Fun factual overview and information on Vietnam

General Information on Vietnam & Quick Overview

France moved in to Indochina as part of its worldwide expansion plans in the 19th Century.

Vietnam was occupied by France in 1884.

Afer the Second World War Vietnamese independence was declared, but the French stayed on as colonial rulers until 1954 when they were defeated at the battle of Dien Ben Phu by Communist forces under General Ho Chi Minh.

Communists then controlled the North of Vietnam.

The United States became heavily involved militarily in South Vietnam from the early 1960s in an attempt to support the pro-Capitalist government, but United States armed forces were withdrawn in 1973.

Vietnam is still under going economic rebuilding but is experiencing considerable growth.

Geographical statistics & Information on Vietnam

Geographical Position: Southeast Asia, on the Gulf of Thailand, South China Sea, Gulf of Tonkin. Its neighbours are Cambodia, China, Laos.
Map Ref Latitude & Longitude 16 degrees 50 North, 105 degrees 00 East Total Land & Sea Area Total330,000 square kilometres land area 325,000 square kilometres Sea Area 5,000 square kilometres Land boundaries Total4,700 kilometres border countries Cambodia 1,300 kilometres, China 1,300 kilometres, Laos 2,000 kilometres Coastal Length 3,450 kilometres (excludes islands)

Climatological Conditions & information on Vietnam

Tropical climate in southern regions; monsoon climate in northern areas with hot, rainy season from the month of May to the month of September, and warm, dry season from the month of October to the month of March.

Terrain Features

Vietnam has low, plains and river delta areas in southern and northern areas; central mountainous highlands; hilly areas and rugged, forested mountains in far north and northwest areas. Highest & Lowest Elevations: Lowest elevation South China Sea at sea level Highest elevation Fan Si Pan 3,150 metres Country’s natural resources
phosphate deposits, coal resources, manganese deposits, bauxite deposits, oil and gas reserves, forestry and timber resources, hydroelectric power resources.

Land use

Ploughable land area 17 percent permanent crops 5 percent other: 78 percent (1998 estimate) Irrigated land area 50,000 square kilometres (1998 estimate) Hazardous Natural phenomena The country is subject to occasional tropical storms, typhoons from the month of May to the month of January, with occasional periods of extensive floods, in particular the areas around the Mekong River delta.

Geographical Point of Interest

Vietnam is 1,600 kilometres in length from south to north, but at its narrowes point is 40 kilometres wide.

People-information on Vietnam

Population 81,625,000(July 2003 estimate) Age structure under 15 years: 30 percent 15 to 64 years64.percent Over 656 percent Median age of population Total24 years male: 23 years female: 25 years (2002) Population growth rate 1.3 percent (2003 estimate) Birth rate 19 births per thousand population (2003 estimate) mortality rate 6 deaths per thousand population (2003 estimate) Net rate of migration -0.5 migrant(s) per thousand population (2003 estimate) total population: 0.1 male(s)/female (2003 estimate) Infant mortality rate Total31 deaths per thousand live births female: 27 deaths per thousand live births (2003 estimate) male: 35 deaths per thousand live births Life expectancy at birth total population: 70 years male: 68 years female: 72 years (2003 estimate) Total fertility rate 2 children born/woman (2003 estimate)

Nationality

Vietnamese

Ethnic groups

Vietnamese 85 percent, Chinese, Thai, Khmer, Cham, other

Religious information on Vietnam

Buddhist, Hoa Hao, Cao Dai, Christian, indigenous religious beliefs, Muslim/Islamic faith

Languages & Linguistic Groupings

Vietnamese, English, some French, Chinese, and Khmer; mountain area languages (Mon-Khmer and Malayo-Polynesian) Literacy definition People over the age of 15 years that are literate (can read & write): total population: 94 percent male: 95 percent female: 93 percent (2003 estimate)

Government information on Vietnam

Country name Socialist Republic of Vietnam Government type Communist state Capital city Hanoi Independence 2 September 1945 from Republic of France National holiday Independence Day 2 September (1945) Constitution 15 April 1992 Legal system based on communist legal theory and French civil law system

Electoral & Voting System

Universal vote from the age of 18. Executive branch Head of StatePresident
Chief of Government:Prime Minister Cabinet: Cabinet chosen by the PM and appointed by the president

Legislative branch Unicameral Quoc Hoi or National Assembly

Economy information on Vietnam

Economy - overview A underdeveloped country that is experiencing areas of rapid growth.

The government is moving to put structural reforms in place to modernise the Vietnamese economy and to produce more export-based production.

Gross Domestic Product (GDP)

$USD180 billion (2002 estimate) Gross Domestic Product - actual growth rate 5 percent (2002 estimate) Gross Domestic Product (GDP) - per head of population: $USD2,000 (2002 estimate) Gross Domestic Product - composition by sector agriculture 20 percent industry40 percent services40 percent (2001 estimate) Population below poverty line 40 percent (1998 estimate)

Rate of inflation 4 percent (2002 estimate) Labour force 40 million (1998 estimate) Labour force - by occupation agriculture 60 percent, industry and services 40 percent (2000 estimate) Rate of unemployment20 percent (1995 estimate)

Budget information on Vietnam

Incomes $USD5 billion spending $USD6 billion. Industrial production growth rate 10 percent (2002 estimate)

Agriculture - products rice, grains, root crops and tubers, coffee, tea, legumes, rubber, soybeans, bananas, sugar; livestock, fruits, vegetables; fish

Exports

$USD16 billion Exports - commodities crude oil, fish products, rice, coffee, rubber, tea, clothing and apparel, footwear Exports - partners United States 15 percent, Japan 14 percent, Australia 7 percent, China 6 percent, Germany 6 percent, Singapore 5 percent, United Kingdom 4 percent (2002)

Imports

$USD17 billion Imports - commodities machinery, vehicles, equipment, fuel products, fertilizer, steel goods, raw textiles and fabrics, grain, cement, motorbiks Imports -most important trading partners South Korea 12 percent, China 12 percent, Japan 12 percent, Singapore 11 percent, Taiwan 10 percent, Thailand 5 percent (2002)

Foreign Indebtedness

$USD14 billion (2001) National Currency dong (VND) Currency Abbreviation VND

Communications information on Vietnam

Telephones landlines 2.5 million (2000) Radio broadcast stations Amplitude Modulation 60, Frequency Modulation 8, shortwave 30 (1999) Television broadcast stations 10 Internet country code .vn

Transportation in & travel information on Vietnam

Railroad networks Total3,000 kilometres Roading System Total93,000 kilometres Pipelines: condensate/gas 430 kilometres; gas 200 kilometres; oil 5 kilometres; refined products 200 kilometres (2003) Airports & airfields 50 (2002)

Military information on Vietnam

Military branches People's Army of Vietnam, Navy , Air Force, Coast Guard) Military spending - $USD600 million (Fiscal Year98) Military spending : percent of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) 2 percent (Fiscal Year98)

International Issues Vietnam Disputes - international Boundary disputes with China, Cambodia and Laos.

You know now all the facts & information on Vietnam – find out a bit about the French speaking countries’ history.

More information on Vietnam, a French-speaking nation
History of French speaking countries | Flag of Vietnam | Map of Vietnam | Learn French in Vietnam |

Facts on Vietnam
Source: All info sourced and adapted from CIA Factbook
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