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| A country of southeast Asia in eastern Indochina of the South China Sea. Ruled by China from 221 B.C. to A.D. 939 and from 1407 to 1428, it was occupied by the French in the 19th century. After the fall of the French garrison at Dien Bien Phu in 1954, it was partitioned into North Viet Nam and South Viet Nam. The country was reunited in April 30, 1975 after the end of the Viet Nam War. Hanoi is the capital and Saigon the largest city. |
| Land & Climate | |
| Area | 329,707 sq km (127,301 sq mi) |
| Highest Point | Fan Si Pan; 3143 m (10,312 ft) above sea level |
| Lowest Point | Sea level along the coast |
| Average Temperatures | Hanoi: January 17° C 62° F; July 29° C 84° F |
| Saigon:January 26° C 79° F; July 27° C 81° F | |
| Average Annual Precipitation | Hanoi: 1680 mm (66 in) |
| Saigon: 1980 mm (78 in) | |
| Location | On the E coast of the Indochinese Peninsula in SE Asia |
| Neighbors | China on N, Laos, Cambodia on W. |
| Topography Viet Nam is long and narrow, with a 1,400-mi. coast. About 24% of country is readily arable, including the densely settled Red R. valley in the N, narrow coastal plains in center, and the wide, often marshy Mekong R. Delta in the S. The rest consists of semi-arid plateaus and barren mountains, with some stretches of tropical rain forest. Land and Resources Viet Nam occupies the easternmost part of the Indochinese Peninsula, a rugged, elongated S-shaped strip of mountains, coastal plains, and river deltas. Physiographic Regions Viet Nam may be divided into four major regions. In the northwest is the mountainous southern extension of China's Yunnan Plateau. The country's highest peak, Fan Si Pan (3143 m/10,312 ft), is located near the border with China. To the east of the highlands is the Red River (also known as the Song Hong) delta, a triangularly shaped lowland along the Gulf of Tonkin (an arm of the South China Sea). To the south the Annamese Highlands, which run northwest to southeast, and an associated coastal plain form the backbone of central Viet Nam. The fourth and southernmost region is the Mekong River delta, a depositional area of flat land. Soils The soils of the Red River and Mekong River deltas, the two major deltas of Viet Nam, are composed of rich alluvium except where damming for flood control has altered the stream flow. Soils in the uplands are poor as a result of leaching of nutrients from the ground by the abundant rainfall. Rivers The Red River in the north and the Mekong River in the south are the two major freshwater streams. The Red flows almost directly southeast from the northwestern highlands, whereas the Mekong follows an irregular path from Cambodia, crosses southernmost Viet Nam, and empties in the South China Sea through a complex network of distributaries. Both rivers have been leveed to prevent flood damage. Climate Three basic climate types are found in Viet Nam. In the north, especially in the interior, the temperatures are subtropical. Shifting seasonal wind patterns result in dry winters and wet summers. The central and southeastern areas typify the tropical monsoon climate, with high temperatures and abundant precipitation. In the southwest, distinct wet and dry periods are evident, but temperatures are higher than in the north. Vegetation and Animal Life Abundant vegetation exists throughout Viet Nam except where the landscape has been denuded. Typical mixed stands in the rain forests contain a wide variety of pines, broadleaf trees, vines, and bamboos. Dense mangroves bordering the distributaries of the deltas often hinder access to the water's edge. The tropical rain forests are inhabited by large mammals such as elephants, deer, bears, tigers, and leopards. Smaller animals, including monkeys, hares, squirrels, and otters, are found throughout the country. Reptiles such as crocodiles, snakes, and lizards, as well as many species of birds, are also indigenous. Mineral Resources The northern highlands of Viet Nam contain valuable minerals, including iron, anthracite coal, phosphate, zinc, chromite, tin, and apatite. Petroleum and natural gas deposits lie offshore. |
| Population & Population Density |
| 73,811,000 (1995 estimate) |
| 224 persons/sq km (580 persons/sq mi) (1995 estimate) |
| Urban/Rural Breakdown & Largest Cities |
| 20% Urban; 60% Rural (1995 estimate) |
| Ho Chi Minh City: 3,924,435 |
| Hanoi: 3,056,146 |
| Haiphong: 1,447,523 (1989 census) |
| Ethnic Groups |
| 88%: Vietnamese (Kinh) |
| 12%: Others including Chinese (Hoa), Tai, Khmer, Thai, Muong, and Nung |
| Languages |
| Official Language: Vietnamese |
| Other Languages: Khmer, Montagnard, Cham, and other minority languages; English, French |
| Religions |
| 55%: Buddhism |
| 45%: Other including Roman Catholicism, Taoism, Confucianism, Hoa Hao, and Cao Dai |
| Danh Muc Cac Thanh Phan DAN TOC VIET NAM (xap theo so luong dan so) | |||||
| 1 | Viet | 21 | Ra Glai | 41 | La Hu |
| 2 | Tay | 22 | Xtieng | 42 | Lu |
| 3 | Thai | 23 | Bru (Va Kieu) | 43 | Lo Lo |
| 4 | Hoa (Han) | 24 | Tho | 44 | Chut |
| 5 | Kho-me | 25 | Giay | 45 | Mang |
| 6 | Muong | 26 | You Tu | 46 | Pa Then |
| 7 | Nung | 27 | Gieo Trieng | 47 | Co Lao |
| 8 | Hmong (Meo) | 28 | Ma | 48 | Cong |
| 9 | Dao | 29 | Kho Mu | 49 | Bo Y |
| 10 | Gia Rai | 30 | Co O | 50 | Si La |
| 11 | Ngai | 31 | Ta Oi | 51 | Pu Peo |
| 12 | E De | 32 | Cho Ro | 52 | Brau | 13 | Ba Na | 33 | Khang | 53 | O Du |
| 14 | Xo Dang | 34 | Xinh Mun | 54 | Ro Mam |
| 15 | San Chay (San Chi) | 35 | Ha Nhi | ||
| 16 | Co O | 36 | Chu Ru | ||
| 17 | Cham | 37 | Lao | ||
| 18 | San Diu | 38 | La Chi | ||
| 19 | Hre | 39 | La Ha | ||
| 20 | Mnong | 40 | Phu La | ||
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Population The Vietnamese, related to the southern Chinese, constitute the largest ethnic group in Viet Nam and account for about 88 percent of the total population; the remainder are members of various ethnic groups. The size of the Chinese population, while still the largest minority, has decreased sharply with emigration. Population Characteristics The population of Viet Nam (1995 estimate) is about 73,811,000, yielding a population density of about 224 persons per sq km (about 580 per sq mi). The majority live in small villages, though the southern part of the country is more urbanized than the northern part. Most people live in the delta areas or along the coast. The population of Viet Nam is young: an estimated 37 percent of all Vietnamese people are less than 15 years of age, while 12 percent are over age 60. The population is increasing by about 2 percent annually. Principal Cities Most of the larger urban centers are located in southern Viet Nam. Of the major cities, only the capital city of Hanoi (population, 1989, 3,056,146) is not located on the coast. Other large cities are Ho Chi Minh City, formerly Saigon (3,924,435); Haiphong (1,447,523), Hanoi's port; and Da Nang (369,734), near the ancient city of Hue (260,489). The government has attempted to reverse the rural-to-urban migration stream by establishing new economic zones in the countryside and encouraging city residents to relocate to them. Languages Vietnamese, the official language, is spoken by the majority of the population (see Austro-Asiatic Languages). The use of French, a remnant of colonial times, is declining. Some Vietnamese people who live in urban areas speak other languages, such as English and Russian. Khmer, Montagnard, and Cham are spoken primarily in the interior. With the exodus of the Chinese in the late 1980s, the once-common use of their language diminished. Religion Viet Nam contains a rich mixture of religions, reflecting the influences of many cultures. Traditional Vietnamese religion included elements from Indian beliefs and three Chinese religious systems: Mahayana Buddhism, Taoism, and Confucianism. A majority of adherents today follow Buddhism, including a wide variety of sects. Other religions include relatively new sects such as Hoa Hao, associated with Buddhism, and Caodaism, a synthesis of Christianity, Buddhism, and Confucianism. Christianity, particularly the Roman Catholic church, claims as many as 6 million followers. Religious groups have often played important roles in the political development of Viet Nam. |
| People | |
| Population | 74,393,324 |
| Age distrib. (%) | <15: 39; 65+: 5 |
| Pop. density | 585 per sq. mi. |
| Urban | 21% |
| Ethnic groups | Vietnamese 85–90%, Chinese 3% ... |
| Principal languages | Vietnamese (official), French, Chinese |
| Religions | Buddhist, Roman Catholic, Muslim ... |
| Communications | |
| Television sets | 1 per 28 persons |
| Radios | 1 per 8.8 persons |
| Telephones | 1 per 563 persons |
| Daily newspaper circ. | 9 per 1,000 pop. |
| Health | |
| Life expectancy at birth (1995) | 64 male; 68 female |
| Births (per 1,000 pop.) | 26 |
| Deaths (per 1,000 pop.) | 8 |
| Natural increase | 1.90% |
| Hospital beds | 1 per 329 persons |
| Physicians | 1 per 2,617 persons |
| Infant mortality (per 1,000 live births 1995) | 45 |
| Education | |
| Literacy (1994) | 88% |
