2010 Edition

Background

The conquest of Vietnam by France began in 1858 and was completed by 1884. It became part of French Indochina in 1887. Vietnam declared independence after World War II, but France continued to rule until its 1954 defeat by Communist forces under Ho Chi MINH. Under the Geneva Accords of 1954, Vietnam was divided into the Communist North and anti-Communist South. 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military aid to South Vietnam grew through the 1960s in an attempt to bolster the government, but US armed forces were withdrawn following a cease-fire agreement in 1973.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 reuniting the country under Communist rule. Despite the return of peace, for over a decade the country experienced little economic growth because of conservative leadership policies, the persecution and mass exodus of individuals - many of them successful South Vietnamese merchants - and growing international isolation. However, since the enactment of Vietnam's "doi moi" (renovation) policy in 1986, Vietnamese authorities have committed to increased economic liberalization and enacted structural reforms needed to modernize the economy and to produce more competitive, export-driven industries. The Communist leaders, however, maintain control on political expression and have resisted outside calls to improve human rights. The country continues to experience small-scale protests from various groups, the vast majority connected to land-use issues, calls for increased political space and the lack of equitable mechanisms for resolving disputes. Various ethnic minorities, such as the Montagnards of the Central Highlands and the Khmer Krom in the southern delta region, have also held protests.

Area

land

310,070 sq km

total

331,210 sq km

water

21,140 sq km

Area - comparative

slightly larger than New Mexico

Climate

tropical in south; monsoonal in north with hot, rainy season (May to September) and warm, dry season (October to March)

Coastline

3,444 km (excludes islands)

Elevation extremes

highest point

Fan Si Pan 3,144 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, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural)

per capita

847 cu m/yr (2000)

total

71.39 cu km/yr (8%/24%/68%)

Geographic coordinates

16 10 N, 107 50 E

Geography - note

extending 1,650 km north to south, the country is only 50 km across at its narrowest point

Irrigated land

30,000 sq km (2003)

Land boundaries

border countries

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

total

4,639 km

Land use

arable land

20.14%

other

72.93% (2005)

permanent crops

6.93%

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, especially in the Mekong River delta

Natural resources

phosphates, coal, manganese, rare earth elements, bauxite, chromate, offshore oil and gas deposits, timber, hydropower

Terrain

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

Total renewable water resources

891.2 cu km (1999)

Age structure

0-14 years: 26.1% (male 12,069,408/female 11,033,738) 15-64 years: 68.3% (male 30,149,986/female 30,392,043) 65 years and over: 5.6% (male 1,892,505/female 3,039,078) (2010 est.)

Birth rate

17.29 births/1,000 population (2010 est.)

Death rate

5.97 deaths/1,000 population (July 2010 est.)

Education expenditures

5.3% of GDP (2008)

Ethnic groups

Kinh (Viet) 86.2%, Tay 1.9%, Thai 1.7%, Muong 1.5%, Khome 1.4%, Hoa 1.1%, Nun 1.1%, Hmong 1%, others 4.1% (1999 census)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

0.5% (2007 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths

24,000 (2007 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

290,000 (2007 est.)

Infant mortality rate

female

21.15 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)

male

21.95 deaths/1,000 live births

total

21.57 deaths/1,000 live births

Languages

Vietnamese (official), English (increasingly favored as a second language), some French, Chinese, and Khmer; mountain area languages (Mon-Khmer and Malayo-Polynesian)

Life expectancy at birth

female

74.69 years (2010 est.)

male

69.48 years

total population

71.94 years

Literacy

definition: age 15 and over can read and write

female

86.9% (2002 est.)

male

93.9%

total population

90.3%

Major infectious diseases

degree of risk

high

food or waterborne diseases

bacterial diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever

vectorborne diseases

dengue fever, malaria, Japanese encephalitis, and plague

water contact disease

leptospirosis note: highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza has been identified in this country; it poses a negligible risk with extremely rare cases possible among US citizens who have close contact with birds (2009)

Median age

female

28.5 years (2010 est.)

male

26.4 years

total

27.4 years

Nationality

adjective

Vietnamese

noun

Vietnamese (singular and plural)

Net migration rate

-0.37 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2010 est.)

Population

89,571,130 (July 2010 est.)

Population growth rate

1.096% (2010 est.)

Religions

Buddhist 9.3%, Catholic 6.7%, Hoa Hao 1.5%, Cao Dai 1.1%, Protestant 0.5%, Muslim 0.1%, none 80.8% (1999 census)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

female

10 years (2001)

male

11 years

total

10 years

Sex ratio

at birth

1.115 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.1 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.99 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.62 male(s)/female

total population

0.99 male(s)/female (2010 est.)

Total fertility rate

1.93 children born/woman (2010 est.)

Urbanization

rate of urbanization

3.1% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)

urban population

28% of total population (2008)

Administrative divisions

58 provinces (tinh, singular and plural) and 5 municipalities (thanh pho, singular and plural)

municipalities

Can Tho, Da Nang, Ha Noi, Hai Phong, Ho Chi Minh City

provinces

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, Cao Bang, Dac Lak, Dac Nong, Dien Bien, Dong Nai, Dong Thap, Gia Lai, Ha Giang, Ha Nam, Ha Tinh, Hai Duong, Hau Giang, Hoa Binh, 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

geographic coordinates

21 02 N, 105 51 E

name

Hanoi (Ha Noi)

time difference

UTC+7 (12 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)

Constitution

15 April 1992

Country name

abbreviation

SRV

conventional long form

Socialist Republic of Vietnam

conventional short form

Vietnam

local long form

Cong Hoa Xa Hoi Chu Nghia Viet Nam

local short form

Viet Nam

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission

Ambassador Michael W. MICHALAK

consulate(s) general

Ho Chi Minh City

embassy

7 Lang Ha Street, Ba Dinh District, Hanoi

FAX

[84] (4) 3850-5010

mailing address

PSC 461, Box 400, FPO AP 96521-0002

telephone

[84] (4) 3850-5000

Diplomatic representation in the US

chancery

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

chief of mission

Ambassador Le Cong PHUNG

consulate(s) general

Houston, New York, San Francisco

FAX

[1] (202) 861-0917

telephone

[1] (202) 861-0737

Executive branch

cabinet

Cabinet appointed by president based on proposal of prime minister and confirmed by National Assembly (For more information visit the World Leaders website )

chief of state

President Nguyen Minh TRIET (since 27 June 2006); Vice President Nguyen Thi DOAN (since 25 July 2007)

election results

Nguyen Minh TRIET elected president; percent of National Assembly vote - 94%; Nguyen Tan DUNG elected prime minister; percent of National Assembly vote - 92%

elections

president elected by the National Assembly from among its members for five-year term; last election held 27 June 2006 (next to be held in January 2011); prime minister appointed by the president from among the members of the National Assembly; deputy prime ministers appointed by the prime minister; appointment of prime minister and deputy prime ministers confirmed by National Assembly

head of government

Prime Minister Nguyen Tan DUNG (since 27 June 2006); Permanent Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Sinh HUNG (since 28 June 2006), Deputy Prime Minister Hoang Trung HAI (since 2 August 2007), Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Thien NHAN (since 2 August 2007), Deputy Prime Minister Pham Gia KHIEM (since 28 June 2006), and Deputy Prime Minister Truong Vinh TRONG (since 28 June 2006)

Flag description

red field with a large yellow five-pointed star in the center; red symbolizes revolution and blood, the five-pointed star represents the five elements of the populace - peasants, workers, intellectuals, traders, and soldiers - that unite to build socialism

Government type

Communist state

Independence

2 September 1945 (from France)

International organization participation

ADB, APEC, ARF, ASEAN, CICA, CP, EAS, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, MIGA, NAM, OIF, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Judicial branch

Supreme People's Court (chief justice is elected by the National Assembly on the recommendation of the president for a five-year term)

Legal system

based on communist legal theory and French civil law system; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Legislative branch

unicameral National Assembly or Quoc Hoi (493 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms)

election results

percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - CPV 450, non-party CPV-approved 42, self-nominated 1; note - 493 candidates were elected; CPV and non-party CPV-approved delegates were members of the Vietnamese Fatherland Front

elections

last held on 20 May 2007 (next to be held in May 2012)

National anthem

lyrics/music

Nguyen Van CAO note: adopted as the national anthem of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam in 1945; it became the national anthem of the unified Socialist Republic of Vietnam in 1976; although it consists of two verses, only the first is used as the official anthem

name

"Tien quan ca" (The Song of the Marching Troops)

National holiday

Independence Day, 2 September (1945)

Political parties and leaders

Communist Party of Vietnam or CPV [Nong Duc MANH]; other parties proscribed

Political pressure groups and leaders

8406 Bloc; Democratic Party of Vietnam or DPV; People's Democratic Party Vietnam or PDP-VN; Alliance for Democracy note: these groups advocate democracy but are not recognized by the government

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Agriculture - products

paddy rice, coffee, rubber, cotton, tea, pepper, soybeans, cashews, sugar cane, peanuts, bananas; poultry; fish, seafood

Central bank discount rate

6% (31 December 2009) 10.25% (31 December 2008)

Commercial bank prime lending rate

15.78% (31 December 2008) 11.18% (31 December 2007)

Current account balance

-$9.622 billion (2010 est.) -$7.44 billion (2009 est.)

Debt - external

$33.45 billion (31 December 2010 est.) $27.84 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Distribution of family income - Gini index

37 (2004) 36.1 (1998)

Economy - overview

Vietnam is a densely-populated developing country that in the last 30 years 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. Vietnamese authorities have reaffirmed their commitment to economic liberalization and international integration. They have moved to implement the structural reforms needed to modernize the economy and to produce more competitive export-driven industries. Vietnam joined the WTO in January 2007 following more than a decade-long negotiation process. WTO membership has provided Vietnam an anchor to the global market and reinforced the domestic economic reform process. Agriculture's share of economic output has continued to shrink from about 25% in 2000 to about 21% in 2009. Deep poverty has declined significantly and Vietnam is working to create jobs to meet the challenge of a labor force that is growing by more than one million people every year. The global recession has hurt Vietnam's export-oriented economy with GDP growing less than the 7% per annum average achieved during the last decade. In 2009 exports fell nearly 10% year-on-year, prompting the government to consider adjustments to tariffs to limit the trade deficit. The government has used stimulus spending, including a subsidized lending program, to help the economy through the global financial crisis. Vietnam's managed currency, the dong, faced downward pressure during the recession and the government devalued it by nearly 7% in December 2009. Foreign donors pledged $8 billion in new development assistance for 2010. Export growth resumed in 2010, driving GDP upward. However, Hanoi has struggled to control one of the region's highest inflation rates, which stands at 11.1% with interest hikes and multiple devaluations of the dong. Vietnam's economy faces higher lending rates, additional IMF scrutiny, domestic inflationary pressures, and an underperforming stock market.

Electricity - consumption

74.5 billion kWh (2009 est.)

Electricity - exports

535 million kWh (2009 est.)

Electricity - imports

3.85 billion kWh (2009 est.)

Electricity - production

86.9 billion kWh (2009 est.)

Exchange rates

dong (VND) per US dollar - 19,148.9 (2010), 17,799.6 (2009), 16,548.3 (2008), 16,119 (2007), 15,983 (2006)

Exports

$70.76 billion (2010 est.) $57.1 billion (2009 est.)

Exports - commodities

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

Exports - partners

US 21.43%, Japan 11.44%, China 7.27%, Australia 4.43%, Germany 4.27% (2009)

GDP - composition by sector

agriculture

20.5%

industry

40.2%

services

39.2% (2010 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP)

$3,100 (2010 est.) $2,900 (2009 est.) $2,800 (2008 est.) note: data are in 2010 US dollars

GDP - real growth rate

6.8% (2010 est.) 5.3% (2009 est.) 6.3% (2008 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate)

$102 billion (2010 est.)

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$278.1 billion (2010 est.) $260.3 billion (2009 est.) $247.2 billion (2008 est.) note: data are in 2010 US dollars

Household income or consumption by percentage share

lowest 10%: 3.1% highest 10%: 29.8% (2006)

Imports

$81.73 billion (2010 est.) $65.4 billion (2009 est.)

Imports - commodities

machinery and equipment, petroleum products, fertilizer, steel products, raw cotton, grain, cement, motorcycles

Imports - partners

China 16.42%, Singapore 9.61%, Japan 8.96%, Taiwan 8.23%, South Korea 7.72%, Thailand 6.41%, Hong Kong 4.45%, US 4.27% (2009)

Industrial production growth rate

7.5% (2010 est.)

Industries

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

11.1% (2010 est.) 7% (2009 est.)

Investment (gross fixed)

35.1% of GDP (2010 est.)

Labor force

47.49 million (2010 est.)

Labor force - by occupation

agriculture

51.8%

industry

15.4%

services

32.7% (April 2009)

Market value of publicly traded shares

$21.2 billion (31 December 2009 est.) $9.589 billion (31 December 2008) $19.54 billion (31 December 2007)

Natural gas - consumption

8.1 billion cu m (2008 est.)

Natural gas - exports

0 cu m (2009 est.)

Natural gas - imports

380,000 cu m (2009 est.)

Natural gas - production

7.9 billion cu m (2008 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves

610 billion cu m (1 January 2009 est.)

Oil - consumption

302,000 bbl/day (2009 est.)

Oil - exports

29,400 bbl/day (2009 est.)

Oil - imports

134,200 bbl/day (2009 est.)

Oil - production

338,400 bbl/day (2009 est.)

Oil - proved reserves

4.7 billion bbl (1 January 2010 est.)

Population below poverty line

12.3% (2009 est.)

Public debt

53.5% of GDP (2010 est.) 52.4% of GDP (2009 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$16.3 billion (31 December 2010 est.) $16.8 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of broad money

$118.8 billion (31 December 2010 est.) $107.3 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad

$7.7 billion (31 December 2009 est.) $NA (31 December 2008)

Stock of direct foreign investment - at home

$59.52 billion (31 December 2010 est.) $49.92 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of domestic credit

$132.1 billion (31 December 2010 est.) $114.6 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of narrow money

$33.76 billion (31 December 2010 est) $31.75 billion (31 December 2009 est)

Unemployment rate

6.4% (2010 est.) 6.5% (2009 est.)

Broadcast media

government controls all broadcast media exercising oversight through the Ministry of Information and Communication (MIC); government-controlled national television provider, Vietnam Television (VTV), operates a network of 9 channels with several regional broadcasting centers; programming is relayed nationwide via a network of provincial and municipal TV stations; law limits access to satellite TV but many households are able to access foreign programming via home satellite equipment; government-controlled Voice of Vietnam, the national radio broadcaster, broadcasts on 6 channels and is repeated on AM, FM, and shortwave stations throughout Vietnam (2008)

Internet country code

.vn

Internet hosts

129,318 (2010)

Internet users

23.382 million (2009)

Telephone system

domestic

all provincial exchanges are digitalized and connected to Hanoi, Da Nang, and Ho Chi Minh City by fiber-optic cable or microwave radio relay networks; main lines have been increased, and the use of mobile telephones is growing rapidly

general assessment

Vietnam is putting considerable effort into modernization and expansion of its telecommunication system

international

country code - 84; a landing point for the SEA-ME-WE-3, the C2C, and Thailand-Vietnam-Hong Kong submarine cable systems; the Asia-America Gateway submarine cable system, scheduled for completion by the end of 2008, will provide new access links to Asia and the US; satellite earth stations - 2 Intersputnik (Indian Ocean region)

Telephones - main lines in use

17.427 million (2009)

Telephones - mobile cellular

98.224 million (2009)

Airports

44 (2010)

Airports - with paved runways

total

37 over 3,047 m: 9 2,438 to 3,047 m: 5 1,524 to 2,437 m: 14 914 to 1,523 m: 9 (2010)

Airports - with unpaved runways

total

7 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 3 under 914 m: 3 (2010)

Heliports

1 (2010)

Merchant marine

by type

barge carrier 1, bulk carrier 103, cargo 330, chemical tanker 24, container 20, liquefied gas 7, passenger 1, passenger/cargo 1, petroleum tanker 46, refrigerated cargo 2, roll on/roll off 1, specialized tanker 1

registered in other countries

84 (Cambodia 1, Honduras 1, Liberia 3, Mongolia 34, Panama 37, Taiwan 1, Tuvalu 6, unknown 1) (2010)

total

537

Pipelines

condensate/gas 42 km; gas 66 km; refined products 206 km (2009)

Ports and terminals

Cam Pha Port, Da Nang, Hai Phong, Ho Chi Minh City, Phu My, Quy Nhon

Railways

narrow gauge

2,169 km 1.000-m gauge (2008)

standard gauge

178 km 1.435-m gauge

total

2,347 km

Roadways

paved

125,789 km

total

171,392 km

unpaved

45,603 km (2008)

Transportation - note

the International Maritime Bureau reports the territorial and offshore waters in the South China Sea as high risk for piracy and armed robbery against ships; numerous commercial vessels have been attacked and hijacked both at anchor and while underway; hijacked vessels are often disguised and cargo diverted to ports in East Asia; crews have been murdered or cast adrift

Waterways

17,702 km (5,000 km navigable by vessels up to 1.8 m draft) (2011)

Manpower available for military service

males age 16-49: 25,402,395 females age 16-49: 24,834,928 (2010 est.)

Manpower fit for military service

males age 16-49: 20,153,269 females age 16-49: 20,980,830 (2010 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually

female

816,076 (2010 est.)

male

877,075

Military branches

People's Armed Forces: People's Army of Vietnam (PAVN) (includes People's Navy Command (with Naval Infantry, Coast Guard), Air and Air Defense Force (Khong Quan Nhan Dan), Border Defense Command), People's Public Security Forces, Militia Force, Self-Defense Forces (2010)

Military expenditures

2.5% of GDP (2005 est.)

Military service age and obligation

18 years of age (male) for compulsory military service; females may volunteer for active duty military service; conscript service obligation - 2 years (3 to 4 years in the navy); 18-45 years of age (male) or 18-40 years of age (female) for Militia Force or Self Defense Forces (2006)

Disputes - international

southeast Asian states have enhanced border surveillance to check the spread of avian flu; Cambodia and Laos protest Vietnamese squatters and armed encroachments along border; an estimated 300,000 Vietnamese refugees reside in China; establishment of a maritime boundary with Cambodia is hampered by unresolved dispute over the sovereignty of offshore islands; the decade-long demarcation of the China-Vietnam land boundary was completed in 2009; China occupies the Paracel Islands also claimed by Vietnam and Taiwan; involved in complex dispute with Brunei, China, Malaysia, the Philippines, and Taiwan over the Spratly Islands; the 2002 "Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea" has eased tensions but falls short of a legally binding "code of conduct" desired by several of the disputants; Vietnam continues to expand construction of facilities in the Spratly Islands; in March 2005, the national oil companies of China, the Philippines, and Vietnam signed a joint accord to conduct marine seismic activities in the Spratly Islands

Illicit drugs

minor producer of opium poppy; probable minor transit point for Southeast Asian heroin; government continues to face domestic opium/heroin/methamphetamine addiction problems despite longstanding crackdowns page last updated on January 19, 2011 ======================================================================