OVERVIEW OF VIETNAM

The area of Vietnam is 127,243 square miles and stretches over 2,113 miles along the eastern coast of Indochina Peninsula. The country borders China, Laos, and Cambodia. The country is divided into three principal geographic areas: Bac Bo (the north), Trung Bo (the central region) and Nam Bo (the south).

HIGHLIGHTS

Official name:	Social Republic of Vietnam
Currency:	Dong
Head of State:	President Nguyen Minh Triet
Head of Government:	Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung
Adult literacy rate:	94 percent
Official language:	Vietnamese
Religion:	Buddhism and Christian
GDP (2004):	US$46 billion
GDP growth rate (2005):	8.4%.
Per capita income (2005):	US$640
Inflation rate (2005 est.):	8.4%.
External debt (2005 est.):	41% of GDP
Natural resources:	Coal, crude oil, zinc, copper, silver, gold, manganese, iron.
Industry and construction (41% of GDP, 2005):	Principal types--mining and quarrying, manufacturing, electricity, gas, water supply, cement, phosphate, and steel.
Services (38.3% of GDP, 2005):	Principal types--wholesale and retail, repair of vehicles and personal goods, hotel and restaurant, transport storage, telecommunications, tourism.
Agriculture and forestry (20.7% of GDP, 2005):	Principal products--rice, maize, sweet potato, peanut, soya bean, cotton, coffee, cashews. Cultivated land--12.2 million hectares per year. Land use--21% arable; 28% forest and woodland; 51% other.

TRADE 2004