Chapter No. Detail PAGE NO

PREFACE

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

1 Introduction

Prehistory

Russian empire era

War

New Republic

World war II

Cold war

Resent history

Population

Foreign relation

2 Geography

Topography & Geography

Wildlife

Climate

Transportation

Industry

Public policy

3 Culture & social analysis

People

Clothing

Languages

Religion

Education & science

Family structure

Literature

Visual arts

Music

Media & communication

Cuisine

Public holidays

Business Customs

4 Economic Analysis

Economic history of Finland

Population

Economic of Finland

Natural resources

Geography

Business infrastructure

Companies

Public policy

Product market

Job market

Inflation rate

International Trade statistics

- export

- import

Taxation

5 Political and legal Analysis

Government of Finland

Constitution

Foreign relation

Economic freedom of Finland

6 Bibliography

Chapter 1

INTRODUCTION

Vietnam

Official name: Socialist Republic of Vietnam

Area: 329,560 square kilometers (127,244 square miles)

Highest point on mainland: Fan-si-pan (3,143 meters/10,312 feet)

Lowest point on land: Sea level

Hemispheres: Northern and Eastern

Time zone: 7 P.M. = noon GMT

Longest distances: 1,650 kilometers (1,025 miles) from north to south; 600 kilometers (373

miles) from east to west

Land boundaries: 4,639 kilometers (2,883 miles) total boundary length; Cambodia 1,228

kilometers (763 miles); China 1,281 kilometers (796 miles); Laos 2,130 kilometers (1,324

miles)

Coastline: 3,444 kilometers (2,140 miles)

Territorial sea limits: 22 kilometers (12 nautical miles)

Vietnam, officially the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, is the easternmost country on the Indochina Peninsula in Southeast Asia. Officially the Socialist Republic of Vietnam is the easternmost country on the Indochina in Southeast Asia. With an estimated 90.5 million inhabitants as of 2014, it is the world's 13th-most-populous country, and the eighth-most-populous Asian country. The name Vietnam translates as "Southern Viet" (synonymous with the much older term Nam Viet); it was first officially adopted in 1802 by Emperor Gia Long, and was adopted again in 1945 with the founding of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam under Ho Chi Minh. The country is bordered by China to the north, Laos to the northwest, Cambodia to the southwest, and the South China Sea to the east.[8] Its capital city has been Hanoi since the reunification of North and South Vietnam in 1976.

Vietnam was part of Imperial China for over a millennium, from 111 BC to AD 938. The Vietnamese became independent from Imperial China in 938, following the Vietnamese victory in the Battle of Bach Đằng River. Successive Vietnamese flourished as the nation expanded geographically and politically into Southeast Asia, until the Indochina Peninsula was colonized by the French in the mid-19th century. Following a Japanese occupation in the 1940s, the Vietnamese fought French rule in the First Indochina War, eventually expelling the French in 1954. Thereafter, Vietnam was divided politically into two rival states, North and South Vietnam. Conflict between the two sides intensified, with heavy intervention from the United States, in what is known as the Vietnam War. The war ended with a North Vietnamese victory in 1975.

Vietnam was then unified under a communist government but remained impoverished and

politically isolated. In 1986, the government initiated a series of economic and political

reforms which began Vietnam's path towards integration into the world economy. By 2000, it

had established diplomatic relations with all nations. Since 2000, Vietnam's economic growth

rate has been among the highest in the world, and, in 2011, it had the highest Global Growth

Generators Index among 11 major economies.[10] Its successful economic reforms resulted in

its joining the World Trade Organization in 2007.

HISTORY

Bronze Age

The Hồng Bang dynasty of the Hung is considered the first Vietnamese state, known in

Vietnamese as Van Lang. In 257 BC, the last Hung king was defeated by Thục Pham, who

consolidated the Lạc Việt and Âu Việt tribes to form the Âu Lạc, proclaiming himself An

Dương Vương. In 207 BC, a Chinese general named Zhao Tuo defeated An Dương Vương

and consolidated Âu Lạc into Nanyue. However, Nanyue was itself incorporated into the

empire of the Chinese Han dynasty in 111 BC after the Han–Nanyue War.

For the next thousand years, Vietnam remained mostly under Chinese rule. Early

independence movements, such as those of the Trưng Sisters and Lady Triệu, were only

temporarily successful, though the region gained a longer period of independence as Vạn

Xuân under the Anterior Lý dynasty between AD 544 and 602. By the early 10th century,

Vietnam had gained autonomy, but not true independence, under the Khúc family.

In AD 938, the Vietnamese lord Nzo defeated the forces of the Chinese Southern Han state

at Bach Đằng River and achieved full independence for Vietnam after a millennium of

Chinese domination. Renamed as Đại Việt (Great Viet), the nation enjoyed a golden era

under the Lý and Tran dynasties. During the rule of the Tran Dynasty, Đại Việt repelled

three Mongol invasions.[34] Meanwhile, Buddhism flourished and became the state religion.

Following the 1406–7 Ming–He War which overthrew the He dynasty, Vietnamese

independence was briefly interrupted by the Chinese Ming dynasty, but was restored by Lee

Lợi, the founder of the Lee dynasty. The Vietnamese dynasties reached their zenith in the Lee

dynasty of the 15th century, especially during the reign of Emperor Lee (1460–1497).

Between the 11th and 18th centuries, Vietnam expanded southward in a process known

as nam tiến ("southward expansion") eventually conquering the kingdom of Champa and part

of the Khmer Empire.

From the 16th century onwards, civil strife and frequent political infighting engulfed much of

Vietnam. First, the Chinese-supported Mac challenged the Lê dynasty's power. After the Mac

dynasty was defeated, the Lee dynasty was nominally reinstalled, but actual power was

divided between the northern Trịnh lords and the southern Nguyen lords, who engaged in

a civil war for more than four decades before a truce was called in the 1670s. During this

time, the Nguyễn expanded southern Vietnam into the Mekong Delta, annexing the Central

Highlands and the Khmer lands in the Mekong Delta.

The division of the country ended a century later when the Toy brothers established a new

dynasty. However, their rule did not last long, and they were defeated by the remnants of the

Nguyễn lords, led by Nguyen An and aided by the French. Nguyễn An unified Vietnam, and

established the Nguyễn dynasty, ruling under the name Gia Long.

Main articles: Cochinchina Campaign, Sino-French War, French Indochina and Empire of

Vietnam

Vietnam's independence was gradually eroded by France – aided by large Catholic militias –

in a series of military conquests between 1859 and 1885. In 1862, the southern third of the

country became the French colony of Cochinchina. By 1884, the entire country had come

under French rule and was formally integrated into the union of French Indochina in 1887.

The French administration imposed significant political and cultural changes on Vietnamese

society. A Western-style system of modern education was developed, and Roman

Catholicism was propagated widely. Most French settlers in Indochina were concentrated in

Cochinchina, basing themselves around Saigon. The royalist Can Vương movement rebelled

against French rule and was defeated in the 1890s after a decade of resistance. Guerrillas of

the Cần Vương movement murdered around a third of Vietnam's Christian population during

this period.[40]

Developing a plantation economy to promote the export of tobacco, indigo, tea and coffee,

the French largely ignored increasing calls for Vietnamese self-government and civil rights.

A nationalist political movement soon emerged, with leaders such as Pan, Pan Chu

Trinh, Pham, Emperor Hàm Nghi and Ho Chi Minh fighting or calling for independence.

However, the 1930 Yên Bái mutiny of the Việt Nam Quack Dân Đảng was suppressed

easily. The French maintained full control of their colonies until World War II, when the war

in the Pacific led to the Japanese invasion of French Indochina in 1941. Afterwards, the

Japanese Empire was allowed to station its troops in Vietnam while permitting the pro-Vichy

French colonial administration to continue. Japan exploited Vietnam's natural resources to

support its military campaigns, culminating in a full-scale takeover of the country in March

1945 and the Vietnamese Famine of 1945, which caused up to two million deaths

1946–54: First Indochina War

In 1941, the Viet Minh – a communist and nationalist liberation movement – emerged under the Leninist

revolutionary Ho Chi Minh, who sought independence for Vietnam from France and the end of the

Japanese occupation. Following the military defeat of Japan and the fall of its puppet Empire of Vietnam

in August 1945, the Viet Minh occupied Hanoi and proclaimed a provisional government, which asserted

national independence on 2 September. In the same year, the Provisional Government of the French

Republic sent the French Far East Expeditionary Corps to restore colonial rule, and the Viet Minh began a

guerrilla campaign against the French in late 1946. The resulting First Indochina War lasted until July

1954.[44]

The defeat of French and Vietnamese loyalists in the 1954 Battle of Dine Bien Phu allowed Ho Chi Minh

to negotiate a ceasefire from a favorable position at the subsequent Geneva Conference. The colonial

administration was ended and French Indochina was dissolved under the Geneva Accords of 1954, which

separated the loyalist forces from the communists at the 17th parallel north with the Vietnamese

Demilitarized Zone. Two states formed after the partition – Ho Chi Minh's Democratic Republic of

Vietnam in the north and Emperor Bo's State of Vietnam in the south. A 300-day period of free

movement was permitted, during which almost a million northerners, mainly Catholics, moved south,

fearing persecution by the communists.[48]

The partition of Vietnam was not intended to be permanent by the Geneva Accords, which stipulated that

Vietnam would be reunited after elections in 1956. However, in 1955, the State of Vietnam's Prime

Minister, Nzo Đình Dime, toppled Boo Đại in a fraudulent referendum organized by his brother Nzo In

Nhu, and proclaimed himself president of the Republic of Vietnam.

1954–1975: Vietnam War

The pro-Hanoi Viet Cong began a guerrilla campaign in the late 1950s to overthrow Dim’s

government. In the North, the communist government launched a land reform program, and

executed between 50,000 and 172,000 people in campaigns against wealthy farmers and

landowners, amid broader purges. In 1960 and 1962, the Soviet Union and North Vietnam

signed treaties providing for further Soviet military support. In the South, Dime went about

crushing political and religious opposition, imprisoning or executing tens of thousands.

In 1963, Buddhist discontent with Dim’s regime erupted into mass demonstrations, leading to

a violent government crackdown. This led to the collapse of Dim’s relationship with the

United States, and ultimately to the 1963 coup in whichDiệm and Nhu were assassinated. The

Dime era was followed by more than a dozen successive military governments, before the

pairing of Air Marshal Nguyễn Cao Kỳ and General Nguen Van They took control in mid-

1965. Thieu gradually outmaneuvered Key and cemented his grip on power in fraudulent

elections in 1967 and 1971. Under this political instability, the communists began to gain

ground.

To support South Vietnam's struggle against the communist insurgency, the United States

began increasing its contribution of military advisers, using the 1964 Tonkin Gulf incident as

a pretext for such intervention. US forces became involved in ground combat operations in

1965, and at their peak they numbered more than 500,000. The US also engaged in a

sustained aerial bombing campaign. Meanwhile, China and the Soviet Union provided North

Vietnam with significant material aid and 15,000 combat advisers. Communist forces

supplying the Viet Cong carried supplies along the Ho Chi Minh trail, which passed

through Laos.

The communists attacked South Vietnamese targets during the 1968 Teat Offensive.

Although the campaign failed militarily, it shocked the American establishment, and turned

US public opinion against the war. Facing an increasing casualty count, rising domestic

opposition to the war, and growing international condemnation, the US began withdrawing

from ground combat roles in the early 1970s. This process also entailed an unsuccessful

effort to strengthen and stabilize South Vietnam.

Following the Paris Peace Accords of 27 January 1973, all American combat troops were

withdrawn by 29 March 1973. In December 1974, North Vietnam captured the province of

Phroc Long and started a full-scale offensive, culminating in the Fall of Saigon on 30 April

1975. South Vietnam was briefly ruled by a provisional government while under military

occupation by North Vietnam. On 2 July 1976, North and South Vietnam were merged to

form the Socialist Republic of Vietnam.[1]The war left Vietnam devastated, with the total

death toll standing at between 800,000 and 3.1 million

A population is a summation of all the organisms of the same group or species, which live in a particular geographical area, and have the capability of interbreeding.[1][2]

In ecology, the population of a certain species in a certain area is estimated using the Lincoln Index. The area that is used to define a sexual population is defined as the area where inter-breeding is potentially possible between any pair within the area. The probability of interbreeding is greater than the probability of cross-breeding with individuals from other areas. Under normal conditions, breeding is substantially more common within the area than across the border.[3]

In sociology, population refers to a collection of humans. Demography is a social science which entails the statistical study of human populations. This article refers mainly to human population.

Population genetics (ecology)[edit]

In population genetics a sexual population is a set of organisms in which any pair of members can breed together. This means that they can regularly exchange gametes to produce normally-fertile offspring, and such a breeding group is also known therefore as a gamodeme. This also implies that all members belong to the same of species, such as humans.[4] If the gamodeme is very large (theoretically, approaching infinity), and all gene alleles are uniformly distributed by the gametes within it, the gamodeme is said to be panmictic. Under this state, allele (gamete) frequencies can be converted to genotype (zygote) frequencies by expanding an appropriate quadratic equation, as shown by Sir Ronald Fisher in his establishment of quantitative genetics.[5]

This seldom occurs in nature : localisation of gamete exchange – through dispersal limitations, or preferential mating, or cataclysm, or other cause – may lead to small actual gamodemes which exchange gametes reasonably uniformly within themselves, but are virtually separated from their neighbouring gamodemes. However, there may be low frequencies of exchange with these neighbours. This may be viewed as the breaking up of a large sexual population(panmictic)into smaller overlapping sexual populations. This failure of panmixia leads to two important changes in overall population structure: (1).the component gamodemes vary (through gamete sampling) in their allele frequencies when compared with each other and with the theoretical panmictic original (this is known as dispersion, and its details can be estimated using expansion of an appropriate binomial equation); and (2). the level of homozygosity rises in the entire collection of gamodemes. The overall rise in homozygosity is quantified by the inbreeding coefficient (f or φ). Note that all homozygotes are increased in frequency – both the deleterious and the desirable! The mean phenotype of the gamodemes collection is lower than that of the panmictic "original" – which is known as inbreeding depression. It is most important to note, however, that some dispersion lines will be superior to the panmictic original, while some will be about the same, and some will be inferior. The probabilities of each can be estimated from those binomial equations. In plant and animal breeding, procedures have been developed which deliberately utilise the effects of dispersion (such as line breeding, pure-line breeding, back-crossing). It can be shown that dispersion-assisted selection leads to the greatest genetic advance (ΔG = change in the phenotypic mean), and is much more powerful than selection acting without attendant dispersion. This is so for both allogamous (random fertilization)[6] and autogamous (self-fertilization) gamodemes[7]

Demographics of Vietnam[1]

Population 90,730,000 (2014 est.) (13th)

Growth rate 1.08% (2014 est.) (113th)

Birth rate 17.2 births/1000 population (2013 est.)

Death rate 6.9 deaths/1000 population (July 2013 est.)

Life expectancy 73.2 years (2014 est.)

• male 70.6 years (2014 est.)

• female 76.0 years (2014 est.)

Fertility rate 2.09 born/woman (2014 est.)

Infant mortality

rate

14.9 deaths/1000 live births (2014 est.)

Age structure

0–14 years 24.6% (male 11,931,623/female 10,807,661) (2011

est.)

15–64 years 69.8% (male 31,301,879/female 31,419,306) (2011

est.)

65 and over 5.5% (male 1,921,652/female 3,092,589) (2011

est.)

Sex ratio

At birth 1.122 male(s)/female

Under 15 1.1 male(s)/female

15–64 years 1 male (s)/female

65 and over 0.62 male(s)/female

Nationality

Nationality noun: Vietnamese (singular and plural) adjective:

Vietnamese

Major ethnic Kinh (Viet) (85.7%)

Minor ethnic Tay (1.9%), Thai (1.8%), Muong (1.5%), Khmer

(1.5%), Mong (1.2%), Nung (1.1%), others (5.3%)

Home > Population > Population by Country > Vietnam

Vietnam Population (LIVE)

93,192,664Vietnam Population (1950 - 2015)

Yearly Population Growth Rate (%)

CountryContinentWorld

The population of Vietnam is estimated at 92,547,959 as of July 1 2014.

Vietnam's population represents 1.28% of the total world population.

Vietnam ranks number 14 in the list of countries by population.

The population density in Vietnam is 279 people per Km2.

33% of the population is urban (30,482,811 people in 2014).

The median age in Vietnam is 30.3 years.

Population of Vietnam (2014 and historical)

Year Population Yearly %

Change

YearlyChange

Migrants (net)

Median Age

Fertility Rate

Density (P/Km²

)

Urban

Pop %

Urban Population

Country's Share

ofWorld Pop

World Population

Globa

Rank

2015

93,386,630

0.96% 867,847 -40,000 30.7 1.75 282 34% 31,383,511

1.27% 7,324,782,225

14

2014

92,547,959

0.95% 868,226 -53,768 30.3 1.78 279 33% 30,482,811

1.28% 7,243,784,121

14

2010

89,047,397

0.95% 819,909 -175,536

28.5 1.89 268 30% 27,064,175

1.29% 6,916,183,482

13

2005

84,947,852

0.98% 811,995 -154,467

26.4 1.93 256 27% 23,174,624

1.30% 6,514,094,605

13

2000

80,887,879

1.25% 973,567 -64,685 24.2 2.18 244 24% 19,715,612

1.32% 6,127,700,428

13

1995

76,020,043

1.98% 1,422,032

-78,847 22.2 3.23 229 22% 16,866,567

1.32% 5,741,822,412

13

1990

68,909,883

2.25% 1,450,308

-66,465 21.0 3.85 208 20% 13,957,697

1.30% 5,320,816,667

13

1985

61,658,342

2.35% 1,352,191

-64,988 20.0 4.60 186 20% 12,060,988

1.27% 4,863,601,517

13

1980

54,897,387

2.23% 1,144,408

-162,625

19.0 5.50 166 19% 10,566,100

1.23% 4,449,048,798

15

1975

49,175,348

2.35% 1,078,561

0 18.3 6.33 148 19% 9,236,114 1.21% 4,071,020,434

16

1970

43,782,542

2.78% 1,123,282

0 18.1 6.47 132 18% 8,012,205 1.19% 3,691,172,616

17

1965

38,166,133

3.01% 1,050,767

0 19.1 6.42 115 16% 6,267,261 1.15% 3,329,122,479

17

1960

32,912,298

3.04% 916,010 0 21.8 6.16 99 15% 4,838,108 1.09% 3,026,002,942

17

1955

28,332,246

2.58% 676,556 0 23.6 5.40 85 13% 3,709,824 1.03% 2,761,650,981

18

Foreign relations of Vietnam

"Vietnam is a friend and reliable partner of all countries in the international community, actively taking part in international and regional cooperation processes. Deepen, stabilize and sustain established international relations. Develop relations with countries and territories in the world, as well as international organizations, while showing: respect for each other's independence; sovereignty and territorial integrity; non-interference in each other's international affairs; non-use or threat of force; settlement of disagreements and disputes by means of peaceful negotiations; mutual respect, equality and mutual benefit

Foreign relations of Vietnam   Socialist Republic of Vietnam  Nations Vietnam recognizes and has diplomatic relations with  Nations Vietnam does not have diplomatic relations with  States with which Vietnam has unofficial relations

FOREIGN POLICY

Implement consistently the foreign policy line of independence, self-reliance, peace, cooperation and development; the foreign policy of openness and diversification and multilateralization of international relations. Proactively and actively engage in international economic integration while expanding international cooperation in other fields. Viet Nam is a friend and reliable partner of all countries in the international community, actively taking part in international and regional cooperation processes.

The tasks of foreign activity consist of solid preservation of peaceful environment and reation of favorable international conditions for renewal, accelerated socio-economic development, national industrialization and modernization, and construction and defense of the Homeland, while contributing actively to the common struggle of the world people for peace, national independence, democracy and social progress.

Deepen, stabilize and sustain the established international relations. Develop relations with countries and territories in the world and international    organizations in the principles of respect for each other's independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity, non-interference in each other's international affairs; non-use or threat of force; settlement of disagreements and disputes by means of peaceful negotiations; mutual respect, equality and mutual benefit.

Consolidate and strengthen relations with communist, workers' and leftist parties, and national independence, revolutionary and progressive movements in the world. Continue broadening relations with parties in power.

Develop people-to-people external relations under the motto ''proactiveness, flexibility, creativeness and efficiency''. Actively participate in world people's forums and activities, and contribute to the common struggle for peace, equitable and sustainable development, democracy and social progress. Intensify assistance mobilization efforts and raise the quality of cooperation with foreign non-governmental organizations for socio-economic development.

Proactively participate in the common struggle for human rights. Stay ready to hold dialogues with concerned countries and international and regional organizations on human rights issues. Resolutely foil schemes and acts of distortion and abuse of issues of ''democracy'', ''human rights'', ''ethnicity" and "religion" to interfere in our internal affairs and encroach upon Viet-nam's independence, sovereignty, territorial integrity, security and political stability.

Push ahead foreign economic activities, integrate more deeply and fully in global, regional and bilateral economic institutions, with national interests as the highest objective.

Amid Vietnam's domestic volatility, there has been much foreign policy manoeuvring.

In October, an agreement was reached with China to establish a working group on maritime disputes, and earlier this month, Vietnam signed 17 separate agreements on military and economic ties with Russia while President Vladimir Putin was visiting the country.

These moves are all part of a delicate balancing act that Hanoi has had to play not only with former foes (the US and China), but also with its all-weather ally, Russia.

Hanoi is well versed in this balancing act. Indeed, it was the impetus behind Hanoi's 1988 pronouncement that Vietnam should have 'fewer enemies and more friends'. Vietnam's post-war recovery has been built on good foreign relations, allowing for expanding international trade and strong economic growth.

Hanoi is also building stronger relations with its other former foe, China. While trade relations with Beijing resumed in 1991, the relationship has been rocky of late due to renewed antagonism in

the South China Sea.The territorial dispute has damaged relations between Vietnam and China. However, Hanoi has been prudent in its balancing of the issue. While other countries in the region have engaged in joint military exercises with the US (most notably the Philippines), Vietnam has thus far remained more distant. Instead, Vietnam has preferenced non-combat naval cooperation with the US in recent years, and looks set to continue this path.

Rather than building military ties with the US, Hanoi has continued its tradition of strong military links with Moscow.

India

1972-01-07

India and Vietnam are members of the Mekong–Ganga Cooperation, created to develop to enhance close ties between India and nations of Southeast Asia. Vietnam has supported India's bid to become a permanent member of the U.N. Security Council and join the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC).[30] In the 2003 joint declaration, India and Vietnam envisaged creating an "Arc of Advantage and Prosperity" in Southeast Asia;[31] to this end, Vietnam has backed a more important relationship and role between India and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and its negotiation of an Indo-ASEAN free trade agreement.[31][32] India and Vietnam have also built strategic partnerships, including extensive cooperation on developing nuclear power, enhancing regional security and fighting terrorism, transnational crime and drug trafficking.[31][33][34]

Energy and Synergy

Economically, one can see a new energy and synergy between Asia’s third largest economy and Southeast Asia’s emerging economy. Bilateral trade is estimated to be at $8 billion. The two sides are now looking to scale up bilateral trade to $15 billion by 2020. Vietnam is an attractive destination for hordes of Indian companies. India has already 68 operational projects in Vietnam worth around $1 billion. Indian investments encompass diverse sectors, including oil and gas exploration, mineral exploration and processing, sugar manufacturing, agro-chemicals, IT, and agricultural processing. Vietnamese companies, too, are stepping up their footprints in India. Vietnam has three investment projects in India with total investment of US$ 23.6 million. The top Indian investors in Vietnam include, among others, OVL, Essar Exploration and Production Ltd, Nagarjuna Ltd, KCP Industries Limited, Ngon Coffee Manufacturing, Venkateswara Hatcheries, Philips Carbon and McLeod Russell and CGL.

Strategic Canvas

Against the backdrop of the flux in the region, the strategic and defence ties between India and Vietnam have acquired a new force and dimension. Advocating a rule-based order and freedom of navigation, India has pressed for the resolution of the South China Sea dispute in accordance with the UN Laws of the Sea. This position was reiterated by India’s external affairs minister at India-ASEAN and ARF meetings in Myanmar. With maritime security on mind, India has provided Vietnam a $100 million credit line to purchase military equipment, part of its drive to help bolster Vietnam’s military infrastructure and its preparedness to deal with any external threat. The two sides are now looking to intensify strategic defence dialogues and joint naval exercises to expand the scope for maritime security cooperation. Besides, India and Vietnam see their growing relations as part of the larger drive for regional peace and stability. This is reflected in their close cooperation in a host of regional fora, including ASEAN, East Asia Summit, Mekong Ganga Cooperation, Asia Europe Meeting (ASEM). "India and Vietnam want peace, prosperity, stability and development to the region. India has in Vietnam as loyal and all-weather friend,” says Vietnam’s ambassador to India Nguyen Thanh Tan.

Cultural Connect

(In pic: Mỹ Sơn, Vietnam) With the first direct flight between Delhi and Ho Chi Minh City set to take off in November, people-to-people contacts, travel and tourism are poised for an upswing. Vietnam is home to around 1500 Indians. India is set to open a Cultural Centre in Hanoi later this year. The old linkages of the Cham civilization between India and Vietnam will acquire a new resonance, with the Archaeological Survey of India embarking on a conservation and restoration project to refurbish centuries-old Hindu temples at the UNESCO heritage site of My Son in Vietnam.

Soviet era

During the Vietnam War (1959–75), North Vietnam balanced relations with its two major allies, the Soviet Union and the People's Republic of China.

In 1964, Zhou Enlai, worried about the escalation of U.S. forces in South Vietnam, made an informal agreement with the North. The agreement stipulated that if U.S. and South Vietnamese forces invaded North Vietnam, the Chinese would respond by loaning pilots to the North. During the invasion, Mao Zedong failed to send as many trained pilots as he promised. As a result, the North became more reliant on the Soviet Union for its defense

Southeast Asia[edit]

Brunei[edit]

Main article: Brunei–Vietnam relations

Brunei has an embassy in Hanoi, and Vietnam has an embassy in Bandar Seri Begawan.[3] Relations between the two countries have always been friendly especially in political field.[4]

Cambodia[edit]

Main article: Cambodia–Vietnam relations

Since the 1990s, relations between both nations have begun to improve. Both Vietnam and Cambodia are members of multilateral regional organizations such as ASEAN and the Mekong-Ganga Cooperation. Both nations have opened and developed cross-border trade and sought to relax visa regulations to that end.[5] Both governments have set official targets of increasing bilateral trade by 27% to USD 2.3 billion by 2010 and to USD 6.5 billion by 2015.[5][6] Vietnam exported USD 1.2 billion worth of goods to Cambodia in 2007. While Cambodia is only the 16th largest importer of Vietnamese goods, Vietnam is Cambodia's third-largest export market.[5]

Laos[edit]

Main article: Laos-Vietnam relations

Although Vietnam's historical record of leadership in the revolution and its military power and proximity will not cease to exist, Laos struck out ahead of Vietnam with its New Economic Mechanism to introduce market mechanisms into its economy. In so doing, Laos has opened the door to rapprochement with Thailand and China at some expense to its special

dependence on Vietnam. Laos might have reached the same point of normalization in following Vietnam's economic and diplomatic change, but by moving ahead resolutely and responding to Thai and Chinese gestures, Laos has broadened its range of donors, trading partners, and investors independent of Vietnam's attempts to accomplish the same goal. Thus, Vietnam remains in the shadows as a mentor and emergency ally, and the tutelage of Laos has shifted dramatically to development banks and international entrepreneurs.[7]

Indonesia[edit]

Main article: Indonesia–Vietnam relations

Vietnam and Indonesia are both members of ASEAN, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations.

President Megawati Sukarnoputri of Indonesia visited Vietnam in June 2003. At this time the two countries signed a "Declaration on the Framework of Friendly and Comprehensive Cooperation Entering the 21st Century". In May, 2005 President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono of Indonesia visited Vietnam. In the December of the same year festivities were organized in the respective capital cities to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties.[8]

Malaysia[edit]

Main article: Malaysia-Vietnam relations

Vietnam has an embassy in Kuala Lumpur, and Malaysia has an embassy in Hanoi.

Myanmar[edit]

Philippines[edit]

Main article: Philippines–Vietnam relations

Ever since the end of the Cold War relations between the Philippines and Vietnam has warmed rapidly. Today the Philippines and Vietnam are economic allies and have a free trade deal with each other. Both nations are a part of Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC). The Philippines and Vietnam have conducted joint military exercises together in the South China Sea and are trying to find ways to turn the Spratly Islands from an area of conflict to an area of cooperation. Vietnam is also sometimes called the only communist military ally of the Philippines. The Philippines and Vietnam are also monitoring China's expansion into the South China Sea making sure

that China is no threat to either Philippine or Vietnamese islands in the South China Sea. The Philippines also imports a large amount of writing material, clothes and other products from Vietnam. On May 2009, The Philippines has inked an agreement with Vietnam to cooperate in the fight against crimes and ensuring social order. On January 2010, the Philippine Stock Exchange (PSE) has signed a memorandum of understanding with the Vietnam bourse “for mutual collaboration and communication of information and experience” to facilitate the development and efficient operations of both securities markets.

Singapore[edit]

Thailand[edit]

Vietnam has an embassy in Bangkok, and Thailand has an embassy in Hanoi.

East Asia[edit]

People's Republic of China[edit]

m

Main article: People's Republic of China – Vietnam relations

After both sides resumed trade links in 1991, growth in bilateral trade has increased from USD $32 million in 1991 to almost USD 7.2 billion by 2004.[9] Both governments have set the target of increasing trade volume to USD 10 billion by 2010.[9] Vietnam's exports to China include crude oil, coal, coffee and food, while China exports pharmaceuticals, machinery, petroleum, fertilizers and automobile parts to Vietnam. China has become Vietnam's second-largest trading partner and the largest source of imports.[9][10] Both nations are working to establish an "economic corridor" from China's Yunnan province to Vietnam's northern provinces and cities, and similar economic zones in the Gulf of Tonkin and connecting the Nanning of Guangxi province, Lang Son province, Hanoi, Haiphong and Quang Ninh province of Vietnam.[9] Air and sea transport as well as railway have been opened between the two countries, so have the 7 pairs of national-level ports in the frontier provinces and regions of the two countries.[10] Both sides have also launched joint ventures such as the Thai Nguyen Steel Complex, which produces hundreds of thousands of tones of steel products.[9]

Japan[edit]

Main article: Japan-Vietnam relations

Following the 23 October 1991 Final Act of the International Paris Conference on Cambodia among the Cambodian parties, Indonesia (as co-chair with France), and the five permanent members of the United Nations Security Council, Japan promptly established diplomatic

relations and ended economic restrictions with Cambodia and Vietnam. In November 1992, Tokyo offered Vietnam US$370 million in aid. Japan also took a leading role in peacekeeping activities in Cambodia. Japan's Akashi Yasushi, UN undersecretary for disarmament, was head of the UN Transitional Authority in Cambodia, and Japan pledged US$3 million and even sent approximately 2,000 personnel, including members of the SDF, to participate directly in maintaining the peace. Despite the loss of a Japanese peacekeeper killed in an ambush, the force remained in Cambodia until the Cambodians were able to elect and install a government.

Japan is the single biggest country donor to Vietnam. It has pledged $US890 million in aid for the country this year, or 6.5 percent higher than the 2006 level of $US835.6 million.[citation

needed]

South Korea[edit]

Main article: South Korea–Vietnam relations

North Korea[edit]

Main article: North Korea–Vietnam relations

Diplomatic relations between Vietnam and North Korea dated back to 1950, and students from North Vietnam began studying in North Korea as early as the 1960s. Relations later declined due to investment and trade disputes in the 1990s and 2000s.[11]

Chapter 2

GEOGRAPHY

LOCATION AND SIZE.

Vietnam is bordered on the north by China and to the west by Laos and Cambodia. To the

east is the South China Sea (called "Eastern Sea" by the Vietnamese). The country's shape

and size is often compared to a bamboo pole with loads at the end (north and south). In the

central part of the country Vietnam is only 40 kilometers (25 miles) across. The total land

area of Vietnam is 329,569 square kilometers (127,247 square miles), making it slightly

larger than New Mexico. It has a long coast of 3,444 kilometers (2,140 miles). Its 2 major

cities are the capital Hanoi in the north and Ho Chi Minh City (formerly Saigon) in the south.

Other major cities are the ancient capital of Hue in central Vietnam, the coastal cities of

Danang and Haiphong, and Dalat in the central highlands.

CLIMATE

Vietnam is located between 9 and 23 degrees north. Eastern Vietnam has a long coastline on the Gulf of Tonkin and the South China Sea. It has a tropical monsoon type of climate; from May-Sep the south monsoon sets in, and the country is dominated by south to southeasterly winds. From Oct-April, the north monsoon is dominant with northerly to northeasterly winds affecting the country. There is a transition period between each monsoon season when winds are light and variable.               The country is mountainous in the northwest and in the central highlands facing the South China Sea, with peaks reaching up to 8000ft (2450m) In the north around Hanoi and in the south around Ho Chi Minh City, there are extensive low-lying regions in the Red River delta and the Mekong delta respectively.               Vietnam has a single rainy season during the south monsoon (May-Sep). Rainfall is infrequent and light during the remainder of the year. Rainfall is abundant, with annual rainfall exceeding 1000mm almost everywhere. Annual rainfall is even higher in the hills, especially those facing the sea, in the range of 2000-2500mm.               For coastal areas and the parts of the central highlands facing northeast, the season of maximum rainfall is during the south monsoon, from Sep-Jan. These regions receive torrential rain from typhoons which move in from the South China Sea at this time of the year. The weather at this time is cloudy with frequent drizzle.

               During the north monsoon, northern Vietnam has cloudy days with occasional light rain, while southern Vietnam tends to be dry and sunny.               Temperatures are high all year round for southern and central Vietnam; but northern Vietnam has a definite cooler season as the north monsoon occasionally advects cold air in from China. Frost and some snow may occur on the highest mountains in the north for a few days a year. In the southern Vietnam, the lowlands are sheltered from outbreaks of colder northerly air and the dry season is warm to hot with much sunshine.

TOPOGRAPHIC REGION

Vietnam is located on the eastern margin of the Indochinese peninsula and occupies about 331,211.6

square kilometers, of which about 25% was under cultivation in 1987. It borders theGulf of Thailand, Gulf

of Tonkin, and South China Sea, alongside China, Laos, and Cambodia. The S-shaped country has a north-

to-south distance of 1,650 kilometers and is about 50 kilometers wide at the narrowest point. With a

coastline of 3,260 kilometers, excluding islands, Vietnam claims 12 nautical miles (22.2 km; 13.8 mi) as

the limit of its territorial waters, an additional 12 nautical miles (22.2 km; 13.8 mi) as a contiguous

customs and security zone, and 200 nautical miles (370.4 km; 230.2 mi) as an exclusive economic zone.

The boundary with Laos, settled on both an ethnic and geographical basis, between the rulers of Vietnam

and Laos in the mid-seventeenth century with the Annamite Range as a reference, was formally defined by

a delimitation treaty signed in 1977 and ratified in 1986. The frontier with Cambodia, defined at the time

of French annexation of the western part of the Mekong Delta in 1867, remained essentially unchanged,

according to Hanoi, until some unresolved border issues were finally settled in the 1982-85 period. The

land and sea boundary with China, delineated under the France-China treaties of 1887 and 1895, is "the

frontier line" accepted by Hanoi that China agreed in 1957- 58 to respect. However, in February 1979,

following China's limited invasion of Vietnam, Hanoi complained that from 1957 onward China had

provoked numerous border incidents as part of its anti-Vietnam policy and expansionist designs in

Southeast Asia. Among the territorial infringements cited was the Chinese occupation in January 1974 of

the Paracel Islands, claimed by both countries in a dispute left unresolved in the 1980s.

Area and boundaries.

Area:

total: 331,210 km²land: 310,070 km²water: 21,140 km²

Area - comparative:

slightly larger than the state of New Mexico in the United States.slightly smaller than Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada.somewhat less than half as big as New South Wales, Australia.about 1⅓ times the United Kingdom's size.

Land Boundaries:

total: 4 639 kmborder countries: Cambodia (1 228 km), China (1 281 km), Laos (2 130 km)

Coastline: 3 444 km (excludes islands)

Maritime Claims:

contiguous zone: 24 nmi (44.4 km; 27.6 mi)continental shelf: 200 nmi (370.4 km; 230.2 mi) or to the edge of the continental marginexclusive economic zone: 200 nmi (370.4 km; 230.2 mi)territorial sea: 12 nmi (22.2 km; 13.8 mi)

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: South China Sea 0 mhighest point: Fansipan 3 144 m

Transport in Vietnam

Railways

The Vietnamese railway network has a total length of 2,600 kilometres (1,600 mi), dominated by the 1,726 kilometres (1,072 mi) single track North–South Railway running between Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City. The national railway network uses mainly 1,000 mm (3 ft 3 3⁄8 in) metre gauge, although there are several 1,435 mm (4 ft 8 1⁄2 in) standard gauge and mixed gauge lines in the North of the country. There were 278 stations on the Vietnamese railway network as of 2005, most of which are located along the North–South line. The Vietnamese railway network is owned and operated by the state-owned enterprise Vietnam Railways (VNR), which operates a number of different subsidiaries involved in construction, communications, training, and other activities connected to railway maintenance

International railway linksPeople's Republic of China

Two railways connect Vietnam to the People's Republic of China: the western Yunnan–Vietnam Railway, from Haiphong to Kunming, and the eastern railway from Hanoi to Nanning. The railway into Yunnan is a metre gauge line, the only such line to operate inside China; it may, however, be converted to standard gauge. Railway service along the Chinese portion of the route is currently suspended. Cross-border service was available until 2002, when floods and landslides, which frequently caused delays along the route,[4] caused serious damage to the tracks on the Chinese side.[5] Railway access to Nanning is done through the border at Đồng Đăng, in Lạng Sơn Province. Regular service generally entails stopping at the border, changing from a Vietnamese metre-gauge train to a Chinese standard-gauge train, and continuing on to Nanning

Highways

Vietnam's road system includes: national roads (quốc lộ) administered by the central government (marked by red and white milestones); provincial roads (tỉnh lộ or đường tỉnh) managed by provinces (blue and white); district roads (huyện lộ or đường huyện) managed by districts (green and white); urban roads managed by cities and towns; and commune roads managed by communes. The total length of the Viet Nam road system is about 222,179 km with 19.0% paved, mainly national roads and provincial roads (source: Vietnam Road Administration, 2004). The national road system length is 17,295 km with 27.6% of its length paved. The provincial road system is 27,762 km of length with 23.6% paved.

Road finance comes from a number of sources including the government, overseas donors such as the ADB, WB, JBIC and business organizations. Road investment recovery is mainly through tolls collected on bridges and roads, in accordance with laws mentioned above

Expressways

Expressway is rather a new concept for Vietnamese, traffic is growing rapidly but the major roads are dangerous due to inappropriate design and an inappropriate traffic mix. Expressways would solve these problems along the key corridors, by separating high speed traffic from slower, local traffic.

Viet Nam currently recognizes two classes of expressway. Both have a minimum of two lanes in each direction, but Class A has grade separated interchanges, while Class B has at-grade intersections. There are 4 design-speed categories: 60, 80, 100 and 120 km/h. Generally all cars, buses and trucks are permitted on the expressway but cong nong and motorcycles of less than 70 cc engine capacity are not.

Ports and harbors

Cam Ranh - large deep water port and used by Marco Polo during his voyages to China; formerly a major military facility for the U.S. Army and US Navy during the 1960s; later used by the Soviet Navy and the Vietnamese Navy

Da Nang - Tien Sa seaport is the third largest sea port in Vietnam after Ho Chi Minh City and Hai Phong; handles 3-4 million tons of cargo annually

Hai Phong Ho Chi Minh City - a major port facility with several locations including Saigon port Hong Gai Qui Nhơn Nha Trang

Vietnam has 17,702 km of waterways; 5,000 km of which are navigable by vessels up to 1.8 m draft.

Airports

Vietnam operates 37 civil airports, including three international gateways: Noi Bai serving Hanoi, Da Nang serving Da Nang 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 A321–200 aircraft and continue negotiations for four Boeing 787 "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

Vietnam Industry

Thanks to well-conceived policies on import-export, export growth has been quite high, reaching USD 48.6 billion

in 2007, increasing more than 60 times over that of 1986. Average growth has been about 20% annually. The

trade deficit has reduced from 300% in 1986 to below 20% in recent years. In the first six months of 2008, export

value has reached USD 30.6 billion.

 

Since 1986, the structure of export goods has significantly changed with the increase in high-value goods such

as heavy industrial goods and minerals which account for about 30%, then handicraft and light industrial products

(20%), sea products (20%), agricultural products (15%), and forest products (15%).

 

Vietnamese export goods have gone to 200 markets of which the volume of 10 markets reaches over 1 billion

USD. Some key goods of Vietnam rank in high positions and impact upon the world market. Examples are rice,

seafood, coffee, rubber, pepper, cashews, and garment.

Most heavy and medium industry is concentrated in the north, including the

state-owned coal, tin, chrome, and other mining enterprises; an engineering

works at Hanoi; power stations; and modern tobacco, tea, and canning

factories. The industrial sector in the south is characterized by light industry

and consumer goods industry, including pharmaceuticals, textiles, and food

processing, although there are some large utilities and cement works. Much of

the industrial sector in the north was badly damaged by US bombing raids

during the war. In the south, the private sector was permitted to continue in

operation after 1975, but all industry and commerce above the family level was

nationalized in March 1978. The results were disastrous, and the regime now

permits the existence of a small private sector, mainly in the area of consumer

goods and other light industry.

Vietnam Industry Bag, wallet, purse, suitcase, hat, cap and umbrella Bicycles & parts Ceramic & Porcelain Coffee Electronic parts, TV, computers & parts Electric wire and cable Fishery Footwear Fresh flowers Garment & Textile Household Plastic Appliances

Kid toys Manufactured rubber products Mechanics Peppercorn Plastics Rice Tea Telecom equipment & spare parts Vegetable & Fruit

Export by continents (2007)

 

Leading exported share in (2007)

Manufacturing in Vietnam after reunification followed a pattern that was initially the reverse of the record in agriculture; it showed recovery from a depressed base in the early postwar years. Recovery stopped in the late 1970s, however, when the war in Cambodia and the threat from China caused

the government to redirect food, finance, and other resources to the military, a move that worsened shortages and intensified old bottlenecks. At the same time, the invasion of Cambodia cost Vietnam badly needed foreign economic support. China's attack on Vietnam in 1979 compounded industrial problems by badly damaging important industrial facilities in the North, particularly a major steel plant and an apatite mine

Culture AND SOCIAL

The Municipal Theatre in Ho Chi Minh City

Vietnam's culture has developed over the centuries from indigenous ancient Đông Sơn culture with wet

rice agriculture as its economic base. Some elements of the national culture have Chinese origins, drawing

on elements of Confucianism andTaoism in its traditional political system and philosophy. Vietnamese

society is structured around làng (ancestral villages); all Vietnamese mark a common ancestral

anniversary on the tenth day of the third lunar month.[161] The influences of immigrant peoples – such as

the Cantonese, Hakka, Hokkien and Hainan cultures – can also be seen, while the national religion

of Buddhism is strongly entwined with popular culture. In recent centuries, the influences of Western

cultures, most notably France and the United States, have become evident in Vietnam.

The traditional focuses of Vietnamese culture are humanity (nhân nghĩa) and harmony (hòa); family and

community values are highly regarded. Vietnam reveres a number of key cultural symbols, such as

the Vietnamese dragon, which is derived from crocodile and snake imagery; Vietnam's National

Father, Lạc Long Quân, is depicted as a holy dragon. The lạc – a holy bird representing Vietnam's

National Mother, Âu Cơ – is another prominent symbol, while turtle and horse images are also revered.[162]

In the modern era, the cultural life of Vietnam has been deeply influenced by government-controlled media

and cultural programs. For many decades, foreign cultural influences – especially those of Western origin

– were shunned. However, since the 1990s, Vietnam has seen a greater exposure to Southeast Asian,

European and American culture and media.[163]

Media

Main article: Media of Vietnam

Vietnam's media sector is regulated by the government in accordance with the 2004 Law on Publication.[164] It is generally perceived that Vietnam's media sector is controlled by the government to follow the

official Communist Party line, though some newspapers are relatively outspoken.[165] The Voice of

Vietnam is the official state-run national radio broadcasting service, broadcasting internationally via

shortwave using rented transmitters in other countries, and providing broadcasts from its website. Vietnam

Television is the national television broadcasting company.

Since 1997, Vietnam has extensively regulated public Internet access, using both legal and technical

means. The resulting lockdown is widely referred to as the "Bamboo Firewall".[166] The collaborative

project OpenNet Initiative classifies Vietnam's level of online political censorship to be "pervasive",[167] while Reporters Without Borders considers Vietnam to be one of 15 global "internet enemies".[168] Though the government of Vietnam claims to safeguard the country against obscene or sexually explicit

content through its blocking efforts, many politically and religiously sensitive websites are also banned.[169]

§Music

The Vietnamese dan bau a monochord zither instrument

Traditional Vietnamese music varies between the country's northern and southern regions. Northern

classical music is Vietnam's oldest musical form, and is traditionally more formal. The origins of

Vietnamese classical music can be traced to the Mongol invasions of the 13th century, when the

Vietnamese captured a Chinese opera troupe.[170] Throughout its history, Vietnamese has been most heavily

impacted by the Chinese musical tradition, as an integral part, along with Korea, Mongoliaand Japan.[171] Nhã nhạc is the most popular form of imperial court music. Chèo is a form of generally

satirical musical theatre.Xẩm or Hát xẩm (Xẩm singing) is a type of Vietnamese folk music. Quan

họ (alternate singing) is popular in Hà Bắc (divided intoBắc Ninh and Bắc Giang Provinces) and across

Vietnam. Hát chầu văn or hát văn is a spiritual form of music used to invoke spirits during

ceremonies. Nhạc dân tộc cải biên is a modern form of Vietnamese folk music which arose in the

1950s. Ca trù(also hát ả đào) is a popular folk music. "Hò" can not be thought of as the southern style of

Quan họ. There are a range of traditional instruments, including the Đàn bầu (a monochord zither), the Đàn

gáo (a two-stringed fiddle with coconut body), and the Đàn nguyệt (a two-stringed fretted moon lute).

§Literature

The Temple of Literature in Hanoi.

Vietnamese literature has a centuries-deep history. The country has a rich tradition of folk literature, based

around the typical 6–to-8-verse poetic form named ca dao, which usually focuses on village ancestors and

heroes.[172] Written literature has been found dating back to the 10th-century Ngô dynasty, with notable

ancient authors including Nguyễn Trãi, Trần Hưng Đạo, Nguyễn Du and Nguyễn Đình Chiểu. Some

literary genres play an important role in theatrical performance, such as hát nói in ca trù.[173] Some poetic

unions have also been formed in Vietnam, such as the Tao Đàn. Vietnamese literature has in recent times

been influenced by Western styles, with the first literary transformation movement – Thơ Mới – emerging

in 1932.[174]

§Festivals

Main article: List of festivals in Vietnam

A traditional Tết (Lunar New Year) tree.

Vietnam has a plethora of festivals based on the lunar calendar, the most important being the Tết New

Year celebration.Traditional Vietnamese weddings remain widely popular, and are often celebrated by

expatriate Vietnamese in Western countries.

§Tourism

Main article: Tourism in Vietnam

Hội An's Ancient Town, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Vietnam has become a major tourist destination since the 1990s, assisted by significant state and private

investment, particularly in coastal regions.[175] About 3.77 million international tourists visited Vietnam in

2009 alone.[176]

Popular tourist destinations include the former imperial capital of Hué, the World Heritage Sites of Phong

Nha-Kẻ Bàng National Park, Hội An and Mỹ Sơn, coastal regions such as Nha Trang, the caves of Hạ

Long Bay and the Marble Mountains. Numerous tourist projects are under construction, such as the Bình

Dương tourist complex, which possesses the largest artificial sea in Southeast Asia.[177]

On 14 February 2011, Joe Jackson, the father of American pop star Michael Jackson, attended a ground

breaking ceremony for what will be Southeast Asia's largest entertainment complex, a five-star hotel and

amusement park called Happyland. The US$2 billion project, which has been designed to accommodate 14

million tourists annually, is located in southern Long An Province, near Ho Chi Minh City. It is expected

that the complex will be completed in 2014.[178]

§Clothing

The áo dài, a formal girl's dress, is worn for special occasions such as weddings and religious festivals.

White áo dài is the required uniform for girls in many high schools across Vietnam. Áo dài was once worn

by both genders, but today it is mostly the preserve of women, although men do wear it to some occasions,

such as traditional weddings.[179] Other examples of traditional Vietnamese clothing include theáo tứ thân, a

four-piece woman's dress; the áo ngũ, a form of the thân in 5-piece form, mostly worn in the north of the

country; the yếm, a woman's undergarment; the áo bà ba, rural working "pyjamas" for men and women;[180] the áo gấm, a formal brocade tunic for government receptions; and the áo the, a variant of the áo

gấm worn by grooms at weddings. Traditional headwear includes the standard conical nón lá and the

"lampshade-like" nón quai thao.

§Sport

See also: Vietnam at the Olympics and Sport in Vietnam

The Vovinam and Bình Định martial arts are widespread in Vietnam,[181] while soccer is the country's most

popular team sport.[182] Its national team won the ASEAN Football Championship  in 2008. Other Western

sports, such as badminton, tennis, volleyball, ping-pong and chess, are also widely popular.

Vietnam has participated in the Summer Olympic Games since 1952, when it competed as the State of

Vietnam. After the partition of the country in 1954, only South Vietnam competed in the Games, sending

athletes to the 1956 and 1972 Olympics. Since the reunification of Vietnam in 1976, it has competed as the

Socialist Republic of Vietnam, attending every Summer Olympics from 1988 onwards. The present

Vietnam Olympic Committee was formed in 1976 and recognized by the International Olympic Committee

(IOC) in 1979.[183] As of 2014, Vietnam has never participated in the Winter Olympics.

§Cuisine

Main article: Vietnamese cuisine

Pho, one of the most popular Vietnamese dishes.

Vietnamese cuisine traditionally features a combination of five fundamental taste "elements"

(Vietnamese: ngũ vị): spicy (metal), sour (wood), bitter (fire), salty (water) and sweet (earth).[184] Common

ingredients include fish sauce, shrimp paste,soy sauce, rice, fresh herbs, fruits and vegetables. Vietnamese

recipes use lemongrass, ginger, mint, Vietnamese mint, long coriander, Saigon cinnamon, bird's eye

chili, lime and basil leaves.[185] Traditional Vietnamese cooking is known for its fresh ingredients, minimal

use of oil, and reliance on herbs and vegetables, and is considered one of the healthiest cuisines worldwide.[186]

In northern Vietnam, local foods are often less spicy than southern dishes, as the colder northern climate

limits the production and availability of spices. Black pepper is used in place of chilis to produce spicy

flavors. The use of meats such as pork, beef, and chicken were relatively limited in the past, and as a result

freshwater fish, crustaceans – particularly crabs– and mollusks became widely used. Fish sauce, soy sauce,

prawn sauce, and limes are among the main flavoring ingredients. Many signature Vietnamese dishes, such

as bún riêu and bánh cuốn, originated in the north and were carried to central and southern Vietnam by

migrants

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(French Indochina in 1913.)

1976–present: reunification and reforms

Saigon Trade Center, one of the first skyscrapers to be built in Ho Chi Minh City after the Doi Moi reforms.

In the aftermath of the war, under Lê Duẩn's administration, the government embarked on a

mass campaign of collectivization of farms and factories.[73] This caused economic chaos and

resulted in triple-digit inflation, while national reconstruction efforts progressed slowly. At least

one million South Vietnamese were sent to reeducation camps, with an estimated 165,000

prisoners dying.[74][75] Between 100,000[74][76][77] and 200,000[78] South Vietnamese were executed in

extrajudicial killings;[79] another 50,000 died performing hard labor in "New Economic Zones".[74]

[80] In the late 1970s and early 1980s, millions of people fled the country in crudely built boats,

creating an international humanitarian crisis;[81][82]hundreds of thousands died at sea.[83]

In 1978, the Vietnamese military invaded Cambodia to remove from power the Khmer Rouge,

who had been attacking Vietnamese border villages.[84] Vietnam was victorious, installing a

government in Cambodia which ruled until 1989.[85] This action worsened relations with the

Chinese, who launched a brief incursion into northern Vietnam in 1979.[86] This conflict caused

Vietnam to rely even more heavily on Soviet economic and military aid.

At the Sixth National Congress of the Communist Party of Vietnam in December 1986, reformist

politicians replaced the "old guard" government with new leadership.[87][88] The reformers were led

by 71-year-old Nguyễn Văn Linh, who became the party's new general secretary.[87][88] Linh and

the reformers implemented a series of free-market reforms – known as Đổi Mới ("Renovation") –

which carefully managed the transition from a planned economy to a "socialist-oriented market

economy".[89][90]

Though the authority of the state remained unchallenged under Đổi Mới, the government

encouraged private ownership of farms and factories, economic deregulation and foreign

investment, while maintaining control over strategic industries.[90]The Vietnamese economy

subsequently achieved strong growth in agricultural and industrial production, construction,

exports and foreign investment. However, these reforms have also caused a rise in income

inequality and gender disparities