2015 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military aid to South Vietnam grew through the 1960s in an attempt to bolster the government, but US armed forces were withdrawn following a cease-fire agreement in 1973.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 maintain tight control on political expression but have demonstrated some modest steps toward better protection of human rights. The country continues to experience small-scale protests, the vast majority connected to either land-use issues, calls for increased political space, or the lack of equitable mechanisms for resolving disputes. The small-scale protests in the urban areas are often organized by human rights activists, but many occur in rural areas and involve various ethnic minorities such as the Montagnards of the Central Highlands, H’mong in the Northwest Highlands, and the Khmer Krom in the southern delta region.

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

965 cu m/yr (2005)

total

82.03 cu km/yr (1%/4%/95%)

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

45,850 sq km (2005)

Land boundaries

border countries (3)

Cambodia 1,158 km, China 1,297 km, Laos 2,161 km

total

4,616 km

Land use

arable land 20.6%; permanent crops 12.1%; permanent pasture 2.1%

agricultural land

34.8%

forest

45%

other

20.2% (2011 est.)

Location

Southeastern Asia, bordering the Gulf of Thailand, Gulf of Tonkin, and South China Sea, as well as 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, arable land

Terrain

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

Total renewable water resources

884.1 cu km (2011)

Age structure

0-14 years

24.1% (male 11,948,130/female 10,786,381)

15-24 years

17.22% (male 8,411,108/female 7,833,327)

25-54 years

45.05% (male 21,358,647/female 21,145,416)

55-64 years

7.81% (male 3,376,706/female 3,995,035)

65 years and over

5.82% (male 2,115,057/female 3,379,028) (2015 est.)

Birth rate

15.96 births/1,000 population (2015 est.)

Child labor - children ages 5-14

percentage

16% (2006 est.)

total number

2,545,616

Children under the age of 5 years underweight

12% (2011)

Contraceptive prevalence rate

78.1% (2011)

Death rate

5.93 deaths/1,000 population (2015 est.)

Dependency ratios

elderly dependency ratio

9.6%

potential support ratio

10.4% (2015 est.)

total dependency ratio

42.5%

youth dependency ratio

32.9%

Drinking water source

urban: 99.1% of population

rural: 96.9% of population

total: 97.6% of population

urban: 0.9% of population

rural: 3.1% of population

total: 2.4% of population (2015 est.)

Education expenditures

6.3% of GDP (2012)

Ethnic groups

Kinh (Viet) 85.7%, Tay 1.9%, Thai 1.8%, Muong 1.5%, Khmer 1.5%, Mong 1.2%, Nung 1.1%, others 5.3% (1999 census)

Health expenditures

6% of GDP (2013)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

0.4% (2013 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths

12,100 (2013 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

248,600 (2013 est.)

Hospital bed density

2 beds/1,000 population (2010)

Infant mortality rate

female

17.99 deaths/1,000 live births (2015 est.)

male

18.75 deaths/1,000 live births

total

18.39 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

75.9 years (2015 est.)

male

70.69 years

total population

73.16 years

Literacy

definition

age 15 and over can read and write

female

92.8% (2015 est.)

male

96.3%

total population

94.5%

Major infectious diseases

degree of risk

very high

food or waterborne diseases

bacterial diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever

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 (2013)

vectorborne diseases

dengue fever, malaria, and Japanese encephalitis

Major urban areas - population

Ho Chi Minh City 7.298 million; HANOI (capital) 3.629 million; Can Tho 1.175 million; Haiphong 1.075 million; Da Nang 952,000; Bien Hoa 834,000 (2015)

Median age

female

30.2 years (2014 est.)

male

28.1 years

total

29.2 years

Nationality

adjective

Vietnamese

noun

Vietnamese (singular and plural)

Net migration rate

-0.3 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2015 est.)

Obesity - adult prevalence rate

3.5% (2014)

Physicians density

1.19 physicians/1,000 population (2013)

Population

94,348,835 (July 2015 est.)

Population growth rate

0.97% (2015 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)

Sanitation facility access

urban: 94.4% of population

rural: 69.7% of population

total: 78% of population

urban: 5.6% of population

rural: 30.3% of population

total: 22% of population (2015 est.)

Sex ratio

0-14 years

1.11 male(s)/female

15-24 years

1.07 male(s)/female

25-54 years

1.01 male(s)/female

55-64 years

0.85 male(s)/female

65 years and over

0.63 male(s)/female

at birth

1.11 male(s)/female

total population

1 male(s)/female (2015 est.)

Total fertility rate

1.83 children born/woman (2015 est.)

Unemployment, youth ages 15-24

female

6.5% (2012 est.)

male

4.6%

total

5.5%

Urbanization

rate of urbanization

2.95% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)

urban population

33.6% of total population (2015)

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 (Saigon)

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, Dak Lak, Dak 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

several previous; latest adopted 15 April 1992, effective 1 January 1995; amended 2001, 2013 (2014)

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 Ted G. OSIUS III (since 16 December 2014)

consulate(s) general

Ho Chi Minh City

embassy

Rose Garden Building, 170 Ngoc Khanh St., Hanoi

FAX

[84] (4) 3850-5010

mailing address

7 Lang Ha Street, Ba Dinh District, Hanoi; 4550 Hanoi Place, Washington, DC 20521-4550

telephone

[84] (4) 3850-5000

Diplomatic representation in the US

chancery

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

chief of mission

Ambassador Pham Quang VINH (since 23 February 2015)

consulate

New York

consulate(s) general

Houston, San Francisco

FAX

[1] (202) 861-0917

telephone

[1] (202) 861-0737

Executive branch

cabinet

Cabinet proposed by prime minister, appointed by the president, and confirmed by the National Assembly

chief of state

President Truong Tan SANG (since 25 July 2011); Vice President Nguyen Thi DOAN (since 25 July 2007)

election results

Truong Tan SANG (CPV) elected president; percent of National Assembly vote - 97%; Nguyen Tan DUNG elected prime minister; percent of National Assembly vote - 94%

elections/appointments

president indirectly elected by National Assembly from among its members for a single 5-year term; election last held on 25 July 2011 (next to be held in July 2016); prime minister appointed by the president from among members of the National Assembly, confirmed by National Assembly; deputy prime ministers appointed by the prime minister, confirmed by National Assembly

head of government

Prime Minister Nguyen Tan DUNG (since 27 June 2006); Deputy Prime Ministers Hoang Trung HAI (since 2 August 2007), Vu Van NINH (since 3 August 2011), Nguyen Xuan PHUC (since 3 August 2011), Vu Duc DAM (since 13 November 2013), Pham Binh MINH (since 13 November 2013)

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 law organization participation

has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICCt

International organization participation

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

Judicial branch

highest court(s)

Supreme People's Court (consists of the chief justice and 13 judges)

judge selection and term of office

chief justice elected by the National Assembly on the recommendation of the president for a 5-year, renewable term; other judges appointed by the president for 5-year terms

subordinate courts

Court of Appeals; administrative, civil, criminal, economic, and labor courts; Central Military Court; People's Special Courts; note - the National Assembly can establish special tribunals

Legal system

civil law system; note - the civil code of 2005 reflects a European-style civil law

Legislative branch

description

unicameral National Assembly or Quoc Hoi (500 seats; members directly elected by absolute majority vote with a second round if needed; members serve 5-year terms)

election results

percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - CPV 458, non-party CPV-approved 38, self-nominated 4; note - 500 candidates were elected; the 496 CPV and non-party CPV-approved delegates were members of the Vietnamese Fatherland Front and were vetted prior to the election

elections

last held on 22 May 2011 (next to be held in May 2016)

National anthem

lyrics/music

Nguyen Van CAO

name

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

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

National holiday

Independence Day, 2 September (1945)

National symbol(s)

yellow, five-pointed star on red field; lotus blossom; national colors: red, yellow

Political parties and leaders

Communist Party of Vietnam or CPV [Nguyen Phu TRONG]

note

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

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

Budget

expenditures

$51.91 billion (2014 est.)

revenues

$43.2 billion

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-)

-4.6% of GDP (2014 est.)

Central bank discount rate

9% (31 December 2012)

15% (31 December 2011)

Commercial bank prime lending rate

9.5% (31 December 2014 est.)

10.37% (31 December 2013 est.)

Current account balance

$10.07 billion (2014 est.)

$9.471 billion (2013 est.)

Debt - external

$68.05 billion (31 December 2014 est.)

$61.85 billion (31 December 2013 est.)

Distribution of family income - Gini index

37.6 (2008)

36.1 (1998)

Economy - overview

Vietnam is a densely populated developing country that has been transitioning from the rigidities of a centrally-planned economy since 1986. Agriculture's share of economic output has shrunk from about 25% in 2000 to 18% in 2014, while industry's share increased from 36% to 38% in the same period. State-owned enterprises now account for only about 40% of GDP.

Vietnamese authorities have reaffirmed their commitment to economic modernization and a more open economy. Vietnam joined the World Trade Organization in January 2007, which has promoted more competitive, export-driven industries. Vietnam joined the 12-nation Trans-Pacific Partnership free trade agreement negotiations in 2010.

Hanoi has oscillated between promoting growth and emphasizing macroeconomic stability in recent years. Between 2008 and 2011, Vietnam's managed currency, the dong, was devalued in excess of 20%, but its value has remained relatively stable since then. 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.

In February 2011, the government shifted from policies aimed at achieving a high rate of economic growth, which had stoked inflation, to those aimed at stabilizing the economy, through tighter monetary and fiscal control. Although Vietnam unveiled a broad, "three pillar" economic reform program in early 2012, proposing to restructure public investment, state-owned enterprises, and the banking sector, Hanoi’s progress in meeting its goals is lagging behind its proposed schedule. Vietnam's economy continues to face challenges from an undercapitalized banking sector and non-performing loans weigh heavily on banks and businesses.

Exchange rates

dong (VND) per US dollar -

21,149 (2014 est.)

21,017 (2013 est.)

20,859 (2012 est.)

20,649 (2011 est.)

18,612.92 (2010 est.)

Exports

$147 billion (2014 est.)

$132.1 billion (2013 est.)

Exports - commodities

clothes, shoes, electronics, seafood, crude oil, rice, coffee, wooden products, machinery

Exports - partners

US 17.6%, China 11.8%, Japan 9.9%, South Korea 5%, Germany 4.4%, Malaysia 4.2% (2013)

Fiscal year

calendar year

GDP - composition, by end use

(2014 est.)

exports of goods and services

85.1%

government consumption

6.3%

household consumption

66.3%

imports of goods and services

-83.4%

investment in fixed capital

23.7%

investment in inventories

2%

GDP - composition, by sector of origin

agriculture

17.9%

industry

38.1%

services

44% (2014 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP)

$5,600 (2014 est.)

$5,300 (2013 est.)

$5,000 (2012 est.)

note

data are in 2014 US dollars

GDP - real growth rate

6% (2014 est.)

5.4% (2013 est.)

5.2% (2012 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate)

$186 billion (2014 est.)

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$510.7 billion (2014 est.)

$481.9 billion (2013 est.)

$457.1 billion (2012 est.)

note

data are in 2014 US dollars

Gross national saving

31.1% of GDP (2014 est.)

32.1% of GDP (2013 est.)

33.2% of GDP (2012 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

highest 10%

30.2% (2008)

lowest 10%

3.2%

Imports

$138.6 billion (2014 est.)

$123.4 billion (2013 est.)

Imports - commodities

machinery and equipment, petroleum products, steel products, raw materials for the clothing and shoe industries, electronics, plastics, automobiles

Imports - partners

China 32%, South Korea 13.9%, Singapore 7.2%, Japan 6.9%, Hong Kong 5%, Thailand 4.7% (2013)

Industrial production growth rate

5.5% (2014 est.)

Industries

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

4.1% (2014 est.)

6.6% (2013 est.)

Labor force

54.07 million (2014 est.)

Labor force - by occupation

agriculture

48%

industry

21%

services

31% (2012)

Market value of publicly traded shares

$38.2 billion (31 December 2011 est.)

$26 billion (31 December 2011)

$37 billion (31 December 2010 est.)

Population below poverty line

11.3% (2012 est.)

Public debt

45.5% of GDP (2014 est.)

45% of GDP (2013 est.)

note

official data; data cover general government debt, and includes debt instruments issued (or owned) by government entities other than the treasury; the data include treasury debt held by foreign entities; the data include debt issued by subnational entities, as well as intra-governmental debt; intra-governmental debt consists of treasury borrowings from surpluses in the social funds, such as for retirement, medical care, and unemployment; debt instruments for the social funds are not sold at public auctions

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$35.7 billion (31 December 2014 est.)

$26.29 billion (31 December 2013 est.)

Stock of broad money

$232.7 billion (31 December 2014 est.)

$198.8 billion (31 December 2013 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad

$7.7 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

$5.3 billion (31 December 2008 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - at home

$93.61 billion (31 December 2014 est.)

$82.61 billion (31 December 2013 est.)

Stock of domestic credit

$208.8 billion (31 December 2014 est.)

$183.9 billion (31 December 2013 est.)

Stock of narrow money

$52.39 billion (31 December 2014 est.)

$46.9 billion (31 December 2013 est.)

Taxes and other revenues

23% of GDP (2014 est.)

Unemployment rate

2.5% (2014 est.)

3.6% (2013 est.)

Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy

131.7 million Mt (2012 est.)

Crude oil - exports

188,000 bbl/day (2012 est.)

Crude oil - imports

0 bbl/day (2012 est.)

Crude oil - production

349,200 bbl/day (2013 est.)

Crude oil - proved reserves

4.4 billion bbl (1 January 2014 est.)

Electricity - consumption

104 billion kWh (2012 est.)

Electricity - exports

1.073 billion kWh (2011 est.)

Electricity - from fossil fuels

55% of total installed capacity (2012 est.)

Electricity - from hydroelectric plants

45% of total installed capacity (2012 est.)

Electricity - from nuclear fuels

0% of total installed capacity (2012 est.)

Electricity - from other renewable sources

0.1% of total installed capacity (2012 est.)

Electricity - imports

2.7 billion kWh (2012 est.)

Electricity - installed generating capacity

26.3 million kW (2012 est.)

Electricity - production

117 billion kWh (2012 est.)

Natural gas - consumption

8.393 billion cu m (2012 est.)

Natural gas - exports

0 cu m (2012 est.)

Natural gas - imports

890 million cu m (2012 est.)

Natural gas - production

9.3 billion cu m (2012 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves

699.4 billion cu m (1 January 2014 est.)

Refined petroleum products - consumption

413,000 bbl/day (2013 est.)

Refined petroleum products - exports

37,050 bbl/day (2012 est.)

Refined petroleum products - imports

184,900 bbl/day (2012 est.)

Refined petroleum products - production

112,000 bbl/day (2012 est.)

Broadcast media

government controls all broadcast media exercising oversight through the Ministry of Information and Communication (MIC); government-controlled national TV 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 users

percent of population

43.0% (2014 est.)

total

40.1 million

Radio broadcast stations

AM 65, FM 7, shortwave 29 (1999)

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, completed in 2009, provided new access links to Asia and the US; satellite earth stations - 2 Intersputnik (Indian Ocean region) (2011)

Telephones - fixed lines

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

6 (2014 est.)

total subscriptions

5.56 million

Telephones - mobile cellular

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

146 (2014 est.)

total

136.1 million

Television broadcast stations

67 (includes 61 relay, provincial, and city TV stations) (2006)

Airports

45 (2013)

Airports - with paved runways

1,524 to 2,437 m

13

2,438 to 3,047 m

6

914 to 1,523 m

9 (2013)

over 3,047 m

10

total

38

Airports - with unpaved runways

3 (2013)

1,524 to 2,437 m

1

914 to 1,523 m

3

total

7

Heliports

1 (2013)

Merchant marine

by type

barge carrier 1, bulk carrier 142, cargo 335, chemical tanker 23, container 19, liquefied gas 7, passenger/cargo 1, petroleum tanker 48, refrigerated cargo 1, roll on/roll off 1, specialized tanker 1

registered in other countries

86 (Cambodia 1, Kiribati 2, Mongolia 33, Panama 43, Taiwan 1, Tuvalu 6) (2010)

total

579

Pipelines

condensate 72 km; condensate/gas 398 km; gas 955 km; oil 128 km; oil/gas/water 33 km; refined products 206 km; water 13 km (2013)

Ports and terminals

container port(s) (TEUs)

Haiphong (1,018,794), Saigon New Port (3,071,777)

major seaport(s)

Cam Pha Port, Da Nang, Haiphong, Phu My, Quy Nhon

river port(s)

Ho Chi Minh (Mekong)

Railways

narrow gauge

2,169 km 1.000-m gauge (2014)

standard gauge

178 km 1.435-m gauge; 253 km mixed gauge

total

2,600 km

Roadways

paved

148,338 km

total

195,468 km

unpaved

47,130 km (2013)

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

47,130 km (30,831 km weight under 50 tons) (2011)

Manpower available for military service

females age 16-49

24,995,692 (2010 est.)

males age 16-49

25,649,738

Manpower fit for military service

females age 16-49

21,098,102 (2010 est.)

males age 16-49

20,405,847

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually

female

787,341 (2010 est.)

male

847,743

Military branches

People's Armed Forces: People's Army of Vietnam (PAVN; includes Vietnam People's Navy (with Naval Infantry), Vietnam People's Air and Air Defense Force, Border Defense Command, Coast Guard) (2013)

Military expenditures

2.37% of GDP (2012)

2.17% of GDP (2011)

2.37% of GDP (2010)

Military service age and obligation

18-25 years of age for male compulsory and voluntary military service; females may volunteer for active duty military service; conscription typically takes place twice annually and service obligation is 18 months (Army, Air Defense), 2 years (Navy and Air Force); 18-45 years of age (male) or 18-40 years of age (female) for Militia Force or Self Defense Force service; males may enroll in military schools at age 17 (2013)

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; Cambodia accuses Vietnam of a wide variety of illicit cross-border activities; progress on a joint development area with Cambodia is hampered by an unresolved dispute over sovereignty of offshore islands; 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; Brunei claims a maritime boundary extending beyond as far as a median with Vietnam, thus asserting an implicit claim to Lousia Reef; 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; Economic Exclusion Zone negotiations with Indonesia are ongoing, and the two countries in Fall 2011 agreed to work together to reduce illegal fishing along their maritime boundary

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; enforces the death penalty for drug trafficking

Refugees and internally displaced persons

stateless persons

11,000 (2013); note - Vietnam's stateless ethnic Chinese Cambodian population dates to the 1970s when thousands of Cambodians fled to Vietnam to escape the Khmer Rouge and were no longer recognized as Cambodian citizens; Vietnamese women who gave up their citizenship to marry foreign men have found themselves stateless after divorcing and returning home to Vietnam; the government addressed this problem in 2009, and Vietnamese women are beginning to reclaim their citizenship