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Population:
83,305,000
Capital:
Hanoi; 3,977,000
Area:
331,114 square kilometers
(127,844 square miles)
Language:
Vietnamese, English, French, Chinese, Khmer, local languages
Religion:
Buddhist, Hoa Hao, Cao Dai, Christian, indigenous beliefs, Muslim
Currency:
Dong
Life Expectancy:
72
Literacy Percent:
94
Industry: Food Processing, Garments, Shoes, Machine-Building.
Agriculture: Paddy Rice, Corn, Potatoes, Rubber, Poultry, Fish.
Exports: Crude Oil, Marine Products, Rice, Coffee, Rubber.
Fan Si Pan (3,144 m) is the highest point in Vietnam.
The Mekong River, the largest river in South-East Asia, flows through the south of Vietnam.
Legend says that the people of Vietnam are descended from Lac Long Quan (Lac Dragon Lord) and Au Co (a mountain fairy).
Hung Vuong, the eldest son of Lac Long Quan, became the first king of “Lac Viet” which he renamed Van Lang (an ancient name for Vietnam).
Vietnam was ruled by China for over a thousand years; independence was achieved in the tenth century.
In 40 AD the Trung Sisters won a brief victory over the Chinese. However the Chinese army eventually overcame the Vietnamese and the sisters committed suicide to avoid capture.