1. Vietnam (Socialist Republic of Vietnam)

2. Red symbolizes revolution and blood The five-pointed star represents the five elements of the populace: Peasants Workers Intellectuals Traders Soldiers - that unite to build socialism The flag of Vietnam has a red field with a large yellow five-pointed star in the center

3. Capital is Hanoi.

4. Early History Southeast Asia (home to Vietnam) was home to some of the earliest human settlements The Khmer Empire ruled a large part of SE Asia until the mid 1200’s Europe began to take control of this area by the end of the 1800’s

5. Early History Vietnam was part of French Indochina After a very bloody war, the French left the area in 1954 The countries of Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia were then created

6. Government Vietnam is a communist state. Executive branch President is Nguyen Minh Triet. President is elected from the National Assembly, by members of the National Assembly. Prime Minister is Nguyen Tan Dung. Prime Minister is appointed by President.

7. Legislative branch It has a unicameral legislature Members the National Assembly, or Quoc Hoi, are elected by popular vote. Judicial branch Chief judge is elected by the National Assembly. Others are appointed.

8. Religion and Ethnic Groups Religious Groups Buddhist 9.3% Catholic 6.7% Hoa Hao 1.5% Cao Dai 1.1% Protestant 0.5% Muslim 0.1% none 80.8% Ethnic Groups Kinh (Viet) 86.2% Tay 1.9% Thai 1.7% Muong 1.5% Khome 1.4% Hoa 1.1%, Nun 1.1% Hmong 1% others 4.1%

9. Language Vietnamese (official) English (increasingly favored as a second language) some French, Chinese, and Khmer mountain area languages (Mon-Khmer and Malayo-Polynesian)

10. Economy Although they are currently slowly changing, Vietnam still has a very centrally-planned economy. It is mostly a command economy, but is becoming more market oriented.

11. Major Industry food processing garments shoes machine-building mining steel chemical fertilizer glass tires Natural Resources phosphates coal manganese bauxite offshore oil and gas deposits timber hydropower

12. Geography & Climate Geography low, flat delta in south and north; central highlands hilly, mountainous in far north and northwest Climate tropical in south monsoons in north with hot, rainy season (May to September) and warm, dry season (October to March)

13. Environmental Issues  logging and slash- and-burn agricultural practices contribute to deforestation and soil degradation  water pollution and overfishing threaten marine life populations  groundwater contamination limits potable water supply  growing urban industrialization and population migration are rapidly degrading environment in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City

14. Literacy Rate –Total 90% –Male 94% –Female 87% Life Expectancy –Total 72 –Male 69.5 –Female 74.5 GDP –$2,900 per capita Population 89,571,130 Below Poverty Level –12.3%