At a Glance

Official Name: Socialist Republic of Viet Nam

Continent: Asia

Area: 125,622 square miles (325,360 sq. km)

Population: 79,939,014

Capital City: Hanoi

Largest City: Ho Chi Minh City (3,169,135)

Unit of Money: new dong

Major Languages: Vietnamese (official), Chinese, English, French, Khymer

Natural Resources: Phosphates, coal, manganese, bauxite, chromate, offshore oil and gas deposits, forests

The Place

Vietnam is a long, narrow, S-shaped, country on the eastern coast of the Indochinese peninsula. Its capital is Hanoi. Vietnam's largest city is Ho Chi Minh City, formerly called Saigon.

Vietnam's total area is 125,622 square miles (325,360 square kilometers). The country is bordered by China, Laos, Cambodia, and its entire eastern coast is on the South China Sea. The far north and much of central Vietnam are hilly and mountainous. In central Vietnam, the narrowest part of the country, mountains and highlands extend to the coast, while Southern Vietnam is very low. Vietnam's 2 major rivers are the Red River in the north and the Mekong River in the south.

Most lowland areas and upland valleys are planted with rice, although other crops grown there include bananas, coconuts, papaya, and bamboo. Vietnam's most valuable natural resource is its crop land, however, it also has mineral resources including gold, iron, tin, zinc, phosphate, chromite, apatite, and anthracite coal.

Vietnam's climate is generally hot and humid. The northern plains have more seasonal variations and usually cooler nighttime temperatures than southern areas. Rainfall is plentiful throughout Vietnam. Typhoons sometimes hit the central coast, which have caused loss of life and destruction of cropland in recent years.

The People

Vietnam's people are primarily Vietnamese, accounting for almost 90% of the country's population. Other ethnicities include Chinese, Hmong, and the Tai-speaking Nung and Tay. Southern minorities include the highland ethnic groups, Khmer and Chan. Vietnamese is the country's official language, however, French, Chinese, English, and Khmer are also spoken.

Buddhism and Taoism are Vietnam's major religions. Other religious groups there include Roman Catholics, Muslims, Hoa Hao, Cao Dai, and Protestants.

Vietnamese in the north dress in cotton pants and coats. Some women in the south wear the traditional ao dai coat over trousers. About twofifths of the population is younger than 15 years, and life expectancy is about 66 years.

During the Vietnam War, many Vietnamese moved from rural to urban areas, especially in the south, and by the late 20th century, one-fifth of the total population lived in urban areas.

Education

About 94% of Vietnamese age 15 and over are literate. Education is free and is mandatory for the first 5 years of primary school. Most of Vietnam's children receive primary schooling. Less than half of young Vietnamese receive a secondary education, however, because there is a shortage of adequate facilities. Vietnamese education focuses on science and technology. Many students attend school abroad, mainly in the United States or Japan.

Major universities are located in Hanoi, Hue, Thai Nguyen, Da Nang, and Ho Chi Minh City.

Popular Culture/Daily Life

Traditionally, Vietnamese art, architecture, music, and literature followed Chinese forms. When the French colonized in the late 19th century, however, influences from Western cultures replaced that of China.

Before French colonial rule, Vietnamese literature was classical, based on the Chinese model or local ideas. Today, it is influenced by Western societies, including that of the U.S.

Architecture follows international styles, although there is some effort to preserve the distinctive character of major cities such as Hanoi, Hue, and Ho Chi Minh City. Abstract painting and Western music have become very popular. However, the communist government warns that Western popular music encourages attitudes that go against long-held cultural beliefs.