Vietnam

Full name of country: Socialist Republic of Vietnam

Region: East & Southeast Asia

Official language: Vietnamese

Population: 105,758,975 (2024 est.)

Nationality: Vietnamese (singular and plural) (noun), Vietnamese (adjective)

Land area: 310,070 sq km (119,719 sq miles)

Water area: 21,140 sq km (8,162 sq miles)

Capital: Hanoi

National anthem: "Tien quan ca" (The Song of the Marching Troops), by Nguyen Van Cao

National holiday: Independence Day, September 2 (1945)

Population growth: 0.89% (2024 est.)

Time zone: UTC +7

Flag: The flag of Vietnam is red and features a five-pointed yellow star in its center.

Motto: “Doc lap, tu do, hanh phuc” (Independence, Liberty, and Happiness)

Independence: September 2, 1945 (from France)

Government type: Communist state

Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal

Legal system: civil law system; note - the civil code of 2005 reflects a European-style civil law

The Socialist Republic of Vietnam, located in southeastern Asia, is bordered by Cambodia, Laos, and China. The South China Sea forms its long coastline. Before it was colonized by France, Vietnam had nine centuries of independent history behind it. The French colonial period was ruinous to the country and culminated in North Vietnam repelling the French and establishing Communist rule.

Fearing the spread of Communism, the United States first backed and then joined forces with the South Vietnamese and engaged in a military conflict against North Vietnam for a decade until a 1973 withdrawal. Both sides incurred heavy losses in a brutal war, which ended with Communist victory and the 1976 unification of North and South Vietnam. Years of economic hardship followed.

With the introduction of market-based economics and the normalization of relations with its neighbors and former enemies, Vietnam began making remarkable progress despite the control of the Vietnamese Communist Party over most aspects of the country's life.

Note: unless otherwise indicated, statistical data in this article is sourced from the CIA World Factbook, as cited in the bibliography.

People and Culture

Population: With a median age of 33.1 years in 2024, Vietnam has a young population that is growing at a fast rate. Life expectancy is 73.5 years for men and 78.9 years for women (2024 estimates). The country ranked 115th on the 2022 United Nations Human Development Index.

In 2021 the World Bank estimated that the average population density is 311 persons per square kilometer. Most of the population is concentrated in the river deltas. Approximately 39.5 percent of the population is urban, a figure that is continuing to grow annually (2023 estimate). Ho Chi Minh City has the largest population, with nearly 9.321 million people; Hanoi has an estimated population of about 5.253 million people (2023 estimates). Can Tho, Da Nang, and Haiphong are other important urban centers.

Ethnic Vietnamese (Viet or Kinh) account for 85.3 percent of the population (2019 estimate). Ethnic minorities include Tay, Thai, Muong, Khmer, Mong, Nung, and Hoa. The Degar, or Montagnards, the tribal peoples who live in the central highlands, can be divided into as many as fifty ethnic groups.

Each ethnic group speaks its own language, with Vietnamese also serving as the official language. Belonging to the Austro-Asiatic language family, it was for centuries written with Chinese characters, but has been written in a modified Latin script since the French colonial period. Like Chinese, Vietnamese semantics depend on the tone of speech. English is also gaining widespread acceptance as a second common language. Some populations continue to speak French, Chinese, or Khmer.

Vietnam is one of the least religious countries in the world, with only 12.8 percent of the population categorized as religious believers (2019 estimate). Approximately 5.8 percent of Vietnamese identify with Buddhism, the religion that has had the longest standing in the country. Roman Catholicism is practiced by approximately 6.1 percent of the population. Minority religions include Hoa Hao, Cao Dai, Protestantism, and Islam.

Indigenous People: The various ethnic groups in Vietnam have coexisted peacefully for the most part. However, the tribes of the central highlands, collectively known as the Degar or Montagnards, have resisted government control. They claim that the government has long suppressed them politically and religiously, and have called for a return of their ancestral lands. The central government, fearing a secessionist movement, has clamped down on their protests.

Education: Though the literacy rate is high, averaging 95.8 percent of those over age fifteen (2019 estimate), the levels of overall education are quite low in Vietnam. For many years, schooling was free and compulsory for five years, but attendance dropped off dramatically after primary school. According to some reports, as part of education reform, the period of compulsory education had been extended to nine years, which included lower secondary schooling, by 2020.

The major Vietnamese cities have universities, with those in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City being the largest and most prestigious. Placement is highly competitive, and only a relatively small percentage of university-age students attend at this level. There are also numerous vocational schools for post-secondary studies.

Since the French colonial period, education in Vietnam has been based on modern principles. These were later combined with Communist ideology and Vietnamese history and culture. In limited ways, the Communist ideology has begun giving ground to broader ideas.

Health Care: The quality and reach of health care declined over many years because of inadequate government spending. Though some reforms have been underway, there has been a significant discrepancy between rural and urban medical services, and a shortage of staff and facilities throughout the system.

As a result of underfunding, diseases which could be prevented still compromise the health of the Vietnamese. These include dengue fever, malaria, cholera, typhoid fever, and tuberculosis; the HIV-infection rate also steadily increased, and malnutrition remains a problem in rural areas. These problems aside, life expectancy levels are high.

Food: Vietnam's cuisine is extraordinarily diverse and generally healthy. Rice or rice noodles appear in most dishes, either as a base for meat and vegetables or in soups. The national dish is pho, a soup made from meat stock and served with noodles and strips of meat, either cooked or raw. It is commonly eaten for breakfast but can be eaten at any time. It is also common for many small dishes to be served for a single meal.

Other popular dishes include gio lua, pork wrapped in banana leaves and boiled; bahn chung, rice cakes always prepared for the Tet festivities; and cha ca, a dish made of grilled and minced fish. Tea, coffee and rice wine are popular drinks.

The French colonial period left its mark on Vietnamese cuisine in the form of banh mi, a sandwich of meat, pickled vegetables, and fresh herbs (usually cilantro) served on a French baguette.

Arts & Entertainment: Centuries of Vietnamese art, literature, and architecture influenced by Chinese models were opened to Western influence during the French colonial period. With the communist victory, styles and subject matter became influenced by Socialist Realism, which depicts the wars for liberation and the struggle to create a communist society in positive terms. Though Vietnamese culture has experienced some liberalizing tendencies over the last decade, its expressions are still controlled by government censors.

In literature, several authors and works stand out for their influence and popularity. Poetry remains the most respected literary form, and "Kim Van Kieu," a philosophical poem by Nguyen Du (1765–1820), is one of the most widely known works. The novelist and short story writer Nguyen Huy Thiep took advantage of the liberalizing trend to depict Vietnamese society in frank, realistic detail rather than in a Socialist Realist style.

Vietnam's film industry has been developing. Film has often been used as a poetic medium to depict the daily lives of the country's people. Tran Anh Hung is among the most well-known Vietnamese directors abroad and produced several acclaimed features. Some of his works faced censorship within Vietnam, however.

Vietnamese also practice many traditional arts, including woodblock printing, wood carving and inlay, lacquer work, silk painting, religious sculpture, weaving, and ceramics.

In their leisure time, many Vietnamese enjoy playing cards or mahjong. Football (soccer), volleyball, and cycling are popular sports. Many people practice tai chi or tha cuc guyen, activities that stress overall fitness and breathing through series of movements.

Holidays: Religious holidays and festivals in Vietnam follow the lunar calendar; the major holidays are celebrated throughout the country, whereas many minor holidays are celebrated only at the provincial or town level. Tet, in late January or early February, is the Vietnamese new year and the country's most important festival. Resolutions for the new year are made, families gather for feasts, and children receive small gifts of money in the week-long celebrations. On the third day, families visit the graves of their ancestors to leave food for them. A similar spiritual idea informs Thanh Minh (April), which commemorates dead family members, and Trung Nguyen (August), when people offer food and gifts to the forgotten dead.

The following national holidays are also marked: the Foundation of the Communist Party (February 3), the Liberation of Saigon (April 30), the Defeat of the French at Dien Bien Phu (May 7) and the anniversary of Ho Chi Minh's birth (May 19) and death (September 3).

Environment and Geography

Topography: Vietnam is long and narrow, with mountains in the north, central highlands, tropical lowlands in the south, and river deltas in the south and northeast. The northern mountains, which are part of the Yunnan Plateau of China, contain the country's highest point: Fan Si Pan, at an elevation of 3,144 meters (10,314 feet). The central highlands, known as the Giai Truong Son, are densely covered with rainforest, and are sparsely populated.

In the northeast, along the Gulf of Tonkin, is the Red River Delta, a heavily cultivated area of alluvial soils. The other major delta, the Mekong River Delta, dominates the southern lowlands and provides equally rich agricultural land. These two deltas are the major geographical features of Vietnam's 3,444 kilometers (2,140 miles) of coastline.

The Red River and the Mekong River are Vietnam's most important rivers. Both are navigable and serve as important shipping routes. Minor rivers include the Thai Binh, the Ca, the Ma, the Han, and the Dong Nai.

Natural Resources: Vietnam has deposits of coal, bauxite, manganese, copper, gold, iron, silver, zinc, and oil. Other natural resources include timber, hydropower, and fish.

Decades of land mismanagement, population growth, and war have created several environmental problems. Intensive cultivation of the land and timber cutting has led to deforestation and soil erosion. Over-fishing has depleted stocks of marine animals. In the largest urban centers, air and water pollution and inadequate waste treatment have reached critical levels.

Use of the defoliant known as Agent Orange by the United States military during the Vietnam War contaminated the environment and still causes illnesses and birth defects. There are, moreover, numerous unexploded landmines littered across the country.

Plants & Animals: Vietnam's lush environment contains many plants and trees, and forest accounts for 45 percent of the country's total area (2018 estimate). In the mountain forests, both deciduous and evergreen trees are found, including ebony, teak, and pine. Some forests are made even denser by woody vines and broad-leafed plants. In the lower areas, palms, fruit trees, bamboo, grass and brush predominate; mangroves are commonly found in delta areas. Much of the terrain in Vietnam has been cleared for the intense agriculture in which many Vietnamese are involved.

The forests provide habitats for an array of animals. Elephants, tapirs, tigers, leopards, wild oxen, bears, deer, wild boar, and numerous smaller mammals such as monkeys and squirrels are all found. Large populations of birds and reptiles also flourish.

Deforestation, poaching, and illegal smuggling threaten many animal species. Among them are bears, several primates, elephants, and large cats. Some animals which were thought to be extinct or were not previously known to exist have been found in Vietnam, including the saola, while many others are endemic to the area.

Climate: Vietnam has a hot, humid, and wet climate. Temperatures average between 5° and 37° Celsius (41° and 99° Fahrenheit); the southern delta and the central coast experience the hottest temperatures while the northern plains, where the seasons are more pronounced, become cold at night.

Annual precipitation averages between 1,200 and 3,000 millimeters (47 and 118 inches). Rainfall is heavier in the south and along the central coast, and the Mekong Delta area experiences the longest rainy season, lasting from May to October. Outside of the monsoon season, the country is typically dry.

The central coast is prone to typhoons between May and January. The typhoons can cause loss of life and extensive flooding, especially of the river deltas, where arable land and property are often destroyed.

Economy

Long, devastating wars and a centrally planned economy stifled economic growth, but in the late 1980s the government began implementing more liberal economic policies. As a result, the Vietnamese economy has improved remarkably, though there have been periods of downturn. Levels of inflation and poverty (4.8 percent of the population lived below the poverty line, according to a 2020 estimate) have been significantly reduced. In a labor force of 56.149 million (2023 estimate), unemployment is around 1.6 percent (2023 estimate). The estimated gross domestic product (GDP) was US$1.354 trillion and the GDP per capita was US$13,700  in 2023.

Industry: Vietnam's industry sector includes food processing, steel productions, and the manufacture of cigarettes, textiles, chemicals, paper, building materials, and electrical goods. Mining is also important in the north and produces large quantities of coal, among other minerals. Oil, which is extracted from offshore deposits, has become one of the country's most important exports.

Agriculture: Vietnam developed as an agrarian society, and agriculture remains an essential sector of the economy. Wet rice, cultivated mostly in the river deltas, is the major cash crop. Coffee, rubber, tea, pepper, soybeans, cashews, peanuts, bananas, and sugarcane are other important crops. The fishing industry remains a productive sector and is growing. Water buffalo, cattle, and poultry are the most commonly raised livestock.

Tourism: Tourism started becoming a major sector in the Vietnamese economy in the early 1990s, and grew rapidly as the government embraced some free market principles. In 2019, about 18 million international tourists visited the country, according to the World Bank. This number sharply dropped to 3.8 million following the COVID-19 pandemic that began the following year.

From mountains and tropical forests to beaches and river deltas, Vietnam offers spectacular natural landscapes. Culturally, there are religious buildings honoring Buddha scattered throughout the country. The Royal Tombs of the Nguyen Dynasty in the former imperial city of Hue is one of the most visited sites in the country. Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi are popular destinations for their markets, parks, and museums.

Government

Vietnam was united in 1976, and the North's Communist system was imposed on the entire country. Though some liberalization has taken hold over the last few decades, the media is strictly controlled and dissent from the official line is punished. The most recent constitution adopted in 2013 takes into account the changes that the government has allowed. The only political party allowed is the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV).

The executive branch is presided over by a president, the head of state, and a prime minister, the head of government. The president is indirectly elected by the National Assembly, while the prime minister is appointed by the president from within the National Assembly and approved by that body. The prime minister proposes a cabinet, which the president appoints and the National Assembly confirms.

The National Assembly is Vietnam's unicameral legislature, consisting of 500 directly elected members; their terms last five years. They are responsible for approving legislation initiated by the executive branch, among other duties.

The Supreme People's Court, the highest court of the judicial branch, is presided over by a chief justice. The National Assembly elects the chief justice to a five-year term, which may be renewed, on the recommendation of the president; the thirteen other Supreme People's Court judges are appointed by the president. District courts operate at the provincial level. Their judges and assessors are elected by the local governments. The judiciary is not fully independent of the executive branch.

Vietnam's fifty-eight provinces (known as tinh) and five municipalities (known as thanh pho) are strictly controlled by the central government. The provinces are composed of municipalities, then districts, towns, and villages. At each level there is a directly elected council.

Interesting Facts

• At its narrowest point, Vietnam is only 50 kilometers (31 miles) wide.
• The Red River Delta in northern Vietnam is among the world's most densely populated agricultural regions.
• Ho Chi Minh City is named for the leader (1890–1969) who led the Vietnamese Communist movement in its drive for independence.
• In the 2016 Summer Olympics, Vietnam earned its first gold medal since beginning to compete in the Olympics with the Vietnamese athlete earning the top spot in the men's air pistol competition.
• Vietnam's first high-volume domestic automaker debuted its first car models in Paris in 2018.

Bibliography

"2019 Report on International Religious Freedom: Vietnam." U.S. Department of State, www.state.gov/reports/2019-report-on-international-religious-freedom/vietnam/. Accessed 22 Jun. 2022.

"Vietnam." The World Bank, 2023, data.worldbank.org/country/vietnam. Accessed 14 Nov. 2023.

"Vietnam." The World Factbook, Central Intelligence Agency, 6 Nov. 2023, www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/vietnam/. Accessed 9 Dec. 2024.

“Human Development Insights.” Human Development Reports, United Nations Development Programme, 2022, hdr.undp.org/data-center/country-insights#/ranks. Accessed 9 Dec. 2024.

World Statistics Pocketbook 2021 Edition. United Nations, 2021, unstats.un.org/unsd/publications/pocketbook/files/world-stats-pocketbook-2021.pdf. Accessed 22 Jun. 2022.