Vietnam

France occupied all of Vietnam by 1884. Independence was declared after World War II, but the French continued to rule until 1954 when they were defeated by communist forces under Ho Chi MINH, who took control of the north.
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military aid to South Vietnam grew through the 1960s in an attempt to bolster the government, but US armed forces were withdrawn following a cease-fire agreement in 1973.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. Economic reconstruction of the reunited country has proven difficult as aging Communist Party leaders have only grudgingly initiated reforms necessary for a free market.
(Source: CIA - The World Factbook)

border countries: Cambodia, China, Laos

related countries: France, United States

Official Name:
Cộng hòa xã hội chủ nghĩa Việt Nam
short form: Việt Nam
int'l long form: Socialist Republic of Vietnam
int'l short form: Vietnam

ISO Country Code: vn

Time:
Local Time = UTC +7h

Country Calling Code: +84

Capital City: Hanoi (Ha Noi)

Other Cities: Ho Chi Minh City (formerly Saigon; 5.4 million), Hai Phong (1.8 million), Can Tho (1.1 million), Da Nang (720 000)

Government:
Type: Communist Party-dominated constitutional republic.
Independence: 2 September 1945.
New constitution: 15 April 1992.

Geography:
Location: Southeastern Asia, bordering the Gulf of Tonkin and South China Sea.
Area: 331 114 sq. km. (127 243 sq. mi.)
Terrain: Varies from mountainous to coastal delta.

Climate: Tropical monsoon.

People:
Nationality: Vietnamese.
Population: 83.5 million.
Ethnic Groups: Vietnam is a multi-nationality country with 54 ethnic groups. Viet (Kinh) (87%), Chinese (3%), Tay, Thai, Muong, Hoa, Khmer, Nung, other mountain people.
Religions: Buddhism, Hoa Hao, Cao Dai, Christian, animism, Islam.
Languages: Vietnamese (official), English (increasingly favored as a second language), some French, Chinese, and Khmer, mountain area languages.
Literacy: 91%

Natural resources: Phosphates, coal, manganese, bauxite, chromate, offshore oil and gas deposits, forests, hydropower.

Agriculture products: Paddy rice, coffee, fish and seafood, rubber, cotton, tea, pepper, soybeans, cashews, sugar cane, peanuts, bananas, poultry.

Industries: Food processing, garments, shoes, machine-building, mining, cement, chemical fertilizer, glass, tires, oil, coal, steel, paper.

Currency: Dong (VND)

Vietnam in numbers
Viet Nam keys tatistical data.