**Historical Overview of Vietnam:**
– The name ‘Việt Nam’ originated in the 16th century.
– Human presence in Vietnam dates back to the Paleolithic age.
– Vietnam has a rich history of dynasties, Chinese rule, and independence struggles.
– Dynastic Vietnam includes the Hồng Bàng dynasty and the Đại Việt kingdom.
– Vietnamese Southward Expansion involved conquering Champa and part of the Khmer Kingdom.
– French Indochina era marked by French colonization and nationalist movements.
– Portuguese, Dutch, and French interactions in Vietnam during different historical periods.
– Significant religious and political influences in Vietnamese history.
**Geography and Climate of Vietnam:**
– Vietnam is located in Southeast Asia, bordered by China, Laos, and Cambodia.
– Diverse landscape with mountains, forests, and coastal areas.
– Key geographical features include the Mekong Delta and Ha Long Bay.
– Tropical monsoon climate with distinct wet and dry seasons.
– Varied climate due to differences in latitude and topography.
– Biodiversity ranking of Vietnam and its diverse flora and fauna.
**Cultural Aspects of Vietnam:**
– Vietnamese culture is a blend of indigenous, Chinese, and French influences.
– Traditional music, dress (ao dai), cuisine, and water puppetry.
– Buddhism’s historical significance in Vietnamese society.
**Economic Development and Challenges in Vietnam:**
– Vietnam is a developing country with a lower-middle-income economy.
– Economic reforms transitioned Vietnam to a socialist-oriented market economy.
– Key industries include manufacturing, agriculture, and services.
– Membership in international organizations like ASEAN, APEC, and the WTO.
– Economic challenges such as corruption, environmental issues, and human rights concerns.
– Post-war economic challenges and reforms under Đổi Mới.
**Vietnam War and Post-War Period:**
– First Indochina War and Vietnam War overview.
– Reunification of North and South Vietnam in 1976.
– Operation Passage to Freedom and the Geneva Conference.
– Post-war challenges, including reeducation camps and collectivization.
– Leadership changes and economic reforms post Đổi Mới.
– General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong’s leadership and Vietnam’s economic growth.
Vietnam, officially the Socialist Republic of Vietnam (SRV), is a country at the eastern edge of mainland Southeast Asia, with an area of about 331,000 square kilometres (128,000 sq mi) and a population of over 100 million, making it the world's fifteenth-most populous country. Vietnam shares land borders with China to the north, and Laos and Cambodia to the west. It shares maritime borders with Thailand through the Gulf of Thailand, and the Philippines, Indonesia, and Malaysia through the South China Sea. Its capital is Hanoi and its largest city is Ho Chi Minh City (commonly referred to by its former name, Saigon).
Socialist Republic of Vietnam Cộng hòa Xã hội chủ nghĩa Việt Nam (Vietnamese) | |
|---|---|
| Motto: Độc lập – Tự do – Hạnh phúc "Independence – Freedom – Happiness" | |
| Anthem: Tiến Quân Ca "Army March" | |
.svg)  Location of Vietnam (green) in ASEAN (dark grey) | |
| Capital | Hanoi 21°2′N 105°51′E / 21.033°N 105.850°E |
| Largest city | Ho Chi Minh City 10°48′N 106°39′E / 10.800°N 106.650°E |
| Official language | Vietnamese |
| Ethnic groups (2019) |
|
| Religion (2019) |
|
| Demonym(s) | Vietnamese Viet (colloquial) |
| Government | Unitary Marxist–Leninist one-party socialist republic |
| Nguyễn Phú Trọng | |
| Võ Thị Ánh Xuân (acting) | |
| Phạm Minh Chính | |
| Vương Đình Huệ | |
| Legislature | National Assembly |
| Formation | |
• Văn Lang | 7th century BC |
• Âu Lạc | 3th century BC |
| 111 BC | |
| 939 | |
| 1428 | |
• Nguyễn's unification | 1802 |
| 25 August 1883 | |
| 2 September 1945 | |
| 21 July 1954 | |
| 30 April 1975 | |
| 2 July 1976 | |
• Đổi Mới | 18 December 1986 |
| 28 November 2013 | |
| Area | |
• Total | 331,344.82 km2 (127,932.95 sq mi) (66th) |
• Water (%) | 6.38 |
| Population | |
• 2023 estimate | 100,300,000 (15th) |
• 2019 census | 96,208,984 |
• Density | 298/km2 (771.8/sq mi) (49th) |
| GDP (PPP) | 2023 estimate |
• Total |  $1.434 trillion (26th) |
• Per capita | $14,285 (106th) |
| GDP (nominal) | 2023 estimate |
• Total | $433.356 billion (35th) |
• Per capita | $4,316 (119th) |
| Gini (2018) |  35.7medium |
| HDI (2022) | 0.726 high (107th) |
| Currency | Vietnamese đồng (₫) (VND) |
| Time zone | UTC+07:00 (Vietnam Standard Time) |
| Driving side | right |
| Calling code | +84 |
| ISO 3166 code | VN |
| Internet TLD | .vn |
Vietnam was inhabited by the Paleolithic age, with states established in the first millennium BC on the Red River Delta in modern-day northern Vietnam. The Han dynasty annexed Northern and Central Vietnam under Chinese rule from 111 BC, until the first dynasty emerged in 939. Successive monarchical dynasties absorbed Chinese influences through Confucianism and Buddhism, and expanded southward to the Mekong Delta, conquering Champa. During most of the 17th and 18th centuries, Vietnam was effectively divided into two domains of Đàng Trong and Đàng Ngoài. The Nguyễn—the last imperial dynasty—surrendered to France in 1883. In 1887, its territory was integrated into French Indochina as three separate regions. In the immediate aftermath of World War II, the nationalist coalition Viet Minh, led by the communist revolutionary Ho Chi Minh, launched the August Revolution and declared Vietnam's independence in 1945.
Vietnam went through prolonged warfare in the 20th century. After World War II, France returned to reclaim colonial power in the First Indochina War, from which Vietnam emerged victorious in 1954. As a result of the treaties signed between the Viet Minh and France, Vietnam was also separated into two parts. The Vietnam War began shortly after, between the communist North Vietnam, supported by the Soviet Union and China, and the anti-communist South Vietnam, supported by the United States. Upon the North Vietnamese victory in 1975, Vietnam reunified as a unitary socialist state under the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) in 1976. An ineffective planned economy, a trade embargo by the West, and wars with Cambodia and China crippled the country further. In 1986, the CPV initiated economic and political reforms similar to the Chinese economic reform, transforming the country to a socialist-oriented market economy. The reforms facilitated Vietnamese reintegration into the global economy and politics.
Vietnam is a developing country with a lower-middle-income economy. It has high levels of corruption, censorship, environmental issues and a poor human rights record; the country ranks among the lowest in international measurements of civil liberties, freedom of the press, and freedom of religion and ethnic minorities. It is part of international and intergovernmental institutions including the ASEAN, the APEC, the CPTPP, the Non-Aligned Movement, the OIF, and the WTO. It has assumed a seat on the United Nations Security Council twice.