Legend:
 Definition
 Field Listing
 Rank Order
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Background:
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The conquest of Vietnam by France began in 1858 and was completed by 1884. It became part of French Indochina in 1887. Vietnam declared independence after World War II, but France continued to rule until its 1954 defeat by Communist forces under Ho Chi MINH. Under the Geneva Accords of 1954, Vietnam was divided into the Communist North and anti-Communist South. 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military aid to South Vietnam grew through the 1960s in an attempt to bolster the government, but US armed forces were withdrawn following a cease-fire agreement in 1973.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 reuniting the country under Communist rule. Despite the return of peace, for over a decade the country experienced little economic growth because of conservative leadership policies. However, since the enactment of Vietnam's "doi moi" (renovation) policy in 1986, Vietnamese authorities have committed to increased economic liberalization and enacted structural reforms needed to modernize the economy and to produce more competitive, export-driven industries. The country continues to experience protests from various groups - such as the Protestant Montagnard ethnic minority population of the Central Highlands and the Hoa Hao Buddhists in southern Vietnam over religious persecution. Montagnard grievances also include the loss of land to Vietnamese settlers.
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Location:
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Southeastern Asia, bordering the Gulf of Thailand, Gulf of Tonkin, and South China Sea, alongside China, Laos, and Cambodia
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Geographic coordinates:
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16 00 N, 106 00 E
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Map references:
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Southeast Asia
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Area:
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total: 329,560 sq km
land: 325,360 sq km
water: 4,200 sq km
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Area - comparative:
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slightly larger than New Mexico
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Land boundaries:
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total: 4,639 km
border countries: Cambodia 1,228 km, China 1,281 km, Laos 2,130 km
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Coastline:
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3,444 km (excludes islands)
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Maritime claims:
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territorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 24 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
continental shelf: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin
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Climate:
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tropical in south; monsoonal in north with hot, rainy season (May to September) and warm, dry season (October to March)
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Terrain:
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low, flat delta in south and north; central highlands; hilly, mountainous in far north and northwest
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Elevation extremes:
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lowest point: South China Sea 0 m
highest point: Fan Si Pan 3,144 m
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Natural resources:
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phosphates, coal, manganese, bauxite, chromate, offshore oil and gas deposits, forests, hydropower
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Land use:
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arable land: 20.14%
permanent crops: 6.93%
other: 72.93% (2005)
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Irrigated land:
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30,000 sq km (2003)
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Natural hazards:
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occasional typhoons (May to January) with extensive flooding, especially in the Mekong River delta
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Environment - current issues:
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logging and slash-and-burn agricultural practices contribute to deforestation and soil degradation; water pollution and overfishing threaten marine life populations; groundwater contamination limits potable water supply; growing urban industrialization and population migration are rapidly degrading environment in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City
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Environment - international agreements:
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party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
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Geography - note:
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extending 1,650 km north to south, the country is only 50 km across at its narrowest point
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Population:
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84,402,966 (July 2006 est.)
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Age structure:
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0-14 years: 27% (male 11,826,457/female 10,983,069)
15-64 years: 67.1% (male 28,055,941/female 28,614,553)
65 years and over: 5.8% (male 1,924,562/female 2,998,384) (2006 est.)
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Median age:
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total: 25.9 years
male: 24.8 years
female: 27.1 years (2006 est.)
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Population growth rate:
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1.02% (2006 est.)
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Birth rate:
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16.86 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)
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Death rate:
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6.22 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)
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Net migration rate:
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-0.42 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 est.)
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Sex ratio:
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at birth: 1.07 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.08 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.98 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.64 male(s)/female
total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2006 est.)
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Infant mortality rate:
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total: 25.14 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 25.54 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 24.72 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)
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Life expectancy at birth:
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total population: 70.85 years
male: 68.05 years
female: 73.85 years (2006 est.)
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Total fertility rate:
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1.91 children born/woman (2006 est.)
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HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
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0.4% (2003 est.)
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HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
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220,000 (2003 est.)
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HIV/AIDS - deaths:
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9,000 (2003 est.)
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Major infectious diseases:
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degree of risk: high
food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever
vectorborne diseases: dengue fever, malaria, Japanese encephalitis, and plague are high risks in some locations
animal contact disease: rabies
water contact disease: leptospirosis
note: highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza has been identified among birds in this country or surrounding region; it poses a negligible risk with extremely rare cases possible among US citizens who have close contact with birds (2007)
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Nationality:
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noun: Vietnamese (singular and plural)
adjective: Vietnamese
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Ethnic groups:
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Kinh (Viet) 86.2%, Tay 1.9%, Thai 1.7%, Muong 1.5%, Khome 1.4%, Hoa 1.1%, Nun 1.1%, Hmong 1%, others 4.1% (1999 census)
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Religions:
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Buddhist 9.3%, Catholic 6.7%, Hoa Hao 1.5%, Cao Dai 1.1%, Protestant 0.5%, Muslim 0.1%, none 80.8% (1999 census)
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Languages:
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Vietnamese (official), English (increasingly favored as a second language), some French, Chinese, and Khmer; mountain area languages (Mon-Khmer and Malayo-Polynesian)
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Literacy:
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definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 90.3%
male: 93.9%
female: 86.9% (2002)
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Country name:
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conventional long form: Socialist Republic of Vietnam
conventional short form: Vietnam
local long form: Cong Hoa Xa Hoi Chu Nghia Viet Nam
local short form: Viet Nam
abbreviation: SRV
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Government type:
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Communist state
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Capital:
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name: Hanoi
geographic coordinates: 21 02 N, 105 51 E
time difference: UTC+7 (12 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)
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Administrative divisions:
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59 provinces (tinh, singular and plural) and 5 municipalities (thanh pho, singular and plural)
provinces: An Giang, Bac Giang, Bac Kan, Bac Lieu, Bac Ninh, Ba Ria-Vung Tau, Ben Tre, Binh Dinh, Binh Duong, Binh Phuoc, Binh Thuan, Ca Mau, Cao Bang, Dac Lak, Dac Nong, Dien Bien, Dong Nai, Dong Thap, Gia Lai, Ha Giang, Ha Nam, Ha Tay, Ha Tinh, Hai Duong, Hau Giang, Hoa Binh, Hung Yen, Khanh Hoa, Kien Giang, Kon Tum, Lai Chau, Lam Dong, Lang Son, Lao Cai, Long An, Nam Dinh, Nghe An, Ninh Binh, Ninh Thuan, Phu Tho, Phu Yen, Quang Binh, Quang Nam, Quang Ngai, Quang Ninh, Quang Tri, Soc Trang, Son La, Tay Ninh, Thai Binh, Thai Nguyen, Thanh Hoa, Thua Thien-Hue, Tien Giang, Tra Vinh, Tuyen Quang, Vinh Long, Vinh Phuc, Yen Bai
municipalities: Can Tho, Da Nang, Hai Phong, Ha Noi, Ho Chi Minh
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Independence:
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2 September 1945 (from France)
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National holiday:
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Independence Day, 2 September (1945)
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Constitution:
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15 April 1992
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Legal system:
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based on communist legal theory and French civil law system
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Suffrage:
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18 years of age; universal
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Executive branch:
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chief of state: President Nguyen Minh TRIET (since 27 June 2006); Vice President Truong My HOA (since 25 July 2002)
head of government: Prime Minister Nguyen Tan DUNG (since 27 June 2006); Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Sinh HUNG (since 28 June 2006), Deputy Prime Minister Pham Gia KHIEM (since 28 June 2006), and Deputy Prime Minister Truong Vinh TRONG (since 28 June 2006)
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by president based on proposal of prime minister and confirmed by National Assembly
elections: president elected by the National Assembly from among its members for five-year term; election last held 27 June 2006; prime minister appointed by the president from among the members of the National Assembly; deputy prime ministers appointed by the prime minister; appointment of prime minister and deputy prime ministers confirmed by National Assembly
election results: Nguyen Minh TRIET elected president; percent of National Assembly vote - 94%; Nguyen Tan DUNG elected prime minister; percent of National Assembly vote - 92%
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Legislative branch:
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unicameral National Assembly or Quoc Hoi (498 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms)
elections: last held 19 May 2002 (next to be held on 20 May 2007)
election results: percent of vote by party - CPV 90%, other 10% (those who received the 10% were not CPV members but were approved by the CPV to stand for election); seats by party - CPV 447, CPV-approved 51
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Judicial branch:
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Supreme People's Court (chief justice is elected for a five-year term by the National Assembly on the recommendation of the president)
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Political parties and leaders:
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Communist Party of Vietnam or CPV [Nong Duc MANH]; other parties proscribed
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Political pressure groups and leaders:
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groups advocate democracy but are not recognized by government - 8406 Bloc; Democratic Party of Vietnam or DPV; People's Democratic Party Vietnam or PDP-VN; Alliance for Democracy (2006)
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International organization participation:
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ACCT (observer), APEC, APT, ARF, AsDB, ASEAN, CP, EAS, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), IPU, ISO, ITU, MIGA, NAM, OIF, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
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Diplomatic representation in the US:
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chief of mission: Ambassador Nguyen Tam CHIEN
chancery: 1233 20th Street NW, Suite 400, Washington, DC 20036
telephone: [1] (202) 861-0737
FAX: [1] (202) 861-0917
consulate(s) general: San Francisco
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Diplomatic representation from the US:
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chief of mission: Ambassador Michael W. MARINE
embassy: 7 Lang Ha Street, Ba Dinh District, Hanoi
mailing address: PSC 461, Box 400, FPO AP 96521-0002
telephone: [84] (4) 772-1500
FAX: [84] (4) 772-1510
consulate(s) general: Ho Chi Minh City
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Flag description:
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red with a large yellow five-pointed star in the center
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Economy - overview:
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Vietnam is a densely-populated, developing country that in the last 30 years has had to recover from the ravages of war, the loss of financial support from the old Soviet Bloc, and the rigidities of a centrally-planned economy. Substantial progress was achieved from 1986 to 1997 in moving forward from an extremely low level of development and significantly reducing poverty. Growth averaged around 9% per year from 1993 to 1997. The 1997 Asian financial crisis highlighted the problems in the Vietnamese economy and temporarily allowed opponents of reform to slow progress toward a market-oriented economy. GDP growth averaged 6.8% per year from 1997 to 2004 even against the background of the Asian financial crisis and a global recession, and growth hit 8% in 2005 and 7.8% in 2006. Since 2001, however, Vietnamese authorities have reaffirmed their commitment to economic liberalization and international integration. They have moved to implement the structural reforms needed to modernize the economy and to produce more competitive, export-driven industries. Vietnam's membership in the ASEAN Free Trade Area (AFTA) and entry into force of the US-Vietnam Bilateral Trade Agreement in December 2001 have led to even more rapid changes in Vietnam's trade and economic regime. Vietnam's exports to the US doubled in 2002 and again in 2003. Vietnam joined the World Trade Organization in January 2007, following over a decade long negotiation process. This should provide an important boost to the economy and should help ensure the continuation of liberalizing reforms. Among other benefits, accession allows Vietnam to take advantage of the phase out of the Agreement on Textiles and Clothing, which eliminated quotas on textiles and clothing for WTO partners on 1 January 2005. Agriculture's share of economic output has continued to shrink, from about 25% in 2000 to 20% in 2006. Deep poverty, defined as a percent of the population living under $1 per day, has declined significantly and is now smaller than that of China, India, and the Philippines. Vietnam is working to promote job creation to meet the challenge of over one million entrants to the job market every year. Vietnamese authorities have tightened monetary and fiscal policies in order to stem high inflation. Hanoi is targeting an economic growth rate between 7.5 and 8% over the next five years.
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GDP (purchasing power parity):
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$258.6 billion (2006 est.)
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GDP (official exchange rate):
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$48.26 billion (2006 est.)
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GDP - real growth rate:
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7.8% (2006 est.)
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GDP - per capita (PPP):
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$3,100 (2006 est.)
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GDP - composition by sector:
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agriculture: 20.1%
industry: 41.8%
services: 38.1% (2006 est.)
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Labor force:
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44.58 million (2006 est.)
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Labor force - by occupation:
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agriculture: 56.8%
industry: 37%
services: 6.2% (July 2005)
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Unemployment rate:
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2% (2006 est.)
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Population below poverty line:
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19.5% (2004 est.)
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Household income or consumption by percentage share:
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lowest 10%: 3.6%
highest 10%: 29.9% (1998)
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Distribution of family income - Gini index:
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36.1 (1998)
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Inflation rate (consumer prices):
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7.5% (2006 est.)
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Investment (gross fixed):
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32.6% of GDP (2006 est.)
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Budget:
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revenues: $15.42 billion
expenditures: $16.63 billion; including capital expenditures of $1.8 billion (2006 est.)
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Public debt:
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47.5% of GDP (2006 est.)
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Agriculture - products:
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paddy rice, coffee, rubber, cotton, tea, pepper, soybeans, cashews, sugar cane, peanuts, bananas; poultry; fish, seafood
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Industries:
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food processing, garments, shoes, machine-building; mining, coal, steel; cement, chemical fertilizer, glass, tires, oil, paper
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Industrial production growth rate:
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11.3% (2006 est.)
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Electricity - production:
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40.11 billion kWh (2004)
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Electricity - consumption:
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37.3 billion kWh (2004)
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Electricity - exports:
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0 kWh (2004)
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Electricity - imports:
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0 kWh (2004)
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Oil - production:
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400,000 bbl/day (2005 est.)
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Oil - consumption:
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230,000 bbl/day (2004 est.)
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Oil - exports:
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NA bbl/day
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Oil - imports:
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NA bbl/day
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Oil - proved reserves:
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2.5 billion bbl (2006 est.)
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Natural gas - production:
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6.342 billion cu m (2005 est.)
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Natural gas - consumption:
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6.342 billion cu m (2005 est.)
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Natural gas - exports:
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0 cu m (2005 est.)
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Natural gas - imports:
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0 cu m (2005 est.)
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Natural gas - proved reserves:
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192.6 billion cu m (1 January 2005 est.)
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Current account balance:
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$1.029 billion (2006 est.)
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Exports:
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$39.92 billion f.o.b. (2006 est.)
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Exports - commodities:
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crude oil, marine products, rice, coffee, rubber, tea, garments, shoes
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Exports - partners:
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US 18.3%, Japan 13.6%, China 9%, Australia 7.9%, Singapore 5.6% (2005)
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Imports:
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$39.16 billion f.o.b. (2006 est.)
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Imports - commodities:
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machinery and equipment, petroleum products, fertilizer, steel products, raw cotton, grain, cement, motorcycles
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Imports - partners:
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China 15.6%, Singapore 12.4%, Taiwan 11.7%, Japan 11.1%, South Korea 9.7%, Thailand 6.5% (2005)
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Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
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$11.92 billion (2006 est.)
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Debt - external:
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$21.86 billion (2006 est.)
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Economic aid - recipient:
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$2.8 billion in credits and grants pledged by the 2006 Consultative Group meeting in Hanoi (2004)
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Currency (code):
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dong (VND)
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Exchange rates:
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dong per US dollar - 15,983 (2006), 15,746 (2005), (2004), 15,510 (2003), 15,280 (2002)
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Fiscal year:
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calendar year
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Airports:
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32 (2006)
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Airports - with paved runways:
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total: 26
over 3,047 m: 8
2,438 to 3,047 m: 5
1,524 to 2,437 m: 11
914 to 1,523 m: 2 (2006)
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Airports - with unpaved runways:
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total: 6
1,524 to 2,437 m: 2
914 to 1,523 m: 2
under 914 m: 2 (2006)
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Pipelines:
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condensate/gas 432 km; gas 163 km; oil 50 km; refined products 206 km (2006)
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Railways:
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total: 2,600 km
standard gauge: 178 km 1.435-m gauge
narrow gauge: 2,169 km 1.000-m gauge
dual gauge: 253 km three-rail track combining 1.435 m and 1.000-m gauges (2005)
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Roadways:
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total: 222,179 km
paved: 42,167 km
unpaved: 180,012 km (2004)
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Waterways:
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17,702 km (5,000 km navigable by vessels up to 1.8 m draft) (2005)
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Merchant marine:
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total: 267 ships (1000 GRT or over) 1,423,936 GRT/2,191,858 DWT
by type: bulk carrier 23, cargo 202, chemical tanker 4, container 5, liquefied gas 5, petroleum tanker 24, refrigerated cargo 2, roll on/roll off 1, specialized tanker 1
foreign-owned: 1 (Denmark 1)
registered in other countries: 17 (Antigua and Barbuda 1, Honduras 1, Mongolia 8, Panama 4, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 1, unknown 2) (2006)
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Ports and terminals:
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Hai Phong, Ho Chi Minh City
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Military branches:
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People's Armed Forces: People's Army of Vietnam (PAVN) (includes People's Navy Command (with naval infantry, coast guard), Air and Air Defense Force (Kon Quan Nhan Dan), Border Defense Command), People's Public Security Forces, Militia Force, Self-Defense Forces (2005)
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Military service age and obligation:
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18 years of age (male) for compulsory military service; females may volunteer for active duty military service; conscript service obligation - 2 years (3-4 years in the navy); 18-45 years of age (male) or 18-40 years of age (female) for Militia Force or Self Defense Forces (2006)
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Manpower available for military service:
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males age 18-49: 21,341,813
females age 18-49: 21,430,808 (2005 est.)
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Manpower fit for military service:
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males age 18-49: 16,032,358
females age 18-49: 17,921,241 (2005 est.)
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Manpower reaching military service age annually:
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males age 18-49: 915,572
females age 18-49: 864,161 (2005 est.)
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Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
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2.5% (2005 est.)
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This page was last updated on 15 March, 2007
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