VIETNAM - FACTS AND FIGURESArea: 331, 114 km2
Population: 74.0 million (1995 estimate)
Population Growth: 2.1% (1995 estimate)
Capital: Hanoi
Official Name: Socialist Republic of Vietnam
System of Government: One Party Rule
Head of State: President Le Duc Anh
Prime Minister: Vo Van Kiet
Key Government Ministers:Nguyen Sinh Hung, Minister of Finance; Nguyen Manh Cam, Minister of Foreign Affairs; Dang Vu Chu, Minister of Industry; Le Van Triet, Minister of Trade
Language: Vietnamese. English is spoken by a large number of educated people as well as some French and Russian.
Literacy Rate: 88%
Ethnic Background: Vietnamese (kinh) made up 87% of the population (1989). The remainder consists of various ethnic groups including Khmer, Cham, Muong and Thai. Cambodians and Chinese may be found living along Vietnam's south-west border.
Religion: Vietnam guarantees freedom of religion in its Constitution. Some of the more commonly practised religions include Buddhism (practised bt 55% of the population), Taoism (practised by 12% of the population), and Roman Catholicism (practised by 7% of the population). Regardless of religion however, most Vietnamese continue to practice Ancestor Worship.For more information on Vietanam, visit these sites:
Visiting Vietnam in the Future for business? Read this...
- Vietnamese don't always get right to the point. Sometimes they don't like to talk about sensitive issues.
- Only bring gifts for special occassions. It is not needed or expected in business.
- Vietnamese like to keep the peace. Try to avoid being negative or impolite to others.
- You remember when your mother always told you to "smile and everything will be okay?" This is not necessarily true in Vietnam. If you smile it could be taken negatively. It could come across that you are mad or anxious..so, be weary of those smiles!
Some of this information was taken from the Information Series published by the Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada. It is available in print format.