Vietnam

Location

• Southeastern Asia, bordering the Gulf of Thailand, Gulf of Tonkin, and South China Sea, as well as China, Laos, and Cambodia
• note 1: extending 1,650 km (1,025 mi) north to south, the country is only 50 km (31 mi) across at its narrowest point note 2: Son Doong in Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park is the world's largest cave (greatest cross-sectional area) and is the largest known cave passage in the world by volume at 38.5 million cu m (about 1.35 billion cu ft); it connects to Thoong cave, but not yet officially -- when recognized, it will add an additional 1.6 million cu m; it is so massive that it contains its own jungle, underground river, and localized weather system, with clouds forming inside the cave and spewing from its exits

Population

Notable Population Centers

City	Population	Note
Ho Chi Minh City	14,002,598
Hanoi	8,053,663	Capital
Haiphong	2,625,200
Cần Thơ	1,507,187
Huế	1,380,000
Da Nang	1,276,000
Biên Hòa	1,272,235
Thanh Hóa	850,000
Vinh	790,000
Thuận An	588,616

Size

• 127,243 square miles
• 329,560 square kilometers
• about three times the size of Tennessee; slightly larger than New Mexico

History

Vietnam's early history included periods of occupation by outside forces and eventual power consolidation under Vietnamese dynastic families. A succession of Han Chinese emperors ruled the area, which was centered on the Red River Valley, until approximately the 10th century. The Ly Dynasty (11th-13th century) created the first independent Vietnamese state, which was known as Dai Viet, and established their capital at Thang Long (Hanoi). Under the Tran Dynasty (13th-15th century), TRAN Hung Dao, one of Vietnam’s national heroes, led Dai Viet forces to fight off Mongol invaders in 1279. After a brief Chinese occupation in the early 1400s, Vietnamese resistance leader LE Thai To made himself emperor and established the Le Dynasty, which lasted until the late 18th century despite decades of political turmoil, civil war, and division. During this period, Dai Viet expanded southward to the Central Highlands and Mekong Delta, reaching the approximate boundaries of modern-day Vietnam by the 1750s. Dai Viet suffered additional civil war and division in the latter half of the 18th century, but it was reunited and renamed Vietnam under Emperor NGUYEN Phuc Anh (aka Gia Long) in 1802.France began its conquest of Vietnam in 1858 and made Vietnam part of French Indochina in 1887. Vietnam declared independence after World War II, but the French continued to rule until communist forces under Ho Chi MINH defeated them in 1954. Under the Geneva Accords of 1954, Vietnam was divided into the communist North and anti-communist South. Fighting erupted between the two governments shortly afterwards with the North supporting communist rebels in the South and eventually committing thousands of combat troops. The US provided to the South significant economic and military assistance, including large numbers of US military forces, which reached a peak strength of over 500,000 troops in 1968. US combat 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. The conflict, known as the Second Indochina War (1955-1975), devastated Vietnam, spilled over into the neighboring countries of Cambodia and Laos, and is estimated to have resulted in the deaths of up to 3 million Vietnamese civilians and soldiers. It also caused more than 58,000 US combat and non-combat deaths and created deep domestic divisions in the US. Despite the return of peace, the country experienced little economic growth for over a decade because of its diplomatic isolation, leadership policies, and the persecution and mass exodus of citizens, many of them successful South Vietnamese merchants. However, since the enactment of Vietnam's "doi moi" (renovation) policy in 1986, the economy has seen strong growth, particularly in agricultural and industrial production, construction, exports, foreign investment, and tourism. Nevertheless, the Communist Party maintains tight political and social control of the country, and Vietnam faces many related challenges, such as rising income inequality and corruption.

Climate

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

Terrain

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

Languages

Vietnamese (official); English (often as a second language); some French, Chinese, and Khmer; mountain-area languages (including Mon-Khmer and Malayo-Polynesian)major-language sample(s): Dữ kiện thế giới, là nguồn thông tin cơ bản không thể thiếu. (Vietnamese)The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information.

Religions

Catholic 6.1%, Buddhist 5.8%, Protestant 1%, other 0.8%, none 86.3% (2019 est.)note: most Vietnamese are culturally Buddhist

Government

communist party-led state

• Constitution: history: several previous; latest adopted 28 November 2013, effective 1 January 2014amendment process: proposed by the president, by the National Assembly’s Standing Committee, or 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 vote 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
• Political Parties and Leaders: n/a
• Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
• Legal System: civil law system with European influences
• Executive Branch: chief of state: President Luong CUONG (since 21 Oct 2024)head of government: Prime Minister Pham Minh CHINH (since 26 July 2021)cabinet: Cabinet proposed by the prime minister, confirmed by the National Assembly, and appointed by the presidentelection/appointment process: president indirectly elected by the National Assembly from among its members for a single 5-year term; prime minister recommended by the president and confirmed by the National Assembly; deputy prime ministers appointed by the president and confirmed by the National Assemblynote: in August 2024, To LAM was elected general secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Vietnam, the country’s most powerful position
• 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 upon the recommendation of the president for a 5-year, renewable term; deputy chief justice appointed by the president from among the judges for a 5-year term; judges appointed by the president and confirmed by the National Assembly for 5-year termssubordinate courts: High Courts (administrative, civil, criminal, economic, labor, family, juvenile); provincial courts; district courts; Military Courtnote: the National Assembly Standing Committee can establish special tribunals on the recommendation of the chief justice
• Legislative Branch: legislature name: National Assembly (Quoc-Hoi)legislative structure: unicameralnumber of seats: 500 (all directly elected)electoral system: plurality/majorityscope of elections: full renewalterm in office: 5 yearsmost recent election date: 5/23/2021parties elected and seats per party: Communist Party (485); Other (14)percentage of women in chamber: 31.4%expected date of next election: May 2026

Demographic Profile

n/a

Economy

• lower middle-income socialist East Asian economy; rapid economic growth since Đổi Mới reforms; strong investment and productivity growth; tourism and manufacturing hub; TPP signatory; declining poverty aside from ethnic minorities; systemic corruption
• Budget: revenues: $68.818 billion (2022 est.)expenditures: $83.707 billion (2022 est.)note: central government revenues and expenses (excluding grants/extrabudgetary units/social security funds) converted to US dollars at average official exchange rate for year indicated
• Credit Rating: n/a
• Natural Resources: antimony, phosphates, coal, manganese, rare earth elements, bauxite, chromate, offshore oil and gas deposits, timber, hydropower, arable land
• Industries: food processing, garments, shoes, machine-building; mining, coal, steel; cement, chemical fertilizer, glass, tires, oil, mobile phones
• Agricultural Products: rice, vegetables, sugarcane, cassava, maize, pork, fruits, bananas, coconuts, coffee (2023)note: top ten agricultural products based on tonnage
• Land Use: agricultural land: 39.3% (2022 est.)arable land: 21.5% (2022 est.)permanent crops: 15.7% (2022 est.)permanent pasture: 2% (2022 est.)forest: 47.2% (2022 est.)other: 13.5% (2022 est.)
• Labor Force by Occupation: n/a
• Imports
• Imported Commodities: integrated circuits, broadcasting equipment, fabric, plastics, telephones (2023)note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars
• Import Partners: China 49%, Singapore 6%, Japan 6%, Hong Kong 5%, Taiwan 4% (2023)note: top five import partners based on percentage share of imports
• Exports
• Exported Commodities: broadcasting equipment, garments, integrated circuits, machine parts, footwear (2023)note: top five export commodities based on value in dollars
• Export Partners: USA 28%, China 20%, Japan 6%, Hong Kong 4%, Germany 3% (2023)note: top five export partners based on percentage share of exports