2000 Edition

Background

France occupied all of Vietnam by 1884. Independence was declared after World War II, but the French continued to rule until 1954 when they were defeated by communist forces under HO Chi Minh, who took control of the north. US economic and military aid to South Vietnam grew through the 1960s in an attempt to bolster the government, but US armed forces were withdrawn following a cease-fire agreement in 1973. Two years later North Vietnamese forces overran the south. Economic reconstruction of the reunited country has proven difficult as aging Communist Party leaders have only grudgingly initiated reforms necessary for a free market.

Area

land

325,360 sq km

total

329,560 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

highest point

Ngoc Linh 3,143 m

lowest point

South China Sea 0 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

border countries

Cambodia 1,228 km, China 1,281 km, Laos 2,130 km

total

4,639 km

Land use

arable land

17%

forests and woodland

30%

other

48% (1993 est.)

permanent crops

4%

permanent pastures

1%

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, hydropower

Terrain

low, flat delta in south and north; central highlands; hilly, mountainous in far north and northwest

Age structure

0-14 years: 33% (male 13,353,828; female 12,516,289) 15-64 years: 62% (male 23,691,412; female 24,951,397) 65 years and over: 5% (male 1,696,708; female 2,564,239) (2000 est.)

Birth rate

21.62 births/1,000 population (2000 est.)

Death rate

6.26 deaths/1,000 population (2000 est.)

Ethnic groups

Vietnamese 85%-90%, Chinese 3%, Muong, Tai, Meo, Khmer, Man, Cham

Infant mortality rate

31.13 deaths/1,000 live births (2000 est.)

Languages

Vietnamese (official), Chinese, English, French, Khmer, tribal languages (Mon-Khmer and Malayo-Polynesian)

Life expectancy at birth

female

71.87 years (2000 est.)

male

66.84 years

total population

69.27 years

Literacy

definition

age 15 and over can read and write

female

91.2% (1995 est.)

male

96.5%

total population

93.7%

Nationality

adjective

Vietnamese

noun

Vietnamese (singular and plural)

Net migration rate

-0.51 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2000 est.)

Population

78,773,873 (July 2000 est.)

Population growth rate

1.49% (2000 est.)

Religions

Buddhist, Taoist, Roman Catholic, indigenous beliefs, Muslim, Protestant, Cao Dai, Hoa Hao

Sex ratio

at birth

1.06 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.07 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.95 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.66 male(s)/female

total population

0.97 male(s)/female (2000 est.)

Total fertility rate

2.53 children born/woman (2000 est.)

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

abbreviation

SRV

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

Data code

VM

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

telephone

(4) 8431500

Diplomatic representation in the US

chancery

1233 20th Street NW, Washington, DC 20036, Suite 400

chief of mission

Ambassador LE VAN BANG

telephone

(202) 861-0737

Executive branch

cabinet

Cabinet appointed by the president on the proposal of the prime minister and ratification of the National Assembly

chief of state

President Tran Duc LUONG (since 24 September 1997) and Vice President Nguyen Thi BINH (since NA October 1992)

election results

Tran Duc LUONG elected president; percent of National Assembly vote - NA

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

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), Nguyen Manh CAM (since 29 September 1997), and Pham Gia KHIEM (since 29 September 1997)

FAX

(202) 861-0917

(4) 8350484

consulate(s) general

San Francisco

consulate(s) general

Ho Chi Minh City

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, Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), ISO, ITU, NAM, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO (applicant)

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

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)

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

elections

last held 20 July 1997 (next to be held NA 2002)

National holiday

Independence Day, 2 September (1945)

Political parties and leaders

only party - Communist Party of Vietnam or CPV

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Agriculture - products

paddy rice, corn, potatoes, rubber, soybeans, coffee, tea, bananas; poultry, pigs; fish

Budget

expenditures

$6 billion, including capital expenditures of $1.7 billion (1996 est.)

revenues

$5.6 billion

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 billion in credits and grants pledged by international donors for 1999 and again for 2000

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 was achieved from 1986 to 1996 in moving forward from an extremely low starting point - growth averaged around 9% per year from 1993 to 1997. The 1997 Asian financial crisis highlighted the problems existing in the Vietnamese economy but, rather than prompting reform, reaffirmed the government's belief that shifting to a market oriented economy leads to disaster. GDP growth of 8.5% in 1997 fell to 4% in 1998 and rose slightly to an estimated 4.8% in 1999. 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. Foreign direct investment has fallen dramatically, from $8.3 billion in 1996 to about $1.6 billion in 1999. Meanwhile, Vietnamese authorities have slowed implementation of 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 - considered one of the riskiest in the world - is proceeding slowly, raising concerns that the country will be unable to tap sufficient domestic savings to finance growth. Administrative and legal barriers are also causing costly delays for foreign investors and are raising similar doubts about Vietnam's ability to attract additional foreign capital.

Electricity - consumption

19.177 billion kWh (1998)

Electricity - exports

0 kWh (1998)

Electricity - imports

0 kWh (1998)

Electricity - production

20.62 billion kWh (1998)

Electricity - production by source

fossil fuel

12.95%

hydro

87.05%

nuclear

0%

other

0% (1998)

Exchange rates

new dong (D) per US$1 - 14,020 (January 2000), 13,900 (December 1998), 11,100 (December 1996), 11,193 (1995 average), 11,000 (October 1994), 10,800 (November 1993)

Exports

$11.5 billion (f.o.b., 1999 est.)

Exports - commodities

crude oil, marine products, rice, coffee, rubber, tea, garments, shoes

Exports - partners

Japan, Germany, Singapore, Taiwan, Hong Kong, France, South Korea, US, China

Fiscal year

calendar year

GDP

purchasing power parity - $143.1 billion (1999 est.)

GDP - composition by sector

agriculture

26%

industry

33%

services

41% (1998 est.)

GDP - per capita

purchasing power parity - $1,850 (1999 est.)

GDP - real growth rate

4.8% (1999 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

lowest 10%: 3.5% highest 10%: 29% (1993)

Imports

$11.6 billion (f.o.b., 1999 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, Thailand, Sweden

Industrial production growth rate

10.3% (1999 est.)

Industries

food processing, garments, shoes, machine building, mining, cement, chemical fertilizer, glass, tires, oil, coal, steel, paper

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

4% (1999 est.)

Labor force

38.2 million (1998 est.)

Labor force - by occupation

agriculture 67%, industry and services 33% (1997 est.)

Population below poverty line

37% (1998 est.)

Unemployment rate

25% (1995 est.)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs)

5 (1999)

Radio broadcast stations

AM 65, FM 7, shortwave 29 (1999)

Radios

8.2 million (1997)

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 digitalized 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

domestic

NA

international

satellite earth stations - 2 Intersputnik (Indian Ocean region)

Telephones - main lines in use

775,000 (1995)

Telephones - mobile cellular

178,000 (1998)

Television broadcast stations

at least 7 (plus 13 repeaters) (1998)

Televisions

3.57 million (1997)

Airports

48 (1999 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

paved

23,418 km

total

93,300 km

unpaved

69,882 km (1996 est.)

Merchant marine

ships by type

bulk 7, cargo 103, chemical tanker 1, combination bulk 1, container 1, liquified gas 1, petroleum tanker 15, refrigerated cargo 4 (1999 est.)

total

133 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 616,115 GRT/941,611 DWT

Pipelines

petroleum products 150 km

Ports and harbors

Cam Ranh, Da Nang, Haiphong, Ho Chi Minh City, Hong Gai, Qui Nhon, Nha Trang

Railways

dual gauge

237 km NA-m gauges (three rails) (1998)

narrow gauge

2,249 km 1.000-m gauge

standard gauge

166 km 1.435-m gauge

total

2,652 km

Waterways

17,702 km navigable; more than 5,149 km navigable at all times by vessels up to 1.8 m draft

Military branches

People's Army of Vietnam (PAVN) (includes Ground Forces, Navy, and Air Force), Coast Guard

Military expenditures - dollar figure

$650 million (FY98)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP

2.5% (FY98)

Military manpower - availability

males age 15-49: 21,149,579 (2000 est.)

Military manpower - fit for military service

males age 15-49: 13,335,337 (2000 est.)

Military manpower - military age

17 years of age

Military manpower - reaching military age annually

males

949,532 (2000 est.)

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; agreement on land border with China was signed in December 1999, but details of alignment have not been made public

Illicit drugs

minor producer of opium poppy with 2,100 hectares cultivated in 1999, capable of producing 11 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

VIRGIN ISLANDS