Vietnam, a nation located in southeast Asia, is about twice the size of Arizona and is shaped like the letter S. China borders Vietnam on the north, while Laos and Cambodia lie on its western border. Vietnam's east coast is bordered by the South China Sea. The Gulf of Thailand is southwest of Vietnam. Hanoi is the capital and Ho Chi Minh City is the largest city.
Much of Vietnam is a rugged, densely forested area bordered by mountains. The climate is humid during the hot summers and cold winters. Monsoon rains are present during both seasons.
Ethnic Vietnamese, called Kinh, account for over 80 percent of the 83.1 million people who live there. The language is Vietnamese. In larger cities, English is the most widely spoken of foreign languages. Chinese, French, and Russian are also spoken among urban populations.
Most resident Vietnamese practice Buddhism. Christian, Confucian, and Daoist religions are also studied by smaller percentages of the population.
For years, Vietnam has fought foreign invaders, mainly the Chinese, who first conquered then Nam Viet (northern Vietnam) in 111 B.C. Communists also fought France and South Vietnam, which was supported by the United States, for full control of the territory. After years of unrest and U.S. military presence, the participants agreed to a cease-fire and the U.S. withdrew its troops. The fighting continued however, and in April 1975, the Communists defeated South Vietnam. In 1976, North and South Vietnam became a single nation, the Socialist Republic of Vietnam.
With one of the most burgeoning economies in Southeast Asia, Vietnam expects to become a developed nation by 2020. Vietnam trades primarily with Japan, Singapore, South Korea, and Taiwan. Main exports are coffee, fish, petroleum, rice, rubber, and tea.
Vietnam is a one-party communist state. Its flag features a star that represents Communism. A president serves as head of state, and a prime minister heads the government. The unit of currency is the dong.
Web Sites
- viettouch.com
- The Embassy of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam in the U.S.A.
- geographia.com
- The History Place
- vietnampix.com
Catalog
Search the library's catalog for Vietnam.
Databases
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