Vietnam

by: Hoang Ngoc Ha Presented at the Third SEAMOLEC GB Meeting (23-26 September 1999)

Vietnam is located in Southeast Asia occupying the entire coast of the Indochina Peninsular, bordered on the north by China, on the west by Laos and Cambodia, and on the south and the east by the South Sea and the Gulf of Tonkin. It has an area of 123,402 square miles (square 32.359 kilometers). The capital is Hanoi.

From 1945 to 1975 Vietnam's economy was mainly war based. The reform program in Vietnam, started from 1986, has had a profound and widespread impact on all aspects of the socio-economic life of the country. Renovation is the term commonly used to describe Vietnam's transition from a centrally planned economic system to a multi-sectoral market-based economy managed by the State. Since renovation commenced in earnest, Vietnam has gradually emerged from the vicious cycle of economic instability which had constrained national development and has made important achievements in all aspects of social and economic life. The needs of education in economic development are rapidly increasing. Vietnam's man wealth lies in the fertile soil. Their main products are rice, rubber, and coal.

The population of Vietnam is 78 million (1998) with an annual growth rate of 2.2%, comprises 85% of Vietnamese, the rest is a great variety of natives, namely Thai, Zao, Hmong, Muong, Nung, and Khmer, etc.

The national language is Vietnamese. It is also used as a language of instruction. The Vietnamese currency is dong. US $1.00 is 13,980 VND. The national radio of Vietnam is called "The Voice of Vietnam" and the television network is called "Vietnam Television".