- Vietnamese Flag
Vietnam is located in Southeastern Asia, bordering the Gulf of Thailand,the Gulf of Tonkin, and the South China Sea alongside China, Laos, and Cambodia.
The country is divided into 59 provinces. There are also 4 municipalities existing at the provincial level. The capital is Saigon. Its currency is the Dong.
Climate - tropical and monsoonal: humidity averages 84% throughout the year. Annual rainfall ranges from 47 to 118 inches, and annual temperatures vary between 50C (410F) and 370C (990F).
History - Vietnamese legends hold that native people populated and civilized the land more than 3,000 years ago. For most of the period from 207 BC to the early 10th century, Vietnam was under the rule of successive dynasties of China. The nation has endured long periods of colonization and war.
Economy & Industry - The Socialist Republic of Vietnam is governed through a highly centralized system dominated by the Communist Party of Vietnam. The government is, in theory, independent from the party, but in practice it receives most of its directives from the party. Although there has been some effort to discourage membership in overlapping party and state positions, this practice continues. For over two decades after peace returned, the country experienced little economic growth because of its conservative leadership policies. Since 2001, Vietnamese authorities have committed to economic liberalization and enacted structural reforms needed to modernize the economy and to produce more competitive, export-driven industries.
Country Comparison
| Vietnam | USA | |
| Population | 85,3 million | 301 million |
| Land Mass | 127,094 sq ml | 3,536,277 sq. ml |
| Average Annual Income | $ 3,100 | $43,800 |
| Life Expectancy | 71 years | 78 years |
| Access to Safe Water | 73% | 100% |
| Adequate to Sanitation | 41% | 100% |
| Under 5 Mortality Rate | 24 deaths/1000 live births | 6.4 deaths/1000 live births |
The people of Vietnam
Over 54 ethnic groups exist or have existed in Vietnam.
Religion - According to the 1999 census, 80.8% of population had no religion, 9.3% were Buddhist, 6.7% were Catholic, 1.5% were Hoa Hao, and 1.1% were Cao Dai.
Language - About eight languages are spoken by different ethnic groups, but 86.2% of the population speaks Vietnamese.
Health conditions - Around 10 million children live in poverty, as defined by the international poverty line (UNICEF). Each day, on average, seven women die from pregnancy and childbirth, and eight newborns die.
The Children of Vietnam
There are many orphans and abandoned children throughout the country. These children must fend for themselves by working as street peddlers, beggars and prostitutes.
Poverty is the primary reason that children end up in institutional care.
Vietnamese culture
During the last centuries before Christ, and the first two centuries A.D. as well, Vietnam was dominated by the Han Dynasty of China, which imbued the people and culture of Vietnam with many East Asian characteristics.
Pastimes - Card-playing and mahjong are especially popular with adults. Another favorite pastime with children and adults alike is betting on cricket fights during the rainy season. Children catch crickets and sell them for this purpose.
Horse racing held on Saturday and Sunday in a Saigon suburb draws large crowds as thousands of Vietnamese, young and old, turn out to cheer the pint-sized Asiatic horses and jockeys on to victory.
Football (soccer) is the dominant sport. Many others are striving for second place, such as tennis, badminton, volleyball, table tennis and martial arts.
Festivals & Holidays - Vietnam is known for celebrating nany holidays and festivals, such as the national holiday Tet, the Vietnamese New Year, and Tet Trung Thu, Mid-Autumn Moon Festival. Click here to find more Vietnamese holidays on Earth Calendar.
Statistics and information from CIA WORLD FACTBOOK, WIKIPEDIA, and UNICEF.
