Bolivariana, FANB): National Bolivarian Army (Ejercito Nacional
Bolivariano, ENB), Bolivarian National Navy (Fuerza Armada Nacional
Bolivariana (FANB); includes Naval Infantry, Coast Guard, Naval
Aviation), Bolivarian National Military Aviation (Aviacion Militar
Nacional Bolivariana, AMNB), Bolivarian National Guard (Guardia
Nacional Bolivaria, GNB) (2009)
Military service age and obligation:
18-30 years of age for compulsory and voluntary military service;
30-month conscript service obligation; all citizens 18-50 years old
are obligated to register for military service (2008)
Manpower available for military service:
males age 16-49: 6,647,124
females age 16-49: 6,801,133 (2008 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 16-49: 5,391,582
females age 16-49: 5,873,563 (2009 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
male: 276,051
female: 274,162 (2009 est.)
Military expenditures:
1.2% of GDP (2005 est.)
country comparison to the world: 130
Transnational Issues ::Venezuela
Disputes - international:
claims all of the area west of the Essequibo River in Guyana,
preventing any discussion of a maritime boundary; Guyana has
expressed its intention to join Barbados in asserting claims before
the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) that
Trinidad and Tobago's maritime boundary with Venezuela extends into
their waters; dispute with Colombia over maritime boundary and
Venezuelan-administered Los Monjes islands near the Gulf of
Venezuela; Colombian-organized illegal narcotics and paramilitary
activities penetrate Venezuela's shared border region; in 2006, an
estimated 139,000 Colombians sought protection in 150 communities
along the border in Venezuela; US, France, and the Netherlands
recognize Venezuela's granting full effect to Aves Island, thereby
claiming a Venezuelan EEZ/continental shelf extending over a large
portion of the eastern Caribbean Sea; Dominica, Saint Kitts and
Nevis, Saint Lucia, and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines protest
Venezuela's full effect claim
Trafficking in persons:
current situation: Venezuela is a source, transit, and destination
country for men, women, and children trafficked for the purposes of
commercial sexual exploitation and forced labor; Venezuelan women
and girls are trafficked within the country for sexual exploitation,
lured from the nation's interior to urban and tourist areas; child
prostitution in urban areas and child sex tourism in resort
destinations appear to be growing; Venezuelan women and girls are
trafficked for commercial sexual exploitation to Western Europe,
Mexico, and Caribbean destinations
tier rating: Tier 2 Watch List - Venezuela is placed on the Tier 2
Watch List, up from Tier 3, as it showed greater resolve to address
trafficking through law enforcement measures and prevention efforts
in 2007, although stringent punishment of offenders and victim
assistance remain lacking (2008)
Illicit drugs:
small-scale illicit producer of opium and coca for the processing of
opiates and coca derivatives; however, large quantities of cocaine,
heroin, and marijuana transit the country from Colombia bound for US
and Europe; significant narcotics-related money-laundering activity,
especially along the border with Colombia and on Margarita Island;
active eradication program primarily targeting opium; increasing
signs of drug-related activities by Colombian insurgents on border
page last updated on November 11, 2009
======================================================================
@Vietnam (East & Southeast Asia)
Introduction ::Vietnam
Background:
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, the persecution and mass exodus of individuals
- many of them successful South Vietnamese merchants - and growing
international isolation. 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 small-scale protests from various groups, the vast
majority connected to land-use issues and the lack of equitable
mechanisms for resolving disputes. Various ethnic minorities, such
as the Montagnards of the Central Highlands and the Khmer Krom in
the southern delta region, have also held protests. In January 2008,
Vietnam assumed a nonpermanent seat on the UN Security Council for
the 2008-09 term.
Geography ::Vietnam
Location:
Southeastern Asia, bordering the Gulf of Thailand, Gulf of Tonkin,
and South China Sea, alongside China, Laos, and Cambodia
Geographic coordinates:
16 10 N, 107 50 E
Map references:
Southeast Asia
Area:
total: 331,210 sq km
country comparison to the world: 65
land: 310,070 sq km
water: 21,140 sq km
Area - comparative:
slightly larger than New Mexico
Land boundaries:
total: 4,639 km
border countries: Cambodia 1,228 km, China 1,281 km, Laos 2,130 km
Coastline:
3,444 km (excludes islands)
Maritime claims:
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
Climate:
tropical in south; monsoonal in north with hot, rainy season (May to
September) and warm, dry season (October to March)
Terrain:
low, flat delta in south and north; central highlands; hilly,
mountainous in far north and northwest
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: South China Sea 0 m
highest point: Fan Si Pan 3,144 m
Natural resources:
phosphates, coal, manganese, bauxite, chromate, offshore oil and gas
deposits, forests, hydropower
Land use:
arable land: 20.14%
permanent crops: 6.93%
other: 72.93% (2005)
Irrigated land:
30,000 sq km (2003)
Total renewable water resources:
891.2 cu km (1999)
Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
total: 71.39 cu km/yr (8%/24%/68%)
per capita: 847 cu m/yr (2000)
Natural hazards:
occasional typhoons (May to January) with extensive flooding,
especially in the Mekong River delta
Environment - current issues:
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
Environment - international agreements:
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
Geography - note:
extending 1,650 km north to south, the country is only 50 km across
at its narrowest point
People ::Vietnam
Population:
86,967,524 (July 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 13
Age structure:
0-14 years: 24.9% (male 11,230,402/female 10,423,901)
15-64 years: 69.4% (male 29,971,088/female 30,356,393)
65 years and over: 5.7% (male 1,920,043/female 3,065,697) (2009 est.)
Median age:
total: 27.4 years
male: 26.4 years
female: 28.5 years (2009 est.)
Population growth rate:
0.977% (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 128
Birth rate:
16.31 births/1,000 population (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 129
Death rate:
6.17 deaths/1,000 population (July 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 156
Net migration rate:
-0.38 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 103
Urbanization:
urban population: 28% of total population (2008)
rate of urbanization: 3.1% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.07 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.08 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.99 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.63 male(s)/female
total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2009 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 22.88 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 96
male: 23.27 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 22.46 deaths/1,000 live births (2009 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 71.58 years
country comparison to the world: 127
male: 68.78 years
female: 74.57 years (2009 est.)
Total fertility rate:
1.83 children born/woman (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 154
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
0.5% (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 73
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
290,000 (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 24
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
24,000 (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 20
Major infectious diseases:
degree of risk: high
food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea, hepatitis A, and
typhoid fever
vectorborne diseases: dengue fever, malaria, Japanese encephalitis,
and plague
water contact disease: leptospirosis
note: highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza has been identified in
this country; it poses a negligible risk with extremely rare cases
possible among US citizens who have close contact with birds (2009)
Nationality:
noun: Vietnamese (singular and plural)
adjective: Vietnamese
Ethnic groups:
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)
Religions:
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)
Languages:
Vietnamese (official), English (increasingly favored as a second
language), some French, Chinese, and Khmer; mountain area languages
(Mon-Khmer and Malayo-Polynesian)
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 90.3%
male: 93.9%
female: 86.9% (2002 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
total: 10 years
male: 11 years
female: 10 years (2000)
Education expenditures:
1.8% of GDP (1991)
country comparison to the world: 171
Government ::Vietnam
Country name:
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
Government type:
Communist state
Capital:
name: Hanoi (Ha Noi)
geographic coordinates: 21 02 N, 105 51 E
time difference: UTC+7 (12 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
Administrative divisions:
58 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, Da Nang*, Dac Lak, Dac Nong, Dien Bien,
Dong Nai, Dong Thap, Gia Lai, Ha Giang, Ha Nam, 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, Ha Noi, Hai Phong, Ho Chi Minh City
Independence:
2 September 1945 (from France)
National holiday:
Independence Day, 2 September (1945)
Constitution:
15 April 1992
Legal system:
based on communist legal theory and French civil law system; has not
accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Nguyen Minh TRIET (since 27 June 2006);
Vice President Nguyen Thi DOAN (since 25 July 2007)
head of government: Prime Minister Nguyen Tan DUNG (since 27 June
2006); Permanent Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Sinh HUNG (since 28
June 2006), Deputy Prime Minister Hoang Trung HAI (since 2 August
2007), Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Thien NHAN (since 2 August
2007), 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; last held 27 June 2006 (next to be held
in 2011); 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%
Legislative branch:
unicameral National Assembly or Quoc Hoi (500 seats; members elected
by popular vote to serve five-year terms)
elections: last held 20 May 2007 (next to be held in May 2012)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party -
CPV 450, non-party CPV-approved 42, self-nominated 1; note - 493
candidates were elected; CPV and non-party CPV-approved delegates
were members of the Vietnamese Fatherland Front
Judicial branch:
Supreme People's Court (chief justice is elected for a five-year
term by the National Assembly on the recommendation of the president)
Political parties and leaders:
Communist Party of Vietnam or CPV [Nong Duc MANH]; other parties
proscribed
Political pressure groups and leaders:
8406 Bloc; Democratic Party of Vietnam or DPV; People's Democratic
Party Vietnam or PDP-VN; Alliance for Democracy
note: these groups advocate democracy but are not recognized by the
government
International organization participation:
ADB, APEC, APT, ARF, ASEAN, CP, EAS, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO,
ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC,
IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, MIGA, NAM, OIF, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO,
UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Le Cong PHUNG
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
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Michael W. MICHALAK
embassy: 7 Lang Ha Street, Ba Dinh District, Hanoi
mailing address: PSC 461, Box 400, FPO AP 96521-0002
telephone: [84] (4) 3850-5000
FAX: [84] (4) 3850-5010
consulate(s) general: Ho Chi Minh City
Flag description:
red field with a large yellow five-pointed star in the center
Economy ::Vietnam
Economy - overview:
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. Since 2001, 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 increased 900% from 2001 to 2007.
Vietnam joined the WTO in January 2007 following over a decade long
negotiation process. WTO membership has provided Vietnam an anchor
to the global market and reinforced the domestic economic reform
process. 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 less than 20% in
2008. Deep poverty has declined significantly and is now smaller
than that of China, India, and the Philippines. Vietnam is working
to create jobs to meet the challenge of a labor force that is
growing by more than one-and-a-half million people every year. The
global financial crisis, however, will constrain Vietnam's ability
to create jobs and further reduce poverty. As global growth sharply
drops in 2009, Vietnam's export-oriented economy - exports were 68%
of GDP in 2007 - will suffer from lower exports, higher unemployment
and corporate bankruptcies, and decreased foreign investment.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$242.3 billion (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 46
$228.1 billion (2007 est.)
$210.3 billion (2006 est.)
note: data are in 2008 US dollars
GDP (official exchange rate):
$89.83 billion (2008 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
6.2% (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 54
8.5% (2007 est.)
8.2% (2006 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$2,800 (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 168
$2,600 (2007 est.)
$2,500 (2006 est.)
note: data are in 2008 US dollars
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 22%
industry: 39.9%
services: 38.1% (2008 est.)
Labor force:
47.41 million (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 12
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture: 55.6%
industry: 18.9%
services: 25.5% (July 2005)
Unemployment rate:
4.7% (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 59
4.3% (2007 est.)
Population below poverty line:
14.8% (2007 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 3.1%
highest 10%: 29.8% (2006)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:
37 (2004)
country comparison to the world: 78
36.1 (1998)
Investment (gross fixed):
41.9% of GDP (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 1
Budget:
revenues: $24.27 billion
expenditures: $28.85 billion (2008 est.)
Public debt:
48.8% of GDP (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 39
65.9% of GDP (2004 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
23.1% (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 209
8.3% (2007 est.)
Central bank discount rate:
10.25% (31 December 2008)
country comparison to the world: 60
6.5% (31 December 2007)
Commercial bank prime lending rate:
15.78% (31 December 2008)
country comparison to the world: 72
11.18% (31 December 2007)
Stock of money:
$NA (31 December 2008)
$27.01 billion (31 December 2007)
Stock of quasi money:
$NA (31 December 2008)
$50.81 billion (31 December 2007)
Stock of domestic credit:
$NA (31 December 2008)
$68.27 billion (31 December 2007)
Market value of publicly traded shares:
$9.589 billion (31 December 2008)
country comparison to the world: 69
$19.54 billion (31 December 2007)
$9.093 billion (31 December 2006)
Agriculture - products:
paddy rice, coffee, rubber, cotton, tea, pepper, soybeans, cashews,
sugar cane, peanuts, bananas; poultry; fish, seafood
Industries:
food processing, garments, shoes, machine-building; mining, coal,
steel; cement, chemical fertilizer, glass, tires, oil, paper
Industrial production growth rate:
6.3% (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 36
Electricity - production:
66.81 billion kWh (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 39
Electricity - consumption:
59.3 billion kWh (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 40
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2008 est.)
Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2008 est.)
Oil - production:
313,600 bbl/day (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 36
Oil - consumption:
288,000 bbl/day (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 44
Oil - exports:
347,400 bbl/day (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 36
Oil - imports:
254,000 bbl/day (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 40
Oil - proved reserves:
600 million bbl (1 January 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 44
Natural gas - production:
6.6 billion cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 46
Natural gas - consumption:
6.6 billion cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 53
Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m (2008)
country comparison to the world: 91
Natural gas - imports:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 116
Natural gas - proved reserves:
192.5 billion cu m (1 January 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 45
Current account balance:
-$10.71 billion (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 168
-$6.993 billion (2007 est.)
Exports:
$62.69 billion (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 51
$48.56 billion (2007 est.)
Exports - commodities:
crude oil, marine products, rice, coffee, rubber, tea, garments,
shoes
Exports - partners:
US 18.9%, Japan 13.6%, China 7.2%, Australia 6.7%, Singapore 4.2%
(2008)
Imports:
$75.47 billion (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 43
$58.92 billion (2007 est.)
Imports - commodities:
machinery and equipment, petroleum products, fertilizer, steel
products, raw cotton, grain, cement, motorcycles
Imports - partners:
China 19.4%, Singapore 11.6%, South Korea 8.8%, Thailand 6.1% (2008)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$24.18 billion (31 December 2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 47
$23.75 billion (31 December 2007 est.)
Debt - external:
$25.89 billion (31 December 2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 67
$21.83 billion (31 December 2007 est.)
Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:
$40.34 billion (31 December 2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 55
$32.74 billion (31 December 2007 est.)
Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:
$NA
Exchange rates:
dong (VND) per US dollar - 16,548.3 (2008 est.), 16,119 (2007),
15,983 (2006), 15,746 (2005), NA (2004)
Communications ::Vietnam
Telephones - main lines in use:
29.591 million (2008)
country comparison to the world: 11
Telephones - mobile cellular:
70 million (2008)
country comparison to the world: 13
Telephone system:
general assessment: Vietnam is putting considerable effort into
modernization and expansion of its telecommunication system
domestic: all provincial exchanges are digitalized and connected to
Hanoi, Da Nang, and Ho Chi Minh City by fiber-optic cable or
microwave radio relay networks; main lines have been substantially
increased, and the use of mobile telephones is growing rapidly
international: country code - 84; a landing point for the
SEA-ME-WE-3, the C2C, and Thailand-Vietnam-Hong Kong submarine cable
systems; the Asia-America Gateway submarine cable system, scheduled
for completion by the end of 2008, will provide new access links to
Asia and the US; satellite earth stations - 2 Intersputnik (Indian
Ocean region)
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 65, FM 7, shortwave 29 (1999)
Television broadcast stations:
67 (includes 61 relay, provincial, and city TV stations) (2006)
Internet country code:
.vn
Internet hosts:
170,689 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 66
Internet users:
20.834 million (2008)
country comparison to the world: 18
Transportation ::Vietnam
Airports:
44 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 97
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 37
over 3,047 m: 9
2,438 to 3,047 m: 5
1,524 to 2,437 m: 14
914 to 1,523 m: 9 (2009)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 7
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 3
under 914 m: 3 (2009)
Heliports:
1 (2009)
Pipelines:
condensate/gas 42 km; gas 66 km; refined products 206 km (2008)
Railways:
total: 2,347 km
country comparison to the world: 66
standard gauge: 178 km 1.435-m gauge
narrow gauge: 2,169 km 1.000-m gauge (2008)
Roadways: