DUYEN NGUYEN PERIOD 9

ECONOMICS POLITICS ENVIRONMENT SOCIETYSOCIETY & CULTURECULTURE

The politics of Vietnam takes place in a framework of a single-party socialist republic. The central role of the Communist Party of Vietnam is reaffirmed in the current, constitution adopted in April Though Vietnam remains a single- party state, adherence to ideological orthodoxy has become less important than economic development as a national priority. All Vietnamese political organizations are under Vietnamese Communist Party control. There is no separation of powers between executive, legislative and judicial branches.

As a Southeast Asian country, Vietnam shares its borders with China, Lao and Cambodia. Its territory extends longitudinally over 1,650 km from the North to the South, with the widest point measuring some 600 km and the narrowest 50 km. It has a coastline of 3,260 km with thousands of islands. The total area of Vietnam's territory is about 332,000 km2. Vietnam has a tropical, hot and wet monsoon climate. Population July 2005 (est.) is 83,5 million. Urban Population, ,7 % Life Expectancy at Birth 2005 (est.) 70.6 Yrs. Environment in Vietnam is being heavily polluted.

Hue, Vietnam

Ha Long bay

There are some other characteristics that comprise Vietnamese culture: betel- areca nut chewing, teeth darkening, bamboo, respect for community and family value, hardworking and devotion to study. At present, there are 54 different ethnic minority groups inhabiting Vietnam. The Kinh people (or Viets) account for nearly 90 percent of Vietnam's total population. Major ethnic minority groups include the Tay, Thai, Muong, H'Mong, Dao and Khmer. Vietnam is a country with many religions such as Buddhism, Protestantism, Catholicism,… Writing: Currently, Vietnamese writing system using Latin characters as letters called National Language.

Ethnic Minorities Banh chung Ao dai

The economy of Vietnam is a developing mixed economy. Over the past 20 years, Vietnam has made a shift from a centrally planned economy to a Socialist- oriented market economy. Over that period, the economy has experienced rapid growth. Nowadays, Vietnam is in the period of integrating into world's economy, as a part of globalization and is in transition from a planned economy to a market-oriented mixed economy. Vietnam has been rising as a leading agricultural exporter and an attractive foreign investment destination in East and Southeast Asia.

 The Kentucky Supreme Court, in Kentucky v. Wasson, holds that laws criminalizing same-sex sodomy are unconstitutional, and accurately predicts that other state and the nation will eventually rule the same way.  32 Killed in France By Storm, Floods.  Toronto's Dave Winfield, 40, is oldest player to reach 100-RBI.  Scott Stevens is named 5th Captain in NJ Devils history.  New Vietnam President. EVENTs ON MY BIRTHDAY 09/24/1992

FAMILY TREE

Vũ Tr ọ ng Ph ụ ng (October 20, October 13, 1939) was a popular Vietnamese author and journalist, who is considered to be one of the most influential figures of the Vietnamese literature in the 20th century. During the late-colonial decade of the 1930s Vũ Tr ọ ng Ph ụ ng produced a body of writing that stands today as the single most remarkable individual achievement in modern Vietnamese literature. Today, several of his works are taught in Vietnamese schools.