Country Guide • Vietnam
Vietnam shares borders to the north with the People’s Republic of China and to the west with Laos and Cambodia. The South China Sea lies to the east and south.
| Official Name | Socialist Republic of Vietnam |
|---|---|
| Area | 329,560km² (127,243mile²) |
| Population | 81,624,716 |
| Continent | Hanoisia |
| Population per mile² | 641 |
| Capital City | Hanoi |
| Religions | Buddhist, Hoa Hao, Cao Dai, Christian (predominantly Roman Catholic, some Protestant), indigenous beliefs, Muslim |
| Language | Vietnamese, Russian, French, Chinese, English and a variety of Khmer and Laotian dialects |
| Government | Communist People's Republic |
| Currency | Dong |
| GDP | $24 billion |
| GDP per Head | $300 |
| Natural Resources | Phosphates, coal, manganese, bauxite, chromate, offshore oil and gas deposits, forests, hydropower |
| Land Use | Arable Land 17% |
| Agriculture | Paddy rice, corn, potatoes, rubber, soybeans, coffee, tea, bananas, sugar; poultry, pigs; fish |
| Industry | Rice, rubber, food processing, sugar, textiles, chemicals |
| Tourism | Vietnam is a country of natural beauty. Included are the Red River Delta in the north, the Mekong Delta in the south and almost the entire coastal strip are a patchwork of green rice paddies which stretch into the distance only broken by the silhouette of water buffalo and conical-hatted peasants. There are excellent beaches along the coast , while inland there are mountains, some of which are cloaked by dense, misty forests. Early morning in the Mekong Delta brings the daily floating markets where fruit and vegetables are peddled. All in all the country is an eclectic mix of old and new and now that the horrors of war have gone it is now time to visit and appreciate a jewel of a country |
| Natural Hazards | Occasional typhoons (May to January) with extensive flooding, especially in the Mekong River delta |
| Health Risks | Dengue fever, hepatitis, malaria, rabies , typhoid and tuberculosis |
| Climate | Because of its geography, the climate in Vietnam varies greatly from north to south. Tropical monsoons occur from May to October. It is almost totally dry throughout the rest of the year |
| Time | GMT/UTC+7 hours |
| National Days | September 2 - National Day |
| Visas | Unless, exceptionally, prior arrangements have been made (by tour operators or for officially sponsored visitors), you must obtain a visa prior to travel. You should check visa validity and conditions carefully. They are usually valid for one month. For further information check with the Vietnamese Embassy in London, Vietnam Embassy. You should retain the yellow portion of your immigration Arrival-Departure card on entry to Vietnam, as this is required for exit. If you lose your passport and have acquired a new one in Vietnam, you will need to regularise your immigration status with the immigration authorities, during working hours, before you can depart |
| British Embassy | Embassy Details |
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