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Country Info
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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: www.antoanlaodong.gov.vn