Area

330,363 sq km

Population

75 million

Population growth rate

2.1 per cent (1994)

Official title of country

Socialist Republic of Vietnam;

Official title of country

Socialist Republic of Vietnam;

Climate and geography

Vietnam is located inside the Tropic of Cancer in South East Asia, between latitude 8°30' N to 23° 22' N. Vietnam has a humid tropical climate and is prone to monsoons.

Official language

Vietnamese

Ruling party

Communist Party

Head of government

Prime Minister Vo Van Kiet

Currency used

Dong

Political system

Vietnam is a socialist country, with the National Assembly as the major legislative body. The executive body is the Government is administered by the ruling Communist Party. In addition to these bodies, there are organisations representing people from the trade union, youth and women's unions, etc.

Education

The national education and training system of Vietnam is complete with the following four sectors: preschool, general, Voc/Tech education, and higher education. Preschool education includes creches (for children up to the age of 3 years) and kindergartens (for children up to the age of 4 - 6 years). General education consists of three levels: 5 year primary (grade 1 - 5), 4 year lower secondary (grade 6-9) and 3 year upper secondary (grade 10 - 12). The Vocational and Technical Education Sector consists of two types: vocational schools and centres which are designed to train skilled and semi-skilled workers, and secondary technical schools designed to train practitioners at the intermediate level in economics, medicine, teaching, culture and art Higher education includes three level: Bachelor, Masters and Doctorate Degrees.

Economy

Vietnam is an agricultural country with the principal rice producing areas of the Red River and Mekong Deltas. Vietnam has many kinds of fruit and tropical plantation. In Vietnam forests take up a large proportion with precious woods, and economically valuable forest products. Vietnam has more than 2000 km of coastline and more than 2500 rivers. There is a wide range of fish and sea produce. Vietnam is rich in minerals such as: chrome, nickel, iron, silver, gold, precious stone, coal, oil, etc. Vietnam has good textile and handicraft productions.