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East & Southeast Asia :: Vietnam

- ## Introduction :: VIETNAM

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military aid to South Vietnam grew through the 1960s in an attempt to bolster the government, but US armed forces were withdrawn following a cease-fire agreement in 1973.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

- ## Geography :: VIETNAM

- Location:
  Southeastern Asia, bordering the Gulf of Thailand, Gulf of Tonkin, and South China Sea, as well as China, Laos, and Cambodia
  Geographic coordinates:
  16 10 N, 107 50 E
  Map references:
  Southeast Asia
  Area:
  total: 331,210 sq km
  land: 310,070 sq km
  water: 21,140 sq km
  country comparison to the world: 66
  Area - comparative:
  slightly larger than New Mexico
  Land boundaries:
  total: 4,616 km
  border countries (3): Cambodia 1,158 km, China 1,297 km, Laos 2,161 km
  Coastline:
  3,444 km (excludes islands)
  Maritime claims:
  territorial sea: 12 nm
  contiguous zone: 24 nm
  exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
  continental shelf: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin
  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
  Elevation extremes:
  lowest point: South China Sea 0 m
  highest point: Fan Si Pan 3,144 m
  Natural resources:
  phosphates, coal, manganese, rare earth elements, bauxite, chromate, offshore oil and gas deposits, timber, hydropower, arable land
  Land use:
  agricultural land: 34.8%
  arable land 20.6%; permanent crops 12.1%; permanent pasture 2.1%
  forest: 45%
  other: 20.2% (2011 est.)
  Irrigated land:
  45,850 sq km (2005)
  Total renewable water resources:
  884.1 cu km (2011)
  Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
  total: 82.03 cu km/yr (1%/4%/95%)
  per capita: 965 cu m/yr (2005)
  Natural hazards:
  occasional typhoons (May to January) with extensive flooding, especially in the Mekong River delta
  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
  Geography - note:
  extending 1,650 km north to south, the country is only 50 km across at its narrowest point

- ## People and Society :: VIETNAM

- Nationality:
  noun: Vietnamese (singular and plural)
  adjective: Vietnamese
  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)
  Languages:
  Vietnamese (official), English (increasingly favored as a second language), some French, Chinese, and Khmer, mountain area languages (Mon-Khmer and Malayo-Polynesian)
  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)
  Population:
  94,348,835 (July 2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 15
  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.)
  population pyramid:
  Dependency ratios:
  total dependency ratio: 42.5%
  youth dependency ratio: 32.9%
  elderly dependency ratio: 9.6%
  potential support ratio: 10.4% (2015 est.)
  Median age:
  total: 29.2 years
  male: 28.1 years
  female: 30.2 years (2014 est.)
  Population growth rate:
  0.97% (2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 119
  Birth rate:
  15.96 births/1,000 population (2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 121
  Death rate:
  5.93 deaths/1,000 population (2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 170
  Net migration rate:
  -0.3 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 128
  Urbanization:
  urban population: 33.6% of total population (2015)
  rate of urbanization: 2.95% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)
  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)
  Sex ratio:
  at birth: 1.11 male(s)/female
  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
  total population: 1 male(s)/female (2015 est.)
  Infant mortality rate:
  total: 18.39 deaths/1,000 live births
  male: 18.75 deaths/1,000 live births
  female: 17.99 deaths/1,000 live births (2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 95
  Life expectancy at birth:
  total population: 73.16 years
  male: 70.69 years
  female: 75.9 years (2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 130
  Total fertility rate:
  1.83 children born/woman (2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 147
  Contraceptive prevalence rate:
  78.1% (2011)
  Health expenditures:
  6% of GDP (2013)
  country comparison to the world: 92
  Physicians density:
  1.19 physicians/1,000 population (2013)
  Hospital bed density:
  2 beds/1,000 population (2010)
  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.)
  Sanitation facility access:
  improved:
  urban: 94.4% of population
  rural: 69.7% of population
  total: 78% of population
  unimproved:
  urban: 5.6% of population
  rural: 30.3% of population
  total: 22% of population (2015 est.)
  HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
  0.4% (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 73
  HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
  248,600 (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 22
  HIV/AIDS - deaths:
  12,100 (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 22
  Major infectious diseases:
  degree of risk: very high
  food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever
  vectorborne diseases: dengue fever, malaria, and Japanese encephalitis
  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)
  Obesity - adult prevalence rate:
  3.5% (2014)
  country comparison to the world: 186
  Children under the age of 5 years underweight:
  12% (2011)
  country comparison to the world: 60
  Education expenditures:
  6.3% of GDP (2012)
  country comparison to the world: 33
  Literacy:
  definition: age 15 and over can read and write
  total population: 94.5%
  male: 96.3%
  female: 92.8% (2015 est.)
  Child labor - children ages 5-14:
  total number: 2,545,616
  percentage: 16% (2006 est.)
  Unemployment, youth ages 15-24:
  total: 5.5%
  male: 4.6%
  female: 6.5% (2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 124

- ## Government :: VIETNAM

- Country name:
  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
  abbreviation: SRV
  Government type:
  Communist state
  Capital:
  name: Hanoi (Ha Noi)
  geographic coordinates: 21 02 N, 105 51 E
  time difference: UTC+7 (12 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
  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, Hai Phong, Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon)
  Independence:
  2 September 1945 (from France)
  National holiday:
  Independence Day, 2 September (1945)
  Constitution:
  several previous; latest adopted 15 April 1992, effective 1 January 1995; amended 2001, 2013 (2014)
  Legal system:
  civil law system; note - the civil code of 2005 reflects a European-style civil law
  International law organization participation:
  has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICCt
  Suffrage:
  18 years of age; universal
  Executive branch:
  chief of state: President Truong Tan SANG (since 25 July 2011); Vice President Nguyen Thi DOAN (since 25 July 2007)
  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)
  cabinet: Cabinet proposed by prime minister, appointed by the president, and confirmed by the National Assembly
  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
  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%
  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)
  elections: last held on 22 May 2011 (next to be held in May 2016)
  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
  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
  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
  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
  Diplomatic representation in the US:
  chief of mission: Ambassador Pham Quang VINH (since 23 February 2015)
  chancery: 1233 20th Street NW, Suite 400, Washington, DC 20036
  telephone: [1] (202) 861-0737
  FAX: [1] (202) 861-0917
  consulate(s) general: Houston, San Francisco
  consulate: New York
  Diplomatic representation from the US:
  chief of mission: Ambassador Ted G. OSIUS III (since 16 December 2014)
  embassy: Rose Garden Building, 170 Ngoc Khanh St., Hanoi
  mailing address: 7 Lang Ha Street, Ba Dinh District, Hanoi; 4550 Hanoi Place, Washington, DC 20521-4550
  telephone: [84] (4) 3850-5000
  FAX: [84] (4) 3850-5010
  consulate(s) general: Ho Chi Minh City
  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
  National symbol(s):
  yellow, five-pointed star on red field; lotus blossom; national colors: red, yellow
  National anthem:
  name: "Tien quan ca" (The Song of the Marching Troops)
  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

- ## Economy :: VIETNAM

- 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.
  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
  country comparison to the world: 37
  GDP (official exchange rate):
  $186 billion (2014 est.)
  GDP - real growth rate:
  6% (2014 est.)
  5.4% (2013 est.)
  5.2% (2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 46
  GDP - per capita (PPP):
  $5,600 (2014 est.)
  $5,300 (2013 est.)
  $5,000 (2012 est.)
  note: data are in 2014 US dollars
  country comparison to the world: 163
  Gross national saving:
  31.1% of GDP (2014 est.)
  32.1% of GDP (2013 est.)
  33.2% of GDP (2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 32
  GDP - composition, by end use:
  household consumption: 66.3%
  government consumption: 6.3%
  investment in fixed capital: 23.7%
  investment in inventories: 2%
  exports of goods and services: 85.1%
  imports of goods and services: -83.4%
  (2014 est.)
  GDP - composition, by sector of origin:
  agriculture: 17.9%
  industry: 38.1%
  services: 44% (2014 est.)
  Agriculture - products:
  rice, coffee, rubber, tea, pepper, soybeans, cashews, sugar cane, peanuts, bananas; poultry; fish, seafood
  Industries:
  food processing, garments, shoes, machine-building; mining, coal, steel; cement, chemical fertilizer, glass, tires, oil, mobile phones
  Industrial production growth rate:
  5.5% (2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 46
  Labor force:
  54.07 million (2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 12
  Labor force - by occupation:
  agriculture: 48%
  industry: 21%
  services: 31% (2012)
  Unemployment rate:
  2.5% (2014 est.)
  3.6% (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 25
  Population below poverty line:
  11.3% (2012 est.)
  Household income or consumption by percentage share:
  lowest 10%: 3.2%
  highest 10%: 30.2% (2008)
  Distribution of family income - Gini index:
  37.6 (2008)
  36.1 (1998)
  country comparison to the world: 77
  Budget:
  revenues: $43.2 billion
  expenditures: $51.91 billion (2014 est.)
  Taxes and other revenues:
  23% of GDP (2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 137
  Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-):
  -4.6% of GDP (2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 154
  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
  country comparison to the world: 80
  Fiscal year:
  calendar year
  Inflation rate (consumer prices):
  4.1% (2014 est.)
  6.6% (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 159
  Central bank discount rate:
  9% (31 December 2012)
  15% (31 December 2011)
  country comparison to the world: 28
  Commercial bank prime lending rate:
  9.5% (31 December 2014 est.)
  10.37% (31 December 2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 90
  Stock of narrow money:
  $52.39 billion (31 December 2014 est.)
  $46.9 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 49
  Stock of broad money:
  $232.7 billion (31 December 2014 est.)
  $198.8 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 38
  Stock of domestic credit:
  $208.8 billion (31 December 2014 est.)
  $183.9 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 41
  Market value of publicly traded shares:
  $38.2 billion (31 December 2011 est.)
  $26 billion (31 December 2011)
  $37 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 57
  Current account balance:
  $10.07 billion (2014 est.)
  $9.471 billion (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 27
  Exports:
  $147 billion (2014 est.)
  $132.1 billion (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 34
  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)
  Imports:
  $138.6 billion (2014 est.)
  $123.4 billion (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 32
  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)
  Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
  $35.7 billion (31 December 2014 est.)
  $26.29 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 49
  Debt - external:
  $68.05 billion (31 December 2014 est.)
  $61.85 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 54
  Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:
  $93.61 billion (31 December 2014 est.)
  $82.61 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 45
  Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:
  $7.7 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
  $5.3 billion (31 December 2008 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 61
  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.)

- ## Energy :: VIETNAM

- Electricity - production:
  117 billion kWh (2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 32
  Electricity - consumption:
  104 billion kWh (2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 32
  Electricity - exports:
  1.073 billion kWh (2011 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 58
  Electricity - imports:
  2.7 billion kWh (2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 52
  Electricity - installed generating capacity:
  26.3 million kW (2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 32
  Electricity - from fossil fuels:
  55% of total installed capacity (2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 145
  Electricity - from nuclear fuels:
  0% of total installed capacity (2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 202
  Electricity - from hydroelectric plants:
  45% of total installed capacity (2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 52
  Electricity - from other renewable sources:
  0.1% of total installed capacity (2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 108
  Crude oil - production:
  349,200 bbl/day (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 32
  Crude oil - exports:
  188,000 bbl/day (2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 31
  Crude oil - imports:
  0 bbl/day (2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 140
  Crude oil - proved reserves:
  4.4 billion bbl (1 January 2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 26
  Refined petroleum products - production:
  112,000 bbl/day (2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 72
  Refined petroleum products - consumption:
  413,000 bbl/day (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 36
  Refined petroleum products - exports:
  37,050 bbl/day (2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 64
  Refined petroleum products - imports:
  184,900 bbl/day (2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 27
  Natural gas - production:
  9.3 billion cu m (2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 44
  Natural gas - consumption:
  8.393 billion cu m (2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 53
  Natural gas - exports:
  0 cu m (2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 204
  Natural gas - imports:
  890 million cu m (2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 62
  Natural gas - proved reserves:
  699.4 billion cu m (1 January 2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 30
  Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy:
  131.7 million Mt (2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 37

- ## Communications :: VIETNAM

- Telephones - fixed lines:
  total subscriptions: 5.56 million
  subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 6 (2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 28
  Telephones - mobile cellular:
  total: 136.1 million
  subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 146 (2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 10
  Telephone system:
  general assessment: Vietnam is putting considerable effort into modernization and expansion of its telecommunication 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
  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)
  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)
  Radio broadcast stations:
  AM 65, FM 7, shortwave 29 (1999)
  Television broadcast stations:
  67 (includes 61 relay, provincial, and city TV stations) (2006)
  Internet country code:
  .vn
  Internet users:
  total: 40.1 million
  percent of population: 43.0% (2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 16

- ## Transportation :: VIETNAM

- Airports:
  45 (2013)
  country comparison to the world: 97
  Airports - with paved runways:
  total: 38
  over 3,047 m: 10
  2,438 to 3,047 m: 6
  1,524 to 2,437 m: 13
  914 to 1,523 m: 9 (2013)
  Airports - with unpaved runways:
  total: 7
  1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
  914 to 1,523 m: 3
  under 914 m:
  3 (2013)
  Heliports:
  1 (2013)
  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)
  Railways:
  total: 2,600 km
  standard gauge: 178 km 1.435-m gauge; 253 km mixed gauge
  narrow gauge: 2,169 km 1.000-m gauge (2014)
  country comparison to the world: 64
  Roadways:
  total: 195,468 km
  paved: 148,338 km
  unpaved: 47,130 km (2013)
  country comparison to the world: 24
  Waterways:
  47,130 km (30,831 km weight under 50 tons) (2011)
  country comparison to the world: 4
  Merchant marine:
  total: 579
  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)
  country comparison to the world: 20
  Ports and terminals:
  major seaport(s): Cam Pha Port, Da Nang, Haiphong, Phu My, Quy Nhon
  river port(s): Ho Chi Minh (Mekong)
  container port(s) (TEUs): Haiphong (1,018,794), Saigon New Port (3,071,777)
  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

- ## Military :: VIETNAM

- 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 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)
  Manpower available for military service:
  males age 16-49: 25,649,738
  females age 16-49: 24,995,692 (2010 est.)
  Manpower fit for military service:
  males age 16-49: 20,405,847
  females age 16-49: 21,098,102 (2010 est.)
  Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
  male: 847,743
  female: 787,341 (2010 est.)
  Military expenditures:
  2.37% of GDP (2012)
  2.17% of GDP (2011)
  2.37% of GDP (2010)
  country comparison to the world: 33

- ## Transnational Issues :: VIETNAM

- 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
  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
  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

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