2018 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military aid to South Vietnam grew through the 1960s in an attempt to bolster the government, but US armed forces were withdrawn following a cease-fire agreement in 1973.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, Hmong 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

about three times the size of Tennessee; 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

elevation extremes

0 m lowest point: South China Sea

mean elevation

398 m

note

3144 highest point: Fan Si Pan

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; air pollution; 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

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

46,000 sq km (2012)

Land Boundaries

border countries (3)

Cambodia 1158 km, China 1297 km, Laos 2161 km

total

4,616 km

Land Use

arable land: 20.6% (2011 est.) / permanent crops: 12.1% (2011 est.) / permanent pasture: 2.1% (2011 est.)

agricultural land

34.8% (2011 est.)

forest

45% (2011 est.)

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

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

Population Distribution

though it has one of the highest population densities in the world, the population is not evenly dispersed; clustering is heaviest along the South China Sea and Gulf of Tonkin, with the Mekong Delta (in the south) and the Red River Valley (in the north) having the largest concentrations of people

Terrain

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

Age Structure

0-14 years

23.27% (male 11,876,141 /female 10,704,895)

15-24 years

15.81% (male 7,967,981 /female 7,371,016)

25-54 years

45.67% (male 22,378,768 /female 21,939,925)

55-64 years

8.9% (male 4,014,622 /female 4,620,177)

65 years and over

6.35% (male 2,404,304 /female 3,762,505) (2018 est.)

Birth Rate

15.2 births/1,000 population (2018 est.)

Children Under The Age Of 5 Years Underweight

14.1% (2015)

Contraceptive Prevalence Rate

75.7% (2015)

Death Rate

5.9 deaths/1,000 population (2018 est.)

Dependency Ratios

elderly dependency ratio

9.6 (2015 est.)

potential support ratio

10.4 (2015 est.)

total dependency ratio

42.5 (2015 est.)

youth dependency ratio

32.9 (2015 est.)

Drinking Water Source

improved: urban: 99.1% of population

rural: 96.9% of population

total: 97.6% of population

unimproved: urban: 0.9% of population

rural: 3.1% of population

total: 2.4% of population (2015 est.)

Education Expenditures

5.7% of GDP (2013)

Ethnic Groups

Kinh (Viet) 85.7%, Tay 1.9%, Thai 1.8%, Muong 1.5%, Khmer 1.5%, Mong 1.2%, Nung 1.1%, Hoa 1%, other 4.3% (2009 est.)

note

54 ethnic groups are recognized by the Vietnamese Government

Health Expenditures

7.1% of GDP (2014)

Hiv Aids Adult Prevalence Rate

0.3% (2017 est.)

Hiv Aids Deaths

8,600 (2017 est.)

Hiv Aids People Living With Hiv Aids

250,000 (2017 est.)

Hospital Bed Density

2.6 beds/1,000 population (2014)

Infant Mortality Rate

female

16.3 deaths/1,000 live births (2018 est.)

male

17.1 deaths/1,000 live births (2018 est.)

total

16.7 deaths/1,000 live births (2018 est.)

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

76.7 years (2018 est.)

male

71.4 years (2018 est.)

total population

73.9 years (2018 est.)

Literacy

definition

age 15 and over can read and write (2015 est.)

female

92.8% (2015 est.)

male

96.3% (2015 est.)

total population

94.5% (2015 est.)

Major Infectious Diseases

degree of risk

very high (2016)

food or waterborne diseases

bacterial diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever (2016)

vectorborne diseases

dengue fever, malaria, and Japanese encephalitis (2016)

Major Urban Areas Population

8.145 million Ho Chi Minh City, 1.444 million Da Nang, 1.219 million Hai Phong, 1.175 million Can Tho, 1.075 million Haiphong, 1.064 million HANOI (capital) (2018)

Maternal Mortality Rate

54 deaths/100,000 live births (2015 est.)

Median Age

female

32.1 years (2018 est.)

male

29.9 years

total

30.9 years

Nationality

adjective

Vietnamese

noun

Vietnamese (singular and plural)

Net Migration Rate

-0.3 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2017 est.)

Obesity Adult Prevalence Rate

2.1% (2016)

Physicians Density

0.82 physicians/1,000 population (2016)

Population

97,040,334 (July 2018 est.)

Population Growth Rate

0.9% (2018 est.)

Religions

Buddhist 7.9%, Catholic 6.6%, Hoa Hao 1.7%, Cao Dai 0.9%, Protestant 0.9%, Muslim 0.1%, none 81.8% (2009 est.)

Sanitation Facility Access

improved: urban: 94.4% of population (2015 est.)

rural: 69.7% of population (2015 est.)

total: 78% of population (2015 est.)

unimproved: urban: 5.6% of population (2015 est.)

rural: 30.3% of population (2015 est.)

total: 22% of population (2015 est.)

Sex Ratio

0-14 years

1.11 male(s)/female (2017 est.)

15-24 years

1.08 male(s)/female (2017 est.)

25-54 years

1.01 male(s)/female (2017 est.)

55-64 years

0.85 male(s)/female (2017 est.)

65 years and over

0.63 male(s)/female (2017 est.)

at birth

1.1 male(s)/female (2017 est.)

total population

1 male(s)/female (2017 est.)

Total Fertility Rate

1.79 children born/woman (2018 est.)

Unemployment Youth Ages 15 24

female

7.2% (2016 est.)

male

7.1% (2016 est.)

total

7.2% (2016 est.)

Urbanization

rate of urbanization

2.98% annual rate of change (2015-20 est.)

urban population

35.9% of total population (2018)

Administrative Divisions

58 provinces (tinh, singular and plural) and 5 municipalities (thanh pho, singular and plural)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; municipalities: Can Tho, Da Nang, Ha Noi (Hanoi), Hai Phong, Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon)

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)

Citizenship

citizenship by birth

no

citizenship by descent only

at least one parent must be a citizen of Vietnam

dual citizenship recognized

no

residency requirement for naturalization

5 years

Constitution

amendments

proposed by the president, by the National Assembly’s Standing Committee, or supported by at least two-thirds of the National Assembly membership; a decision to draft an amendment requires approval by at least a two-thirds majority of the Assembly membership, followed by the formation of a constitutional drafting committee to write a draft and collect citizens’ opinions; passage requires at least two-thirds majority of the Assembly membership; the Assembly can opt to conduct a referendum; amended 2001, 2013 (2018)

history

several previous; latest adopted 15 April 1992, effective 1 January 1995 (2018)

Country Name

abbreviation

SRV

conventional long form

Socialist Republic of Vietnam

conventional short form

Vietnam

etymology

"Viet nam" translates as "Viet south," where "Viet" is an ethnic self identification dating to a second century B.C. kingdom and "nam" refers to its location in relation to other Viet kingdoms

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 Daniel KRITENBRINK (since 6 November 2017)

consulate(s) general

Ho Chi Minh City

embassy

7 Lang Ha Street, Hanoi

FAX

[84] (24) 3850-5010

mailing address

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

telephone

[84] (24) 3850-5000

Diplomatic Representation In The Us

chancery

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

chief of mission

Ambassador Ha Kim NGOC (since 17 September 2018)

consulate(s)

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 Nguyen Phu TRONG (since 23 October 2018); note - President Tran Dai QUANG (since 2 April 2016) died on 21 September 2018

election results

Nguyen Phu TRONG (CPV) elected president; percent of National Assembly vote - 99.8%; Nguyen Xuan PHUC elected prime minister; percent of National Assembly vote - 91%

elections/appointments

president indirectly elected by National Assembly from among its members for a single 5-year term; election last held on 2 April 2016 (next to be held in spring 2021); 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 Xuan PHUC (since 7 April 2016); Deputy Prime Ministers Truong Hoa BINH (since 9 April 2016), Vuong Dinh HUE (since 9 April 2016), Vu Duc DAM (since 13 November 2013), Trinh Dinh DUNG (since 9 April 2016), 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 courts

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 upon 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 - current number following 2016 election - 496; 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 - CPV 95.8%, non-party members 4.2%; seats by party - CPV 473, non-party CPV-approved 19, self-nominated 2; note - 496 candidates elected, 2 CPV candidates-elect were disqualified; composition - men 374, women 122, percent of women 24.6%

elections

last held on 22 May 2016 (next to be held in May 2021)

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 (National 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

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Agriculture Products

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

Budget

expenditures

69.37 billion (2017 est.)

revenues

54.59 billion (2017 est.)

Budget Surplus Or Deficit

-6.7% (of GDP) (2017 est.)

Central Bank Discount Rate

4.25% (7 October 2017)

15% (31 December 2011)

Commercial Bank Prime Lending Rate

7.07% (31 December 2017 est.)

6.96% (31 December 2016 est.)

Current Account Balance

$5.401 billion (2017 est.)

$5.924 billion (2016 est.)

Debt External

$96.58 billion (31 December 2017 est.)

$84.34 billion (31 December 2016 est.)

Distribution Of Family Income Gini Index

34.8 (2014)

37.6 (2008)

Economy Overview

Vietnam is a densely populated developing country that has been transitioning since 1986 from the rigidities of a centrally planned, highly agrarian economy to a more industrial and market based economy, and it has raised incomes substantially. Vietnam exceeded its 2017 GDP growth target of 6.7% with growth of 6.8%, primarily due to unexpected increases in domestic demand, and strong manufacturing exports.Vietnam has a young population, stable political system, commitment to sustainable growth, relatively low inflation, stable currency, strong FDI inflows, and strong manufacturing sector. In addition, the country is committed to continuing its global economic integration. Vietnam joined the WTO in January 2007 and concluded several free trade agreements in 2015-16, including the EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (which the EU has not yet ratified), the Korean Free Trade Agreement, and the Eurasian Economic Union Free Trade Agreement. In 2017, Vietnam successfully chaired the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Conference with its key priorities including inclusive growth, innovation, strengthening small and medium enterprises, food security, and climate change. Seeking to diversify its opportunities, Vietnam also signed the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for the Transpacific Partnership in 2018 and continued to pursue the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership.To continue its trajectory of strong economic growth, the government acknowledges the need to spark a ‘second wave’ of reforms, including reforming state-owned-enterprises, reducing red tape, increasing business sector transparency, reducing the level of non-performing loans in the banking sector, and increasing financial sector transparency. Vietnam’s public debt to GDP ratio is nearing the government mandated ceiling of 65%.In 2016, Vietnam cancelled its civilian nuclear energy development program, citing public concerns about safety and the high cost of the program; it faces growing pressure on energy infrastructure. Overall, the country’s infrastructure fails to meet the needs of an expanding middle class. Vietnam has demonstrated a commitment to sustainable growth over the last several years, but despite the recent speed-up in economic growth the government remains cautious about the risk of external shocks.

Exchange Rates

dong (VND) per US dollar -

22,425 (2017 est.)

22,159 (2016 est.)

22,355 (2015 est.)

21,909 (2014 est.)

21,189 (2013 est.)

Exports

$214.1 billion (2017 est.)

$176.6 billion (2016 est.)

Exports Commodities

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

Exports Partners

US 20.1%, China 14.5%, Japan 8%, South Korea 6.8% (2017)

Fiscal Year

calendar year

Gdp Composition By End Use

exports of goods and services

100% (2017 est.)

government consumption

6.5% (2017 est.)

household consumption

66.9% (2017 est.)

imports of goods and services

-101% (2017 est.)

investment in fixed capital

24.2% (2017 est.)

investment in inventories

2.8% (2017 est.)

Gdp Composition By Sector Of Origin

agriculture

15.3% (2017 est.)

industry

33.3% (2017 est.)

services

51.3% (2017 est.)

Gdp Official Exchange Rate

$220.4 billion (2017 est.) (2017 est.)

Gdp Per Capita Ppp

$6,900 (2017 est.)

$6,600 (2016 est.)

$6,200 (2015 est.)

note

data are in 2017 dollars

Gdp Purchasing Power Parity

$648.7 billion (2017 est.)

$607.4 billion (2016 est.)

$571.9 billion (2015 est.)

note

data are in 2017 dollars

Gdp Real Growth Rate

6.8% (2017 est.)

6.2% (2016 est.)

6.7% (2015 est.)

Gross National Saving

29% of GDP (2017 est.)

29.5% of GDP (2016 est.)

27.5% of GDP (2015 est.)

Household Income Or Consumption By Percentage Share

highest 10%

26.8% (2014)

lowest 10%

26.8% (2014)

Imports

$202.6 billion (2017 est.)

$162.6 billion (2016 est.)

Imports Commodities

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

Imports Partners

China 25.8%, South Korea 20.5%, Japan 7.8%, Thailand 4.9% (2017)

Industrial Production Growth Rate

8% (2017 est.)

Industries

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

Inflation Rate Consumer Prices

3.5% (2017 est.)

2.7% (2016 est.)

Labor Force

54.8 million (2017 est.)

Labor Force By Occupation

agriculture

40.3%

industry

25.7%

services

34% (2017)

Market Value Of Publicly Traded Shares

$156.7 billion (29 December 2017 est.)

$87.95 billion (31 December 2016 est.)

$52.39 billion (31 December 2015 est.)

Population Below Poverty Line

8% (2017 est.)

Public Debt

58.5% of GDP (2017 est.)

59.9% of GDP (2016 est.)

note

official data; data cover general government debt and include 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 intragovernmental debt; intragovernmental 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

$49.5 billion (31 December 2017 est.)

$36.91 billion (31 December 2016 est.)

Stock Of Broad Money

$85.96 billion (31 December 2017 est.)

$73.48 billion (31 December 2016 est.)

Stock Of Direct Foreign Investment Abroad

$19.75 billion (31 December 2015 est.)

$18.97 billion (31 December 2014 est.)

Stock Of Direct Foreign Investment At Home

$129.5 billion (31 December 2017 est.)

$293.2 billion (31 December 2016 est.)

Stock Of Domestic Credit

$313 billion (31 December 2017 est.)

$277.3 billion (31 December 2016 est.)

Stock Of Narrow Money

$85.96 billion (31 December 2017 est.)

$73.48 billion (31 December 2016 est.)

Taxes And Other Revenues

24.8% (of GDP) (2017 est.)

Unemployment Rate

2.2% (2017 est.)

2.3% (2016 est.)

Carbon Dioxide Emissions From Consumption Of Energy

235.3 million Mt (2017 est.)

Crude Oil Exports

324,600 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Crude Oil Imports

0 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Crude Oil Production

271,400 bbl/day (2017 est.)

Crude Oil Proved Reserves

4.4 billion bbl (1 January 2018 est.)

Electricity Access

electrification - rural areas

98% (2013)

electrification - total population

99% (2013)

electrification - urban areas

100% (2013)

population without electricity

2.6 million (2013)

Electricity Consumption

143.2 billion kWh (2016 est.)

Electricity Exports

713 million kWh (2017 est.)

Electricity From Fossil Fuels

56% of total installed capacity (2016 est.)

Electricity From Hydroelectric Plants

43% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)

Electricity From Nuclear Fuels

0% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)

Electricity From Other Renewable Sources

1% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)

Electricity Imports

2.733 billion kWh (2016 est.)

Electricity Installed Generating Capacity

40.77 million kW (2016 est.)

Electricity Production

158.2 billion kWh (2016 est.)

Natural Gas Consumption

8.098 billion cu m (2017 est.)

Natural Gas Exports

0 cu m (2017 est.)

Natural Gas Imports

0 cu m (2017 est.)

Natural Gas Production

8.098 billion cu m (2017 est.)

Natural Gas Proved Reserves

699.4 billion cu m (1 January 2018 est.)

Refined Petroleum Products Consumption

438,000 bbl/day (2016 est.)

Refined Petroleum Products Exports

25,620 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Refined Petroleum Products Imports

282,800 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Refined Petroleum Products Production

153,800 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Broadband Fixed Subscriptions

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

12 (2017 est.)

total

11,269,936 (2017 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 several channels with 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 several channels and is repeated on AM, FM, and shortwave stations throughout Vietnam (2018)

Internet Country Code

.vn

Internet Users

percent of population

52.7% (July 2016 est.)

total

49.741 million (July 2016 est.)

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 (2016)

general assessment

Vietnam is putting considerable effort into modernization and expansion of its telecommunication system (2016)

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) (2016)

Telephones Fixed Lines

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

5 (2017 est.)

total subscriptions

4,526,077 (2017 est.)

Telephones Mobile Cellular

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

125 (2017 est.)

total subscriptions

120,016,181 (2017 est.)

Airports

45 (2013)

Airports With Paved Runways

1,524 to 2,437 m

13 (2013)

2,438 to 3,047 m

6 (2013)

914 to 1,523 m

9 (2013)

over 3,047 m

10 (2013)

total

38 (2013)

Airports With Unpaved Runways

1,524 to 2,437 m

1 (2013)

914 to 1,523 m

3 (2013)

total

7 (2013)

under 914 m

3 (2013)

Civil Aircraft Registration Country Code Prefix

VN (2016)

Heliports

1 (2013)

Merchant Marine

by type

bulk carrier 81, container ship 34, general cargo 1259, oil tanker 109, other 335 (2017)

total

1,818 (2017)

National Air Transport System

annual freight traffic on registered air carriers

384,470,240 mt-km (2015)

annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers

29,944,771 (2015)

inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers

140 (2015)

number of registered air carriers

4 (2015)

Pipelines

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

Ports And Terminals

container port(s) (TEUs)

Saigon (5,986,747) (2016)

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 (2014)

total

2,600 km (2014)

Roadways

paved

148,338 km (2013)

total

195,468 km (2013)

unpaved

47,130 km (2013)

Waterways

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

Maritime Threats

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; the number of reported incidents declined from nine in 2016 to two in 2017, primarily near the port of Vung Tau

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

2.44% of GDP (2016)

2.36% of GDP (2015)

2.29% of GDP (2014)

2.18% of GDP (2013)

2.16% of GDP (2012)

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 fluCambodia and Laos protest Vietnamese squatters and armed encroachments along borderCambodia accuses Vietnam of a wide variety of illicit cross-border activitiesprogress on a joint development area with Cambodia is hampered by an unresolved dispute over sovereignty of offshore islandsan estimated 300,000 Vietnamese refugees reside in Chinaestablishment of a maritime boundary with Cambodia is hampered by unresolved dispute over the sovereignty of offshore islandsthe decade-long demarcation of the China-Vietnam land boundary was completed in 2009China occupies the Paracel Islands also claimed by Vietnam and TaiwanBrunei claims a maritime boundary extending beyond as far as a median with Vietnam, thus asserting an implicit claim to Lousia Reefthe 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 disputantsVietnam continues to expand construction of facilities in the Spratly Islandsin March 2005, the national oil companies of China, the Philippines, and Vietnam signed a joint accord to conduct marine seismic activities in the Spratly IslandsEconomic 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

29,522 (2017); 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