# Library

# Main Content

East Asia/Southeast Asia :: Vietnam Print
Page last updated on December 31, 2018
The World Factbook Country/Location Flag Modal
East Asia/Southeast Asia :: Vietnam Print
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
The World Factbook Country/Location Locator Map Modal
East Asia/Southeast Asia :: Vietnam Print
The World Factbook Country/Location Photo Gallery Modal
East Asia/Southeast Asia :: Vietnam
1 / 61
Caption
This low-oblique photograph shows the lower Mekong River and its vast delta. Rising on the Plateau of Tibet, the Mekong flows generally southeast for 4,160 km (2,600 mi) and empties into the South China Sea through the large delta. The vast, swampy delta, crisscrossed by many channels and canals, is one of the greatest rice-growing regions of Asia. Barely discernible northeast of the delta is Ho Chi Minh City, formerly Saigon. Point Cau Mau, the southern tip of Vietnam, is visible southeast of the delta. Image courtesy of NASA.
Dimensions
File Size
Download
639x639
54.3 KB
Download
Usage
Factbook photos - obtained from a variety of sources - are in the public domain and are copyright free.
Agency Copyright Notice
2 / 61
Caption
View of Ho Chi Minh City (aka Saigon) from the Saigon River. Saigon is Vietnam's major port and, with 8 million inhabitants, its largest city. It was called Saigon until 1975 when it was renamed Ho Chi Minh City following its capture by North Vietnamese communist forces. Although the city's commercial core is officially called Saigon, the entire city is widely referred to as Saigon even in the North. The city was architecturally influenced by the French during their colonial occupation of Vietnam. Numerous classical Western-style building in the city reflect this, so much so that Saigon was referred to as "The Pearl of the Far East" or "Paris in the Orient." In more recent years, a building boom has transformed the skyline of the city.
Dimensions
File Size
Download
1500x1113
184 KB
Download
Usage
Factbook photos - obtained from a variety of sources - are in the public domain and are copyright free.
Agency Copyright Notice
3 / 61
Caption
View of Ho Chi Minh City (aka Saigon) from the Saigon River. Saigon is Vietnam's major port and, with 8 million inhabitants, its largest city. It was called Saigon until 1975 when it was renamed Ho Chi Minh City following its capture by North Vietnamese communist forces. Although the city's commercial core is officially called Saigon, the entire city is widely referred to as Saigon even in the North. The city was architecturally influenced by the French during their colonial occupation of Vietnam. Numerous classical Western-style building in the city reflect this, so much so that Saigon was referred to as "The Pearl of the Far East" or "Paris in the Orient." In more recent years, a building boom has transformed the skyline of the city.
Dimensions
File Size
Download
1500x1110
194 KB
Download
Usage
Factbook photos - obtained from a variety of sources - are in the public domain and are copyright free.
Agency Copyright Notice
4 / 61
Caption
View of Ho Chi Minh City (aka Saigon) from the Saigon River. Saigon is Vietnam's major port and, with 8 million inhabitants, its largest city. It was called Saigon until 1975 when it was renamed Ho Chi Minh City following its capture by North Vietnamese communist forces. Although the city's commercial core is officially called Saigon, the entire city is widely referred to as Saigon even in the North. The city was architecturally influenced by the French during their colonial occupation of Vietnam. Numerous classical Western-style building in the city reflect this, so much so that Saigon was referred to as "The Pearl of the Far East" or "Paris in the Orient." In more recent years, a building boom has transformed the skyline of the city.
Dimensions
File Size
Download
1500x1095
161 KB
Download
Usage
Factbook photos - obtained from a variety of sources - are in the public domain and are copyright free.
Agency Copyright Notice
5 / 61
Caption
A small flotilla of boats on the Saigon River, which serves as the main water source for the port of Saigon.
Dimensions
File Size
Download
1500x1125
80.1 KB
Download
Usage
Factbook photos - obtained from a variety of sources - are in the public domain and are copyright free.
Agency Copyright Notice
6 / 61
Caption
Notre Dame Cathedral in Saigon (Ho Chi Minh City) was built by French colonists from 1877 to 1880. The neo-Romanesque structure was constructed using stained-glass windows imported from Chartres and bricks from Marseilles. Masses are conducted in Vietnamese and English.
Dimensions
File Size
Download
1125x1500
241 KB
Download
Usage
Factbook photos - obtained from a variety of sources - are in the public domain and are copyright free.
Agency Copyright Notice
7 / 61
Caption
The Central Post Office in Saigon (Ho Chi Minh City) was built between 1886 and 1891 and is one of the oldest buildings in the city. Designed by Gustave Eiffel, it is still in operation.
Dimensions
File Size
Download
1500x1125
260 KB
Download
Usage
Factbook photos - obtained from a variety of sources - are in the public domain and are copyright free.
Agency Copyright Notice
8 / 61
Caption
The Central Post Office in Saigon (Ho Chi Minh City) was built between 1886 and 1891 and is one of the oldest buildings in the city. Designed by Gustave Eiffel, it is still in operation. The interior has remained essentially untouched since its construction.
Dimensions
File Size
Download
1500x1112
244 KB
Download
Usage
Factbook photos - obtained from a variety of sources - are in the public domain and are copyright free.
Agency Copyright Notice
9 / 61
Caption
The Central Post Office in Saigon (Ho Chi Minh City) was built between 1886 and 1891 and is one of the oldest buildings in the city. Designed by Gustave Eiffel, it is still in operation.
Dimensions
File Size
Download
1500x1125
318 KB
Download
Usage
Factbook photos - obtained from a variety of sources - are in the public domain and are copyright free.
Agency Copyright Notice
10 / 61
Caption
Reunification Palace in Saigon (Ho Chi Minh City). The palace was built between 1962 and 1966 on the site of the former Norodom Palace. It was the official headquarters and residence of the president of South Vietnam. The building was captured by North Vietnamese forces on 30 April 1975 and is now a museum with exhibits frozen in time from 1975.
Dimensions
File Size
Download
1500x1125
202 KB
Download
Usage
Factbook photos - obtained from a variety of sources - are in the public domain and are copyright free.
Agency Copyright Notice
11 / 61
Caption
Reception room in the Reunification Palace in Saigon (Ho Chi Minh City). The palace was built between 1962 and 1966 on the site of the former Norodom Palace. It was the official headquarters and residence of the president of South Vietnam. The building was captured by North Vietnamese forces on 30 April 1975 and is now a museum with exhibits frozen in time from 1975.
Dimensions
File Size
Download
1500x1125
162 KB
Download
Usage
Factbook photos - obtained from a variety of sources - are in the public domain and are copyright free.
Agency Copyright Notice
12 / 61
Caption
City Hall in Saigon (Ho Chi Minh City) was built in French colonial style between 1898 and 1908. Officially known as the Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee Building, the lovely structure is a working government building and is not open to the public.
Dimensions
File Size
Download
1500x1104
255 KB
Download
Usage
Factbook photos - obtained from a variety of sources - are in the public domain and are copyright free.
Agency Copyright Notice
13 / 61
Caption
Statue of Ho Chi Minh reading to a child in front of the City Hall in Saigon (Ho Chi Minh City). Built by the French between 1898 and 1908, the beautifully ornamented structure is officially known as the Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee Building and is not open to the public.
Dimensions
File Size
Download
1500x1125
181 KB
Download
Usage
Factbook photos - obtained from a variety of sources - are in the public domain and are copyright free.
Agency Copyright Notice
14 / 61
Caption
The Municipal Theater in Saigon (Ho Chi Minh City) is also known as the Saigon Opera House. Built in 1897, it is a fine example of French colonial architecture. The building was used as the home of the Lower House of the Assembly of South Vietnam from 1956 to 1975. It functioned as a theater after that date and was restored in 1995.
Dimensions
File Size
Download
1500x1125
196 KB
Download
Usage
Factbook photos - obtained from a variety of sources - are in the public domain and are copyright free.
Agency Copyright Notice
15 / 61
Caption
The Hotel Continental in Saigon (Ho Chi Minh City) dates to 1880 and the French colonial period. During the Vietnam War, it became popular with journalists and US military personnel. The hotel closed in 1976 and reopened in 1986; it was refurbished during 1998-99.
Dimensions
File Size
Download
1500x1125
248 KB
Download
Usage
Factbook photos - obtained from a variety of sources - are in the public domain and are copyright free.
Agency Copyright Notice
16 / 61
Caption
The Rex Hotel in Saigon (Ho Chi Minh City) was built in 1927 as a two-story auto dealership and garage complex. The building was renovated from 1959 to 1975 into a 100-room hotel with three movie theaters, a cafeteria, dance hall, and library. The hotel was made famous during the Vietnam War when it hosted the American military command's daily press conference dubbed by skeptical journalists as the "Five o'clock Follies." The rooftop bar was a well-known gathering spot for military officials and war correspondents.
Dimensions
File Size
Download
1500x1125
201 KB
Download
Usage
Factbook photos - obtained from a variety of sources - are in the public domain and are copyright free.
Agency Copyright Notice
17 / 61
Caption
Typical market in Saigon (Ho Chi Minh City), the buildings in the background are from the French colonial era.
Dimensions
File Size
Download
1500x1125
213 KB
Download
Usage
Factbook photos - obtained from a variety of sources - are in the public domain and are copyright free.
Agency Copyright Notice
18 / 61
Caption
The Giac Lam Pagoda in Saigon (Ho Chi Minh City) was built in 1774; it is a unique temple where Taoism and Confucianism merge with Buddhism. The pagoda compound includes ornate tombs, a rare bodhi tree, and a statue of Quan The Am Bo That, the Goddess of Mercy.
Dimensions
File Size
Download
1500x1125
376 KB
Download
Usage
Factbook photos - obtained from a variety of sources - are in the public domain and are copyright free.
Agency Copyright Notice
19 / 61
Caption
The Giac Lam Pagoda in Saigon (Ho Chi Minh City) was built in 1774; it is a unique temple where Taoism and Confucianism merge with Buddhism. The pagoda compound includes ornate tombs, a rare bodhi tree, and a statue of Quan The Am Bo That, the Goddess of Mercy.
Dimensions
File Size
Download
1500x1125
222 KB
Download
Usage
Factbook photos - obtained from a variety of sources - are in the public domain and are copyright free.
Agency Copyright Notice
20 / 61
Caption
The Giac Lam Pagoda in Saigon (Ho Chi Minh City) was built in 1774; it is a unique temple where Taoism and Confucianism merge with Buddhism. The pagoda compound includes ornate tombs, a rare bodhi tree, and a statue of Quan The Am Bo That, the Goddess of Mercy.
Dimensions
File Size
Download
1125x1500
274 KB
Download
Usage
Factbook photos - obtained from a variety of sources - are in the public domain and are copyright free.
Agency Copyright Notice
21 / 61
Caption
The Giac Lam Pagoda in Saigon (Ho Chi Minh City) was built in 1774; it is a unique temple where Taoism and Confucianism merge with Buddhism. The pagoda compound includes ornate tombs, a rare bodhi tree, and a statue of Quan The Am Bo That, the Goddess of Mercy.
Dimensions
File Size
Download
1500x1125
213 KB
Download
Usage
Factbook photos - obtained from a variety of sources - are in the public domain and are copyright free.
Agency Copyright Notice
22 / 61
Caption
Vinh Trang Pagoda near the city of My Tho. Known of the "Gateway to the Mekong Delta," My Tho, with a population in excess of 200,000, lies on the My Tho River, a branch of the Mekong River, 70 km (45 mi) south of Saigon (Ho Chi Minh City). First completed in 1851, the Vinh Trang temple has been reconstructed a number of times.
Dimensions
File Size
Download
1500x1122
360 KB
Download
Usage
Factbook photos - obtained from a variety of sources - are in the public domain and are copyright free.
Agency Copyright Notice
23 / 61
Caption
Laughing Buddha at the Vinh Trang Pagoda near the city of My Tho. First completed in 1851, the Vinh Trang temple has been reconstructed a number of times.
Dimensions
File Size
Download
1500x1125
215 KB
Download
Usage
Factbook photos - obtained from a variety of sources - are in the public domain and are copyright free.
Agency Copyright Notice
24 / 61
Caption
Reclining Buddha at Vinh Trang Pagoda near the city of My Tho. First completed in 1851, the Vinh Trang temple has been reconstructed a number of times.
Dimensions
File Size
Download
1500x1090
231 KB
Download
Usage
Factbook photos - obtained from a variety of sources - are in the public domain and are copyright free.
Agency Copyright Notice
25 / 61
Caption
Shrine in the interior of the Vinh Trang Pagoda near the city of My Tho. Known of the "Gateway to the Mekong Delta," My Tho lies on the My Tho River, a branch of the Mekong River, 70 km (45 mi) south of Saigon (Ho Chi Minh City). First completed in 1851, the Vinh Trang temple has been reconstructed a number of times.
Dimensions
File Size
Download
1500x1099
250 KB
Download
Usage
Factbook photos - obtained from a variety of sources - are in the public domain and are copyright free.
Agency Copyright Notice
26 / 61
Caption
Shrine in the interior of the Vinh Trang Pagoda near the city of My Tho. Known of the "Gateway to the Mekong Delta," My Tho lies on the My Tho River, a branch of the Mekong River, 70 km (45 mi) south of Saigon (Ho Chi Minh City). First completed in 1851, the Vinh Trang temple has been reconstructed a number of times.
Dimensions
File Size
Download
1500x1098
254 KB
Download
Usage
Factbook photos - obtained from a variety of sources - are in the public domain and are copyright free.
Agency Copyright Notice
27 / 61
Caption
Canal ride on Thoi San Island (Unicorn Island) on the My Tho River near the city of My Tho. The My Tho River is a branch of the Mekong River.
Dimensions
File Size
Download
1500x1125
301 KB
Download
Usage
Factbook photos - obtained from a variety of sources - are in the public domain and are copyright free.
Agency Copyright Notice
28 / 61
Caption
Flag tower in Hue, the former imperial capital of Vietnam. Located on the Perfume River in central Vietnam, Hue was the capital of Vietnam from 1802 until 1945. A walled citadel, 2 km by 2 km, as well as a moat, surrounded the city. Inside the citadel was the Imperial City. Many of the buildings of the Imperial City were destroyed during the Vietnam War. Some reconstruction has begun.
Dimensions
File Size
Download
1500x1108
134 KB
Download
Usage
Factbook photos - obtained from a variety of sources - are in the public domain and are copyright free.
Agency Copyright Notice
29 / 61
Caption
Main gates of the former Imperial City of Hue. Located on the Perfume River in central Vietnam, Hue was the capital of Vietnam from 1802 until 1945. A walled citadel, 2 km by 2 km, as well as a moat, surrounded the city. Inside the citadel was the Imperial City. Many of the buildings of the Imperial City were destroyed during the Vietnam War. Some reconstruction has begun.
Dimensions
File Size
Download
1500x1125
233 KB
Download
Usage
Factbook photos - obtained from a variety of sources - are in the public domain and are copyright free.
Agency Copyright Notice
30 / 61
Caption
Figure on the grounds of the former Imperial City in Hue. Located on the Perfume River in central Vietnam, Hue was the capital of Vietnam from 1802 until 1945. A walled citadel, 2 km by 2 km, as well as a moat, surrounded the city. Inside the citadel was the Imperial City. Many of the buildings of the Imperial City were destroyed during the Vietnam War. Some reconstruction has begun.
Dimensions
File Size
Download
1500x1125
197 KB
Download
Usage
Factbook photos - obtained from a variety of sources - are in the public domain and are copyright free.
Agency Copyright Notice
31 / 61
Caption
Pavilion on the grounds of the former Imperial City in Hue. Located on the Perfume River in central Vietnam, Hue was the capital of Vietnam from 1802 until 1945. A walled citadel, 2 km by 2 km, as well as a moat, surrounded the city. Inside the citadel was the Imperial City. Many of the buildings of the Imperial City were destroyed during the Vietnam War. Some reconstruction has begun.
Dimensions
File Size
Download
1500x1125
245 KB
Download
Usage
Factbook photos - obtained from a variety of sources - are in the public domain and are copyright free.
Agency Copyright Notice
32 / 61
Caption
Gate leaving the grounds of the former Imperial City in Hue. Located on the Perfume River in central Vietnam, Hue was the capital of Vietnam from 1802 until 1945. A walled citadel, 2 km by 2 km, as well as a moat, surrounded the city. Inside the citadel was the Imperial City. Many of the buildings of the Imperial City were destroyed during the Vietnam War. Some reconstruction has begun.
Dimensions
File Size
Download
1500x1111
400 KB
Download
Usage
Factbook photos - obtained from a variety of sources - are in the public domain and are copyright free.
Agency Copyright Notice
33 / 61
Caption
Thien Mu Pagoda is a historic temple in the city of Hue. Its Tu Nhan Tower (now Phuroc Duyen Tower) was built in 1844 with seven storeys and is the tallest in Vietnam (21 m; 69 ft). Each of the seven storeys is dedicated to a different Buddha. The pagoda, about 3 km (2 mi) from the citadel in Hue on the northern bank of the Perfume River, is often regarded as the unofficial symbol of the city. The first temple on the site was built in 1601.
Dimensions
File Size
Download
1125x1500
394 KB
Download
Usage
Factbook photos - obtained from a variety of sources - are in the public domain and are copyright free.
Agency Copyright Notice
34 / 61
Caption
A figure at the Thien Mu Pagoda in the city of Hue.
Dimensions
File Size
Download
1500x1119
125 KB
Download
Usage
Factbook photos - obtained from a variety of sources - are in the public domain and are copyright free.
Agency Copyright Notice
35 / 61
Caption
A figure at the Thien Mu Pagoda in the city of Hue.
Dimensions
File Size
Download
1500x1125
113 KB
Download
Usage
Factbook photos - obtained from a variety of sources - are in the public domain and are copyright free.
Agency Copyright Notice
36 / 61
Caption
The Xung Khiem Pavilion on Luu Khiem Lake at the Emperor Tu Doc Tomb in Hue. Tu Doc ruled Vietnam from 1848 to 1883; his tomb complex was built between 1864-67. Tu Doc lived at the luxurious complex after its construction along with his 100 wives and concubines.
Dimensions
File Size
Download
1500x1125
303 KB
Download
Usage
Factbook photos - obtained from a variety of sources - are in the public domain and are copyright free.
Agency Copyright Notice
37 / 61
Caption
The Khiem Cung Gate at the Emperor Tu Doc Tomb in Hue. Tu Doc ruled Vietnam from 1848 to 1883; his tomb complex was built between 1864-67. Tu Doc lived at the luxurious complex after its construction along with his 100 wives and concubines.
Dimensions
File Size
Download
1500x1125
189 KB
Download
Usage
Factbook photos - obtained from a variety of sources - are in the public domain and are copyright free.
Agency Copyright Notice
38 / 61
Caption
Stele in the pavilion just to the east of Emperor Tu Doc's Tomb in Hue. The stele bears Tu Doc's epitaph, which he composed himself because he never had a son. The stele is the largest of its type in Vietnam.
Dimensions
File Size
Download
1125x1500
330 KB
Download
Usage
Factbook photos - obtained from a variety of sources - are in the public domain and are copyright free.
Agency Copyright Notice
39 / 61
Caption
The Stele Pavilion is one of many structures comprising the imperial tomb of Emperor Tu Duc (reigned 1847-1883). Located approximately (8 km; 5 mi) from the former imperial capital of Hue, it contains a large stone tablet (stele) inscribed with the deeds of the emperor.
Dimensions
File Size
Download
1500x1064
335 KB
Download
Usage
Factbook photos - obtained from a variety of sources - are in the public domain and are copyright free.
Agency Copyright Notice
40 / 61
Caption
The Stele Pavilion outside the sepulchre of the Emperor Tu Doc in Hue.
Dimensions
File Size
Download
1500x1192
268 KB
Download
Usage
Factbook photos - obtained from a variety of sources - are in the public domain and are copyright free.
Agency Copyright Notice
41 / 61
Caption
Wall hiding the sepulchre of the Emperor Tu Doc in Hue.
Dimensions
File Size
Download
1500x1114
291 KB
Download
Usage
Factbook photos - obtained from a variety of sources - are in the public domain and are copyright free.
Agency Copyright Notice
42 / 61
Caption
False sepulchre at the Tomb of the Emperor Tu Doc in Hue. The actual remains of the emperor were buried at a secret site - still undiscovered - somewhere else in Hue.
Dimensions
File Size
Download
1500x1125
299 KB
Download
Usage
Factbook photos - obtained from a variety of sources - are in the public domain and are copyright free.
Agency Copyright Notice
43 / 61
Caption
The Cao Dai Temple, located in Tay Ninh.
Dimensions
File Size
Download
1067x1500
206 KB
Download
Usage
Factbook photos - obtained from a variety of sources - are in the public domain and are copyright free.
Agency Copyright Notice
44 / 61
Caption
Fishing boats along the coast of the South China Sea in Vinh Moc.
Dimensions
File Size
Download
1500x977
300 KB
Download
Usage
Factbook photos - obtained from a variety of sources - are in the public domain and are copyright free.
Agency Copyright Notice
45 / 61
Caption
Ha Long Bay in northern Vietnam near the border with China and 170 km east of Hanoi. The bay, which is a World Heritage site, has 1,969 monolithic limestone islands rising from the water many topped with vegetation.
Dimensions
File Size
Download
1500x1125
95.7 KB
Download
Usage
Factbook photos - obtained from a variety of sources - are in the public domain and are copyright free.
Agency Copyright Notice
46 / 61
Caption
A few of the many limestone monolithic islands in Halong Bay.
Dimensions
File Size
Download
1500x1051
127 KB
Download
Usage
Factbook photos - obtained from a variety of sources - are in the public domain and are copyright free.
Agency Copyright Notice
47 / 61
Caption
Limestone islands in Ha Long Bay in northern Vietnam. Many islands have acquired names because of their unusual shapes. These are called "Fighting Cock" islands.
Dimensions
File Size
Download
1500x1125
71.5 KB
Download
Usage
Factbook photos - obtained from a variety of sources - are in the public domain and are copyright free.
Agency Copyright Notice
48 / 61
Caption
Ba Dinh Square in front of Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum in Hanoi.
Dimensions
File Size
Download
1500x1125
120 KB
Download
Usage
Factbook photos - obtained from a variety of sources - are in the public domain and are copyright free.
Agency Copyright Notice
49 / 61
Caption
The Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum on Ba Dinh Square in Hanoi. Completed in 1975, it contains the embalmed body of Ho Chi Minh.
Dimensions
File Size
Download
1500x1125
136 KB
Download
Usage
Factbook photos - obtained from a variety of sources - are in the public domain and are copyright free.
Agency Copyright Notice
50 / 61
Caption
The Mausoleum of Ho Chi Minh in Hanoi.
Dimensions
File Size
Download
1500x1066
215 KB
Download
Usage
Factbook photos - obtained from a variety of sources - are in the public domain and are copyright free.
Agency Copyright Notice
51 / 61
Caption
Outdoor office used by Ho Chi Minh, on display in the Presidential Palace area near Ba Dinh Square in Hanoi.
Dimensions
File Size
Download
1500x1125
300 KB
Download
Usage
Factbook photos - obtained from a variety of sources - are in the public domain and are copyright free.
Agency Copyright Notice
52 / 61
Caption
A portion of the outdoor office used by Ho Chi Minh on display in the Presidential Palace area near Ba Dinh Square in Hanoi.
Dimensions
File Size
Download
1500x1125
153 KB
Download
Usage
Factbook photos - obtained from a variety of sources - are in the public domain and are copyright free.
Agency Copyright Notice
53 / 61
Caption
Meeting room in the outdoor office used by Ho Chi Minh on display in the Presidential Palace area near Ba Dinh Square in Hanoi. The soldier on the right is a member of the National Guard Force, which was founded by Ho Chi Minh in 1953.
Dimensions
File Size
Download
1500x1114
210 KB
Download
Usage
Factbook photos - obtained from a variety of sources - are in the public domain and are copyright free.
Agency Copyright Notice
54 / 61
Caption
The Presidential Palace in Hanoi.
Dimensions
File Size
Download
1500x1045
256 KB
Download
Usage
Factbook photos - obtained from a variety of sources - are in the public domain and are copyright free.
Agency Copyright Notice
55 / 61
Caption
Gateway to the Temple of Literature in Hanoi. The temple was built in 1070 by Emperor Ly Thanh Tong in honor of the Chinese philosopher Confucius.
Dimensions
File Size
Download
1500x1051
319 KB
Download
Usage
Factbook photos - obtained from a variety of sources - are in the public domain and are copyright free.
Agency Copyright Notice
56 / 61
Caption
Buddha in the Temple of Literature in Hanoi. The temple was built in 1070 by Emperor Ly Thanh Tong in honor of the Chinese philosopher Confucius.
Dimensions
File Size
Download
1500x1125
194 KB
Download
Usage
Factbook photos - obtained from a variety of sources - are in the public domain and are copyright free.
Agency Copyright Notice
57 / 61
Caption
Buddha in the Temple of Literature in Hanoi. The temple was built in 1070 by Emperor Ly Thanh Tong in honor of the Chinese philosopher Confucius.
Dimensions
File Size
Download
1500x1125
227 KB
Download
Usage
Factbook photos - obtained from a variety of sources - are in the public domain and are copyright free.
Agency Copyright Notice
58 / 61
Caption
Entrance to the Maison Centrale or Central Prison in Hanoi. Built by the French beginning in 1886, it was used to imprison Vietnamese political prisoners and later by the Vietnamese to hold mostly US pilots during the Vietnamese War. It was referred to sarcastically as the "Hanoi Hilton" by US POWs and later in the US press. The prison was torn down in the mid-1990s and only the Gate House remains.
Dimensions
File Size
Download
1500x1125
211 KB
Download
Usage
Factbook photos - obtained from a variety of sources - are in the public domain and are copyright free.
Agency Copyright Notice
59 / 61
Caption
Exhibit showing how political prisoners were punished in the Maison Centrale or Central Prison in Hanoi. Built by the French beginning in 1886, it was used to imprison Vietnamese political prisoners and later by the Vietnamese to hold mostly US pilots during the Vietnamese War. It was referred to sarcastically as the "Hanoi Hilton" by US POWs and later in the US press. The prison was torn down in the mid-1990s and only the Gate House remains.
Dimensions
File Size
Download
1500x1125
133 KB
Download
Usage
Factbook photos - obtained from a variety of sources - are in the public domain and are copyright free.
Agency Copyright Notice
60 / 61
Caption
Guillotine used to execute prisoners in the Maison Centrale or Central Prison in Hanoi. Built by the French beginning in 1886, it was used to imprison Vietnamese political prisoners and later by the Vietnamese to hold mostly US pilots during the Vietnamese War. It was referred to sarcastically as the "Hanoi Hilton" by US POWs and later in the US press. The prison was torn down in the mid-1990s and only the Gate House remains.
Dimensions
File Size
Download
1125x1500
119 KB
Download
Usage
Factbook photos - obtained from a variety of sources - are in the public domain and are copyright free.
Agency Copyright Notice
61 / 61
Caption
Footbridge over Hoan Kiem Lake in the center of Hanoi.
Dimensions
File Size
Download
1500x1125
156 KB
Download
Usage
Factbook photos - obtained from a variety of sources - are in the public domain and are copyright free.
Agency Copyright Notice
Previous Next

- Introduction :: Vietnam
- Background: This entry usually highlights major historic events and current issues and may include a statement about one or two key future trends.
  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.
- Geography :: Vietnam
- Location: This entry identifies the country's regional location, neighboring countries, and adjacent bodies of water.
  Southeastern Asia, bordering the Gulf of Thailand, Gulf of Tonkin, and South China Sea, as well as China, Laos, and Cambodia
  Geographic coordinates: This entry includes rounded latitude and longitude figures for the centroid or center point of a country expressed in degrees and minutes; it is based on the locations provided in the Geographic Names Server (GNS), maintained by the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency on behalf of the US Board on Geographic Names.
  16 10 N, 107 50 E
  Map references: This entry includes the name of the Factbook reference map on which a country may be found. Note that boundary representations on these maps are not necessarily authoritative. The entry on Geographic coordinates may be helpful in finding some smaller countries.
  Southeast Asia
  Area: This entry includes three subfields. Total area is the sum of all land and water areas delimited by international boundaries and/or coastlines. Land area is the aggregate of all surfaces delimited by international boundaries and/or coastlines, excluding inland water bodies (lakes, reservoirs, rivers). Water area is the sum of the surfaces of all inland water bodies, such as lakes, reservoirs, or rivers, as delimited by international boundaries and/or coastlines.
  total: 331,210 sq km
  land: 310,070 sq km
  water: 21,140 sq km
  country comparison to the world: 67
  Area - comparative: This entry provides an area comparison based on total area equivalents. Most entities are compared with the entire US or one of the 50 states based on area measurements (1990 revised) provided by the US Bureau of the Census. The smaller entities are compared with Washington, DC (178 sq km, 69 sq mi) or The Mall in Washington, DC (0.59 sq km, 0.23 sq mi, 146 acres).
  about three times the size of Tennessee; slightly larger than New Mexico
  Land boundaries: This entry contains the total length of all land boundaries and the individual lengths for each of the contiguous border countries. When available, official lengths published by national statistical agencies are used. Because surveying methods may differ, country border lengths reported by contiguous countries may differ.
  total: 4,616 km
  border countries (3): Cambodia 1158 km, China 1297 km, Laos 2161 km
  Coastline: This entry gives the total length of the boundary between the land area (including islands) and the sea.
  3,444 km (excludes islands)
  Maritime claims: This entry includes the following claims, the definitions of which are excerpted from the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), which alone contains the full and definitive descriptions: territorial sea - the sovereignty of a coastal state extends beyond its land territory and internal waters to an adjacent belt of sea, described as the territorial sea in the UNCLOS (Part II); this sovereignty extends to the air space over the territorial sea as well as its . . . more
  territorial sea: 12 nm
  exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
  contiguous zone: 24 nm
  continental shelf: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin
  Climate: This entry includes a brief description of typical weather regimes throughout the year.
  tropical in south; monsoonal in north with hot, rainy season (May to September) and warm, dry season (October to March)
  Terrain: This entry contains a brief description of the topography.
  low, flat delta in south and north; central highlands; hilly, mountainous in far north and northwest
  Elevation: This entry includes both the mean elevation and the elevation extremes.
  mean elevation: 398 m
  elevation extremes: 0 m lowest point: South China Sea
  3144 highest point: Fan Si Pan
  Natural resources: This entry lists a country's mineral, petroleum, hydropower, and other resources of commercial importance, such as rare earth elements (REEs). In general, products appear only if they make a significant contribution to the economy, or are likely to do so in the future.
  antimony, phosphates, coal, manganese, rare earth elements, bauxite, chromate, offshore oil and gas deposits, timber, hydropower, arable land
  Land use: This entry contains the percentage shares of total land area for three different types of land use: agricultural land, forest, and other; agricultural land is further divided into arable land - land cultivated for crops like wheat, maize, and rice that are replanted after each harvest, permanent crops - land cultivated for crops like citrus, coffee, and rubber that are not replanted after each harvest, and includes land under flowering shrubs, fruit trees, nut trees, and vines, and permane . . . more
  agricultural land: 34.8% (2011 est.)
  arable land: 20.6% (2011 est.) / permanent crops: 12.1% (2011 est.) / permanent pasture: 2.1% (2011 est.)
  forest: 45% (2011 est.)
  other: 20.2% (2011 est.)
  Irrigated land: This entry gives the number of square kilometers of land area that is artificially supplied with water.
  46,000 sq km (2012)
  Population distribution: This entry provides a summary description of the population dispersion within a country. While it may suggest population density, it does not provide density figures.
  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
  Natural hazards: This entry lists potential natural disasters. For countries where volcanic activity is common, a volcanism subfield highlights historically active volcanoes.
  occasional typhoons (May to January) with extensive flooding, especially in the Mekong River delta
  Environment - current issues: This entry lists the most pressing and important environmental problems. The following terms and abbreviations are used throughout the entry: Acidification - the lowering of soil and water pH due to acid precipitation and deposition usually through precipitation; this process disrupts ecosystem nutrient flows and may kill freshwater fish and plants dependent on more neutral or alkaline conditions (see acid rain). Acid rain - characterized as containing harmful levels of sulfur dioxi . . . more
  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: This entry separates country participation in international environmental agreements into two levels - party to and signed, but not ratified. Agreements are listed in alphabetical order by the abbreviated form of the full name.
  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: This entry includes miscellaneous geographic information of significance not included elsewhere.
  extending 1,650 km north to south, the country is only 50 km across at its narrowest point
- People and Society :: Vietnam
- Population: This entry gives an estimate from the US Bureau of the Census based on statistics from population censuses, vital statistics registration systems, or sample surveys pertaining to the recent past and on assumptions about future trends. The total population presents one overall measure of the potential impact of the country on the world and within its region. Note: Starting with the 1993 Factbook, demographic estimates for some countries (mostly African) have explicitly taken into account t . . . more
  97,040,334 (July 2018 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 15
  Nationality: This entry provides the identifying terms for citizens - noun and adjective.
  noun: Vietnamese (singular and plural)
  adjective: Vietnamese
  Ethnic groups: This entry provides an ordered listing of ethnic groups starting with the largest and normally includes the percent of total population.
  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

  Languages: This entry provides a listing of languages spoken in each country and specifies any that are official national or regional languages. When data is available, the languages spoken in each country are broken down according to the percent of the total population speaking each language as a first language. For those countries without available data, languages are listed in rank order based on prevalence, starting with the most-spoken language.
  Vietnamese (official), English (increasingly favored as a second language), some French, Chinese, and Khmer, mountain area languages (Mon-Khmer and Malayo-Polynesian)
  Religions: This entry is an ordered listing of religions by adherents starting with the largest group and sometimes includes the percent of total population. The core characteristics and beliefs of the world's major religions are described below. Baha'i - Founded by Mirza Husayn-Ali (known as Baha'u'llah) in Iran in 1852, Baha'i faith emphasizes monotheism and believes in one eternal transcendent God. Its guiding focus is to encourage the unity of all peoples on the earth so that justice and peace m . . . more
  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.)
  Age structure: This entry provides the distribution of the population according to age. Information is included by sex and age group as follows: 0-14 years (children), 15-24 years (early working age), 25-54 years (prime working age), 55-64 years (mature working age), 65 years and over (elderly). The age structure of a population affects a nation's key socioeconomic issues. Countries with young populations (high percentage under age 15) need to invest more in schools, while countries with older population . . . more
  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.)
  population pyramid:
  The World Factbook Field Image Modal
  East Asia/Southeast Asia :: Vietnam Print
  Image Description
  This is the population pyramid for Vietnam. A population pyramid illustrates the age and sex structure of a country's population and may provide insights about political and social stability, as well as economic development. The population is distributed along the horizontal axis, with males shown on the left and females on the right. The male and female populations are broken down into 5-year age groups represented as horizontal bars along the vertical axis, with the youngest age groups at the bottom and the oldest at the top. The shape of the population pyramid gradually evolves over time based on fertility, mortality, and international migration trends.
  For additional information, please see the entry for Population pyramid on the Definitions and Notes page under the References tab.
  Dependency ratios: Dependency ratios are a measure of the age structure of a population. They relate the number of individuals that are likely to be economically "dependent" on the support of others. Dependency ratios contrast the ratio of youths (ages 0-14) and the elderly (ages 65+) to the number of those in the working-age group (ages 15-64). Changes in the dependency ratio provide an indication of potential social support requirements resulting from changes in population age structures. As fertility lev . . . more
  total dependency ratio: 42.5 (2015 est.)
  youth dependency ratio: 32.9 (2015 est.)
  elderly dependency ratio: 9.6 (2015 est.)
  potential support ratio: 10.4 (2015 est.)
  Median age: This entry is the age that divides a population into two numerically equal groups; that is, half the people are younger than this age and half are older. It is a single index that summarizes the age distribution of a population. Currently, the median age ranges from a low of about 15 in Niger and Uganda to 40 or more in several European countries and Japan. See the entry for "Age structure" for the importance of a young versus an older age structure and, by implication, a low versus a high . . . more
  total: 30.9 years
  male: 29.9 years
  female: 32.1 years (2018 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 113
  Population growth rate: The average annual percent change in the population, resulting from a surplus (or deficit) of births over deaths and the balance of migrants entering and leaving a country. The rate may be positive or negative. The growth rate is a factor in determining how great a burden would be imposed on a country by the changing needs of its people for infrastructure (e.g., schools, hospitals, housing, roads), resources (e.g., food, water, electricity), and jobs. Rapid population growth can be seen as . . . more
  0.9% (2018 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 120
  Birth rate: This entry gives the average annual number of births during a year per 1,000 persons in the population at midyear; also known as crude birth rate. The birth rate is usually the dominant factor in determining the rate of population growth. It depends on both the level of fertility and the age structure of the population.
  15.2 births/1,000 population (2018 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 123
  Death rate: This entry gives the average annual number of deaths during a year per 1,000 population at midyear; also known as crude death rate. The death rate, while only a rough indicator of the mortality situation in a country, accurately indicates the current mortality impact on population growth. This indicator is significantly affected by age distribution, and most countries will eventually show a rise in the overall death rate, in spite of continued decline in mortality at all ages, as declining . . . more
  5.9 deaths/1,000 population (2018 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 170
  Net migration rate: This entry includes the figure for the difference between the number of persons entering and leaving a country during the year per 1,000 persons (based on midyear population). An excess of persons entering the country is referred to as net immigration (e.g., 3.56 migrants/1,000 population); an excess of persons leaving the country as net emigration (e.g., -9.26 migrants/1,000 population). The net migration rate indicates the contribution of migration to the overall level of population chan . . . more
  -0.3 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2017 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 117
  Population distribution: This entry provides a summary description of the population dispersion within a country. While it may suggest population density, it does not provide density figures.
  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
  Urbanization: This entry provides two measures of the degree of urbanization of a population. The first, urban population, describes the percentage of the total population living in urban areas, as defined by the country. The second, rate of urbanization, describes the projected average rate of change of the size of the urban population over the given period of time. Additionally, the World entry includes a list of the ten largest urban agglomerations. An urban agglomeration is defined as comprising th . . . more
  urban population: 35.9% of total population (2018)
  rate of urbanization: 2.98% annual rate of change (2015-20 est.)
  Major urban areas - population: This entry provides the population of the capital and up to six major cities defined as urban agglomerations with populations of at least 750,000 people. An urban agglomeration is defined as comprising the city or town proper and also the suburban fringe or thickly settled territory lying outside of, but adjacent to, the boundaries of the city. For smaller countries, lacking urban centers of 750,000 or more, only the population of the capital is presented.
  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)
  Sex ratio: This entry includes the number of males for each female in five age groups - at birth, under 15 years, 15-64 years, 65 years and over, and for the total population. Sex ratio at birth has recently emerged as an indicator of certain kinds of sex discrimination in some countries. For instance, high sex ratios at birth in some Asian countries are now attributed to sex-selective abortion and infanticide due to a strong preference for sons. This will affect future marriage patterns and fertilit . . . more
  at birth: 1.1 male(s)/female (2017 est.)
  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.)
  total population: 1 male(s)/female (2017 est.)
  Maternal mortality rate: The maternal mortality rate (MMR) is the annual number of female deaths per 100,000 live births from any cause related to or aggravated by pregnancy or its management (excluding accidental or incidental causes). The MMR includes deaths during pregnancy, childbirth, or within 42 days of termination of pregnancy, irrespective of the duration and site of the pregnancy, for a specified year.
  54 deaths/100,000 live births (2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 92
  Infant mortality rate: This entry gives the number of deaths of infants under one year old in a given year per 1,000 live births in the same year. This rate is often used as an indicator of the level of health in a country.
  total: 16.7 deaths/1,000 live births (2018 est.)
  male: 17.1 deaths/1,000 live births (2018 est.)
  female: 16.3 deaths/1,000 live births (2018 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 94
  Life expectancy at birth: This entry contains the average number of years to be lived by a group of people born in the same year, if mortality at each age remains constant in the future. Life expectancy at birth is also a measure of overall quality of life in a country and summarizes the mortality at all ages. It can also be thought of as indicating the potential return on investment in human capital and is necessary for the calculation of various actuarial measures.
  total population: 73.9 years (2018 est.)
  male: 71.4 years (2018 est.)
  female: 76.7 years (2018 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 132
  Total fertility rate: This entry gives a figure for the average number of children that would be born per woman if all women lived to the end of their childbearing years and bore children according to a given fertility rate at each age. The total fertility rate (TFR) is a more direct measure of the level of fertility than the crude birth rate, since it refers to births per woman. This indicator shows the potential for population change in the country. A rate of two children per woman is considered the replaceme . . . more
  1.79 children born/woman (2018 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 150
  Contraceptive prevalence rate: This field gives the percent of women of reproductive age (15-49) who are married or in union and are using, or whose sexual partner is using, a method of contraception according to the date of the most recent available data. The contraceptive prevalence rate is an indicator of health services, development, and women’s empowerment. It is also useful in understanding, past, present, and future fertility trends, especially in developing countries.
  75.7% (2015)
  Health expenditures: This entry provides the total expenditure on health as a percentage of GDP. Health expenditures are broadly defined as activities performed either by institutions or individuals through the application of medical, paramedical, and/or nursing knowledge and technology, the primary purpose of which is to promote, restore, or maintain health.
  7.1% of GDP (2014)
  country comparison to the world: 81
  Physicians density: This entry gives the number of medical doctors (physicians), including generalist and specialist medical practitioners, per 1,000 of the population. Medical doctors are defined as doctors that study, diagnose, treat, and prevent illness, disease, injury, and other physical and mental impairments in humans through the application of modern medicine. They also plan, supervise, and evaluate care and treatment plans by other health care providers. The World Health Organization estimates that f . . . more
  0.82 physicians/1,000 population (2016)
  Hospital bed density: This entry provides the number of hospital beds per 1,000 people; it serves as a general measure of inpatient service availability. Hospital beds include inpatient beds available in public, private, general, and specialized hospitals and rehabilitation centers. In most cases, beds for both acute and chronic care are included. Because the level of inpatient services required for individual countries depends on several factors - such as demographic issues and the burden of disease - there is . . . more
  2.6 beds/1,000 population (2014)
  Drinking water source: This entry provides information about access to improved or unimproved drinking water sources available to segments of the population of a country. Improved drinking water - use of any of the following sources: piped water into dwelling, yard, or plot; public tap or standpipe; tubewell or borehole; protected dug well; protected spring; or rainwater collection. Unimproved drinking water - use of any of the following sources: unprotected dug well; unprotected spring; cart with small tank or . . . more
  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: This entry provides information about access to improved or unimproved sanitation facilities available to segments of the population of a country. Improved sanitation - use of any of the following facilities: flush or pour-flush to a piped sewer system, septic tank or pit latrine; ventilated improved pit (VIP) latrine; pit latrine with slab; or a composting toilet. Unimproved sanitation - use of any of the following facilities: flush or pour-flush not piped to a sewer system, septic tank . . . more
  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.)
  HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate: This entry gives an estimate of the percentage of adults (aged 15-49) living with HIV/AIDS. The adult prevalence rate is calculated by dividing the estimated number of adults living with HIV/AIDS at yearend by the total adult population at yearend.
  0.3% (2017 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 90
  HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS: This entry gives an estimate of all people (adults and children) alive at yearend with HIV infection, whether or not they have developed symptoms of AIDS.
  250,000 (2017 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 23
  HIV/AIDS - deaths: This entry gives an estimate of the number of adults and children who died of AIDS during a given calendar year.
  8,600 (2017 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 22
  Major infectious diseases: This entry lists major infectious diseases likely to be encountered in countries where the risk of such diseases is assessed to be very high as compared to the United States. These infectious diseases represent risks to US government personnel traveling to the specified country for a period of less than three years. The degree of risk is assessed by considering the foreign nature of these infectious diseases, their severity, and the probability of being affected by the diseases present. Th . . . more
  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)
  Obesity - adult prevalence rate: This entry gives the percent of a country's population considered to be obese. Obesity is defined as an adult having a Body Mass Index (BMI) greater to or equal to 30.0. BMI is calculated by taking a person's weight in kg and dividing it by the person's squared height in meters.
  2.1% (2016)
  country comparison to the world: 192
  Children under the age of 5 years underweight: This entry gives the percent of children under five considered to be underweight. Underweight means weight-for-age is approximately 2 kg below for standard at age one, 3 kg below standard for ages two and three, and 4 kg below standard for ages four and five. This statistic is an indicator of the nutritional status of a community. Children who suffer from growth retardation as a result of poor diets and/or recurrent infections tend to have a greater risk of suffering illness and death.
  14.1% (2015)
  country comparison to the world: 46
  Education expenditures: This entry provides the public expenditure on education as a percent of GDP.
  5.7% of GDP (2013)
  country comparison to the world: 46
  Literacy: This entry includes a definition of literacy and Census Bureau percentages for the total population, males, and females. There are no universal definitions and standards of literacy. Unless otherwise specified, all rates are based on the most common definition - the ability to read and write at a specified age. Detailing the standards that individual countries use to assess the ability to read and write is beyond the scope of the Factbook. Information on literacy, while not a perfect measu . . . more
  definition: age 15 and over can read and write (2015 est.)
  total population: 94.5% (2015 est.)
  male: 96.3% (2015 est.)
  female: 92.8% (2015 est.)
  Unemployment, youth ages 15-24: This entry gives the percent of the total labor force ages 15-24 unemployed during a specified year.
  total: 7.2% (2016 est.)
  male: 7.1% (2016 est.)
  female: 7.2% (2016 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 143
- Government :: Vietnam
- Country name: This entry includes all forms of the country's name approved by the US Board on Geographic Names (Italy is used as an example): conventional long form (Italian Republic), conventional short form (Italy), local long form (Repubblica Italiana), local short form (Italia), former (Kingdom of Italy), as well as the abbreviation. Also see the Terminology note.
  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
  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
  Government type: This entry gives the basic form of government. Definitions of the major governmental terms are as follows. (Note that for some countries more than one definition applies.): Absolute monarchy - a form of government where the monarch rules unhindered, i.e., without any laws, constitution, or legally organized opposition. Anarchy - a condition of lawlessness or political disorder brought about by the absence of governmental authority. Authoritarian - a form of government in whic . . . more
  communist state
  Capital: This entry gives the name of the seat of government, its geographic coordinates, the time difference relative to Coordinated Universal Time (UTC) and the time observed in Washington, DC, and, if applicable, information on daylight saving time (DST). Where appropriate, a special note has been added to highlight those countries that have multiple time zones.
  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: This entry generally gives the numbers, designatory terms, and first-order administrative divisions as approved by the US Board on Geographic Names (BGN). Changes that have been reported but not yet acted on by the BGN are noted. Geographic names conform to spellings approved by the BGN with the exception of the omission of diacritical marks and special characters.

  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)

  Independence: For most countries, this entry gives the date that sovereignty was achieved and from which nation, empire, or trusteeship. For the other countries, the date given may not represent "independence" in the strict sense, but rather some significant nationhood event such as the traditional founding date or the date of unification, federation, confederation, establishment, fundamental change in the form of government, or state succession. For a number of countries, the establishment of statehood . . . more
  2 September 1945 (from France)
  National holiday: This entry gives the primary national day of celebration - usually independence day.
  Independence Day (National Day), 2 September (1945)
  Constitution: This entry provides information on a country’s constitution and includes two subfields. The history subfield includes the dates of previous constitutions and the main steps and dates in formulating and implementing the latest constitution. For countries with 1-3 previous constitutions, the years are listed; for those with 4-9 previous, the entry is listed as “several previous,” and for those with 10 or more, the entry is “many previous.” The amendments subfield summarizes the process of am . . . more
  history: several previous; latest adopted 15 April 1992, effective 1 January 1995 (2018)
  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)
  Legal system: This entry provides the description of a country's legal system. A statement on judicial review of legislative acts is also included for a number of countries. The legal systems of nearly all countries are generally modeled upon elements of five main types: civil law (including French law, the Napoleonic Code, Roman law, Roman-Dutch law, and Spanish law); common law (including United State law); customary law; mixed or pluralistic law; and religious law (including Islamic law). An addition . . . more
  civil law system; note - the civil code of 2005 reflects a European-style civil law
  International law organization participation: This entry includes information on a country's acceptance of jurisdiction of the International Court of Justice (ICJ) and of the International Criminal Court (ICCt); 59 countries have accepted ICJ jurisdiction with reservations and 11 have accepted ICJ jurisdiction without reservations; 122 countries have accepted ICCt jurisdiction. Appendix B: International Organizations and Groups explains the differing mandates of the ICJ and ICCt.
  has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICCt
  Citizenship: This entry provides information related to the acquisition and exercise of citizenship; it includes four subfields: citizenship by birth describes the acquisition of citizenship based on place of birth, known as Jus soli, regardless of the citizenship of parents. citizenship by descent only describes the acquisition of citizenship based on the principle of Jus sanguinis, or by descent, where at least one parent is a citizen of the state and being born within the territorial limits of the . . . more
  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
  Suffrage: This entry gives the age at enfranchisement and whether the right to vote is universal or restricted.
  18 years of age; universal
  Judicial branch: This entry includes three subfields. The highest court(s) subfield includes the name(s) of a country's highest level court(s), the number and titles of the judges, and the types of cases heard by the court, which commonly are based on civil, criminal, administrative, and constitutional law. A number of countries have separate constitutional courts. The judge selection and term of office subfield includes the organizations and associated officials responsible for nominating and appointing j . . . more
  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
  Executive branch: This entry includes five subentries: chief of state; head of government; cabinet; elections/appointments; election results. Chief of state includes the name, title, and beginning date in office of the titular leader of the country who represents the state at official and ceremonial functions but may not be involved with the day-to-day activities of the government. Head of government includes the name, title of the top executive designated to manage the executive branch of the government, a . . . more
  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
  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)
  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 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
  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%
  Legislative branch: This entry has three subfields. The description subfield provides the legislative structure (unicameral – single house; bicameral – an upper and a lower house); formal name(s); number of member seats; types of constituencies or voting districts (single seat, multi-seat, nationwide); electoral voting system(s); and member term of office. The elections subfield includes the dates of the last election and next election. The election results subfield lists percent of vote by party/coalition an . . . more
  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)
  elections: last held on 22 May 2016 (next to be held in May 2021)
  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%
  Political parties and leaders: This entry includes a listing of significant political parties, coalitions, and electoral lists as of each country's last legislative election, unless otherwise noted.
  Communist Party of Vietnam or CPV [Nguyen Phu TRONG]

  note: other parties proscribed

  International organization participation: This entry lists in alphabetical order by abbreviation those international organizations in which the subject country is a member or participates in some other way.
  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: This entry includes the chief of mission, chancery address, telephone, FAX, consulate general locations, and consulate locations. The use of the annotated title Appointed Ambassador refers to a new ambassador who has presented his/her credentials to the secretary of state but not the US president. Such ambassadors fulfill all diplomatic functions except meeting with or appearing at functions attended by the president until such time as they formally present their credentials at a White Hou . . . more
  chief of mission: Ambassador Ha Kim NGOC (since 17 September 2018)
  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(s): New York
  Diplomatic representation from the US: This entry includes the chief of mission, embassy address, mailing address, telephone number, FAX number, branch office locations, consulate general locations, and consulate locations.
  chief of mission: Ambassador Daniel KRITENBRINK (since 6 November 2017)
  embassy: 7 Lang Ha Street, Hanoi
  mailing address: 7 Lang Ha Street, Ba Dinh District, Hanoi; 4550 Hanoi Place, Washington, DC 20521-4550
  telephone: [84] (24) 3850-5000
  FAX: [84] (24) 3850-5010
  consulate(s) general: Ho Chi Minh City
  Flag description: This entry provides a written flag description produced from actual flags or the best information available at the time the entry was written. The flags of independent states are used by their dependencies unless there is an officially recognized local flag. Some disputed and other areas do not have flags.
  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): A national symbol is a faunal, floral, or other abstract representation - or some distinctive object - that over time has come to be closely identified with a country or entity. Not all countries have national symbols; a few countries have more than one.
  yellow, five-pointed star on red field; lotus blossom; national colors: red, yellow
  National anthem: A generally patriotic musical composition - usually in the form of a song or hymn of praise - that evokes and eulogizes the history, traditions, or struggles of a nation or its people. National anthems can be officially recognized as a national song by a country's constitution or by an enacted law, or simply by tradition. Although most anthems contain lyrics, some do not.
  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: This entry briefly describes the type of economy, including the degree of market orientation, the level of economic development, the most important natural resources, and the unique areas of specialization. It also characterizes major economic events and policy changes in the most recent 12 months and may include a statement about one or two key future macroeconomic trends.

  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.

  GDP (purchasing power parity): This entry gives the gross domestic product (GDP) or value of all final goods and services produced within a nation in a given year. A nation's GDP at purchasing power parity (PPP) exchange rates is the sum value of all goods and services produced in the country valued at prices prevailing in the United States in the year noted. This is the measure most economists prefer when looking at per-capita welfare and when comparing living conditions or use of resources across countries. The measur . . . more
  $648.7 billion (2017 est.)
  $607.4 billion (2016 est.)
  $571.9 billion (2015 est.)

  note: data are in 2017 dollars

  country comparison to the world: 35
  GDP (official exchange rate): This entry gives the gross domestic product (GDP) or value of all final goods and services produced within a nation in a given year. A nation's GDP at official exchange rates (OER) is the home-currency-denominated annual GDP figure divided by the bilateral average US exchange rate with that country in that year. The measure is simple to compute and gives a precise measure of the value of output. Many economists prefer this measure when gauging the economic power an economy maintains vis- . . . more
  $220.4 billion (2017 est.) (2017 est.)
  GDP - real growth rate: This entry gives GDP growth on an annual basis adjusted for inflation and expressed as a percent. The growth rates are year-over-year, and not compounded.
  6.8% (2017 est.)
  6.2% (2016 est.)
  6.7% (2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 25
  GDP - per capita (PPP): This entry shows GDP on a purchasing power parity basis divided by population as of 1 July for the same year.
  $6,900 (2017 est.)
  $6,600 (2016 est.)
  $6,200 (2015 est.)

  note: data are in 2017 dollars

  country comparison to the world: 159
  Gross national saving: Gross national saving is derived by deducting final consumption expenditure (household plus government) from Gross national disposable income, and consists of personal saving, plus business saving (the sum of the capital consumption allowance and retained business profits), plus government saving (the excess of tax revenues over expenditures), but excludes foreign saving (the excess of imports of goods and services over exports). The figures are presented as a percent of GDP. A negative . . . more
  29% of GDP (2017 est.)
  29.5% of GDP (2016 est.)
  27.5% of GDP (2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 33
  GDP - composition, by end use: This entry shows who does the spending in an economy: consumers, businesses, government, and foreigners. The distribution gives the percentage contribution to total GDP of household consumption, government consumption, investment in fixed capital, investment in inventories, exports of goods and services, and imports of goods and services, and will total 100 percent of GDP if the data are complete. household consumption consists of expenditures by resident households, and by nonprofit insti . . . more
  household consumption: 66.9% (2017 est.)
  government consumption: 6.5% (2017 est.)
  investment in fixed capital: 24.2% (2017 est.)
  investment in inventories: 2.8% (2017 est.)
  exports of goods and services: 100% (2017 est.)
  imports of goods and services: -101% (2017 est.)
  GDP - composition, by sector of origin: This entry shows where production takes place in an economy. The distribution gives the percentage contribution of agriculture, industry, and services to total GDP, and will total 100 percent of GDP if the data are complete. Agriculture includes farming, fishing, and forestry. Industry includes mining, manufacturing, energy production, and construction. Services cover government activities, communications, transportation, finance, and all other private economic activities that do not prod . . . more
  agriculture: 15.3% (2017 est.)
  industry: 33.3% (2017 est.)
  services: 51.3% (2017 est.)
  Agriculture - products: This entry is an ordered listing of major crops and products starting with the most important.
  rice, coffee, rubber, tea, pepper, soybeans, cashews, sugar cane, peanuts, bananas; pork; poultry; seafood
  Industries: This entry provides a rank ordering of industries starting with the largest by value of annual output.
  food processing, garments, shoes, machine-building; mining, coal, steel; cement, chemical fertilizer, glass, tires, oil, mobile phones
  Industrial production growth rate: This entry gives the annual percentage increase in industrial production (includes manufacturing, mining, and construction).
  8% (2017 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 24
  Labor force: This entry contains the total labor force figure.
  54.8 million (2017 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 11
  Labor force - by occupation: This entry lists the percentage distribution of the labor force by sector of occupation. Agriculture includes farming, fishing, and forestry. Industry includes mining, manufacturing, energy production, and construction. Services cover government activities, communications, transportation, finance, and all other economic activities that do not produce material goods. The distribution will total less than 100 percent if the data are incomplete and may range from 99-101 percent due to rounding. more
  agriculture: 40.3%
  industry: 25.7%
  services: 34% (2017)
  Unemployment rate: This entry contains the percent of the labor force that is without jobs. Substantial underemployment might be noted.
  2.2% (2017 est.)
  2.3% (2016 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 22
  Population below poverty line: National estimates of the percentage of the population falling below the poverty line are based on surveys of sub-groups, with the results weighted by the number of people in each group. Definitions of poverty vary considerably among nations. For example, rich nations generally employ more generous standards of poverty than poor nations.
  8% (2017 est.)
  Household income or consumption by percentage share: Data on household income or consumption come from household surveys, the results adjusted for household size. Nations use different standards and procedures in collecting and adjusting the data. Surveys based on income will normally show a more unequal distribution than surveys based on consumption. The quality of surveys is improving with time, yet caution is still necessary in making inter-country comparisons.
  lowest 10%: 26.8% (2014)
  highest 10%: 26.8% (2014)
  Distribution of family income - Gini index: This index measures the degree of inequality in the distribution of family income in a country. The index is calculated from the Lorenz curve, in which cumulative family income is plotted against the number of families arranged from the poorest to the richest. The index is the ratio of (a) the area between a country's Lorenz curve and the 45 degree helping line to (b) the entire triangular area under the 45 degree line. The more nearly equal a country's income distribution, the closer its . . . more
  34.8 (2014)
  37.6 (2008)
  country comparison to the world: 101
  Budget: This entry includes revenues, expenditures, and capital expenditures. These figures are calculated on an exchange rate basis, i.e., not in purchasing power parity (PPP) terms.
  revenues: 54.59 billion (2017 est.)
  expenditures: 69.37 billion (2017 est.)
  Taxes and other revenues: This entry records total taxes and other revenues received by the national government during the time period indicated, expressed as a percent of GDP. Taxes include personal and corporate income taxes, value added taxes, excise taxes, and tariffs. Other revenues include social contributions - such as payments for social security and hospital insurance - grants, and net revenues from public enterprises. Normalizing the data, by dividing total revenues by GDP, enables easy comparisons acr . . . more
  24.8% (of GDP) (2017 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 119
  Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-): This entry records the difference between national government revenues and expenditures, expressed as a percent of GDP. A positive (+) number indicates that revenues exceeded expenditures (a budget surplus), while a negative (-) number indicates the reverse (a budget deficit). Normalizing the data, by dividing the budget balance by GDP, enables easy comparisons across countries and indicates whether a national government saves or borrows money. Countries with high budget deficits (relat . . . more
  -6.7% (of GDP) (2017 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 191
  Public debt: This entry records the cumulative total of all government borrowings less repayments that are denominated in a country's home currency. Public debt should not be confused with external debt, which reflects the foreign currency liabilities of both the private and public sector and must be financed out of foreign exchange earnings.
  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

  country comparison to the world: 76
  Fiscal year: This entry identifies the beginning and ending months for a country's accounting period of 12 months, which often is the calendar year but which may begin in any month. All yearly references are for the calendar year (CY) unless indicated as a noncalendar fiscal year (FY).
  calendar year
  Inflation rate (consumer prices): This entry furnishes the annual percent change in consumer prices compared with the previous year's consumer prices.
  3.5% (2017 est.)
  2.7% (2016 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 142
  Central bank discount rate: This entry provides the annualized interest rate a country's central bank charges commercial, depository banks for loans to meet temporary shortages of funds.
  4.25% (7 October 2017)
  15% (31 December 2011)
  country comparison to the world: 98
  Commercial bank prime lending rate: This entry provides a simple average of annualized interest rates commercial banks charge on new loans, denominated in the national currency, to their most credit-worthy customers.
  7.07% (31 December 2017 est.)
  6.96% (31 December 2016 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 117
  Stock of narrow money: This entry, also known as "M1," comprises the total quantity of currency in circulation (notes and coins) plus demand deposits denominated in the national currency held by nonbank financial institutions, state and local governments, nonfinancial public enterprises, and the private sector of the economy, measured at a specific point in time. National currency units have been converted to US dollars at the closing exchange rate for the date of the information. Because of exchange rate moveme . . . more
  $85.96 billion (31 December 2017 est.)
  $73.48 billion (31 December 2016 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 43
  Stock of broad money: This entry covers all of "Narrow money," plus the total quantity of time and savings deposits, credit union deposits, institutional money market funds, short-term repurchase agreements between the central bank and commercial deposit banks, and other large liquid assets held by nonbank financial institutions, state and local governments, nonfinancial public enterprises, and the private sector of the economy. National currency units have been converted to US dollars at the closing exchange r . . . more
  $85.96 billion (31 December 2017 est.)
  $73.48 billion (31 December 2016 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 43
  Stock of domestic credit: This entry is the total quantity of credit, denominated in the domestic currency, provided by financial institutions to the central bank, state and local governments, public non-financial corporations, and the private sector. The national currency units have been converted to US dollars at the closing exchange rate on the date of the information.
  $313 billion (31 December 2017 est.)
  $277.3 billion (31 December 2016 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 35
  Market value of publicly traded shares: This entry gives the value of shares issued by publicly traded companies at a price determined in the national stock markets on the final day of the period indicated. It is simply the latest price per share multiplied by the total number of outstanding shares, cumulated over all companies listed on the particular exchange.
  $156.7 billion (29 December 2017 est.)
  $87.95 billion (31 December 2016 est.)
  $52.39 billion (31 December 2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 37
  Current account balance: This entry records a country's net trade in goods and services, plus net earnings from rents, interest, profits, and dividends, and net transfer payments (such as pension funds and worker remittances) to and from the rest of the world during the period specified. These figures are calculated on an exchange rate basis, i.e., not in purchasing power parity (PPP) terms.
  $5.401 billion (2017 est.)
  $5.924 billion (2016 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 28
  Exports: This entry provides the total US dollar amount of merchandise exports on an f.o.b. (free on board) basis. These figures are calculated on an exchange rate basis, i.e., not in purchasing power parity (PPP) terms.
  $214.1 billion (2017 est.)
  $176.6 billion (2016 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 27
  Exports - partners: This entry provides a rank ordering of trading partners starting with the most important; it sometimes includes the percent of total dollar value.
  US 20.1%, China 14.5%, Japan 8%, South Korea 6.8% (2017)
  Exports - commodities: This entry provides a listing of the highest-valued exported products; it sometimes includes the percent of total dollar value.
  clothes, shoes, electronics, seafood, crude oil, rice, coffee, wooden products, machinery
  Imports: This entry provides the total US dollar amount of merchandise imports on a c.i.f. (cost, insurance, and freight) or f.o.b. (free on board) basis. These figures are calculated on an exchange rate basis, i.e., not in purchasing power parity (PPP) terms.
  $202.6 billion (2017 est.)
  $162.6 billion (2016 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 26
  Imports - commodities: This entry provides a listing of the highest-valued imported products; it sometimes includes the percent of total dollar value.
  machinery and equipment, petroleum products, steel products, raw materials for the clothing and shoe industries, electronics, plastics, automobiles
  Imports - partners: This entry provides a rank ordering of trading partners starting with the most important; it sometimes includes the percent of total dollar value.
  China 25.8%, South Korea 20.5%, Japan 7.8%, Thailand 4.9% (2017)
  Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: This entry gives the dollar value for the stock of all financial assets that are available to the central monetary authority for use in meeting a country's balance of payments needs as of the end-date of the period specified. This category includes not only foreign currency and gold, but also a country's holdings of Special Drawing Rights in the International Monetary Fund, and its reserve position in the Fund.
  $49.5 billion (31 December 2017 est.)
  $36.91 billion (31 December 2016 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 40
  Debt - external: This entry gives the total public and private debt owed to nonresidents repayable in internationally accepted currencies, goods, or services. These figures are calculated on an exchange rate basis, i.e., not in purchasing power parity (PPP) terms.
  $96.58 billion (31 December 2017 est.)
  $84.34 billion (31 December 2016 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 48
  Stock of direct foreign investment - at home: This entry gives the cumulative US dollar value of all investments in the home country made directly by residents - primarily companies - of other countries as of the end of the time period indicated. Direct investment excludes investment through purchase of shares.
  $129.5 billion (31 December 2017 est.)
  $293.2 billion (31 December 2016 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 42
  Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad: This entry gives the cumulative US dollar value of all investments in foreign countries made directly by residents - primarily companies - of the home country, as of the end of the time period indicated. Direct investment excludes investment through purchase of shares.
  $19.75 billion (31 December 2015 est.)
  $18.97 billion (31 December 2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 55
  Exchange rates: This entry provides the average annual price of a country's monetary unit for the time period specified, expressed in units of local currency per US dollar, as determined by international market forces or by official fiat. The International Organization for Standardization (ISO) 4217 alphabetic currency code for the national medium of exchange is presented in parenthesis. Closing daily exchange rates are not presented in The World Factbook, but are used to convert stock values - e.g., the . . . more
  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.)
- Energy :: Vietnam
- Electricity access: This entry provides information on access to electricity. Electrification data – collected from industry reports, national surveys, and international sources – consists of four subfields. Population without electricity provides an estimate of the number of citizens that do not have access to electricity. Electrification – total population is the percent of a country’s total population with access to electricity, electrification – urban areas is the percent of a country’s urban population w . . . more
  population without electricity: 2.6 million (2013)
  electrification - total population: 99% (2013)
  electrification - urban areas: 100% (2013)
  electrification - rural areas: 98% (2013)
  Electricity - production: This entry is the annual electricity generated expressed in kilowatt-hours. The discrepancy between the amount of electricity generated and/or imported and the amount consumed and/or exported is accounted for as loss in transmission and distribution.
  158.2 billion kWh (2016 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 24
  Electricity - consumption: This entry consists of total electricity generated annually plus imports and minus exports, expressed in kilowatt-hours. The discrepancy between the amount of electricity generated and/or imported and the amount consumed and/or exported is accounted for as loss in transmission and distribution.
  143.2 billion kWh (2016 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 25
  Electricity - exports: This entry is the total exported electricity in kilowatt-hours.
  713 million kWh (2017 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 63
  Electricity - imports: This entry is the total imported electricity in kilowatt-hours.
  2.733 billion kWh (2016 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 51
  Electricity - installed generating capacity: This entry is the total capacity of currently installed generators, expressed in kilowatts (kW), to produce electricity. A 10-kilowatt (kW) generator will produce 10 kilowatt hours (kWh) of electricity, if it runs continuously for one hour.
  40.77 million kW (2016 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 25
  Electricity - from fossil fuels: This entry measures the capacity of plants that generate electricity by burning fossil fuels (such as coal, petroleum products, and natural gas), expressed as a share of the country's total generating capacity.
  56% of total installed capacity (2016 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 140
  Electricity - from nuclear fuels: This entry measures the capacity of plants that generate electricity through radioactive decay of nuclear fuel, expressed as a share of the country's total generating capacity.
  0% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 209
  Electricity - from hydroelectric plants: This entry measures the capacity of plants that generate electricity by water-driven turbines, expressed as a share of the country's total generating capacity.
  43% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 47
  Electricity - from other renewable sources: This entry measures the capacity of plants that generate electricity by using renewable energy sources other than hydroelectric (including, for example, wind, waves, solar, and geothermal), expressed as a share of the country's total generating capacity.
  1% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 171
  Crude oil - production: This entry is the total amount of crude oil produced, in barrels per day (bbl/day).
  271,400 bbl/day (2017 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 30
  Crude oil - exports: This entry is the total amount of crude oil exported, in barrels per day (bbl/day).
  324,600 bbl/day (2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 25
  Crude oil - imports: This entry is the total amount of crude oil imported, in barrels per day (bbl/day).
  0 bbl/day (2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 213
  Crude oil - proved reserves: This entry is the stock of proved reserves of crude oil, in barrels (bbl). Proved reserves are those quantities of petroleum which, by analysis of geological and engineering data, can be estimated with a high degree of confidence to be commercially recoverable from a given date forward, from known reservoirs and under current economic conditions.
  4.4 billion bbl (1 January 2018 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 25
  Refined petroleum products - production: This entry is the country's total output of refined petroleum products, in barrels per day (bbl/day). The discrepancy between the amount of refined petroleum products produced and/or imported and the amount consumed and/or exported is due to the omission of stock changes, refinery gains, and other complicating factors.
  153,800 bbl/day (2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 58
  Refined petroleum products - consumption: This entry is the country's total consumption of refined petroleum products, in barrels per day (bbl/day). The discrepancy between the amount of refined petroleum products produced and/or imported and the amount consumed and/or exported is due to the omission of stock changes, refinery gains, and other complicating factors.
  438,000 bbl/day (2016 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 35
  Refined petroleum products - exports: This entry is the country's total exports of refined petroleum products, in barrels per day (bbl/day).
  25,620 bbl/day (2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 67
  Refined petroleum products - imports: This entry is the country's total imports of refined petroleum products, in barrels per day (bbl/day).
  282,800 bbl/day (2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 25
  Natural gas - production: This entry is the total natural gas produced in cubic meters (cu m). The discrepancy between the amount of natural gas produced and/or imported and the amount consumed and/or exported is due to the omission of stock changes and other complicating factors.
  8.098 billion cu m (2017 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 44
  Natural gas - consumption: This entry is the total natural gas consumed in cubic meters (cu m). The discrepancy between the amount of natural gas produced and/or imported and the amount consumed and/or exported is due to the omission of stock changes and other complicating factors.
  8.098 billion cu m (2017 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 52
  Natural gas - exports: This entry is the total natural gas exported in cubic meters (cu m).
  0 cu m (2017 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 210
  Natural gas - imports: This entry is the total natural gas imported in cubic meters (cu m).
  0 cu m (2017 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 210
  Natural gas - proved reserves: This entry is the stock of proved reserves of natural gas in cubic meters (cu m). Proved reserves are those quantities of natural gas, which, by analysis of geological and engineering data, can be estimated with a high degree of confidence to be commercially recoverable from a given date forward, from known reservoirs and under current economic conditions.
  699.4 billion cu m (1 January 2018 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 27
  Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy: This entry is the total amount of carbon dioxide, measured in metric tons, released by burning fossil fuels in the process of producing and consuming energy.
  235.3 million Mt (2017 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 29
- Communications :: Vietnam
- Telephones - fixed lines: This entry gives the total number of fixed telephone lines in use, as well as the number of subscriptions per 100 inhabitants.
  total subscriptions: 4,526,077 (2017 est.)
  subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 5 (2017 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 30
  Telephones - mobile cellular: This entry gives the total number of mobile cellular telephone subscribers, as well as the number of subscriptions per 100 inhabitants. Note that because of the ubiquity of mobile phone use in developed countries, the number of subscriptions per 100 inhabitants can exceed 100.
  total subscriptions: 120,016,181 (2017 est.)
  subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 125 (2017 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 12
  Telephone system: This entry includes a brief general assessment of the system with details on the domestic and international components. The following terms and abbreviations are used throughout the entry: Arabsat - Arab Satellite Communications Organization (Riyadh, Saudi Arabia). Autodin - Automatic Digital Network (US Department of Defense). CB - citizen's band mobile radio communications. Cellular telephone system - the telephones in this system are radio transceivers, with each instrument having its o . . . more
  general assessment: Vietnam is putting considerable effort into modernization and expansion of its telecommunication system (2016)
  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)
  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)
  Broadcast media: This entry provides information on the approximate number of public and private TV and radio stations in a country, as well as basic information on the availability of satellite and cable TV services.
  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: This entry includes the two-letter codes maintained by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) in the ISO 3166 Alpha-2 list and used by the Internet Assigned Numbers Authority (IANA) to establish country-coded top-level domains (ccTLDs).
  .vn
  Internet users: This entry gives the total number of individuals within a country who can access the Internet at home, via any device type (computer or mobile) and connection. The percent of population with Internet access (i.e., the penetration rate) helps gauge how widespread Internet use is within a country. Statistics vary from country to country and may include users who access the Internet at least several times a week to those who access it only once within a period of several months.
  total: 49.741 million (July 2016 est.)
  percent of population: 52.7% (July 2016 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 13
  Broadband - fixed subscriptions: This entry gives the total number of fixed-broadband subscriptions, as well as the number of subscriptions per 100 inhabitants. Fixed broadband is a physical wired connection to the Internet (e.g., coaxial cable, optical fiber) at speeds equal to or greater than 256 kilobits/second (256 kbit/s).
  total: 11,269,936 (2017 est.)
  subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 12 (2017 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 16
- Transportation :: Vietnam
- National air transport system: This entry includes four subfields describing the air transport system of a given country in terms of both structure and performance. The first subfield, number of registered air carriers, indicates the total number of air carriers registered with the country’s national aviation authority and issued an air operator certificate as required by the Convention on International Civil Aviation. The second subfield, inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers, lists the total number . . . more
  number of registered air carriers: 4 (2015)
  inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 140 (2015)
  annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers: 29,944,771 (2015)
  annual freight traffic on registered air carriers: 384,470,240 mt-km (2015)
  Civil aircraft registration country code prefix: This entry provides the one- or two-character alphanumeric code indicating the nationality of civil aircraft. Article 20 of the Convention on International Civil Aviation (Chicago Convention), signed in 1944, requires that all aircraft engaged in international air navigation bear appropriate nationality marks. The aircraft registration number consists of two parts: a prefix consisting of a one- or two-character alphanumeric code indicating nationality and a registration suffix of one to fi . . . more
  VN (2016)
  Airports: This entry gives the total number of airports or airfields recognizable from the air. The runway(s) may be paved (concrete or asphalt surfaces) or unpaved (grass, earth, sand, or gravel surfaces) and may include closed or abandoned installations. Airports or airfields that are no longer recognizable (overgrown, no facilities, etc.) are not included. Note that not all airports have accommodations for refueling, maintenance, or air traffic control.
  45 (2013)
  country comparison to the world: 96
  Airports - with paved runways: This entry gives the total number of airports with paved runways (concrete or asphalt surfaces) by length. For airports with more than one runway, only the longest runway is included according to the following five groups - (1) over 3,047 m (over 10,000 ft), (2) 2,438 to 3,047 m (8,000 to 10,000 ft), (3) 1,524 to 2,437 m (5,000 to 8,000 ft), (4) 914 to 1,523 m (3,000 to 5,000 ft), and (5) under 914 m (under 3,000 ft). Only airports with usable runways are included in this listing. Not all . . . more
  total: 38 (2013)
  over 3,047 m: 10 (2013)
  2,438 to 3,047 m: 6 (2013)
  1,524 to 2,437 m: 13 (2013)
  914 to 1,523 m: 9 (2013)
  Airports - with unpaved runways: This entry gives the total number of airports with unpaved runways (grass, dirt, sand, or gravel surfaces) by length. For airports with more than one runway, only the longest runway is included according to the following five groups - (1) over 3,047 m (over 10,000 ft), (2) 2,438 to 3,047 m (8,000 to 10,000 ft), (3) 1,524 to 2,437 m (5,000 to 8,000 ft), (4) 914 to 1,523 m (3,000 to 5,000 ft), and (5) under 914 m (under 3,000 ft). Only airports with usable runways are included in this listin . . . more
  total: 7 (2013)
  1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2013)
  914 to 1,523 m: 3 (2013)
  under 914 m: 3 (2013)
  Heliports: This entry gives the total number of heliports with hard-surface runways, helipads, or landing areas that support routine sustained helicopter operations exclusively and have support facilities including one or more of the following facilities: lighting, fuel, passenger handling, or maintenance. It includes former airports used exclusively for helicopter operations but excludes heliports limited to day operations and natural clearings that could support helicopter landings and takeoffs.
  1 (2013)
  Pipelines: This entry gives the lengths and types of pipelines for transporting products like natural gas, crude oil, or petroleum products.
  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)
  Railways: This entry states the total route length of the railway network and of its component parts by gauge, which is the measure of the distance between the inner sides of the load-bearing rails. The four typical types of gauges are: broad, standard, narrow, and dual. Other gauges are listed under note. Some 60% of the world's railways use the standard gauge of 1.4 m (4.7 ft). Gauges vary by country and sometimes within countries. The choice of gauge during initial construction was mainly in resp . . . more
  total: 2,600 km (2014)
  standard gauge: 178 km 1.435-m gauge; 253 km mixed gauge (2014)
  narrow gauge: 2,169 km 1.000-m gauge (2014)
  country comparison to the world: 66
  Roadways: This entry gives the total length of the road network and includes the length of the paved and unpaved portions.
  total: 195,468 km (2013)
  paved: 148,338 km (2013)
  unpaved: 47,130 km (2013)
  country comparison to the world: 28
  Waterways: This entry gives the total length of navigable rivers, canals, and other inland bodies of water.
  47,130 km (30,831 km weight under 50 tons) (2011)
  country comparison to the world: 4
  Merchant marine: Merchant marine may be defined as all ships engaged in the carriage of goods; or all commercial vessels (as opposed to all nonmilitary ships), which excludes tugs, fishing vessels, offshore oil rigs, etc. This entry contains information in four fields - total, ships by type, foreign-owned, and registered in other countries. Total includes the number of ships (1,000 GRT or over), total DWT for those ships, and total GRT for those ships. DWT or dead weight tonnage is the total weight of ca . . . more
  total: 1,818 (2017)
  by type: bulk carrier 81, container ship 34, general cargo 1259, oil tanker 109, other 335 (2017)
  country comparison to the world: 13
  Ports and terminals: This entry lists major ports and terminals primarily on the basis of the amount of cargo tonnage shipped through the facilities on an annual basis. In some instances, the number of containers handled or ship visits were also considered. Most ports service multiple classes of vessels including bulk carriers (dry and liquid), break bulk cargoes (goods loaded individually in bags, boxes, crates, or drums; sometimes palletized), containers, roll-on/roll-off, and passenger ships. The listing le . . . more
  major seaport(s): Cam Pha Port, Da Nang, Haiphong, Phu My, Quy Nhon
  container port(s) (TEUs): Saigon (5,986,747) (2016)
  river port(s): Ho Chi Minh (Mekong)
- Military and Security :: Vietnam
- Military expenditures: This entry gives spending on defense programs for the most recent year available as a percent of gross domestic product (GDP); the GDP is calculated on an exchange rate basis, i.e., not in terms of purchasing power parity (PPP). For countries with no military forces, this figure can include expenditures on public security and police.
  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)
  country comparison to the world: 40
  Military branches: This entry lists the service branches subordinate to defense ministries or the equivalent (typically ground, naval, air, and marine forces).
  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: This entry gives the required ages for voluntary or conscript military service and the length of service 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)
  Maritime threats: This entry describes the threat of piracy, as defined in Article 101, UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), or armed robbery against ships, as defined in Resolution A. 1025 (26) adopted on 2 December 2009 at the 26th Assembly Session of the International Maritime Organization. The entry includes the number of ships on the high seas or in territorial waters that were boarded or attacked by pirates, and the number of crewmen abducted or killed, as compiled by the International Mariti . . . more
  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
- Transnational Issues :: Vietnam
- Disputes - international: This entry includes a wide variety of situations that range from traditional bilateral boundary disputes to unilateral claims of one sort or another. Information regarding disputes over international terrestrial and maritime boundaries has been reviewed by the US Department of State. References to other situations involving borders or frontiers may also be included, such as resource disputes, geopolitical questions, or irredentist issues; however, inclusion does not necessarily constitute . . . more
  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
  Refugees and internally displaced persons: This entry includes those persons residing in a country as refugees, internally displaced persons (IDPs), or stateless persons. Each country's refugee entry includes only countries of origin that are the source of refugee populations of 5,000 or more. The definition of a refugee according to a UN Convention is "a person who is outside his/her country of nationality or habitual residence; has a well-founded fear of persecution because of his/her race, religion, nationality, membership in a . . . more
  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
  Illicit drugs: This entry gives information on the five categories of illicit drugs - narcotics, stimulants, depressants (sedatives), hallucinogens, and cannabis. These categories include many drugs legally produced and prescribed by doctors as well as those illegally produced and sold outside of medical channels. Cannabis (Cannabis sativa) is the common hemp plant, which provides hallucinogens with some sedative properties, and includes marijuana (pot, Acapulco gold, grass, reefer), tetrahydroca . . . more
  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

GO TOP