Socialist Republic of Viet Nam

Vietnam

Socialist Republic of Viet Nam

General Information

Official Name Cong Hoa Xa Hoi Chu Nghia Viet Nam (Socialist Republic of Vietnam) Capital Hanoi

Flag

An early version of the Vietnamese flag was used by Ho Chi Minh’s soldiers when they fought against the Japanese during World War II (1939-1945). It became the flag of North Vietnam in 1954 and was slightly modified the following year. When North Vietnam defeated South Vietnam in 1975, the flag was adopted by the whole of Vietnam. The yellow star and red field represent the Communist revolution.
Anthem “Quoc Ca” / (“Vietnamese National Anthem”)

Land

Area 331,690 sq km (128,066 sq mi) , Highest Point Fan Si Pan 3,143 m (10,312 ft) above sea level , Lowest Point Sea level along the coast

Vietnam Map

Climate

Average Temperatures:

Hanoi

  • January 18° C / 67° F
  • July 30° C / 86° F

Ho Chi Minh City

  • January 26° C / 79° F
  • July 27° C / 81° F

Average Annual Precipitation

  • Hanoi 1,680 mm (66 in)
  • Ho Chi Minh City 1,980 mm (78 in)

Population

  • Population :
    78,349,503 (2000 estimate)
  • Population Density :
    236 persons/sq km (612 persons/sq mi) (2000 estimate)
  • Urban/Rural Breakdown :
    20% Urban 80% Rural (1998 estimate)
  • Largest Cities :
    Ho Chi Minh City – 3,924,435 , Hanoi – 3,056,146 , Haiphong – 1,447,523 (1989 census)
  • Ethnic Groups :
    90% Vietnamese , 10% Other
  • including ethnic :
    Chinese, Khmer, and Cham
  • Languages :
    Official Language Vietnamese Other Languages Chinese, Khmer, Cham, and other minority languages
  • Religions :
    55% Mahayana Buddhism 45% Other including Roman Catholicism, Theravada Buddhism, Daoism, Confucianism, Hoa Hao, and Cao Dai

 

Economy

  • Gross Domestic Product :
    $27.2 billion (1998 estimate)
  • Chief Economic Products :
    • Agriculture : Rice, cassava, sweet potatoes, coffee, tea, soybeans, natural rubber, livestock, sugarcane
    • Fishing : Fish, shrimp and prawns, mollusks, crab, other shellfish
    • Mining : Petroleum, coal, iron, phosphate rock, zinc, chromite, gypsum, tin, antimony
    • Manufacturing : Paper, cement, textiles, food products, fertilizers, electronics
  • Employment Breakdown :
    71% Agriculture, Forestry, and Fishing , 19% Services ,10% Industry
  • Major Exports :
    Petroleum, unprocessed agricultural and marine products (including rice), coal, clothing, footwear, ceramics, gemstones, silk
  • Major Imports :
    Petroleum products, steel products, railroad equipment, chemicals, medicines, raw cotton, fertilizer, grain
  • Major Trading Partners
    • Exports: Japan, Germany, Singapore, Taiwan, Hong Kong, France, South Africa
    • Imports: Singapore, South Korea, Japan, France, Hong Kong, Taiwan
  • Currency New dông Exchange Rate :
    11,359 new dông = U.S.$1 (1998 average)

 

Government

Form of Government Socialist republic :

  • Head of State President
  • Elected by the legislature to a five-year term
  • Head of Government Prime minister
  • Appointed by the president with the approval of the legislature
  • Legislature Unicameral legislature
  • National Assembly 450 members

Voting Qualifications
Universal suffrage for all citizens age 18 and over
Highest Court Supreme People’s Court
Armed Services Army, Navy, Air Force 484,000 troops; men aged 18 to 35 are conscripted for 24 months; specialists must serve an additional 12 months

Political Divisions

  • 57 provinces
  • 4 municipalities: Ho Chi Minh City, Hanoi, Haiphong, Da Nang

 

Education

Major Universities and Colleges :

  • University of Hanoi Hanoi
  • University of Ho Chi Minh City Ho Chi Minh City

URL for Bureau for Safe Work, Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs, Vietnam: molisa.gov.vn