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COUNTRY PROFILE: VIETNAM
December 2005
COUNTRY
Formal Name: Socialist Republic of Vietnam (Cong Hoa Xa Hoi Chu Nghia Viet Nam).
Short Form: Vietnam.
Term for Citizen(s): Vietnamese.
Capital: Hanoi.
Major Cities: With 5.6 million people, Ho Chi Minh City (formerly Saigon) is the most
populous city. Hanoi has a population of 3 million. Other major cities are Danang, Haiphong,
and Can Tho.
Independence: Vietnam declared independence from Japan and France on September 2, 1945.
However, Vietnam remained under French control until the communist Viet Minh defeated
French forces at Dien Bien Phu in 1954.
Public Holidays: Official holidays are New Year’s (January 1), Tet or Lunar New Year
(movable date in January or February), Liberation Day to commemorate the fall of Saigon (April
30), Labor Day (May 1), and Independence Day to commemorate Japan’s withdrawal following
its defeat in World War II (September 2).
Flag: Red, with a large yellow five-pointed star in the center.
HISTORICAL BACKGROUND
Origins: The Vietnamese trace the origins of their culture and nation to the fertile plains of the
Red River Delta in northern Vietnam. After centuries of developing a civilization and economy
based on the cultivation of irrigated rice, in the tenth century the Vietnamese began expanding
southward in search of new rice lands. Until the mid-nineteenth century, the Vietnamese
gradually moved down the narrow coastal plain of the Indochina Peninsula, ultimately extending
their reach into the broad Mekong River Delta. Vietnamese history is the story of the struggle to
develop a sense of nationhood throughout this narrow, 1,500-kilometer stretch of land and to
maintain it against internal and external pressures.
China was the chief source of Vietnam's foreign ideas and the earliest threat to its national
sovereignty. As a result of a millennium of Chinese control beginning in about 111 BC, the
Vietnamese assimilated Chinese influence in the areas of administration, law, education,
literature, language, and culture. Even during the following nine centuries of Vietnamese
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independence, lasting from the late tenth century until the second half of the nineteenth century,
the Chinese exerted considerable cultural, if not political, influence, particularly on the elite.
Colonial Period, Independence, and War: After 900 years of independence and following a
period of disunity and rebellion, the French colonial era began during the 1858–83 period, when
the French seized control of the nation, dividing it into three parts: the north (Tonkin), the center
(Annam), and the south (Cochinchina). In 1861 France occupied Saigon, and by 1883 it had
taken control of all of Vietnam as well as Laos and Cambodia. French colonial rule was, for the
most part, politically repressive and economically exploitative. The Japanese occupied Vietnam
during World War II but allowed the French to remain and exert some influence. At the war’s
end in 1945, Ho Chi Minh, leader of the communist Viet Minh organization, declared Vietnam’s
independence in a speech that invoked the U.S. Declaration of Independence and the French
Revolution’s Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen. However, the French quickly
reasserted the control they had ceded to the Japanese, and the First Indochina War (1946–54)
was underway. French control ended on May 7, 1954, when Vietnamese forces defeated the
French at Dien Bien Phu. The 1954 Geneva Conference left Vietnam a divided nation, with Ho
Chi Minh's communist government ruling the North from Hanoi and Ngo Dinh Diem's regime,
supported by the United States, ruling the South from Saigon (later Ho Chi Minh City).
As a result of the Second Indochina War (1954–75), Viet Cong—communist forces in South
Vietnam—and regular People’s Army of Vietnam (PAVN) forces from the North unified
Vietnam under communist rule. In this conflict, the insurgents—with logistical support from
China and the Soviet Union—ultimately defeated the Army of the Republic of Vietnam, which
sought to maintain South Vietnamese independence with the support of the U.S. military, whose
troop strength peaked at 540,000 during the communist-led Tet Offensive in 1968. The North did
not abide by the terms of the 1973 Paris Agreement, which officially settled the war by calling
for free elections in the South and peaceful reunification. Two years after the withdrawal of the
last U.S. forces in 1973, Saigon, the capital of South Vietnam, fell to the communists, and on
April 30, 1975, the South Vietnamese army surrendered. In 1976 the government of united
Vietnam renamed Saigon as Ho Chi Minh City, in honor of the wartime communist leader who
died in September 1969. The Vietnamese estimate that they lost nearly 3 million lives and
suffered more than 4 million injuries during the U.S. involvement in the war.
Unified Vietnam: In the post-1975 period, it was immediately apparent that the popularity and
effectiveness of Vietnamese Communist Party (VCP) policies did not necessarily extend to the
party’s peacetime nation-building plans. Having unified North and South politically, the VCP
still had to integrate them socially and economically. In this task, VCP policy makers were
confronted with the South’s resistance to communist transformation, as well as traditional
animosities arising from cultural and historical differences between North and South. More than
a million Southerners, including about 560,000 “boat people,” fled the country soon after the
communist takeover, fearing persecution and seizure of their land and businesses. About a
million Vietnamese were relocated to previously uncultivated land called “new economic zones”
for reeducation.
The harsh postwar crackdown on remnants of capitalism in the South led to the collapse of the
economy during the 1980s. With the economy in shambles, Vietnam’s government altered its
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course and adopted consensus policies that bridged the divergent views of pragmatists and
communist traditionalists. In 1986 Nguyen Van Linh, who was elevated to VCP general
secretary the following year, launched a campaign for political and economic renewal (Doi Moi).
His policies were characterized by political and economic experimentation that was similar to
simultaneous reform agendas undertaken in China and the Soviet Union. Reflecting the spirit of
political compromise, Vietnam phased out its reeducation effort. The government also stopped
promoting agricultural and industrial cooperatives. Farmers were permitted to till private plots
alongside state-owned land, and in 1990 the government passed a law encouraging the
establishment of private businesses.
Compounding economic difficulties were new military challenges. In the late 1970s, two
countries—Cambodia and China—posed threats to Vietnam. Clashes between Vietnamese and
Cambodian communists on their common border began almost immediately after Vietnam’s
reunification in 1975. To neutralize the threat, Vietnam invaded Cambodia in December 1978
and overran Phnom Penh, the Cambodian capital, driving out the incumbent Khmer Rouge
communist regime and initiating a prolonged military occupation of the country.
In February and March 1979, China retaliated against Vietnam's incursion into Cambodia by
launching a limited invasion of Vietnam, but the Chinese foray was quickly rebuffed. Relations
between the two countries had been deteriorating for some time. Territorial disagreements along
the border and in the South China Sea that had remained dormant during the Second Indochina
War were revived at the war's end, and a postwar campaign engineered by Hanoi to limit the role
of Vietnam's ethnic Chinese community in domestic commerce elicited a strong protest from
Beijing. China also was displeased with Vietnam because of its improving relationship with the
Soviet Union.
During its incursion into Cambodia in 1978–89, Vietnam’s international isolation extended to
relations with the United States. The United States, in addition to citing Vietnam's minimal
cooperation in accounting for Americans who were missing in action (MIAs) as an obstacle to
normal relations, barred normal ties as long as Vietnamese troops occupied Cambodia.
Washington also continued to enforce the trade embargo imposed on Hanoi at the conclusion of
the war in 1975. Soon after the Paris Agreement on Cambodia resolved the conflict in October
1991, however, Vietnam established or reestablished diplomatic and economic relations with
most of Western Europe, China, and other Asian countries. Vietnam normalized relations with
China in 1991 and with Japan in 1993. In February 1994, the United States lifted its economic
embargo against Vietnam, and in June 1995, the United States and Vietnam normalized relations.
In June 2005, a high-level Vietnamese delegation, led by Prime Minister Phan Van Khai, visited
the United States and met with their U.S. counterparts, including President George W. Bush.
This was the first such visit in 30 years. Relations with China took another step forward after the
two countries settled their long-standing border dispute in 1999. China is now a major trading
partner, and Vietnam models its economic policies after China’s.
As of late 2005, a three-person collective leadership was responsible for governing Vietnam.
This triumvirate consisted of the VCP general secretary (Nong Duc Manh, April 2001– ), the
prime minister (Phan Van Khai, September 1997– ), and the president (Tran Duc Luong,
September 1997– ). General Secretary Manh headed up not only the VCP but also the 15-
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member Politburo. President Luong was chief of state, and Prime Minister Khai was head of
government. The leadership is promoting a “socialist-oriented market economy” and friendly
relations with China, Japan, the European Union, Russia, and the United States. Although the
leadership is presiding over a period of rapid economic growth, official corruption and a
widening gap between urban wealth and rural poverty remain stubborn problems that are eroding
the VCP’s authority. A major goal is gaining full membership in the World Trade Organization
(WTO). Vietnam now hopes to join the WTO by mid-2006, although previously it had hoped to
achieve this goal by the end of 2005. Vietnam still needs to conclude bilateral agreements with
the United States, Australia, New Zealand, Mexico, and the Dominican Republic in order to
qualify for membership.
GEOGRAPHY
Location: Vietnam is located in Southeast Asia, bordered by the
Gulf of Tonkin and the South China Sea to the east, China to the
north, Laos and Cambodia to the west, and the Gulf of Thailand
to the south.
Size: Vietnam is long and thin, with an area of 330,363 square
kilometers.
Land Boundaries: Vietnam shares land boundaries with Cambodia
(1,228 kilometers), China (1,281 kilometers), and Laos (2,130 kilometers).
Disputed Territory: On December 30, 1999, China and Vietnam
signed a treaty that settled disputes over the two nations’ common
border. However, the Paracel and Spratly Islands in the South China
Sea are still regarded as disputed territory. Malaysia, Brunei, the
Philippines, and Taiwan also claim sovereignty over the Spratly
Islands, which are believed to be rich in oil and natural gas reserves.
In May 2004, the government authorized 50 tourists and 40 officials to visit the Spratly Islands
by boat. The other nations staking a claim to the islands protested what they interpreted as an
assertion of sovereignty by Vietnam. In October 2004, Vietnam invited bids for oil exploration in
the Spratlys, triggering a complaint from China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs. In November
2004, China retaliated by moving an oil-drilling platform into position to explore for oil in the
Paracels.
Length of Coastline: Vietnam’s coastline along the Gulf of Tonkin, the South China Sea, and
the Gulf of Thailand measures 3,444 kilometers.
Maritime Claims: In June 2004, Vietnam’s National Assembly ratified an agreement originally
reached with China in December 2000 that established an internationally valid maritime border
in the Gulf of Tonkin. The ratification delay was attributable to concerns that the government
had made too many concessions during negotiations. In addition, in April 2004 China and
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Vietnam agreed to a common fishing zone in the Gulf of Tonkin. Vietnam claims an exclusive
economic zone (EEZ) of 200 nautical miles, the approximate beginning of the continental shelf.
Topography: Vietnam is a country of tropical lowlands, hills, and densely forested highlands,
with level land covering no more than 20 percent of the area. The country is divided into the
highlands and the Red River Delta in the north, and the Giai Truong Son (Central mountains, or
the Chaîne Annamitique, sometimes referred to simply as the Chaîne), the coastal lowlands, and
the Mekong River Delta in the south. The highest point in Vietnam is Fan Si Pan, at 3,143 meters
above sea level, in the northwest.
Principal Rivers: A relatively dense network of rivers traverses Vietnam. The principal rivers
are as follows: in the north, the Red and Thai Binh; in the center, the Ca, Ma, Han, Thach Han,
and Thu Bon; and in the south, the Mekong and Dong Nai.
Climate: Vietnam’s climate is tropical and monsoonal; humidity averages 84 percent throughout
the year. Annual rainfall ranges from 1,200 to 3,000 millimeters, and annual temperatures vary
between 5°C and 37°C.
Natural Resources: Vietnam’s main natural resources consist of coal, copper, crude oil, gold,
iron, manganese, silver, and zinc.
Land Use: In 2003 Vietnam’s land use was distributed as follows: 21 percent, arable; 28
percent, forest and woodland; and 51 percent, other.
Environmental Factors: The National Environmental Agency, a branch of the Ministry of
Science, Technology, and Environment, is responsible for environmental protection. At the
provincial level, the Departments of Science, Technology, and the Environment bear
responsibility. Non-governmental organizations, particularly the Institute of Ecological
Economics, also play a role. Urbanization, industrialization, and intensive farming are having a
negative impact on Vietnam’s environment. These factors have led to air pollution, water
pollution, and noise pollution, particularly in urban and industrial centers like Ho Chi Minh City
and Hanoi. The most serious problem is waste treatment. Land use pressures have led to
significant environmental problems, including severe deforestation, soil erosion, sedimentation
of rivers, flooding in the deltas, declining fish yields, and pollution of the coastal and marine
environment. The use of Agent Orange by the U.S. military in the Second Indochina War (1954–
75) has had a lingering effect on Vietnam in the form of persistent environmental contamination
that has increased the incidence of various diseases and birth defects.
Time Zone: Seven hours ahead of Greenwich Mean Time.
SOCIETY
Population: In 2004 Vietnam’s population was 82.2 million, and it was growing at a rate of
about 1.2 percent per year. The average population density was 246 people per square kilometer,
one of the highest levels in the world. The highest concentration of people was in the Red River
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Delta, in the northeast where Hanoi is located, and the lowest concentration was in the northwest.
The population, which traditionally has been primarily rural, has become increasingly urbanized
since 1986, when the Doi Moi economic renewal program began to boost income and
employment opportunities in the cities. In 2004 about 26 percent of Vietnam’s population was
urban and 75 percent rural, down from 85 percent in the early 1980s. Vietnam’s net migration
rate was estimated at –0.45 migrant(s) per 1,000 population in 2004. Consistent with the trend
toward urbanization, urban areas, such as Ho Chi Minh City, Hanoi, Da Nang, and the Central
Highlands, have attracted the most migrants. In addition, a steady stream of migrants continues
to move from the North to the South. As of 2002, the two largest groups of refugees were
Vietnamese and ethnic Chinese returning to Vietnam from Cambodia and the Montagnards from
Vietnam’s Central Highlands seeking asylum in Cambodia.
Demography: In 2004 Vietnam’s age distribution was estimated as follows: 0 to 14 years of age,
29.4 percent; 15 to 64, 65 percent; and 65 and older, 5.6 percent. This age distribution signals
slower population growth than in the past. According to 2005 estimates, Vietnam’s birthrate was
17.07 births per 1,000 people, and the fertility rate was 1.94 children born per woman. The infant
mortality rate was 25.95 per 1,000 live births, and the death rate was 6.2 per 1,000. Also
according to 2005 estimates, life expectancy was 70.61 years for the total population, consisting
of 67.82 years for men and 73.6 years for women.
Ethnic Groups: Vietnamese are the predominant ethnic group, constituting 85 to 90 percent of
the population. Chinese account for 3 percent of the population. Other ethnic groups are the
Hmong, Thai, Khmer, Cham, and Montagnards, an indigenous group living in the Central
Highlands.
Languages: Vietnamese is the official language of Vietnam. The Vietnamese have adopted a
Romanized script introduced by the French during the colonial period. English is increasingly
accepted as a second language. Some French language influence persists. Other languages used
are Chinese, Khmer, and mountain area dialects.
Religion: With 7.6 million followers, Buddhism is the most popular religion. The second most
popular religion is Roman Catholicism, with 6 million adherents. Other faiths, with the number
of followers indicated, are Cao Dai (2 million), Hoa Hao (1 million), Protestantism (500,000),
and Islam (50,000).
Education and Literacy: In 2003 Vietnam’s literacy rate was 94 percent, including 95.8 percent
for men and 92.3 percent for women. However, educational attainment is less impressive.
Although five years of primary school education are considered compulsory and 92 percent of
eligible children were enrolled in primary school in 2000, only two-thirds completed the fifth
grade. The cost of tuition, books, and uniforms and the need to supplement family income are the
two main reasons for dropping out. A huge disparity exists in primary school enrollment between
the cities and rural parts of Vietnam. In some rural areas, only 10 to 15 percent of the children
progress beyond third grade, whereas almost 96 percent of pupils in Ho Chi Minh City complete
fifth grade. In 2000 enrollment in secondary school was only 62.5 percent, much lower than in
primary school. One of the government’s goals is to expand access to secondary education.
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Health: The overall quality of healthcare is regarded as good, as reflected by 2005 estimates of
life expectancy (70.61 years) and infant mortality (25.95 per 1,000 live births). However,
malnutrition is still common in the provinces, and the life expectancy and infant mortality rates
are stagnating. In 2001 government spending on health care corresponded to just 0.9 percent of
gross domestic product (GDP). Government subsidies covered only about 20 percent of health
care expenses, with the remaining 80 percent coming out of individuals’ own pockets.
In 1954 the government in the North established a public health system that reached down to the
hamlet level. After reunification in 1976, this system was extended to the South. Beginning in
the late 1980s, the quality of health care began to decline as a result of budgetary constraints, a
shift of responsibility to the provinces, and the introduction of charges. Inadequate funding has
led to delays in planned upgrades to water supply and sewerage systems. As a result, almost half
the population has no access to clean water, a deficiency that promotes such infectious diseases
as malaria, dengue fever, typhoid, and cholera. Inadequate funding also has contributed to a
shortage of nurses, midwives, and hospital beds. In 2000 Vietnam had only 250,000 hospital
beds, or 14.8 beds per 10,000 people, a very low ratio among Asian nations, according to the
World Bank.
Vietnam has made progress in combating malaria, for which the mortality rate declined sharply,
to about 5 percent of the rate in the early 1990s, after the country introduced antimalarial drugs
and treatment. However, tuberculosis (TB) cases are on the rise, with 57 deaths per day reported
in May 2004. With an intensified vaccination program, better hygiene, and foreign assistance,
Vietnam hopes to reduce sharply the number of TB cases and annual new TB infections.
As of September 2005, Vietnam had diagnosed 101,291 human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)
cases, of which 16,528 developed acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) and 9,554 died.
But the actual number of HIV-positive individuals is estimated to be much higher. An average of
40–50 new infections are reported every day in Vietnam. Vietnam hopes to contain the HIV
infection rate at the current official rate of 0.35 percent, which is about average worldwide, by
limiting the disease as much as possible to sex workers and intravenous drug users. However, if
the current trend continues, the number of infected persons could reach 1 million by 2010. One
of the impediments to containing HIV/AIDS is that the victims face discrimination and
stigmatization that are more severe than almost anywhere else in the world, according to a
United Nations official. In June 2004, the Bush Administration announced that Vietnam would
be one of 15 nations to receive funding as part of a US$15 billion global AIDS plan.
Welfare: Vietnam’s welfare efforts target victims of the Second Indochina War (1954–75), such
as individuals disabled in combat or by toxic chemicals and the families of fallen combatants.
About 5 million Vietnamese, corresponding to more than 6 percent of the population, are
disabled. The Ministry of Labor, War Invalids, and Social Affairs administers welfare. Vietnam
has legislated a social insurance system with provisions for old age, disability, and death;
sickness and maternity; and work injury. Coverage is reported to be mandatory for state
employees, non-state enterprises with more than 10 employees, and foreign-invested enterprises.
Special programs are said to exist for government civil servants and armed forces personnel.
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ECONOMY
Overview: Beginning in the 1980s, dire economic conditions forced the government to relax
restrictions on private enterprise and sharply cut back on labor camp prisoners, many of them
entrepreneurs. In 1986 Vietnam launched a political and economic renewal campaign (Doi Moi)
that introduced reforms intended to facilitate the transition from a centralized economy to a
“socialist-oriented market economy.” Doi Moi combined government planning with free-market
incentives. The program abolished agricultural collectives, removed price controls on
agricultural goods, and enabled farmers to sell their goods in the marketplace. It encouraged the
establishment of private businesses and foreign investment, including foreign-owned enterprises.
By the late 1990s, the success of the business and agricultural reforms ushered in under Doi Moi
was evident. More than 30,000 private businesses had been created, and the economy was
growing at an annual rate of more than 7 percent. From the early 1990s to 2005, poverty declined
from about 50 percent to 29 percent of the population. However, progress varied geographically,
with most prosperity concentrated in urban areas, particularly in and around Ho Chi Minh City.
In general, rural areas also made progress, as rural households living in poverty declined from 66
percent of the total in 1993 to 36 percent in 2002. By contrast, concentrations of poverty
remained in certain rural areas, particularly the northwest, north-central coast, and central
highlands.
In 2001 the Vietnamese Communist Party (VCP) approved a 10-year economic plan that
enhanced the role of the private sector while reaffirming the primacy of the state. In 2003 the
private sector accounted for more than one-quarter of all industrial output, and the private
sector’s contribution was expanding more rapidly than the public sector’s (18.7 percent versus
12.4 percent growth from 2002 to 2003).
Despite these signs of progress, the World Economic Forum’s 2005 Global Competitiveness
Report, which reflects the subjective judgments of the business community, ranked Vietnam
eighty-first in growth competitiveness in the world (down from sixtieth place in 2003) and
eightieth in business competitiveness (down from fiftieth place in 2003), well behind its model
China, which ranked forty-ninth and fifty-seventh in these respective categories. Vietnam’s sharp
deterioration in the rankings from 2003 to 2005 was attributable in part to negative perceptions
of the effectiveness of government institutions. Official corruption is endemic despite efforts to
curb it. Vietnam also lags behind China in terms of property rights, the efficient regulation of
markets, and labor and financial market reforms. State-owned banks that are poorly managed and
suffer from non-performing loans still dominate the financial sector.
Although Vietnam’s economy, which continues to expand at an annual rate in excess of 7
percent, is one of the fastest growing in the world, the economy is growing from an extremely
low base, reflecting the crippling effect of the Second Indochina War (1954–75) and repressive
economic measures introduced in its aftermath. Whether rapid economic growth is sustainable is
open to debate. The government may not be able to follow through with plans to scale back trade
restrictions and reform state-owned enterprises. Reducing trade restrictions and improving
transparency are keys to gaining full membership in the World Trade Organization (WTO), as
hoped by mid-2006. The government plans to reform the state-owned sector by partially
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privatizing thousands of state-owned enterprises, including all five state-owned commercial
banks.
Gross Domestic Product (GDP): In 2004 Vietnam’s GDP was US$45.2 billion. Per capita
gross national income was US$550. However, based on purchasing power parity (buying power
for a basket of goods without regard for market exchange rates), Vietnam’s per capita GDP was
approximately US$2,700. In 2004 the contributions to GDP by sector were as follows:
agriculture, 21.8 percent; industry, 40.1 percent; and services, 38.2 percent. Reflecting Vietnam’s
hybrid economy, industry ownership was mixed, as indicated by percentage of output, as
follows: state-owned, 40 percent and declining; privately owned, 25 percent, but employing four
times as many workers as the state-owned sector; and foreign-owned, 35 percent.
Government Budget: In November 2003, Vietnam’s National Assembly approved a total state
budget of about US$12 billion for 2004, corresponding to about 26.5 percent of estimated gross
domestic product (GDP). The government’s budget deficit, currently targeted not to exceed 5
percent, is rising but remains under control in the view of independent observers.
Inflation: In 2004 inflation was 9.5 percent, higher than the 3.4 percent rate measured in 2000
but down significantly from 160 percent in 1988. The long-term decline reflects the beneficial
effect of fiscal and monetary reforms aimed at stabilizing the economy.
Agriculture, Forestry, and Fishing: In 2004 agriculture and forestry accounted for 21.8 percent
of gross domestic product (GDP), and during 1994–2004 the sector grew at an annual rate of 4.1
percent. However, agricultural employment was much higher than agriculture’s share of GDP; in
2005 some 60 percent of the employed labor force was engaged in agriculture, forestry, and
fishing. Agricultural products accounted for 30 percent of exports in 2005. The relaxation of the
state monopoly on rice exports transformed the country into the world’s second or third largest
rice exporter. Other cash crops are coffee, cotton, peanuts, rubber, sugarcane, and tea.
In 2003 Vietnam produced an estimated 30.7 million cubic meters of roundwood. Production of
sawnwood was a more modest 2,950 cubic meters. In 1992, in response to dwindling forests,
Vietnam imposed a ban on the export of logs and raw timber. In 1997 the ban was extended to all
timber products except wooden artifacts. During the 1990s, Vietnam began to reclaim land for
forests with a tree-planting program.
Vietnam’s fishing industry, which has abundant resources given the country’s long coastline and
extensive network of rivers and lakes, has experienced moderate growth overall. In 2003 the total
catch was about 2.6 million tons. However, seafood exports expanded fourfold from 1990 to
2002 to more than US$2 billion, driven in part by shrimp farms in the South and “catfish,” which
are a different species from their American counterpart but are marketed in the United States
under the same name. By concentrating on the U.S. market for the sale of vast quantities of
shrimp and catfish, Vietnam triggered antidumping complaints by the United States, which
imposed tariffs in the case of catfish and is considering doing the same for shrimp. In 2005 the
seafood industry began to focus on domestic demand to compensate for declining exports.
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Mining and Minerals: In 2003 mining and quarrying accounted for a 9.4 percent share of gross
domestic product (GDP); the sector employed 0.7 percent of the workforce. Petroleum and coal
are the main mineral exports. Also mined are antimony, bauxite, chromium, gold, iron, natural
phosphates, tin, and zinc.
Industry and Manufacturing: Although industry contributed 40.1 percent of gross domestic
product (GDP) in 2004, it employed only 12.9 percent of the workforce. In 2000, 22.4 percent of
industrial production was attributable to non-state activities. During 1994–2004, industrial GDP
grew at an average annual rate of 10.3 percent. Manufacturing contributed 20.3 percent of GDP
in 2004, while employing 10.2 percent of the workforce. During 1994–2004, manufacturing
GDP grew at an average annual rate of 11.2 percent. The top manufacturing sectors—food
processing, cigarettes and tobacco, textiles, chemicals, and electrical goods—experienced rapid
growth. Almost a third of manufacturing and retail activity is concentrated in Ho Chi Minh City.
Energy: Petroleum is the main source of commercial energy, followed by coal, which
contributes about 25 percent of the country’s energy (excluding biomass). Vietnam’s oil reserves
are in the range of 270–500 million tons. The World Bank cites the lower bound of the range. Oil
production rose rapidly to 403,300 barrels per day in 2004, but output is believed to have peaked
and is expected to decline gradually. Vietnam’s anthracite coal reserves are estimated at 3.7
billion tons. Coal production was almost 19 million tons in 2003, compared with 9.6 million tons
in 1999. Vietnam’s potential natural gas reserves are 1.3 trillion cubic meters. In 2002 Vietnam
brought ashore 2.26 billion cubic meters of natural gas. Hydroelectric power is another source of
energy. In 2004 Vietnam began to build a nuclear power plant with Russian assistance.
Crude oil is Vietnam’s leading export, totaling 17 million tons in 2002; in 2004 crude oil
represented 22 percent of all export earnings. Petroleum exports are in the form of crude
petroleum because Vietnam has a very limited refining capacity. Vietnam’s only operational
refinery, a facility at Cat Hai near Ho Chi Minh City, has a capacity of only 800 barrels per day.
Several consortia have abandoned commitments to finance a 130,000-barrel-per-day facility at
Dung Quat in central Vietnam. Refined petroleum accounted for 10.2 percent of total imports in
2002.
Services: In 2004 services accounted for 38.2 percent of gross domestic product (GDP). During
1994–2004, GDP attributable to the services sector grew at an average annual rate of 6.0 percent.
Banking and Finance: Vietnam’s first stock exchange, known as the Ho Chi Minh City
Securities Trading Center, was established in July 2000. By the spring of 2005, the number of
companies listed on the exchange had reached 28, representing a total market capitalization of
only US$270 million. In March 2005, Vietnam opened an over-the-counter exchange, known as
the Hanoi Securities Trading Center. The purpose of the second exchange is to expedite the
process of equitization (partial privatization) of state-owned enterprises. Although these
exchanges are still very small, officials have set the goal of expanding their combined market
capitalization to 10 percent of gross domestic product by 2010 and gradually phasing out
restrictions on foreign ownership of shares. In September 2005, Vietnam’s prime minister
announced that the limit on foreign share ownership would rise from 30 percent to 49 percent.
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Vietnam’s banks suffer from low public confidence, regulatory and managerial weakness, high
levels of non-performing loans (NPL), non-compliance with the Basel capital standards, and the
absence of international auditing. Since 1992 Vietnam’s banking system has consisted of a
combination of state-owned, joint-stock, joint-venture, and foreign banks, but the state-owned
commercial banks predominate, and they suffer from high levels of NPL, most of them to state-
owned enterprises. Consequently, in September 2005 Vietnam decided to equitize all five state-
owned banks—a change from previous plans to equitize only two of them. In addition, Vietnam
plans to boost the transparency of its financial system by establishing a credit-rating agency and
performance standards for joint-stock banks. Large foreign banks are balancing their strong
interest in serving multinationals in Vietnam and frustration with continuing restrictions on their
activities. Although Vietnam is a cash-based society, 300 to 400 automated teller machines
(ATMs) have been installed, and about 350,000 debit cards are in circulation.
Tourism: In 2004 Vietnam received 2.9 million international arrivals, up from 2.4 million the
previous year. The annual increase represented a strong rebound from a slight decline in 2003
attributable to the severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) epidemic in Asia. From 1999 to
2004, tourism rose by 63 percent. Most of the visitors in 2004—27 percent—came from China,
with 8–9 percent each coming from the United States, Japan, and South Korea. The Vietnam
National Administration of Tourism is following a long-term plan to diversify the tourism
industry, which brings needed foreign exchange into the country.
Labor: In 2004 the unemployment rate in urban areas was 5.6 percent, down from 5.8 percent in
2003 and 6.0 percent in 2002.
Foreign Economic Relations: Vietnam is an observer to the World Trade Organization (WTO),
but it aspires to full membership as early as mid-2006. Joining the WTO is vitally important
because membership will free Vietnam from textile quotas enacted worldwide as part of the
Multifiber Arrangement (MFA) of 1974. The MFA placed restrictions on the import by
industrialized countries of textiles from developing countries. For China and other WTO
members, however, textile quotas under the MFA expired at the end of 2004, as agreed in the
Uruguay Round of trade negotiations in 1994. Partially as a result, Vietnam’s textile exports
stagnated in 2005.
Economic relations with the United States are improving but are not without challenges, even
beyond Vietnam’s aspirations to join the WTO. Although the United States and Vietnam reached
a landmark bilateral agreement in December 2001 that boosted Vietnam’s exports to the United
States, disagreements over textile and catfish exports are hindering full implementation of the
agreement. Further disrupting U.S.-Vietnamese economic relations are efforts in Congress to link
non-humanitarian aid to Vietnam’s human rights record. Barriers to trade and intellectual
property are also within the purview of bilateral discussions.
Given neighboring China’s rapid economic ascendancy, Vietnam’s economic relationship with
China is of utmost importance. Following the resolution of most territorial disputes, trade with
China is growing rapidly, and in 2004 Vietnam imported more products from China than from
any other nation. In November 2004, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), of
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which Vietnam is a member, and China announced plans to establish the world’s largest free-
trade area by 2010.
Imports: In 2004 Vietnam’s merchandise imports were valued at US$31.5 billion, and growing
rapidly. Vietnam’s principal imports were machinery (17.5 percent), refined petroleum (11.5
percent), steel (8.3 percent), material for the textile industry (7.2 percent), and cloth (6.0
percent). The main origins of Vietnam’s imports were China (13.9 percent), Taiwan (11.6
percent), Singapore (11.3 percent), Japan (11.1 percent), South Korea (10.4 percent), Thailand
(5.8 percent), and Malaysia (3.8 percent).
Exports: In 2004 Vietnam’s merchandise exports were valued at US$26.5 billion, and, much
like imports, were growing rapidly. Vietnam’s principal exports were crude oil (22.1 percent),
textiles and garments (17.1 percent), footwear (10.5 percent), fisheries products (9.4 percent),
and electronics (4.1 percent). The main destinations of Vietnam’s exports were the United States
(18.8 percent), Japan (13.2 percent), China (10.3 percent), Australia (6.9 percent), Singapore (5.2
percent), Germany (4.0 percent), and the United Kingdom (3.8 percent).
Trade Balance: In 2004 Vietnam ran a merchandise trade deficit of US$5 billion, or 16 percent
of imports.
Balance of Payments: The current account balance was negative US$1.4 billion in 2004.
Vietnam last registered a slightly positive current account balance in 2001.
External Debt: In 2004 external debt amounted to US$16.6 billion, or 37 percent of gross
domestic product (GDP).
Foreign Investment: From 1988 to December 2004, cumulative foreign direct investment (FDI)
commitments totaled US$46 billion. By December 2004, about 58 percent had been dispersed.
About half of FDI has been directed at the two major cities (and environs) of Ho Chi Minh City
and Hanoi. In 2003 new foreign direct investment commitments were US$1.5 billion. The largest
sector by far for licensed FDI is industry and construction. Other sectors attracting FDI are oil
and gas, fisheries, construction, agriculture and forestry, transportation/communications, and
hotels and tourism. During the period 2006–10, Vietnam hopes to receive US$18 billion of FDI
to support a targeted growth rate in excess of 7 percent. Despite rising investments, foreign
investors still regard Vietnam as a risky destination, as confirmed by a recent survey by the
Japan External Trade Organization of Japanese companies operating in Vietnam. Many of these
companies complained about high costs for utilities, office rentals, and skilled labor. Official
corruption and bureaucracy, the lack of transparent regulations, and the failure to enforce
investor rights are additional issues impairing investment, according to the U.S. State
Department. Vietnam tied with several nations for 102nd place in Transparency International’s
2004 Corruption Perceptions Index.
Foreign Aid: The World Bank’s assistance program for Vietnam has three objectives: to support
Vietnam’s transition to a market economy, to enhance equitable and sustainable development,
and to promote good governance. From 1993 through 2004, Vietnam received pledges of US$29
billion of official development assistance (ODA), of which about US$14 billion, or 49 percent,
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actually has been disbursed. In 2004 international donors pledged ODA of US$2.25 billion, of
which US$1.65 billion actually was disbursed. Three donors accounted for 80 percent of
disbursements in 2004: Japan, the World Bank, and the Asian Development Bank. During the
period 2006–10, Vietnam hopes to receive US$14 billion–US$15 billion of ODA.
Currency and Exchange Rate: As of December 2005, one U.S. dollar was equivalent to about
15,913 Vietnamese dong (D). The relationship between the U.S. dollar and Vietnamese dong is
important because the dong, although not freely convertible, is loosely pegged to the dollar
through an arrangement known as a “crawling peg.” This mechanism allows the dollar-dong
exchange rate to adjust gradually to changing market conditions.
Fiscal Year: Calendar year.
TRANSPORTATION AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS
Transportation Overview: Vietnam’s transportation system is in need of modernization and
expansion. Ports are operating at only one-third of capacity. Roads are in generally poor
condition, and the underdeveloped railroad system carries less freight than the inland waterways.
Motorcycles are more popular than buses. In an effort to improve bus service, Hanoi plans to
invite private companies to bid for operating rights for six municipal bus routes.
Roads: Vietnam’s roads extend over 210,000 kilometers, implying a network density twice as
high as Thailand’s and Malaysia’s. However, the condition of the roads is generally poor; only
13.5 percent of the roads are considered to be in good condition. Only 29 percent of the roads are
tarred, and road access is cut off to more than 10 percent of villages for at least one month per
year because of monsoons. In 2005 the construction of the 1,690-kilometer Ho Chi Minh
Highway, which eventually will link Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, was still underway. The
project, which is expected to cost US$500 million, is the largest transportation project since the
end of the Second Indochina War. Despite government efforts to promote the use of buses,
motorcycles remain the preferred mode of local transport. There is one motorcycle for every
seven people. Poorer citizens rely on bicycles, while only the affluent can afford cars.
Railroads: Vietnam has six single-track railroad routes with a total length of 3,260 kilometers.
The network’s density is only about one-third the average for low-income countries. The longest
railroad line measures 1,730 kilometers from Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh City and requires 32 hours
to traverse on the Reunification Express. Of the nation’s inventory of rolling stock, 25 percent is
not operational. Twenty-five percent of the nation’s operational rolling stock is more than 30
years old. Freight traffic picked up in 2000 and 2001 following five years of decline. Vietnam
needs more than US$400 million between 2004 and 2009 to modernize its railroads. The
government plans to build two subway lines in Ho Chi Minh City by 2007. Project-related costs
are estimated at US$800 million.
Ports: The principal ports in Vietnam, listed from north to south, are Haiphong, Quang Ninh,
Danang, Qui Nhon, Ho Chi Minh City, and Can Tho. Altogether, Vietnam has seven
international ports and five additional ports that specialize in transporting oil and coal. The
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freight volume is about 14 million tons annually, compared with only 4.5 million tons in 1993.
However, total traffic is only about one-third of capacity. Vietnamese ships carry only about 20
percent of the country’s international trade, although plans exist to expand the merchant fleet
substantially.
Inland Waterways: Vietnam’s inland waterways, primarily the Mekong River and Red River
systems, carry more freight than the railroads, and the volume of freight is rising slowly.
According to the World Bank, transportation productivity via the inland waterways is 40 percent
below the system’s potential, assuming proper maintenance, navigation aids, and dredging.
Civil Aviation and Airports: Vietnam operates 17 major civil airports, including three
international gateways: Noi Bai serving Hanoi, Danang serving Danang City, and Tan Son Nhat
serving Ho Chi Minh City. Tan Son Nhat is the largest, handling 75 percent of international
passenger traffic. Vietnam Airlines, the national airline, has a fleet of 30 aircraft that link
Vietnam with 19 foreign cities. In 2004 Vietnam Airlines had 5 million passengers, up 25
percent from the prior year, and management expects the number of passengers to reach 12
million by 2010. In November 2004, Vietnam Airlines announced that it would purchase 10
Airbus A310–200 aircraft and continue negotiations for four Boeing 7E7 “Dreamliner” aircraft.
Vietnam Airlines’ goal is to expand its fleet to 73 aircraft by 2010. Beginning in 2006, Vietnam
Airlines will cooperate with American Airlines in international flights under a codeshare
agreement. Vietnam Airlines’ code will apply to American Airlines flights from the United
States to Vietnam, Japan, and Europe. American Airlines’ code will apply to Vietnam Airlines
flights from Vietnam to Japan and Europe.
Pipelines: In April 1995, a 125-kilometer natural gas pipeline connecting Bach Ho with a power
plant near Vung Tau went into operation. With the subsequent addition of compressors, the
volume pumped rose to more than 1 billion cubic meters per year. In 2005 a 399-kilometer
underwater pipeline, the world’s longest, began to carry natural gas onshore from the Nam Con
Son basin. The pipeline’s anticipated capacity is 2 billion cubic meters per year, while the basin
has an estimated 59 billion cubic meters of natural gas reserves.
Telecommunications: The International Telecommunication Union rates Vietnam’s
telecommunications market the second fastest growing in the world after China. With rapid
telecommunications growth leading to 4.9 million landline telephones and 3.4 million mobile
telephones as of mid-2004, Vietnam’s telephone penetration rate is still only 10 percent. As of
mid-2004, Vietnam had 5.1 million Internet users, corresponding to 6 percent penetration. In
2000 Vietnam had about 600,000 personal computers, or 7.35 for 1,000 people. In 2003 Vietnam
had 8.2 million radios, or 100.45 per 1,000 people. There were 65 AM radio stations, 7 FM
stations, and 29 shortwave stations. Also in 2003, Vietnam had 3.6 million televisions, or 43.73
per 1,000 people. Television broadcast stations numbered at least seven in 1998.
GOVERNMENT AND POLITICS
Government Overview: The Vietnamese Communist Party (VCP) has a monopoly on power. A
three-person collective leadership consists of the VCP general secretary, the prime minister, and
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the president. President Tran Duc Luong is the chief of state, while Prime Minister Phan Van
Khai is head of government. General Secretary Nong Duc Manh heads up not only the VCP but
also the 15-member Politburo. A decision by any member of the triumvirate is vetted by the
other two. As a result, policy announcements tend to be bland and equivocal.
In July 2002, the National Assembly voted to keep Prime Minister Khai and President Luong in
office until 2007. Khai, who is the oldest member of the cabinet and is known for his pro-reform
policies, is believed likely to complete his 2002–7 term because of the absence of an heir
apparent. The mechanism for transfers of power suffers from a lack of transparency.
Constitution: Vietnam has had a series of constitutions, introduced in 1946, 1959, 1980, and
1992. As of late 2004, the Vietnamese constitution is regarded as the 1992 document, as
amended in 2001 to continue the reform of the state apparatus, to allow more leeway to the
private sector, and to promote progress in the areas of education, science, and technology. The
original 1992 constitution modestly downgraded the roles of the Vietnamese Communist Party
(VCP) and the government in favor of reform. Instead of being authorized to do whatever was
necessary to “build socialism,” the VCP was subordinated to the constitution and the law, while
the government was assigned specific management functions under the direction of a prime
minister, whose powers also were defined. In addition, the constitution called for a multisector
economy. Although the autonomy of state enterprises was recognized, a role also was assigned to
the private sector. Individuals were permitted to acquire lengthy land leases. Foreign investors
were granted ownership rights and protection against nationalization.
In 2001 the constitution was amended to increase the role of the National Assembly by giving it
the authority to decide budget allocations and to stage votes of no confidence in office holders.
Amendments also boosted the role of the private sector by recognizing the right to operate of any
businesses not explicitly prohibited and lifting restrictions on their size. These revisions were
intended to encourage the development of a cottage industry of individual traders and private
enterprises. In the field of education, amendments established the goals of universal secondary
education, more vocational and technical training, and easier access to education by the poor and
handicapped.
Branches of Government: The constitution recognizes the National Assembly as “the highest
organ of state power.” The National Assembly, a 498-member unicameral body elected to a five-
year term, meets twice a year. The assembly appoints the president (chief of state), the prime
minister (head of government), chief procurators of the Supreme People’s Court and the
Supreme People’s Office of Supervision and Control (the heads of the judiciary), and the 21-
member cabinet (the executive). Once a rubber stamp, the National Assembly has become more
assertive in holding ministers accountable and amending legislation. Ultimately, however, the
Vietnamese Communist Party (VCP) controls the executive and the electoral process. The VCP
exercises control through the 150-member Central Committee, which elects the 15-member
Politburo at national party congresses held every five years. Members of the party hold all senior
government positions.
The Vietnamese government has ministers in the following areas: agriculture and rural
development; construction; culture and information; education and training; finance; foreign
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affairs; industry; interior; justice; labor, war invalids, and social affairs; marine products;
national defense; planning and investment; public health; science, technology and environment;
trade; and transport and communications.
Administrative Divisions: Administratively, Vietnam consists of 59 provinces and 5
municipalities. The provinces are 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, Dac
Lak, Dac Nong, Dien Bien, Dong Nai, Dong Thap, Gia Lai, Ha Giang, Hai Duong, Ha Nam, Ha
Tay, Ha Tinh, 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, and Yen Bai. The municipalities are Can Tho, Da Nang,
Haiphong, Hanoi, and Ho Chi Minh.
Provincial and Local Government: Provinces and municipalities are subdivided into towns,
districts, and villages. The provinces and municipalities are centrally controlled by the national
government. The towns, districts, and villages are locally accountable to some degree through
elected people’s councils.
Judicial and Legal System: At the apex of the judicial system is the Supreme People’s Court
(SPC), which is the highest court for appeal and review. The SPC reports to the National
Assembly, which controls the judiciary’s budget and confirms the president’s nominees to the
SPC and Supreme People’s Procuracy. The Supreme People’s Procuracy issues arrest warrants,
sometimes retroactively. Below the SPC are district and provincial people’s courts, military
tribunals, and administrative, economic, and labor courts. The people’s courts are the courts of
first instance. The Ministry of Defense (MOD) has military tribunals, which have the same rules
as civil courts. Military judges and assessors are selected by the MOD and SPC, but the SPC has
supervisory responsibility.
Although the constitution provides for independent judges and lay assessors (who lack
administrative training), the U.S. Department of State maintains that Vietnam lacks an
independent judiciary, in part because the Vietnamese Communist Party (VCP) selects judges
and vets them for political reliability. Moreover, the party seeks to influence the outcome of
cases involving perceived threats to the state or the party’s dominant position. In an effort to
increase judicial independence, the government transferred local courts from the Ministry of
Justice to the SPC in September 2002. However, the Department of State saw no evidence that
the move actually achieved the stated goal. Vietnam’s judiciary also is hampered by a shortage
of lawyers and rudimentary trial procedures. The death penalty often is imposed in cases of
corruption and drug trafficking.
Electoral System: Vietnam has universal suffrage at age 18. Elections for the National
Assembly are scheduled every five years. The last election was held on May 19, 2002. The next
election is scheduled in 2007. In addition, elections to the people’s councils (local assemblies)
were last held in April 2004. Although candidates are carefully vetted, about 25 percent of those
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elected were not members of the Vietnamese Communist Party (VCP). By a law enacted in
2003, each district has at least two more candidates than the number of elected positions.
Politics/Political Parties: Vietnam is a one-party state. The Vietnamese Communist Party
(VCP) has a monopoly on power.
Mass Media: Vietnam’s mass media are supervised by the Ministry of Culture and Information
and communicate officially approved information. The government has shut down non-
compliant newspapers. Only senior officials are permitted access to foreign television via
satellite. Given Vietnam’s close supervision of official media outlets, dissidents have sought to
disseminate their views via the Internet, leading the government to impose restrictions on
Internet use and access. The regime controls Internet access via Vietnam’s sole gateway,
Vietnam Data Communications. In 2002 the Ministry of Culture and Information began to block
access to Internet Web sites it considers “subversive,” such as the BBC’s Vietnamese language
Web site. Also in 2002, the government sent a warning by jailing activists for publishing critical
commentaries on the Internet. Altogether, Reporters Without Borders documented seven cases of
dissidents being imprisoned or detained for illicit Internet use. The government also has
tightened controls over cybercafés. In 2004 the government reprimanded 65 cybercafé owners
for violating restrictions on Internet access, including the viewing of pornography.
Foreign Relations: During its incursion into Cambodia in 1978–89, Vietnam was isolated
internationally. However, soon after the conflict was resolved in the Paris Agreement on
Cambodia in October 1991, Vietnam established or reestablished diplomatic and economic
relations with most of Western Europe, China, and other East Asian countries. Vietnam joined
the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in 1995 and the Asia-Pacific Economic
Cooperation forum (APEC) in 1998. Vietnam’s foreign policy is aimed at developing good
relations with a diversified mix of nations.
In February 1994, the United States lifted its economic embargo against Vietnam, and in June
1995 the United States and Vietnam normalized relations. However, these relations remain
somewhat volatile. Full implementation of a bilateral trade agreement, which came into effect in
December 2001, is being held up by a dispute over catfish exports. In July 2003, the
International Trade Commission decided in favor of the United States in the catfish dispute.
Vietnam’s government is also upset with a bill introduced in the U.S. Congress in July 2004 to
link non-humanitarian aid to Vietnam’s human rights record. In June 2005, a high-level
Vietnamese delegation, led by Prime Minister Phan Van Khai, visited the United States and met
with their U.S. counterparts, including President George W. Bush. This was the first such visit in
30 years. The leaders engaged in far-reaching discussions, including lingering issues from the
Second Indochina War, but the United States did not endorse Vietnam’s bid to join the World
Trade Organization (WTO) during the visit.
Ideological affinities are driving improved relations with China, and trade between the nations
soared to reach US$7.2 billion in 2004. But despite improved relations, Vietnam remains
suspicious of China’s intentions. In January 2000, China and Vietnam signed a treaty defining a
common land border. However, the countries both claim sovereignty over the Spratly and
Paracel Islands in the South China Sea, and this dispute is a potential source of renewed tension.
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Vietnam enjoys a good political and economic relationship with Japan, and the two countries are
partnering to exploit the disputed offshore oil fields in the South China Sea. At a meeting in
Hanoi in July 2004, foreign ministers from the two nations pledged to strengthen the partnership.
Already a major trading partner and investor, Japan promised to boost direct investment in
Vietnam. Japan also offered support for Vietnam’s bid to join the WTO. In December 2004,
Japan announced a grant of US$19 million to fight poverty in Vietnam.
Russia’s predecessor state, the Soviet Union, was a longstanding ally and a major investor.
Following the break-up of the Soviet Union, Russia reduced its investments in Vietnam. Trade
also suffered as a result of a dispute over the large debt that Vietnam owed the Soviet Union.
This debt has been restructured to Vietnam’s benefit so that Vietnam now must repay only 15
percent, with payments stretched over two decades. Part of the debt is repayable in commodities
such as rice and coffee.
Membership in International Organizations: Vietnam is a member of the Asian Development
Bank, the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum, the International Monetary Fund, the
United Nations, and the World Health Organization. Reflecting Vietnam’s recognition of its
place in the global economy, in 1995 Vietnam joined the Association of Southeast Asian Nations
(ASEAN). Now an observer at the World Trade Organization (WTO), Vietnam hopes to become
a full member of the WTO in 2006.
Other memberships include the Colombo Plan for Cooperative Economic and Social
Development in Asia and the Pacific, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations,
International Atomic Energy Agency, International Bank for Reconstruction and Development
(World Bank), International Civil Aviation Organization, International Development
Association, International Fund for Agricultural Development, International Finance
Corporation, International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, International
Labour Organization, International Maritime Organization, Interpol, International Olympic
Committee, International Telecommunication Union, Nonaligned Movement, Organisation for
the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons, United Nations Conference on Trade and Development,
United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, United Nations Industrial
Development Organization, World Confederation of Labor, World Customs Organization, World
Federation of Trade Unions, and World Intellectual Property Organization.
Major International Treaties: With the United States, Vietnam reached the following
agreements: Normalization of Relations (1995), Bilateral Trade (2001), and Counternarcotics,
Civil Aviation, and Textiles (2003). With China, Vietnam reached a Land Border Agreement
(1999), an Agreement on Borders in the Gulf of Tonkin (2000), and a Declaration on the
Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea (2002). With Russia, Vietnam agreed to a Strategic
Partnership (2001).
Aside from these bilateral agreements, Vietnam is a signatory to numerous international
agreements on biological weapons, chemical weapons, civil aviation, counterterrorism,
diplomatic immunity, nuclear nonproliferation, and war crimes. Notable agreements on the
environment include the following: Convention on the Prohibition of Military or any other
Hostile Use of Environmental Modification Techniques (1978), Convention on Early
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Notification of a Nuclear Accident (1986), Convention on Assistance in the Case of a Nuclear
Accident or Radiological Emergency (1987), Convention for Protection of the Ozone Layer
(1988), Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer (1989), and United
Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (1994).
NATIONAL SECURITY
Armed Forces Overview: Since Vietnam fought against the Khmer Rouge regime in Cambodia
in 1978–89, it has demobilized about 500,000 troops and cut military spending. Still, Vietnam
has one of the region’s largest and most powerful militaries. Furthermore, the People’s Army of
Vietnam remains politically influential, and many senior officers have obtained leadership
positions in the Central Committee and Politburo of the Vietnamese Communist Party (VCP).
The military’s prestige stems from its formidable track record against such major world military
powers as France, the United States, and China and its deep roots in society.
Foreign Military Relations: Vietnam cooperates militarily with India and China. Vietnam
advises India on how to combat guerrilla warfare. India helps maintain Vietnam’s MiG fighter
planes and helps Vietnam manufacture small- and medium-sized weapons. In 2001 Vietnam
bolstered its military cooperation with China. Russia has reduced its military presence in
Vietnam since it abandoned control over the Camh Ranh Bay Naval Base in 2001 because it
could not afford the expense.
External Threat: Despite having fought a border war with China in 1979, Vietnam does not
face an identifiable military enemy. However, sovereignty over the Spratly and Paracel Islands in
the South China Sea remains in dispute with China and several other nations. In addition,
Cambodia and Laos have protested incursions by Vietnamese squatters.
Defense Budget: In 2003 Vietnam’s defense budget was estimated at US$2.3 billion.
Major Military Units: Vietnam’s active-duty military consists of a 412,000-member army, a
42,000-member navy, a 30,000-member air and air defense force, and a 40,000-member
paramilitary border defense corps. The army, which is deployed in nine military regions
(including Hanoi), consists of headquarters, 58 infantry divisions, 3 mechanized infantry
divisions, 10 armored battalions, 15 independent infantry regiments, special forces and airborne
brigades, 10 field artillery brigades, 8 engineering divisions, 10 to 15 economic construction
divisions, and 20 independent engineering brigades. The navy, including naval infantry, is
deployed in four naval regions. The People’s Air Force consists of three air divisions, each with
three regiments.
Major Military Equipment: The army is equipped with 1,315 main battle tanks, 620 light
tanks, 100 reconnaissance vehicles, 300 armored infantry fighting vehicles, 1,380 armored
personnel carriers, 2,300 towed artillery, and more than 30 self-propelled artillery. The army also
has an unspecified number of combined gun/mortars, assault guns, multiple rocket launchers,
mortars, surface-to-surface missiles, antitank guided weapons, recoilless launchers, air defense
guns, and surface-to-air missiles. The navy has 2 Yugo-class submarines, 6 frigates, 1 corvette,
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12 missile craft, 10 torpedo craft, 19 inshore patrol combatants, 10 mine warfare ships, 6
amphibious ships, and at least 30 support craft. The People’s Air Force has 189 combat aircraft
(53 Su–22, 12 Su–27, and 124 MiG–21) and 26 Mi–24 armed helicopters.
Military Service: Military service is compulsory, usually for two years. In late 2001, Vietnam
reinstated the requirement that women register for military service. However, barring an
emergency mobilization, they are unlikely to be called up. Mandatory military service for
women had been abandoned in 1975 at the end of the nation’s civil war.
Paramilitary Forces: Vietnam has a 4-million to 5-million-member paramilitary reserve force,
consisting of the People’s Self-Defense Force and the rural People’s Militia.
Police: The Ministry of Public Security controls the police, a national security investigative
agency, and other units that maintain internal security.
Internal Threat: The government seeks to prevent the expression of views critical of the
government and non-sanctioned religious worship. When some dissidents sought to evade
official media controls by using the Internet to disseminate their views, the government
responded by introducing Internet restrictions. Although dissident activity generates substantial
press commentary, it does not pose a threat to the regime’s stability.
The Montagnard ethnic minority represents a special case. This group is seeking a return of its
ancestral lands in the Central Highlands. The Montagnards, who traditionally have opposed the
communist government, receive support from overseas Vietnamese, particularly the United
States-based Montagnard Foundation. After a violent clash with demonstrators in April 2004, the
government boosted its security presence in the region.
Terrorism: Following al Qaeda’s attack on the United States on September 11, 2001, Vietnam
expressed sympathy for the victims and qualified support for the war on terrorism. Vietnam
urged that any steps taken against terrorists be consistent with international cooperation within
the bounds of the United Nations Charter, target the culprits, and avoid larger-scale warfare.
In April 2004, the State Bank of Vietnam (SBV) issued a draft decree to combat money
laundering as a source of terrorist financing. This move followed pressure from the United
States, which denied requests by the Vietcombank and the Vietnam Bank for Investment and
Development to set up representative offices on the grounds that they could be used to finance
international terrorism.
Human Rights: In its 2004 report on Human Rights Practices, the U.S. Department of State
characterized Vietnam’s human rights record as “poor” and cited the continuation of “serious
abuses.” According to the report, the government has imposed restrictions on freedom of speech,
freedom of the press, freedom of assembly, and freedom of association. Citizens are denied the
right to change their government. The government continues to hold political prisoners who have
expressed views at odds with government policy. Prison conditions are generally “harsh, but not
unduly so given the country's level of economic development,” according to the State
Department assessment. Vietnam has no independent judiciary, and there is no right to a fair and
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speedy trial. Human rights organizations are not permitted to operate. Discrimination against
women and ethnic minorities, child labor, and prostitution are serious problems. The government
is attempting to address the child labor issue.
The government officially provides for freedom of religion and recognizes Buddhist, Roman
Catholic, Protestant, Hoa Hao, Cao Dai, and Muslim denominations. However, non-sanctioned
groups, including branches of even the recognized denominations, face harassment. Furthermore,
the government insists on supervising the clergies of the sanctioned groups (by approving
appointments, for example) in the interest of “national unity.”
In April 2004, 20,000 to 30,000 members of the Montagnard ethnic minority gathered to protest
for the return of their ancestral lands in the Central Highlands and an end to religious repression.
Human Rights Watch alleges that hundreds of demonstrators were wounded and at least 10 killed
in a clash with Vietnamese officials and civilians. The Vietnamese government is concerned that
the Montagnards are seeking an independent state.
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December 2005
COUNTRY
Formal Name: Socialist Republic of Vietnam (Cong Hoa Xa Hoi Chu Nghia Viet Nam).
Short Form: Vietnam.
Term for Citizen(s): Vietnamese.
Capital: Hanoi.
Major Cities: With 5.6 million people, Ho Chi Minh City (formerly Saigon) is the most
populous city. Hanoi has a population of 3 million. Other major cities are Danang, Haiphong,
and Can Tho.
Independence: Vietnam declared independence from Japan and France on September 2, 1945.
However, Vietnam remained under French control until the communist Viet Minh defeated
French forces at Dien Bien Phu in 1954.
Public Holidays: Official holidays are New Year’s (January 1), Tet or Lunar New Year
(movable date in January or February), Liberation Day to commemorate the fall of Saigon (April
30), Labor Day (May 1), and Independence Day to commemorate Japan’s withdrawal following
its defeat in World War II (September 2).
Flag: Red, with a large yellow five-pointed star in the center.
HISTORICAL BACKGROUND
Origins: The Vietnamese trace the origins of their culture and nation to the fertile plains of the
Red River Delta in northern Vietnam. After centuries of developing a civilization and economy
based on the cultivation of irrigated rice, in the tenth century the Vietnamese began expanding
southward in search of new rice lands. Until the mid-nineteenth century, the Vietnamese
gradually moved down the narrow coastal plain of the Indochina Peninsula, ultimately extending
their reach into the broad Mekong River Delta. Vietnamese history is the story of the struggle to
develop a sense of nationhood throughout this narrow, 1,500-kilometer stretch of land and to
maintain it against internal and external pressures.
China was the chief source of Vietnam's foreign ideas and the earliest threat to its national
sovereignty. As a result of a millennium of Chinese control beginning in about 111 BC, the
Vietnamese assimilated Chinese influence in the areas of administration, law, education,
literature, language, and culture. Even during the following nine centuries of Vietnamese
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independence, lasting from the late tenth century until the second half of the nineteenth century,
the Chinese exerted considerable cultural, if not political, influence, particularly on the elite.
Colonial Period, Independence, and War: After 900 years of independence and following a
period of disunity and rebellion, the French colonial era began during the 1858–83 period, when
the French seized control of the nation, dividing it into three parts: the north (Tonkin), the center
(Annam), and the south (Cochinchina). In 1861 France occupied Saigon, and by 1883 it had
taken control of all of Vietnam as well as Laos and Cambodia. French colonial rule was, for the
most part, politically repressive and economically exploitative. The Japanese occupied Vietnam
during World War II but allowed the French to remain and exert some influence. At the war’s
end in 1945, Ho Chi Minh, leader of the communist Viet Minh organization, declared Vietnam’s
independence in a speech that invoked the U.S. Declaration of Independence and the French
Revolution’s Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen. However, the French quickly
reasserted the control they had ceded to the Japanese, and the First Indochina War (1946–54)
was underway. French control ended on May 7, 1954, when Vietnamese forces defeated the
French at Dien Bien Phu. The 1954 Geneva Conference left Vietnam a divided nation, with Ho
Chi Minh's communist government ruling the North from Hanoi and Ngo Dinh Diem's regime,
supported by the United States, ruling the South from Saigon (later Ho Chi Minh City).
As a result of the Second Indochina War (1954–75), Viet Cong—communist forces in South
Vietnam—and regular People’s Army of Vietnam (PAVN) forces from the North unified
Vietnam under communist rule. In this conflict, the insurgents—with logistical support from
China and the Soviet Union—ultimately defeated the Army of the Republic of Vietnam, which
sought to maintain South Vietnamese independence with the support of the U.S. military, whose
troop strength peaked at 540,000 during the communist-led Tet Offensive in 1968. The North did
not abide by the terms of the 1973 Paris Agreement, which officially settled the war by calling
for free elections in the South and peaceful reunification. Two years after the withdrawal of the
last U.S. forces in 1973, Saigon, the capital of South Vietnam, fell to the communists, and on
April 30, 1975, the South Vietnamese army surrendered. In 1976 the government of united
Vietnam renamed Saigon as Ho Chi Minh City, in honor of the wartime communist leader who
died in September 1969. The Vietnamese estimate that they lost nearly 3 million lives and
suffered more than 4 million injuries during the U.S. involvement in the war.
Unified Vietnam: In the post-1975 period, it was immediately apparent that the popularity and
effectiveness of Vietnamese Communist Party (VCP) policies did not necessarily extend to the
party’s peacetime nation-building plans. Having unified North and South politically, the VCP
still had to integrate them socially and economically. In this task, VCP policy makers were
confronted with the South’s resistance to communist transformation, as well as traditional
animosities arising from cultural and historical differences between North and South. More than
a million Southerners, including about 560,000 “boat people,” fled the country soon after the
communist takeover, fearing persecution and seizure of their land and businesses. About a
million Vietnamese were relocated to previously uncultivated land called “new economic zones”
for reeducation.
The harsh postwar crackdown on remnants of capitalism in the South led to the collapse of the
economy during the 1980s. With the economy in shambles, Vietnam’s government altered its
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course and adopted consensus policies that bridged the divergent views of pragmatists and
communist traditionalists. In 1986 Nguyen Van Linh, who was elevated to VCP general
secretary the following year, launched a campaign for political and economic renewal (Doi Moi).
His policies were characterized by political and economic experimentation that was similar to
simultaneous reform agendas undertaken in China and the Soviet Union. Reflecting the spirit of
political compromise, Vietnam phased out its reeducation effort. The government also stopped
promoting agricultural and industrial cooperatives. Farmers were permitted to till private plots
alongside state-owned land, and in 1990 the government passed a law encouraging the
establishment of private businesses.
Compounding economic difficulties were new military challenges. In the late 1970s, two
countries—Cambodia and China—posed threats to Vietnam. Clashes between Vietnamese and
Cambodian communists on their common border began almost immediately after Vietnam’s
reunification in 1975. To neutralize the threat, Vietnam invaded Cambodia in December 1978
and overran Phnom Penh, the Cambodian capital, driving out the incumbent Khmer Rouge
communist regime and initiating a prolonged military occupation of the country.
In February and March 1979, China retaliated against Vietnam's incursion into Cambodia by
launching a limited invasion of Vietnam, but the Chinese foray was quickly rebuffed. Relations
between the two countries had been deteriorating for some time. Territorial disagreements along
the border and in the South China Sea that had remained dormant during the Second Indochina
War were revived at the war's end, and a postwar campaign engineered by Hanoi to limit the role
of Vietnam's ethnic Chinese community in domestic commerce elicited a strong protest from
Beijing. China also was displeased with Vietnam because of its improving relationship with the
Soviet Union.
During its incursion into Cambodia in 1978–89, Vietnam’s international isolation extended to
relations with the United States. The United States, in addition to citing Vietnam's minimal
cooperation in accounting for Americans who were missing in action (MIAs) as an obstacle to
normal relations, barred normal ties as long as Vietnamese troops occupied Cambodia.
Washington also continued to enforce the trade embargo imposed on Hanoi at the conclusion of
the war in 1975. Soon after the Paris Agreement on Cambodia resolved the conflict in October
1991, however, Vietnam established or reestablished diplomatic and economic relations with
most of Western Europe, China, and other Asian countries. Vietnam normalized relations with
China in 1991 and with Japan in 1993. In February 1994, the United States lifted its economic
embargo against Vietnam, and in June 1995, the United States and Vietnam normalized relations.
In June 2005, a high-level Vietnamese delegation, led by Prime Minister Phan Van Khai, visited
the United States and met with their U.S. counterparts, including President George W. Bush.
This was the first such visit in 30 years. Relations with China took another step forward after the
two countries settled their long-standing border dispute in 1999. China is now a major trading
partner, and Vietnam models its economic policies after China’s.
As of late 2005, a three-person collective leadership was responsible for governing Vietnam.
This triumvirate consisted of the VCP general secretary (Nong Duc Manh, April 2001– ), the
prime minister (Phan Van Khai, September 1997– ), and the president (Tran Duc Luong,
September 1997– ). General Secretary Manh headed up not only the VCP but also the 15-
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member Politburo. President Luong was chief of state, and Prime Minister Khai was head of
government. The leadership is promoting a “socialist-oriented market economy” and friendly
relations with China, Japan, the European Union, Russia, and the United States. Although the
leadership is presiding over a period of rapid economic growth, official corruption and a
widening gap between urban wealth and rural poverty remain stubborn problems that are eroding
the VCP’s authority. A major goal is gaining full membership in the World Trade Organization
(WTO). Vietnam now hopes to join the WTO by mid-2006, although previously it had hoped to
achieve this goal by the end of 2005. Vietnam still needs to conclude bilateral agreements with
the United States, Australia, New Zealand, Mexico, and the Dominican Republic in order to
qualify for membership.
GEOGRAPHY
Location: Vietnam is located in Southeast Asia, bordered by the
Gulf of Tonkin and the South China Sea to the east, China to the
north, Laos and Cambodia to the west, and the Gulf of Thailand
to the south.
Size: Vietnam is long and thin, with an area of 330,363 square
kilometers.
Land Boundaries: Vietnam shares land boundaries with Cambodia
(1,228 kilometers), China (1,281 kilometers), and Laos (2,130 kilometers).
Disputed Territory: On December 30, 1999, China and Vietnam
signed a treaty that settled disputes over the two nations’ common
border. However, the Paracel and Spratly Islands in the South China
Sea are still regarded as disputed territory. Malaysia, Brunei, the
Philippines, and Taiwan also claim sovereignty over the Spratly
Islands, which are believed to be rich in oil and natural gas reserves.
In May 2004, the government authorized 50 tourists and 40 officials to visit the Spratly Islands
by boat. The other nations staking a claim to the islands protested what they interpreted as an
assertion of sovereignty by Vietnam. In October 2004, Vietnam invited bids for oil exploration in
the Spratlys, triggering a complaint from China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs. In November
2004, China retaliated by moving an oil-drilling platform into position to explore for oil in the
Paracels.
Length of Coastline: Vietnam’s coastline along the Gulf of Tonkin, the South China Sea, and
the Gulf of Thailand measures 3,444 kilometers.
Maritime Claims: In June 2004, Vietnam’s National Assembly ratified an agreement originally
reached with China in December 2000 that established an internationally valid maritime border
in the Gulf of Tonkin. The ratification delay was attributable to concerns that the government
had made too many concessions during negotiations. In addition, in April 2004 China and
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Vietnam agreed to a common fishing zone in the Gulf of Tonkin. Vietnam claims an exclusive
economic zone (EEZ) of 200 nautical miles, the approximate beginning of the continental shelf.
Topography: Vietnam is a country of tropical lowlands, hills, and densely forested highlands,
with level land covering no more than 20 percent of the area. The country is divided into the
highlands and the Red River Delta in the north, and the Giai Truong Son (Central mountains, or
the Chaîne Annamitique, sometimes referred to simply as the Chaîne), the coastal lowlands, and
the Mekong River Delta in the south. The highest point in Vietnam is Fan Si Pan, at 3,143 meters
above sea level, in the northwest.
Principal Rivers: A relatively dense network of rivers traverses Vietnam. The principal rivers
are as follows: in the north, the Red and Thai Binh; in the center, the Ca, Ma, Han, Thach Han,
and Thu Bon; and in the south, the Mekong and Dong Nai.
Climate: Vietnam’s climate is tropical and monsoonal; humidity averages 84 percent throughout
the year. Annual rainfall ranges from 1,200 to 3,000 millimeters, and annual temperatures vary
between 5°C and 37°C.
Natural Resources: Vietnam’s main natural resources consist of coal, copper, crude oil, gold,
iron, manganese, silver, and zinc.
Land Use: In 2003 Vietnam’s land use was distributed as follows: 21 percent, arable; 28
percent, forest and woodland; and 51 percent, other.
Environmental Factors: The National Environmental Agency, a branch of the Ministry of
Science, Technology, and Environment, is responsible for environmental protection. At the
provincial level, the Departments of Science, Technology, and the Environment bear
responsibility. Non-governmental organizations, particularly the Institute of Ecological
Economics, also play a role. Urbanization, industrialization, and intensive farming are having a
negative impact on Vietnam’s environment. These factors have led to air pollution, water
pollution, and noise pollution, particularly in urban and industrial centers like Ho Chi Minh City
and Hanoi. The most serious problem is waste treatment. Land use pressures have led to
significant environmental problems, including severe deforestation, soil erosion, sedimentation
of rivers, flooding in the deltas, declining fish yields, and pollution of the coastal and marine
environment. The use of Agent Orange by the U.S. military in the Second Indochina War (1954–
75) has had a lingering effect on Vietnam in the form of persistent environmental contamination
that has increased the incidence of various diseases and birth defects.
Time Zone: Seven hours ahead of Greenwich Mean Time.
SOCIETY
Population: In 2004 Vietnam’s population was 82.2 million, and it was growing at a rate of
about 1.2 percent per year. The average population density was 246 people per square kilometer,
one of the highest levels in the world. The highest concentration of people was in the Red River
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Delta, in the northeast where Hanoi is located, and the lowest concentration was in the northwest.
The population, which traditionally has been primarily rural, has become increasingly urbanized
since 1986, when the Doi Moi economic renewal program began to boost income and
employment opportunities in the cities. In 2004 about 26 percent of Vietnam’s population was
urban and 75 percent rural, down from 85 percent in the early 1980s. Vietnam’s net migration
rate was estimated at –0.45 migrant(s) per 1,000 population in 2004. Consistent with the trend
toward urbanization, urban areas, such as Ho Chi Minh City, Hanoi, Da Nang, and the Central
Highlands, have attracted the most migrants. In addition, a steady stream of migrants continues
to move from the North to the South. As of 2002, the two largest groups of refugees were
Vietnamese and ethnic Chinese returning to Vietnam from Cambodia and the Montagnards from
Vietnam’s Central Highlands seeking asylum in Cambodia.
Demography: In 2004 Vietnam’s age distribution was estimated as follows: 0 to 14 years of age,
29.4 percent; 15 to 64, 65 percent; and 65 and older, 5.6 percent. This age distribution signals
slower population growth than in the past. According to 2005 estimates, Vietnam’s birthrate was
17.07 births per 1,000 people, and the fertility rate was 1.94 children born per woman. The infant
mortality rate was 25.95 per 1,000 live births, and the death rate was 6.2 per 1,000. Also
according to 2005 estimates, life expectancy was 70.61 years for the total population, consisting
of 67.82 years for men and 73.6 years for women.
Ethnic Groups: Vietnamese are the predominant ethnic group, constituting 85 to 90 percent of
the population. Chinese account for 3 percent of the population. Other ethnic groups are the
Hmong, Thai, Khmer, Cham, and Montagnards, an indigenous group living in the Central
Highlands.
Languages: Vietnamese is the official language of Vietnam. The Vietnamese have adopted a
Romanized script introduced by the French during the colonial period. English is increasingly
accepted as a second language. Some French language influence persists. Other languages used
are Chinese, Khmer, and mountain area dialects.
Religion: With 7.6 million followers, Buddhism is the most popular religion. The second most
popular religion is Roman Catholicism, with 6 million adherents. Other faiths, with the number
of followers indicated, are Cao Dai (2 million), Hoa Hao (1 million), Protestantism (500,000),
and Islam (50,000).
Education and Literacy: In 2003 Vietnam’s literacy rate was 94 percent, including 95.8 percent
for men and 92.3 percent for women. However, educational attainment is less impressive.
Although five years of primary school education are considered compulsory and 92 percent of
eligible children were enrolled in primary school in 2000, only two-thirds completed the fifth
grade. The cost of tuition, books, and uniforms and the need to supplement family income are the
two main reasons for dropping out. A huge disparity exists in primary school enrollment between
the cities and rural parts of Vietnam. In some rural areas, only 10 to 15 percent of the children
progress beyond third grade, whereas almost 96 percent of pupils in Ho Chi Minh City complete
fifth grade. In 2000 enrollment in secondary school was only 62.5 percent, much lower than in
primary school. One of the government’s goals is to expand access to secondary education.
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Health: The overall quality of healthcare is regarded as good, as reflected by 2005 estimates of
life expectancy (70.61 years) and infant mortality (25.95 per 1,000 live births). However,
malnutrition is still common in the provinces, and the life expectancy and infant mortality rates
are stagnating. In 2001 government spending on health care corresponded to just 0.9 percent of
gross domestic product (GDP). Government subsidies covered only about 20 percent of health
care expenses, with the remaining 80 percent coming out of individuals’ own pockets.
In 1954 the government in the North established a public health system that reached down to the
hamlet level. After reunification in 1976, this system was extended to the South. Beginning in
the late 1980s, the quality of health care began to decline as a result of budgetary constraints, a
shift of responsibility to the provinces, and the introduction of charges. Inadequate funding has
led to delays in planned upgrades to water supply and sewerage systems. As a result, almost half
the population has no access to clean water, a deficiency that promotes such infectious diseases
as malaria, dengue fever, typhoid, and cholera. Inadequate funding also has contributed to a
shortage of nurses, midwives, and hospital beds. In 2000 Vietnam had only 250,000 hospital
beds, or 14.8 beds per 10,000 people, a very low ratio among Asian nations, according to the
World Bank.
Vietnam has made progress in combating malaria, for which the mortality rate declined sharply,
to about 5 percent of the rate in the early 1990s, after the country introduced antimalarial drugs
and treatment. However, tuberculosis (TB) cases are on the rise, with 57 deaths per day reported
in May 2004. With an intensified vaccination program, better hygiene, and foreign assistance,
Vietnam hopes to reduce sharply the number of TB cases and annual new TB infections.
As of September 2005, Vietnam had diagnosed 101,291 human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)
cases, of which 16,528 developed acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) and 9,554 died.
But the actual number of HIV-positive individuals is estimated to be much higher. An average of
40–50 new infections are reported every day in Vietnam. Vietnam hopes to contain the HIV
infection rate at the current official rate of 0.35 percent, which is about average worldwide, by
limiting the disease as much as possible to sex workers and intravenous drug users. However, if
the current trend continues, the number of infected persons could reach 1 million by 2010. One
of the impediments to containing HIV/AIDS is that the victims face discrimination and
stigmatization that are more severe than almost anywhere else in the world, according to a
United Nations official. In June 2004, the Bush Administration announced that Vietnam would
be one of 15 nations to receive funding as part of a US$15 billion global AIDS plan.
Welfare: Vietnam’s welfare efforts target victims of the Second Indochina War (1954–75), such
as individuals disabled in combat or by toxic chemicals and the families of fallen combatants.
About 5 million Vietnamese, corresponding to more than 6 percent of the population, are
disabled. The Ministry of Labor, War Invalids, and Social Affairs administers welfare. Vietnam
has legislated a social insurance system with provisions for old age, disability, and death;
sickness and maternity; and work injury. Coverage is reported to be mandatory for state
employees, non-state enterprises with more than 10 employees, and foreign-invested enterprises.
Special programs are said to exist for government civil servants and armed forces personnel.
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ECONOMY
Overview: Beginning in the 1980s, dire economic conditions forced the government to relax
restrictions on private enterprise and sharply cut back on labor camp prisoners, many of them
entrepreneurs. In 1986 Vietnam launched a political and economic renewal campaign (Doi Moi)
that introduced reforms intended to facilitate the transition from a centralized economy to a
“socialist-oriented market economy.” Doi Moi combined government planning with free-market
incentives. The program abolished agricultural collectives, removed price controls on
agricultural goods, and enabled farmers to sell their goods in the marketplace. It encouraged the
establishment of private businesses and foreign investment, including foreign-owned enterprises.
By the late 1990s, the success of the business and agricultural reforms ushered in under Doi Moi
was evident. More than 30,000 private businesses had been created, and the economy was
growing at an annual rate of more than 7 percent. From the early 1990s to 2005, poverty declined
from about 50 percent to 29 percent of the population. However, progress varied geographically,
with most prosperity concentrated in urban areas, particularly in and around Ho Chi Minh City.
In general, rural areas also made progress, as rural households living in poverty declined from 66
percent of the total in 1993 to 36 percent in 2002. By contrast, concentrations of poverty
remained in certain rural areas, particularly the northwest, north-central coast, and central
highlands.
In 2001 the Vietnamese Communist Party (VCP) approved a 10-year economic plan that
enhanced the role of the private sector while reaffirming the primacy of the state. In 2003 the
private sector accounted for more than one-quarter of all industrial output, and the private
sector’s contribution was expanding more rapidly than the public sector’s (18.7 percent versus
12.4 percent growth from 2002 to 2003).
Despite these signs of progress, the World Economic Forum’s 2005 Global Competitiveness
Report, which reflects the subjective judgments of the business community, ranked Vietnam
eighty-first in growth competitiveness in the world (down from sixtieth place in 2003) and
eightieth in business competitiveness (down from fiftieth place in 2003), well behind its model
China, which ranked forty-ninth and fifty-seventh in these respective categories. Vietnam’s sharp
deterioration in the rankings from 2003 to 2005 was attributable in part to negative perceptions
of the effectiveness of government institutions. Official corruption is endemic despite efforts to
curb it. Vietnam also lags behind China in terms of property rights, the efficient regulation of
markets, and labor and financial market reforms. State-owned banks that are poorly managed and
suffer from non-performing loans still dominate the financial sector.
Although Vietnam’s economy, which continues to expand at an annual rate in excess of 7
percent, is one of the fastest growing in the world, the economy is growing from an extremely
low base, reflecting the crippling effect of the Second Indochina War (1954–75) and repressive
economic measures introduced in its aftermath. Whether rapid economic growth is sustainable is
open to debate. The government may not be able to follow through with plans to scale back trade
restrictions and reform state-owned enterprises. Reducing trade restrictions and improving
transparency are keys to gaining full membership in the World Trade Organization (WTO), as
hoped by mid-2006. The government plans to reform the state-owned sector by partially
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privatizing thousands of state-owned enterprises, including all five state-owned commercial
banks.
Gross Domestic Product (GDP): In 2004 Vietnam’s GDP was US$45.2 billion. Per capita
gross national income was US$550. However, based on purchasing power parity (buying power
for a basket of goods without regard for market exchange rates), Vietnam’s per capita GDP was
approximately US$2,700. In 2004 the contributions to GDP by sector were as follows:
agriculture, 21.8 percent; industry, 40.1 percent; and services, 38.2 percent. Reflecting Vietnam’s
hybrid economy, industry ownership was mixed, as indicated by percentage of output, as
follows: state-owned, 40 percent and declining; privately owned, 25 percent, but employing four
times as many workers as the state-owned sector; and foreign-owned, 35 percent.
Government Budget: In November 2003, Vietnam’s National Assembly approved a total state
budget of about US$12 billion for 2004, corresponding to about 26.5 percent of estimated gross
domestic product (GDP). The government’s budget deficit, currently targeted not to exceed 5
percent, is rising but remains under control in the view of independent observers.
Inflation: In 2004 inflation was 9.5 percent, higher than the 3.4 percent rate measured in 2000
but down significantly from 160 percent in 1988. The long-term decline reflects the beneficial
effect of fiscal and monetary reforms aimed at stabilizing the economy.
Agriculture, Forestry, and Fishing: In 2004 agriculture and forestry accounted for 21.8 percent
of gross domestic product (GDP), and during 1994–2004 the sector grew at an annual rate of 4.1
percent. However, agricultural employment was much higher than agriculture’s share of GDP; in
2005 some 60 percent of the employed labor force was engaged in agriculture, forestry, and
fishing. Agricultural products accounted for 30 percent of exports in 2005. The relaxation of the
state monopoly on rice exports transformed the country into the world’s second or third largest
rice exporter. Other cash crops are coffee, cotton, peanuts, rubber, sugarcane, and tea.
In 2003 Vietnam produced an estimated 30.7 million cubic meters of roundwood. Production of
sawnwood was a more modest 2,950 cubic meters. In 1992, in response to dwindling forests,
Vietnam imposed a ban on the export of logs and raw timber. In 1997 the ban was extended to all
timber products except wooden artifacts. During the 1990s, Vietnam began to reclaim land for
forests with a tree-planting program.
Vietnam’s fishing industry, which has abundant resources given the country’s long coastline and
extensive network of rivers and lakes, has experienced moderate growth overall. In 2003 the total
catch was about 2.6 million tons. However, seafood exports expanded fourfold from 1990 to
2002 to more than US$2 billion, driven in part by shrimp farms in the South and “catfish,” which
are a different species from their American counterpart but are marketed in the United States
under the same name. By concentrating on the U.S. market for the sale of vast quantities of
shrimp and catfish, Vietnam triggered antidumping complaints by the United States, which
imposed tariffs in the case of catfish and is considering doing the same for shrimp. In 2005 the
seafood industry began to focus on domestic demand to compensate for declining exports.
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Mining and Minerals: In 2003 mining and quarrying accounted for a 9.4 percent share of gross
domestic product (GDP); the sector employed 0.7 percent of the workforce. Petroleum and coal
are the main mineral exports. Also mined are antimony, bauxite, chromium, gold, iron, natural
phosphates, tin, and zinc.
Industry and Manufacturing: Although industry contributed 40.1 percent of gross domestic
product (GDP) in 2004, it employed only 12.9 percent of the workforce. In 2000, 22.4 percent of
industrial production was attributable to non-state activities. During 1994–2004, industrial GDP
grew at an average annual rate of 10.3 percent. Manufacturing contributed 20.3 percent of GDP
in 2004, while employing 10.2 percent of the workforce. During 1994–2004, manufacturing
GDP grew at an average annual rate of 11.2 percent. The top manufacturing sectors—food
processing, cigarettes and tobacco, textiles, chemicals, and electrical goods—experienced rapid
growth. Almost a third of manufacturing and retail activity is concentrated in Ho Chi Minh City.
Energy: Petroleum is the main source of commercial energy, followed by coal, which
contributes about 25 percent of the country’s energy (excluding biomass). Vietnam’s oil reserves
are in the range of 270–500 million tons. The World Bank cites the lower bound of the range. Oil
production rose rapidly to 403,300 barrels per day in 2004, but output is believed to have peaked
and is expected to decline gradually. Vietnam’s anthracite coal reserves are estimated at 3.7
billion tons. Coal production was almost 19 million tons in 2003, compared with 9.6 million tons
in 1999. Vietnam’s potential natural gas reserves are 1.3 trillion cubic meters. In 2002 Vietnam
brought ashore 2.26 billion cubic meters of natural gas. Hydroelectric power is another source of
energy. In 2004 Vietnam began to build a nuclear power plant with Russian assistance.
Crude oil is Vietnam’s leading export, totaling 17 million tons in 2002; in 2004 crude oil
represented 22 percent of all export earnings. Petroleum exports are in the form of crude
petroleum because Vietnam has a very limited refining capacity. Vietnam’s only operational
refinery, a facility at Cat Hai near Ho Chi Minh City, has a capacity of only 800 barrels per day.
Several consortia have abandoned commitments to finance a 130,000-barrel-per-day facility at
Dung Quat in central Vietnam. Refined petroleum accounted for 10.2 percent of total imports in
2002.
Services: In 2004 services accounted for 38.2 percent of gross domestic product (GDP). During
1994–2004, GDP attributable to the services sector grew at an average annual rate of 6.0 percent.
Banking and Finance: Vietnam’s first stock exchange, known as the Ho Chi Minh City
Securities Trading Center, was established in July 2000. By the spring of 2005, the number of
companies listed on the exchange had reached 28, representing a total market capitalization of
only US$270 million. In March 2005, Vietnam opened an over-the-counter exchange, known as
the Hanoi Securities Trading Center. The purpose of the second exchange is to expedite the
process of equitization (partial privatization) of state-owned enterprises. Although these
exchanges are still very small, officials have set the goal of expanding their combined market
capitalization to 10 percent of gross domestic product by 2010 and gradually phasing out
restrictions on foreign ownership of shares. In September 2005, Vietnam’s prime minister
announced that the limit on foreign share ownership would rise from 30 percent to 49 percent.
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Vietnam’s banks suffer from low public confidence, regulatory and managerial weakness, high
levels of non-performing loans (NPL), non-compliance with the Basel capital standards, and the
absence of international auditing. Since 1992 Vietnam’s banking system has consisted of a
combination of state-owned, joint-stock, joint-venture, and foreign banks, but the state-owned
commercial banks predominate, and they suffer from high levels of NPL, most of them to state-
owned enterprises. Consequently, in September 2005 Vietnam decided to equitize all five state-
owned banks—a change from previous plans to equitize only two of them. In addition, Vietnam
plans to boost the transparency of its financial system by establishing a credit-rating agency and
performance standards for joint-stock banks. Large foreign banks are balancing their strong
interest in serving multinationals in Vietnam and frustration with continuing restrictions on their
activities. Although Vietnam is a cash-based society, 300 to 400 automated teller machines
(ATMs) have been installed, and about 350,000 debit cards are in circulation.
Tourism: In 2004 Vietnam received 2.9 million international arrivals, up from 2.4 million the
previous year. The annual increase represented a strong rebound from a slight decline in 2003
attributable to the severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) epidemic in Asia. From 1999 to
2004, tourism rose by 63 percent. Most of the visitors in 2004—27 percent—came from China,
with 8–9 percent each coming from the United States, Japan, and South Korea. The Vietnam
National Administration of Tourism is following a long-term plan to diversify the tourism
industry, which brings needed foreign exchange into the country.
Labor: In 2004 the unemployment rate in urban areas was 5.6 percent, down from 5.8 percent in
2003 and 6.0 percent in 2002.
Foreign Economic Relations: Vietnam is an observer to the World Trade Organization (WTO),
but it aspires to full membership as early as mid-2006. Joining the WTO is vitally important
because membership will free Vietnam from textile quotas enacted worldwide as part of the
Multifiber Arrangement (MFA) of 1974. The MFA placed restrictions on the import by
industrialized countries of textiles from developing countries. For China and other WTO
members, however, textile quotas under the MFA expired at the end of 2004, as agreed in the
Uruguay Round of trade negotiations in 1994. Partially as a result, Vietnam’s textile exports
stagnated in 2005.
Economic relations with the United States are improving but are not without challenges, even
beyond Vietnam’s aspirations to join the WTO. Although the United States and Vietnam reached
a landmark bilateral agreement in December 2001 that boosted Vietnam’s exports to the United
States, disagreements over textile and catfish exports are hindering full implementation of the
agreement. Further disrupting U.S.-Vietnamese economic relations are efforts in Congress to link
non-humanitarian aid to Vietnam’s human rights record. Barriers to trade and intellectual
property are also within the purview of bilateral discussions.
Given neighboring China’s rapid economic ascendancy, Vietnam’s economic relationship with
China is of utmost importance. Following the resolution of most territorial disputes, trade with
China is growing rapidly, and in 2004 Vietnam imported more products from China than from
any other nation. In November 2004, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), of
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which Vietnam is a member, and China announced plans to establish the world’s largest free-
trade area by 2010.
Imports: In 2004 Vietnam’s merchandise imports were valued at US$31.5 billion, and growing
rapidly. Vietnam’s principal imports were machinery (17.5 percent), refined petroleum (11.5
percent), steel (8.3 percent), material for the textile industry (7.2 percent), and cloth (6.0
percent). The main origins of Vietnam’s imports were China (13.9 percent), Taiwan (11.6
percent), Singapore (11.3 percent), Japan (11.1 percent), South Korea (10.4 percent), Thailand
(5.8 percent), and Malaysia (3.8 percent).
Exports: In 2004 Vietnam’s merchandise exports were valued at US$26.5 billion, and, much
like imports, were growing rapidly. Vietnam’s principal exports were crude oil (22.1 percent),
textiles and garments (17.1 percent), footwear (10.5 percent), fisheries products (9.4 percent),
and electronics (4.1 percent). The main destinations of Vietnam’s exports were the United States
(18.8 percent), Japan (13.2 percent), China (10.3 percent), Australia (6.9 percent), Singapore (5.2
percent), Germany (4.0 percent), and the United Kingdom (3.8 percent).
Trade Balance: In 2004 Vietnam ran a merchandise trade deficit of US$5 billion, or 16 percent
of imports.
Balance of Payments: The current account balance was negative US$1.4 billion in 2004.
Vietnam last registered a slightly positive current account balance in 2001.
External Debt: In 2004 external debt amounted to US$16.6 billion, or 37 percent of gross
domestic product (GDP).
Foreign Investment: From 1988 to December 2004, cumulative foreign direct investment (FDI)
commitments totaled US$46 billion. By December 2004, about 58 percent had been dispersed.
About half of FDI has been directed at the two major cities (and environs) of Ho Chi Minh City
and Hanoi. In 2003 new foreign direct investment commitments were US$1.5 billion. The largest
sector by far for licensed FDI is industry and construction. Other sectors attracting FDI are oil
and gas, fisheries, construction, agriculture and forestry, transportation/communications, and
hotels and tourism. During the period 2006–10, Vietnam hopes to receive US$18 billion of FDI
to support a targeted growth rate in excess of 7 percent. Despite rising investments, foreign
investors still regard Vietnam as a risky destination, as confirmed by a recent survey by the
Japan External Trade Organization of Japanese companies operating in Vietnam. Many of these
companies complained about high costs for utilities, office rentals, and skilled labor. Official
corruption and bureaucracy, the lack of transparent regulations, and the failure to enforce
investor rights are additional issues impairing investment, according to the U.S. State
Department. Vietnam tied with several nations for 102nd place in Transparency International’s
2004 Corruption Perceptions Index.
Foreign Aid: The World Bank’s assistance program for Vietnam has three objectives: to support
Vietnam’s transition to a market economy, to enhance equitable and sustainable development,
and to promote good governance. From 1993 through 2004, Vietnam received pledges of US$29
billion of official development assistance (ODA), of which about US$14 billion, or 49 percent,
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actually has been disbursed. In 2004 international donors pledged ODA of US$2.25 billion, of
which US$1.65 billion actually was disbursed. Three donors accounted for 80 percent of
disbursements in 2004: Japan, the World Bank, and the Asian Development Bank. During the
period 2006–10, Vietnam hopes to receive US$14 billion–US$15 billion of ODA.
Currency and Exchange Rate: As of December 2005, one U.S. dollar was equivalent to about
15,913 Vietnamese dong (D). The relationship between the U.S. dollar and Vietnamese dong is
important because the dong, although not freely convertible, is loosely pegged to the dollar
through an arrangement known as a “crawling peg.” This mechanism allows the dollar-dong
exchange rate to adjust gradually to changing market conditions.
Fiscal Year: Calendar year.
TRANSPORTATION AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS
Transportation Overview: Vietnam’s transportation system is in need of modernization and
expansion. Ports are operating at only one-third of capacity. Roads are in generally poor
condition, and the underdeveloped railroad system carries less freight than the inland waterways.
Motorcycles are more popular than buses. In an effort to improve bus service, Hanoi plans to
invite private companies to bid for operating rights for six municipal bus routes.
Roads: Vietnam’s roads extend over 210,000 kilometers, implying a network density twice as
high as Thailand’s and Malaysia’s. However, the condition of the roads is generally poor; only
13.5 percent of the roads are considered to be in good condition. Only 29 percent of the roads are
tarred, and road access is cut off to more than 10 percent of villages for at least one month per
year because of monsoons. In 2005 the construction of the 1,690-kilometer Ho Chi Minh
Highway, which eventually will link Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, was still underway. The
project, which is expected to cost US$500 million, is the largest transportation project since the
end of the Second Indochina War. Despite government efforts to promote the use of buses,
motorcycles remain the preferred mode of local transport. There is one motorcycle for every
seven people. Poorer citizens rely on bicycles, while only the affluent can afford cars.
Railroads: Vietnam has six single-track railroad routes with a total length of 3,260 kilometers.
The network’s density is only about one-third the average for low-income countries. The longest
railroad line measures 1,730 kilometers from Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh City and requires 32 hours
to traverse on the Reunification Express. Of the nation’s inventory of rolling stock, 25 percent is
not operational. Twenty-five percent of the nation’s operational rolling stock is more than 30
years old. Freight traffic picked up in 2000 and 2001 following five years of decline. Vietnam
needs more than US$400 million between 2004 and 2009 to modernize its railroads. The
government plans to build two subway lines in Ho Chi Minh City by 2007. Project-related costs
are estimated at US$800 million.
Ports: The principal ports in Vietnam, listed from north to south, are Haiphong, Quang Ninh,
Danang, Qui Nhon, Ho Chi Minh City, and Can Tho. Altogether, Vietnam has seven
international ports and five additional ports that specialize in transporting oil and coal. The
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freight volume is about 14 million tons annually, compared with only 4.5 million tons in 1993.
However, total traffic is only about one-third of capacity. Vietnamese ships carry only about 20
percent of the country’s international trade, although plans exist to expand the merchant fleet
substantially.
Inland Waterways: Vietnam’s inland waterways, primarily the Mekong River and Red River
systems, carry more freight than the railroads, and the volume of freight is rising slowly.
According to the World Bank, transportation productivity via the inland waterways is 40 percent
below the system’s potential, assuming proper maintenance, navigation aids, and dredging.
Civil Aviation and Airports: Vietnam operates 17 major civil airports, including three
international gateways: Noi Bai serving Hanoi, Danang serving Danang City, and Tan Son Nhat
serving Ho Chi Minh City. Tan Son Nhat is the largest, handling 75 percent of international
passenger traffic. Vietnam Airlines, the national airline, has a fleet of 30 aircraft that link
Vietnam with 19 foreign cities. In 2004 Vietnam Airlines had 5 million passengers, up 25
percent from the prior year, and management expects the number of passengers to reach 12
million by 2010. In November 2004, Vietnam Airlines announced that it would purchase 10
Airbus A310–200 aircraft and continue negotiations for four Boeing 7E7 “Dreamliner” aircraft.
Vietnam Airlines’ goal is to expand its fleet to 73 aircraft by 2010. Beginning in 2006, Vietnam
Airlines will cooperate with American Airlines in international flights under a codeshare
agreement. Vietnam Airlines’ code will apply to American Airlines flights from the United
States to Vietnam, Japan, and Europe. American Airlines’ code will apply to Vietnam Airlines
flights from Vietnam to Japan and Europe.
Pipelines: In April 1995, a 125-kilometer natural gas pipeline connecting Bach Ho with a power
plant near Vung Tau went into operation. With the subsequent addition of compressors, the
volume pumped rose to more than 1 billion cubic meters per year. In 2005 a 399-kilometer
underwater pipeline, the world’s longest, began to carry natural gas onshore from the Nam Con
Son basin. The pipeline’s anticipated capacity is 2 billion cubic meters per year, while the basin
has an estimated 59 billion cubic meters of natural gas reserves.
Telecommunications: The International Telecommunication Union rates Vietnam’s
telecommunications market the second fastest growing in the world after China. With rapid
telecommunications growth leading to 4.9 million landline telephones and 3.4 million mobile
telephones as of mid-2004, Vietnam’s telephone penetration rate is still only 10 percent. As of
mid-2004, Vietnam had 5.1 million Internet users, corresponding to 6 percent penetration. In
2000 Vietnam had about 600,000 personal computers, or 7.35 for 1,000 people. In 2003 Vietnam
had 8.2 million radios, or 100.45 per 1,000 people. There were 65 AM radio stations, 7 FM
stations, and 29 shortwave stations. Also in 2003, Vietnam had 3.6 million televisions, or 43.73
per 1,000 people. Television broadcast stations numbered at least seven in 1998.
GOVERNMENT AND POLITICS
Government Overview: The Vietnamese Communist Party (VCP) has a monopoly on power. A
three-person collective leadership consists of the VCP general secretary, the prime minister, and
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the president. President Tran Duc Luong is the chief of state, while Prime Minister Phan Van
Khai is head of government. General Secretary Nong Duc Manh heads up not only the VCP but
also the 15-member Politburo. A decision by any member of the triumvirate is vetted by the
other two. As a result, policy announcements tend to be bland and equivocal.
In July 2002, the National Assembly voted to keep Prime Minister Khai and President Luong in
office until 2007. Khai, who is the oldest member of the cabinet and is known for his pro-reform
policies, is believed likely to complete his 2002–7 term because of the absence of an heir
apparent. The mechanism for transfers of power suffers from a lack of transparency.
Constitution: Vietnam has had a series of constitutions, introduced in 1946, 1959, 1980, and
1992. As of late 2004, the Vietnamese constitution is regarded as the 1992 document, as
amended in 2001 to continue the reform of the state apparatus, to allow more leeway to the
private sector, and to promote progress in the areas of education, science, and technology. The
original 1992 constitution modestly downgraded the roles of the Vietnamese Communist Party
(VCP) and the government in favor of reform. Instead of being authorized to do whatever was
necessary to “build socialism,” the VCP was subordinated to the constitution and the law, while
the government was assigned specific management functions under the direction of a prime
minister, whose powers also were defined. In addition, the constitution called for a multisector
economy. Although the autonomy of state enterprises was recognized, a role also was assigned to
the private sector. Individuals were permitted to acquire lengthy land leases. Foreign investors
were granted ownership rights and protection against nationalization.
In 2001 the constitution was amended to increase the role of the National Assembly by giving it
the authority to decide budget allocations and to stage votes of no confidence in office holders.
Amendments also boosted the role of the private sector by recognizing the right to operate of any
businesses not explicitly prohibited and lifting restrictions on their size. These revisions were
intended to encourage the development of a cottage industry of individual traders and private
enterprises. In the field of education, amendments established the goals of universal secondary
education, more vocational and technical training, and easier access to education by the poor and
handicapped.
Branches of Government: The constitution recognizes the National Assembly as “the highest
organ of state power.” The National Assembly, a 498-member unicameral body elected to a five-
year term, meets twice a year. The assembly appoints the president (chief of state), the prime
minister (head of government), chief procurators of the Supreme People’s Court and the
Supreme People’s Office of Supervision and Control (the heads of the judiciary), and the 21-
member cabinet (the executive). Once a rubber stamp, the National Assembly has become more
assertive in holding ministers accountable and amending legislation. Ultimately, however, the
Vietnamese Communist Party (VCP) controls the executive and the electoral process. The VCP
exercises control through the 150-member Central Committee, which elects the 15-member
Politburo at national party congresses held every five years. Members of the party hold all senior
government positions.
The Vietnamese government has ministers in the following areas: agriculture and rural
development; construction; culture and information; education and training; finance; foreign
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affairs; industry; interior; justice; labor, war invalids, and social affairs; marine products;
national defense; planning and investment; public health; science, technology and environment;
trade; and transport and communications.
Administrative Divisions: Administratively, Vietnam consists of 59 provinces and 5
municipalities. The provinces are 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, Dac
Lak, Dac Nong, Dien Bien, Dong Nai, Dong Thap, Gia Lai, Ha Giang, Hai Duong, Ha Nam, Ha
Tay, Ha Tinh, 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, and Yen Bai. The municipalities are Can Tho, Da Nang,
Haiphong, Hanoi, and Ho Chi Minh.
Provincial and Local Government: Provinces and municipalities are subdivided into towns,
districts, and villages. The provinces and municipalities are centrally controlled by the national
government. The towns, districts, and villages are locally accountable to some degree through
elected people’s councils.
Judicial and Legal System: At the apex of the judicial system is the Supreme People’s Court
(SPC), which is the highest court for appeal and review. The SPC reports to the National
Assembly, which controls the judiciary’s budget and confirms the president’s nominees to the
SPC and Supreme People’s Procuracy. The Supreme People’s Procuracy issues arrest warrants,
sometimes retroactively. Below the SPC are district and provincial people’s courts, military
tribunals, and administrative, economic, and labor courts. The people’s courts are the courts of
first instance. The Ministry of Defense (MOD) has military tribunals, which have the same rules
as civil courts. Military judges and assessors are selected by the MOD and SPC, but the SPC has
supervisory responsibility.
Although the constitution provides for independent judges and lay assessors (who lack
administrative training), the U.S. Department of State maintains that Vietnam lacks an
independent judiciary, in part because the Vietnamese Communist Party (VCP) selects judges
and vets them for political reliability. Moreover, the party seeks to influence the outcome of
cases involving perceived threats to the state or the party’s dominant position. In an effort to
increase judicial independence, the government transferred local courts from the Ministry of
Justice to the SPC in September 2002. However, the Department of State saw no evidence that
the move actually achieved the stated goal. Vietnam’s judiciary also is hampered by a shortage
of lawyers and rudimentary trial procedures. The death penalty often is imposed in cases of
corruption and drug trafficking.
Electoral System: Vietnam has universal suffrage at age 18. Elections for the National
Assembly are scheduled every five years. The last election was held on May 19, 2002. The next
election is scheduled in 2007. In addition, elections to the people’s councils (local assemblies)
were last held in April 2004. Although candidates are carefully vetted, about 25 percent of those
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elected were not members of the Vietnamese Communist Party (VCP). By a law enacted in
2003, each district has at least two more candidates than the number of elected positions.
Politics/Political Parties: Vietnam is a one-party state. The Vietnamese Communist Party
(VCP) has a monopoly on power.
Mass Media: Vietnam’s mass media are supervised by the Ministry of Culture and Information
and communicate officially approved information. The government has shut down non-
compliant newspapers. Only senior officials are permitted access to foreign television via
satellite. Given Vietnam’s close supervision of official media outlets, dissidents have sought to
disseminate their views via the Internet, leading the government to impose restrictions on
Internet use and access. The regime controls Internet access via Vietnam’s sole gateway,
Vietnam Data Communications. In 2002 the Ministry of Culture and Information began to block
access to Internet Web sites it considers “subversive,” such as the BBC’s Vietnamese language
Web site. Also in 2002, the government sent a warning by jailing activists for publishing critical
commentaries on the Internet. Altogether, Reporters Without Borders documented seven cases of
dissidents being imprisoned or detained for illicit Internet use. The government also has
tightened controls over cybercafés. In 2004 the government reprimanded 65 cybercafé owners
for violating restrictions on Internet access, including the viewing of pornography.
Foreign Relations: During its incursion into Cambodia in 1978–89, Vietnam was isolated
internationally. However, soon after the conflict was resolved in the Paris Agreement on
Cambodia in October 1991, Vietnam established or reestablished diplomatic and economic
relations with most of Western Europe, China, and other East Asian countries. Vietnam joined
the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in 1995 and the Asia-Pacific Economic
Cooperation forum (APEC) in 1998. Vietnam’s foreign policy is aimed at developing good
relations with a diversified mix of nations.
In February 1994, the United States lifted its economic embargo against Vietnam, and in June
1995 the United States and Vietnam normalized relations. However, these relations remain
somewhat volatile. Full implementation of a bilateral trade agreement, which came into effect in
December 2001, is being held up by a dispute over catfish exports. In July 2003, the
International Trade Commission decided in favor of the United States in the catfish dispute.
Vietnam’s government is also upset with a bill introduced in the U.S. Congress in July 2004 to
link non-humanitarian aid to Vietnam’s human rights record. In June 2005, a high-level
Vietnamese delegation, led by Prime Minister Phan Van Khai, visited the United States and met
with their U.S. counterparts, including President George W. Bush. This was the first such visit in
30 years. The leaders engaged in far-reaching discussions, including lingering issues from the
Second Indochina War, but the United States did not endorse Vietnam’s bid to join the World
Trade Organization (WTO) during the visit.
Ideological affinities are driving improved relations with China, and trade between the nations
soared to reach US$7.2 billion in 2004. But despite improved relations, Vietnam remains
suspicious of China’s intentions. In January 2000, China and Vietnam signed a treaty defining a
common land border. However, the countries both claim sovereignty over the Spratly and
Paracel Islands in the South China Sea, and this dispute is a potential source of renewed tension.
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Vietnam enjoys a good political and economic relationship with Japan, and the two countries are
partnering to exploit the disputed offshore oil fields in the South China Sea. At a meeting in
Hanoi in July 2004, foreign ministers from the two nations pledged to strengthen the partnership.
Already a major trading partner and investor, Japan promised to boost direct investment in
Vietnam. Japan also offered support for Vietnam’s bid to join the WTO. In December 2004,
Japan announced a grant of US$19 million to fight poverty in Vietnam.
Russia’s predecessor state, the Soviet Union, was a longstanding ally and a major investor.
Following the break-up of the Soviet Union, Russia reduced its investments in Vietnam. Trade
also suffered as a result of a dispute over the large debt that Vietnam owed the Soviet Union.
This debt has been restructured to Vietnam’s benefit so that Vietnam now must repay only 15
percent, with payments stretched over two decades. Part of the debt is repayable in commodities
such as rice and coffee.
Membership in International Organizations: Vietnam is a member of the Asian Development
Bank, the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum, the International Monetary Fund, the
United Nations, and the World Health Organization. Reflecting Vietnam’s recognition of its
place in the global economy, in 1995 Vietnam joined the Association of Southeast Asian Nations
(ASEAN). Now an observer at the World Trade Organization (WTO), Vietnam hopes to become
a full member of the WTO in 2006.
Other memberships include the Colombo Plan for Cooperative Economic and Social
Development in Asia and the Pacific, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations,
International Atomic Energy Agency, International Bank for Reconstruction and Development
(World Bank), International Civil Aviation Organization, International Development
Association, International Fund for Agricultural Development, International Finance
Corporation, International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, International
Labour Organization, International Maritime Organization, Interpol, International Olympic
Committee, International Telecommunication Union, Nonaligned Movement, Organisation for
the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons, United Nations Conference on Trade and Development,
United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, United Nations Industrial
Development Organization, World Confederation of Labor, World Customs Organization, World
Federation of Trade Unions, and World Intellectual Property Organization.
Major International Treaties: With the United States, Vietnam reached the following
agreements: Normalization of Relations (1995), Bilateral Trade (2001), and Counternarcotics,
Civil Aviation, and Textiles (2003). With China, Vietnam reached a Land Border Agreement
(1999), an Agreement on Borders in the Gulf of Tonkin (2000), and a Declaration on the
Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea (2002). With Russia, Vietnam agreed to a Strategic
Partnership (2001).
Aside from these bilateral agreements, Vietnam is a signatory to numerous international
agreements on biological weapons, chemical weapons, civil aviation, counterterrorism,
diplomatic immunity, nuclear nonproliferation, and war crimes. Notable agreements on the
environment include the following: Convention on the Prohibition of Military or any other
Hostile Use of Environmental Modification Techniques (1978), Convention on Early
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Notification of a Nuclear Accident (1986), Convention on Assistance in the Case of a Nuclear
Accident or Radiological Emergency (1987), Convention for Protection of the Ozone Layer
(1988), Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer (1989), and United
Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (1994).
NATIONAL SECURITY
Armed Forces Overview: Since Vietnam fought against the Khmer Rouge regime in Cambodia
in 1978–89, it has demobilized about 500,000 troops and cut military spending. Still, Vietnam
has one of the region’s largest and most powerful militaries. Furthermore, the People’s Army of
Vietnam remains politically influential, and many senior officers have obtained leadership
positions in the Central Committee and Politburo of the Vietnamese Communist Party (VCP).
The military’s prestige stems from its formidable track record against such major world military
powers as France, the United States, and China and its deep roots in society.
Foreign Military Relations: Vietnam cooperates militarily with India and China. Vietnam
advises India on how to combat guerrilla warfare. India helps maintain Vietnam’s MiG fighter
planes and helps Vietnam manufacture small- and medium-sized weapons. In 2001 Vietnam
bolstered its military cooperation with China. Russia has reduced its military presence in
Vietnam since it abandoned control over the Camh Ranh Bay Naval Base in 2001 because it
could not afford the expense.
External Threat: Despite having fought a border war with China in 1979, Vietnam does not
face an identifiable military enemy. However, sovereignty over the Spratly and Paracel Islands in
the South China Sea remains in dispute with China and several other nations. In addition,
Cambodia and Laos have protested incursions by Vietnamese squatters.
Defense Budget: In 2003 Vietnam’s defense budget was estimated at US$2.3 billion.
Major Military Units: Vietnam’s active-duty military consists of a 412,000-member army, a
42,000-member navy, a 30,000-member air and air defense force, and a 40,000-member
paramilitary border defense corps. The army, which is deployed in nine military regions
(including Hanoi), consists of headquarters, 58 infantry divisions, 3 mechanized infantry
divisions, 10 armored battalions, 15 independent infantry regiments, special forces and airborne
brigades, 10 field artillery brigades, 8 engineering divisions, 10 to 15 economic construction
divisions, and 20 independent engineering brigades. The navy, including naval infantry, is
deployed in four naval regions. The People’s Air Force consists of three air divisions, each with
three regiments.
Major Military Equipment: The army is equipped with 1,315 main battle tanks, 620 light
tanks, 100 reconnaissance vehicles, 300 armored infantry fighting vehicles, 1,380 armored
personnel carriers, 2,300 towed artillery, and more than 30 self-propelled artillery. The army also
has an unspecified number of combined gun/mortars, assault guns, multiple rocket launchers,
mortars, surface-to-surface missiles, antitank guided weapons, recoilless launchers, air defense
guns, and surface-to-air missiles. The navy has 2 Yugo-class submarines, 6 frigates, 1 corvette,
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12 missile craft, 10 torpedo craft, 19 inshore patrol combatants, 10 mine warfare ships, 6
amphibious ships, and at least 30 support craft. The People’s Air Force has 189 combat aircraft
(53 Su–22, 12 Su–27, and 124 MiG–21) and 26 Mi–24 armed helicopters.
Military Service: Military service is compulsory, usually for two years. In late 2001, Vietnam
reinstated the requirement that women register for military service. However, barring an
emergency mobilization, they are unlikely to be called up. Mandatory military service for
women had been abandoned in 1975 at the end of the nation’s civil war.
Paramilitary Forces: Vietnam has a 4-million to 5-million-member paramilitary reserve force,
consisting of the People’s Self-Defense Force and the rural People’s Militia.
Police: The Ministry of Public Security controls the police, a national security investigative
agency, and other units that maintain internal security.
Internal Threat: The government seeks to prevent the expression of views critical of the
government and non-sanctioned religious worship. When some dissidents sought to evade
official media controls by using the Internet to disseminate their views, the government
responded by introducing Internet restrictions. Although dissident activity generates substantial
press commentary, it does not pose a threat to the regime’s stability.
The Montagnard ethnic minority represents a special case. This group is seeking a return of its
ancestral lands in the Central Highlands. The Montagnards, who traditionally have opposed the
communist government, receive support from overseas Vietnamese, particularly the United
States-based Montagnard Foundation. After a violent clash with demonstrators in April 2004, the
government boosted its security presence in the region.
Terrorism: Following al Qaeda’s attack on the United States on September 11, 2001, Vietnam
expressed sympathy for the victims and qualified support for the war on terrorism. Vietnam
urged that any steps taken against terrorists be consistent with international cooperation within
the bounds of the United Nations Charter, target the culprits, and avoid larger-scale warfare.
In April 2004, the State Bank of Vietnam (SBV) issued a draft decree to combat money
laundering as a source of terrorist financing. This move followed pressure from the United
States, which denied requests by the Vietcombank and the Vietnam Bank for Investment and
Development to set up representative offices on the grounds that they could be used to finance
international terrorism.
Human Rights: In its 2004 report on Human Rights Practices, the U.S. Department of State
characterized Vietnam’s human rights record as “poor” and cited the continuation of “serious
abuses.” According to the report, the government has imposed restrictions on freedom of speech,
freedom of the press, freedom of assembly, and freedom of association. Citizens are denied the
right to change their government. The government continues to hold political prisoners who have
expressed views at odds with government policy. Prison conditions are generally “harsh, but not
unduly so given the country's level of economic development,” according to the State
Department assessment. Vietnam has no independent judiciary, and there is no right to a fair and
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speedy trial. Human rights organizations are not permitted to operate. Discrimination against
women and ethnic minorities, child labor, and prostitution are serious problems. The government
is attempting to address the child labor issue.
The government officially provides for freedom of religion and recognizes Buddhist, Roman
Catholic, Protestant, Hoa Hao, Cao Dai, and Muslim denominations. However, non-sanctioned
groups, including branches of even the recognized denominations, face harassment. Furthermore,
the government insists on supervising the clergies of the sanctioned groups (by approving
appointments, for example) in the interest of “national unity.”
In April 2004, 20,000 to 30,000 members of the Montagnard ethnic minority gathered to protest
for the return of their ancestral lands in the Central Highlands and an end to religious repression.
Human Rights Watch alleges that hundreds of demonstrators were wounded and at least 10 killed
in a clash with Vietnamese officials and civilians. The Vietnamese government is concerned that
the Montagnards are seeking an independent state.
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