,933,945 (1999 est.)
Military manpower--military age
17 years of age
Military manpower--reaching military age annually
males: 877,714 (1999 est.)
Transnational Issues
Disputes--international
maritime boundary with Cambodia not defined; involved in a complex dispute over the Spratly Islands with China, Malaysia, Philippines, Taiwan, and possibly Brunei; maritime boundary with Thailand resolved, August 1997; maritime boundary dispute with China in the Gulf of Tonkin; Paracel Islands occupied by China but claimed by Vietnam and Taiwan; offshore islands and sections of boundary with Cambodia are in dispute; sections of land border with China are indefinite
Illicit drugs
minor producer of opium poppy with 3,000 hectares cultivated in 1998, capable of producing 20 metric tons of opium; probably minor transit point for Southeast Asian heroin destined for the US and Europe; growing opium/heroin addiction; possible small-scale heroin production