Vietnam: Introduction

Total Population: 87,840,000

Natural Increase: 1.0%

Density: 280 Inhabitants/km²

Urban Population: 31.0%

Population of main cities including suburbs: Thanh Pho Ho Chi Minh City (5,650,000); Hanoi (2,250,000); HaiPhong City (825,000); Danang City (700,000).

Ethnic Origins: There are more than 54 ethnic minorities throughout the country, but the Kinh are purveyors of the dominant culture. Most ethnic minorities, such as the Muong, a closely related ethnic of the Kinh, are found mostly in the highlands covering two-thirds of the territory. The Hoa (ethnic Chinese) and Khmer Krom are mainly lowlanders. The largest ethnic minority groups include the Hmong, Dao, Tay, Thai, and Nung.

Official Language: Vietnamese

Other Languages Spoken: French and Chinese are also spoken.

Business Language(s): Vietnamese, then English and Chinese. French, Japanese and Korean are also spoken.

Religion: Buddhists 85%, Christians 8%, Others 7%.

Area: 331,050 km²

Type of State: Single Party Socialist Republic.

Type of Economy: Developing economy.
One of the fastest-growing economies of South-East Asia. The second largest rice exporter in the world.

HDI*: 0.593/1

HDI (World Rank): 120/187

Telephone Code:
To Make a Call From Vietnam, Dial 00
To Make a Call to Vietnam, Dial +84

Internet Suffix: .vn

Computers: 1.3 per 100 Inhabitants

Telephone Lines: 11.5 per 100 Inhabitants

Internet Users: 35.1 per 100 Inhabitants

Access to Electricity: 97.6% of the Population