Vietnam

Vietnam's early history included periods of occupation by outside forces and eventual power consolidation under Vietnamese dynastic families. A succession of Han Chinese emperors ruled the area, which was centered on the Red River Valley, until approximately the 10th century. The Ly Dynasty (11th-13th century) created the first independent Vietnamese state, which was known as Dai Viet, and established their capital at Thang Long (Hanoi). Under the Tran Dynasty (13th-15th century), TRAN Hung Dao, one of Vietnam’s national heroes, led Dai Viet forces to fight off Mongol invaders in 1279. After a brief Chinese occupation in the early 1400s, Vietnamese resistance leader LE Thai To made himself emperor and established the Le Dynasty, which lasted until the late 18th century despite decades of political turmoil, civil war, and division. During this period, Dai Viet expanded southward to the Central Highlands and Mekong Delta, reaching the approximate boundaries of modern-day Vietnam by the 1750s. Dai Viet suffered additional civil war and division in the latter half of the 18th century, but it was reunited and renamed Vietnam under Emperor NGUYEN Phuc Anh (aka Gia Long) in 1802.<br><br>France began its conquest of Vietnam in 1858 and made Vietnam part of French Indochina in 1887. Vietnam declared independence after World War II, but the French continued to rule until communist forces under Ho Chi MINH defeated them in 1954. Under the Geneva Accords of 1954, Vietnam was divided into the communist North and anti-communist South. Fighting erupted between the two governments shortly afterwards with the North supporting communist rebels in the South and eventually committing thousands of combat troops. The US provided to the South significant economic and military assistance, including large numbers of US military forces, which reached a peak strength of over 500,000 troops in 1968. US combat forces were withdrawn following a cease-fire agreement in 1973. Two years later, North Vietnamese forces overran the South, reuniting the country under communist rule. The conflict, known as the Second Indochina War (1955-1975), devastated Vietnam, spilled over into the neighboring countries of Cambodia and Laos, and is estimated to have resulted in the deaths of up to 3 million Vietnamese civilians and soldiers. It also caused more than 58,000 US combat and non-combat deaths and created deep domestic divisions in the US. <br><br>Despite the return of peace, the country experienced little economic growth for over a decade because of its diplomatic isolation, leadership policies, and the persecution and mass exodus of citizens, many of them successful South Vietnamese merchants. However, since the enactment of Vietnam's "doi moi" (renovation) policy in 1986, the economy has seen strong growth, particularly in agricultural and industrial production, construction, exports, foreign investment, and tourism. Nevertheless, the Communist Party maintains tight political and social control of the country, and Vietnam faces many related challenges, such as rising income inequality and corruption.

Land

310,070 sq km

Total

331,210 sq km

Water

21,140 sq km

about three times the size of Tennessee; slightly larger than New Mexico

tropical in south; monsoonal in north with hot, rainy season (May to September) and warm, dry season (October to March)

3,444 km (excludes islands)

Asia

Highest point

Fan Si Pan 3,144 m

Lowest point

South China Sea 0 m

Mean elevation

398 m

16 10 N, 107 50 E

<strong>note 1:</strong> extending 1,650 km (1,025 mi) north to south, the country is only 50 km (31 mi) across at its narrowest point <br><br><strong>note 2:</strong> Son Doong in Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park is the world's largest cave (greatest cross-sectional area) and is the largest known cave passage in the world by volume at 38.5 million cu m (about 1.35 billion cu ft); it connects to Thoong cave, but not yet officially -- when recognized, it will add an additional 1.6 million cu m; it is so massive that it contains its own jungle, underground river, and localized weather system, with clouds forming inside the cave and spewing from its exits<strong><br></strong>

46,000 sq km (2012)

Border countries

Cambodia 1,158 km; China 1,297 km; Laos 2,161 km

number of neighbors

3

Total

4,616 km

Agricultural land

39.2% (2023 est.)

Agricultural land: arable land

arable land: 21.5% (2023 est.)

Agricultural land: permanent crops

permanent crops: 15.7% (2023 est.)

Agricultural land: permanent pasture

permanent pasture: 2% (2023 est.)

arable land

21.47%

Forest

47% (2023 est.)

Other

13.7% (2023 est.)

permanent crops

15.7%

No

Southeastern Asia, bordering the Gulf of Thailand, Gulf of Tonkin, and South China Sea, as well as China, Laos, and Cambodia

Sông Tiên Giang (Mekong) river mouth (shared with China [s], Burma, Laos, Thailand, Cambodia) - 4,350 km; Pearl river source (shared with China [m]) - 2,200 km; Red river mouth (shared with China [s]) - 1,149 km<br><br><strong>note: </strong>[s] after country name indicates river source; [m] after country name indicates river mouth

Pacific Ocean drainage

Mekong (805,604 sq km)

Google Maps

https://goo.gl/maps/PCpVt9WzdJ9A9nEZ9

OpenStreetMap

https://www.openstreetmap.org/relation/49915

Southeast Asia

Contiguous zone

24 nm

Continental shelf

200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin

Exclusive economic zone

200 nm

Territorial sea

12 nm

occasional typhoons (May to January) with extensive flooding, especially in the Mekong River delta

antimony, phosphates, coal, manganese, rare earth elements, bauxite, chromate, offshore oil and gas deposits, timber, hydropower, arable land

though it has one of the highest population densities in the world, the population is not evenly dispersed; clustering is heaviest along the South China Sea and Gulf of Tonkin, with the Mekong Delta (in the south) and the Red River Valley (in the north) having the largest concentrations of people

South-Eastern Asia

low, flat delta in south and north; central highlands; hilly, mountainous in far north and northwest

UTC+07:00

number of time zones

1

0-14 years

23.2% (male 12,953,719/female 11,579,690)

15-64 years

68.5% (male 36,591,845/female 35,887,201)

65 years and over

8.3% (2024 est.) (male 3,563,611/female 5,182,909)

Beer

3.18 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

Other alcohols

0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

Spirits

0.21 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

Total

3.41 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

Wine

0.02 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

14.58 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)

Men married by age 18

1.9% (2021)

Women married by age 15

1.1% (2021)

Women married by age 18

14.6% (2021)

18.2%

9.7% (2023 est.)

72.8% (2021 est.)

5.81 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)

adult female

74 per 1,000

adult male

181 per 1,000

Elderly dependency ratio

12.8 (2025 est.)

Potential support ratio

7.8 (2025 est.)

Total dependency ratio

46.4 (2025 est.)

Youth dependency ratio

33.6 (2025 est.)

improved total

58.58%

Improved: rural

rural: 97.2% of population (2022 est.)

Improved: total

total: 98% of population (2022 est.)

Improved: urban

urban: 99.1% of population (2022 est.)

Unimproved: rural

rural: 2.8% of population (2022 est.)

Unimproved: total

total: 2% of population (2022 est.)

Unimproved: urban

urban: 0.9% of population (2022 est.)

Education expenditure (% GDP)

2.9% of GDP (2022 est.)

Education expenditure (% national budget)

15.4% national budget (2022 est.)

3 % of GDP

Kinh (Viet) 85.3%, Tay 1.9%, Thai 1.9%, Muong 1.5%, Khmer 1.4%, Mong 1.4%, Nung 1.1%, other 5.5% (2019 est.)

note

<strong>note:</strong> 54 ethnic groups are recognized by the Vietnamese Government

0.96 (2025 est.)

5 % of GDP

Health expenditure (as % of GDP)

4.6% of GDP (2021)

Health expenditure (as % of national budget)

10.7% of national budget (2022 est.)

0.11%

2.6 beds/1,000 population (2017 est.)

Female

13.7 deaths/1,000 live births

Male

14.4 deaths/1,000 live births

neonatal

10 deaths/1,000 live births

Total

13.8 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.)

Languages

Vietnamese (official); English (often as a second language); some French, Chinese, and Khmer; mountain-area languages (including Mon-Khmer and Malayo-Polynesian)

Major-language sample(s)

<br>Dữ kiện thế giới, là nguồn thông tin cơ bản không thể thiếu. (Vietnamese)<br><br>The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information.

number of languages

1

Female

78.9 years

Male

73.5 years

Total population

76.1 years (2024 est.)

Female

95.1% (2022 est.)

Male

97.2% (2022 est.)

Total population

96.1% (2022 est.)

9.321 million Ho Chi Minh City, 5.253 million HANOI (capital), 1.865 million Can Tho, 1.423 million Hai Phong, 1.221 million Da Nang, 1.111 million Bien Hoa (2023)

48 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)

Female

34.2 years

Male

32 years

Total

33.5 years (2025 est.)

34 births/1,000 women 15-19

Adjective

Vietnamese

Noun

Vietnamese (singular and plural)

-0.21 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)

2.1% (2016)

1.11 physicians/1,000 population (2021)

Female

53,090,385

Male

53,597,784

Total

106,688,169 (2025 est.)

0.86% (2025 est.)

Catholic 6.1%, Buddhist 5.8%, Protestant 1%, other 0.8%, none 86.3% (2019 est.)

note

<strong>note:</strong> most Vietnamese are culturally Buddhist

improved total

45.37%

Improved: rural

rural: 90.9% of population (2022 est.)

Improved: total

total: 94.4% of population (2022 est.)

Improved: urban

urban: 99.9% of population (2022 est.)

Unimproved: rural

rural: 9.1% of population (2022 est.)

Unimproved: total

total: 5.6% of population (2022 est.)

Unimproved: urban

urban: 0.1% of population (2022 est.)

Female

14 years (2022 est.)

Male

15 years (2022 est.)

Total

14 years (2022 est.)

0-14 years

1.12 male(s)/female

15-64 years

1.02 male(s)/female

65 years and over

0.69 male(s)/female

At birth

1.1 male(s)/female

Total population

1.01 male(s)/female (2024 est.)

Female

2.1% (2025 est.)

Male

43.1% (2025 est.)

Total

22% (2025 est.)

2.01 children born/woman (2025 est.)

Rate of urbanization

2.7% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

Urban population

39.5% of total population (2023)

measles

98%

58 provinces (<em>tinh</em>, singular and plural) and 5 municipalities (<em>thanh pho</em>, singular and plural) <br><br><strong>provinces:</strong> An Giang, Bac Giang, Bac Kan, Bac Lieu, Bac Ninh, Ba Ria-Vung Tau, Ben Tre, Binh Dinh, Binh Duong, Binh Phuoc, Binh Thuan, Ca Mau, Cao Bang, Dak Lak, Dak Nong, Dien Bien, Dong Nai, Dong Thap, Gia Lai, Ha Giang, Ha Nam, Ha Tinh, Hai Duong, Hau Giang, Hoa Binh, Hung Yen, Khanh Hoa, Kien Giang, Kon Tum, Lai Chau, Lam Dong, Lang Son, Lao Cai, Long An, Nam Dinh, Nghe An, Ninh Binh, Ninh Thuan, Phu Tho, Phu Yen, Quang Binh, Quang Nam, Quang Ngai, Quang Ninh, Quang Tri, Soc Trang, Son La, Tay Ninh, Thai Binh, Thai Nguyen, Thanh Hoa, Thua Thien-Hue, Tien Giang, Tra Vinh, Tuyen Quang, Vinh Long, Vinh Phuc, Yen Bai <br><br><strong>municipalities:</strong> Can Tho, Da Nang, Ha Noi (Hanoi), Hai Phong, Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon)

Etymology

the name means "inside the river," from the Vietnamese words <em>ha </em>(river) and <em>noi </em>(inside), and refers to its location in a bend of the Red River

Geographic coordinates

21 02 N, 105 51 E

Name

Hanoi (Ha Noi)

Time difference

UTC+7 (12 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)

Citizenship by birth

no

Citizenship by descent only

at least one parent must be a citizen of Vietnam

Dual citizenship recognized

no

Residency requirement for naturalization

5 years

svg

https://mainfacts.com/media/images/coats_of_arms/vn.svg

Amendment process

proposed by the president, by the National Assembly&rsquo;s Standing Committee, or by at least two thirds of the National Assembly membership; a decision to draft an amendment requires approval by at least a two-thirds majority vote of the Assembly membership, followed by the formation of a constitutional drafting committee to write a draft and collect citizens&rsquo; opinions; passage requires at least two-thirds majority of the Assembly membership; the Assembly can opt to conduct a referendum

History

several previous; latest adopted 28 November 2013, effective 1 January 2014

Abbreviation

SRV

alternative spellings

VN, Socialist Republic of Vietnam, Cộng hòa Xã hội chủ nghĩa Việt Nam, Viet Nam

Conventional long form

Socialist Republic of Vietnam

Conventional short form

Vietnam

Etymology

the name translates as "Viet south;" <em>Viet </em>is an ethnic term of unknown origin that dates back to ancient times, and <em>nam </em>(south) refers to the country's location

FIFA code

VIE

Former

Democratic Republic of Vietnam (North Vietnam), Republic of Vietnam (South Vietnam)

Local long form

Cong Hoa Xa Hoi Chu Nghia Viet Nam

local long form (vie)

Cộng hòa xã hội chủ nghĩa Việt Nam

Local short form

Viet Nam

Chief of mission

Ambassador Marc KNAPPER (since 11 February 2022)

Consulate(s) general

Ho Chi Minh City

Email address and website

<br>ACShanoi@state.gov<br><br>https://vn.usembassy.gov/

Embassy

7 Lang Ha Street, Hanoi

FAX

[84] (24) 3850-5010

Mailing address

4550 Hanoi Place, Washington, DC 20521-4550

Telephone

[84] (24) 3850-5000

Chancery

1233 20th Street NW, Suite 400, Washington, DC 20036

Chief of mission

Ambassador Nguyen Quoc DZUNG (since 19 April 2022)

Consulate(s)

New York

Consulate(s) general

Houston, San Francisco

Email address and website

<br>vanphong@vietnamembassy.us<br><br>http://vietnamembassy-usa.org/

FAX

[1] (202) 861-0917

Telephone

[1] (202) 861-0737

Cabinet

Cabinet proposed by the prime minister, confirmed by the National Assembly, and appointed by the president

Chief of state

President Luong CUONG (since 21 Oct 2024)

Election/appointment process

president indirectly elected by the National Assembly from among its members for a single 5-year term; prime minister recommended by the president and confirmed by the National Assembly; deputy prime ministers appointed by the president and confirmed by the National Assembly

Head of government

Prime Minister Pham Minh CHINH (since 26 July 2021)

Note

<strong>note: </strong>in August 2024, To LAM was elected general secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Vietnam, the country’s most powerful position

<strong>description:</strong> red field with a five-pointed yellow star in the center<br><br><strong>meaning:</strong> red stands for revolution and blood, and the five-pointed star for the five elements of the populace -- peasants, workers, intellectuals, traders, and soldiers -- that unite to build socialism

The flag of Vietnam features a large five-pointed yellow star on a red field.

svg

https://flagcdn.com/vn.svg

communist party-led state

2 September 1945 (from France)

has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICCt

ADB, APEC, ARF, ASEAN, CICA, CP, EAS, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (NGOs), ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, MIGA, NAM, OIF, OPCW, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHRC, UNIDO, UNOOSA, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO (2024)

Highest court(s)

Supreme People's Court (consists of the chief justice and 13 judges)

Judge selection and term of office

chief justice elected by the National Assembly upon the recommendation of the president for a 5-year, renewable term; deputy chief justice appointed by the president from among the judges for a 5-year term; judges appointed by the president and confirmed by the National Assembly for 5-year terms

Note

<strong>note: </strong>the National Assembly Standing Committee can establish special tribunals on the recommendation of the chief justice

Subordinate courts

High Courts (administrative, civil, criminal, economic, labor, family, juvenile); provincial courts; district courts; Military Court

civil law system with European influences

Electoral system

plurality/majority

Expected date of next election

March 2026

Legislative structure

unicameral

Legislature name

National Assembly (Quoc-Hoi)

Most recent election date

5/23/2021

Number of seats

500 (all directly elected)

Parties elected and seats per party

Communist Party (485); Other (14)

Percentage of women in chamber

31.4%

Scope of elections

full renewal

Term in office

5 years

red, yellow

Selected World Heritage Site locales

Complex of Hué Monuments (c); Ha Long Bay (n); Hoi An Ancient Town (c); My Son Sanctuary (c); Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park (n); Imperial Citadel of Thang Long - Hanoi (c); Citadel of the Ho Dynasty (c); Trang An Landscape Complex (m); Yen Tu-Vinh Nghiem-Con Son, Kiep Bac Complex of Monuments and Landscapes (c)

Total World Heritage Sites

9 (6 cultural, 2 natural, 1 mixed)

Independence Day (National Day), 2 September (1945)

five-pointed yellow star on a red field, lotus blossom

Communist Party of Vietnam or CPV

note

<strong>note:</strong> other parties banned

Monday

18 years of age; universal

Yes

rice, vegetables, sugarcane, cassava, maize, pork, fruits, bananas, coconuts, coffee (2023)

note

<b>note:</b> top ten agricultural products based on tonnage

On alcohol and tobacco

1.9% of household expenditures (2023 est.)

On food

34.9% of household expenditures (2023 est.)

Expenditures

$83.707 billion (2022 est.)

Note

<b>note:</b> central government revenues and expenses (excluding grants/extrabudgetary units/social security funds) converted to US dollars at average official exchange rate for year indicated

Revenues

$68.818 billion (2022 est.)

code

VND

name

Vietnamese đồng (VND) [₫]

$28.05 billion

Current account balance 2022

$1.402 billion (2022 est.)

Current account balance 2023

$25.793 billion (2023 est.)

Current account balance 2024

$28.047 billion (2024 est.)

Note

<b>note:</b> balance of payments - net trade and primary/secondary income in current dollars

$132.91 billion

Debt - external 2023

$34.426 billion (2023 est.)

Note

<strong>note:</strong> present value of external debt in current US dollars

lower middle-income socialist East Asian economy; rapid economic growth since Đổi Mới reforms; strong investment and productivity growth; tourism and manufacturing hub; TPP signatory; declining poverty aside from ethnic minorities; systemic corruption

Currency

dong (VND) per US dollar -

Exchange rates 2020

23,208.368 (2020 est.)

Exchange rates 2021

23,159.783 (2021 est.)

Exchange rates 2022

23,271.212 (2022 est.)

Exchange rates 2023

23,787.319 (2023 est.)

Exchange rates 2024

24,164.886 (2024 est.)

$429.48 billion

Exports 2022

$385.241 billion (2022 est.)

Exports 2023

$374.986 billion (2023 est.)

Exports 2024

$429.383 billion (2024 est.)

Note

<b>note:</b> balance of payments - exports of goods and services in current dollars

broadcasting equipment, garments, integrated circuits, machine parts, footwear (2023)

note

<b>note:</b> top five export commodities based on value in dollars

USA 28%, China 20%, Japan 6%, Hong Kong 4%, Germany 3% (2023)

note

<b>note:</b> top five export partners based on percentage share of exports

net inflows

$20.17 billion

Exports of goods and services

86.5% (2023 est.)

Government consumption

8.8% (2023 est.)

Household consumption

54.3% (2023 est.)

Imports of goods and services

-78.4% (2023 est.)

Investment in fixed capital

30.1% (2023 est.)

Investment in inventories

1.5% (2023 est.)

Note

<b>note:</b> figures may not total 100% due to rounding or gaps in data collection

Agriculture

11.9% (2024 est.)

Industry

37.6% (2024 est.)

Note

<b>note:</b> figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data

Services

42.4% (2024 est.)

$476.388 billion (2024 est.)

note

<b>note:</b> data in current dollars at official exchange rate

$4,717

35.7 (2018)

Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2022

36.1 (2022 est.)

Note

<b>note:</b> index (0-100) of income distribution; higher values represent greater inequality

$460.7 billion

$4,490

31 % of GDP

Highest 10%

28.1% (2022 est.)

Lowest 10%

2.6% (2022 est.)

Note

<b>note:</b> % share of income accruing to lowest and highest 10% of population

$398.77 billion

Imports 2022

$369.746 billion (2022 est.)

Imports 2023

$339.785 billion (2023 est.)

Imports 2024

$398.672 billion (2024 est.)

Note

<b>note:</b> balance of payments - imports of goods and services in current dollars

integrated circuits, broadcasting equipment, fabric, plastics, telephones (2023)

note

<b>note:</b> top five import commodities based on value in dollars

China 49%, Singapore 6%, Japan 6%, Hong Kong 5%, Taiwan 4% (2023)

note

<b>note:</b> top five import partners based on percentage share of imports

8.2% (2024 est.)

note

<b>note:</b> annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency

food processing, garments, shoes, machine-building; mining, coal, steel; cement, chemical fertilizer, glass, tires, oil, mobile phones

3.62%

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022

3.2% (2022 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2023

3.3% (2023 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2024

3.6% (2024 est.)

Note

<b>note:</b> annual % change based on consumer prices

57.133 million (2024 est.)

note

<b>note:</b> number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work

total

57.04 million persons

agriculture

25.04%

industry

34.83%

services

40.13%

4.3% (2022 est.)

note

<b>note:</b> % of population with income below national poverty line

Note

<strong>note:</strong> official data; data cover general government debt and include debt instruments issued (or owned) by government entities other than the treasury; the data include treasury debt held by foreign entities; the data include debt issued by subnational entities, as well as intragovernmental debt; intragovernmental debt consists of treasury borrowings from surpluses in the social funds, such as for retirement, medical care, and unemployment; debt instruments for the social funds are not sold at public auctions

Public debt 2017

58.5% of GDP (2017 est.)

$1.65 trillion

Note

<b>note:</b> data in 2021 dollars

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022

$1.294 trillion (2022 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023

$1.359 trillion (2023 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2024

$1.456 trillion (2024 est.)

7.09%

Note

<b>note:</b> annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency

Real GDP growth rate 2022

8.5% (2022 est.)

Real GDP growth rate 2023

5.1% (2023 est.)

Real GDP growth rate 2024

7.1% (2024 est.)

$16,386

Note

<b>note:</b> data in 2021 dollars

Real GDP per capita 2022

$13,000 (2022 est.)

Real GDP per capita 2023

$13,500 (2023 est.)

Real GDP per capita 2024

$14,400 (2024 est.)

$16 billion

Note

<b>note:</b> personal transfers and compensation between resident and non-resident individuals/households/entities

Remittances 2021

3.5% of GDP (2021 est.)

Remittances 2022

3.2% of GDP (2022 est.)

Remittances 2023

3.2% of GDP (2023 est.)

$83.08 billion

Note

<b>note:</b> holdings of gold (year-end prices)/foreign exchange/special drawing rights in current dollars

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2022

$86.54 billion (2022 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2023

$92.238 billion (2023 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2024

$83.082 billion (2024 est.)

1.52%

Note

<b>note:</b> % of labor force seeking employment

Unemployment rate 2022

1.6% (2022 est.)

Unemployment rate 2023

1.7% (2023 est.)

Unemployment rate 2024

1.5% (2024 est.)

Female

6.6% (2024 est.)

Male

7% (2024 est.)

Note

<b>note:</b> % of labor force ages 15-24 seeking employment

Total

6.8% (2024 est.)

Consumption

96.099 million metric tons (2023 est.)

Exports

815,000 metric tons (2023 est.)

Imports

43.637 million metric tons (2023 est.)

Production

51.519 million metric tons (2023 est.)

Proven reserves

3.116 billion metric tons (2023 est.)

Consumption

277.501 billion kWh (2023 est.)

consumption per capita

2,624 kWh

Exports

933.237 million kWh (2023 est.)

Imports

3.106 billion kWh (2023 est.)

Installed generating capacity

85.725 million kW (2023 est.)

Transmission/distribution losses

18.197 billion kWh (2023 est.)

Electrification - total population

100% (2022 est.)

Biomass and waste

1.1% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

Fossil fuels

50.6% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

hydroelectric

34.7%

Hydroelectricity

34.3% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

nuclear

0%

renewable

41.17%

Solar

9.7% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

Wind

4.2% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

1,023 kg of oil equivalent

Total energy consumption per capita 2023

40.263 million Btu/person (2023 est.)

Consumption

7.48 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)

Production

7.48 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)

Proven reserves

699.426 billion cubic meters (2021 est.)

Crude oil estimated reserves

4.4 billion barrels (2021 est.)

Refined petroleum consumption

544,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)

Total petroleum production

187,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)

24.2%

per 100 inhabitants

23 per 100

Subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

23 (2023 est.)

Total

22.8 million (2023 est.)

state-controlled broadcast media, with oversight from the Ministry of Information and Communication (MIC); state-controlled national TV provider, Vietnam Television (VTV), has several channels with regional broadcasting centers; law limits access to satellite TV, but many access foreign programming via home satellite equipment; state-controlled Voice of Vietnam, the national radio broadcaster, broadcasts on several channels and is repeated on AM, FM, and shortwave stations&nbsp; (2018)

.vn

Percent of population

78% (2023 est.)

######

+84

Subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

2 (2023 est.)

Total subscriptions

2.316 million (2023 est.)

subscriptions per 100

131 per 100

Subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

128 (2024 est.)

Total subscriptions

129 million (2024 est.)

passengers carried

55.11 million passengers

registered carrier departures

331,806 departures

36 (2025)

VN

Right

26 (2025)

By type

bulk carrier 117, container ship 45, general cargo 1,176, oil tanker 134, other 501

Total

1,973 (2022)

Key ports

Da Nang, Hai Phong, Nghe Tinh, Nha Trang, Thanh Ho Chi Minh, Vinh Cam Ranh, Vung Tau

Large

0

Medium

1

Ports with oil terminals

12

Small

6

Total ports

16 (2024)

Very small

9

Narrow gauge

2,169 km (2014) 1.000-m gauge

Standard gauge

178 km (2014) 1.435-m gauge; 253 km mixed gauge

Total

2,600 km (2014)

VN

armored vehicles

tanks

since withdrawing its military occupation forces from Cambodia in the late 1980s and the end of Soviet aid in 1991, Vietnam has practiced a non-aligned foreign policy and security doctrine known as the "Four Nos" (no alliances, no siding with one country against another, no foreign bases, and no using force in international relations); despite longstanding tensions with Beijing over maritime boundaries in the South China Sea, Vietnam puts a priority on stable relations with China, given its proximity, size, and status as Vietnam's largest trading partner<br><br>the responsibilities of the People's Army of Vietnam (PAVN) include protecting the country's independence, sovereignty, territorial integrity, and national interests, as well as assisting civilian authorities with natural disasters; in recent years, the PAVN has placed additional emphasis on protecting Vietnam's interests in the disputed South China Sea; the military is also involved in economic projects, such as electrical infrastructure, oil and gas services, hydroelectric projects, aviation and seaport services, telecommunications, and the shipbuilding industry, while military-owned factories and enterprises produce weapons and equipment (2025)

People's Army of Vietnam (PAVN; aka Vietnam People's Army, VPA): Ground Forces (Army), Navy (includes naval infantry), Air Defense - Air Force, Vietnam Border Guard, Vietnam Coast Guard<br><br>Vietnam People's Ministry of Public Security; Vietnam Civil Defense Force (2025)

active duty personnel

522,000

note

<strong>note 1:</strong> the People's Public Security Ministry is responsible for internal security and controls the national police, a special national security investigative agency, and other internal security units, including specialized riot police regiments<br><br><strong>note 2:</strong> the Vietnam Coast Guard was established in 1998 as the Vietnam Marine Police and renamed in 2013; Vietnam established a civilian maritime self-defense force in 2010; the Vietnam Department of Fisheries Resources Surveillance (DFIRES; under the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development), established in 2013, is responsible for fisheries enforcement, aquatic conservation roles, and is designated as Vietnam's standing agency for combating illegal, unregulated, and unreported fishing; it is armed, allowed to use force if necessary, and works in tandem with the Vietnam Coast Guard<br><br><strong>note 3:</strong> the PAVN is the military arm of the ruling Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) and responsible to the Central Military Commission (CMC), the highest party organ on military policy; the CMC is led by the CPV General Secretary

percent of total labor force

0.95 %

approximately 450,000 active-duty People's Army of Vietnam (2025)

200 Abyei/South Sudan/Sudan (UNISFA) (2025)

the PAVN is equipped largely with armaments from Russia and the former Soviet Union; in recent years, Vietnam has moved to diversify its arms suppliers and has acquired items from countries such as India, Israel, the Netherlands, South Korea, and the US; Vietnam has a small defense industry involved in the manufacture of small arms, ground combat vehicles, and naval systems (2025)

Military Expenditures 2019

2.3% of GDP (2019 est.)

Military Expenditures 2020

2.4% of GDP (2020 est.)

Military Expenditures 2021

2.3% of GDP (2021 est.)

Military Expenditures 2022

2.3% of GDP (2022 est.)

Military Expenditures 2023

1.8% of GDP (2023 est.)

18-27 years of age for compulsory and voluntary military service for men and women (in practice only men are drafted); service obligation is 24-36 months depending on the branch of service (including Coast Guard and Ministry of Public Security) (2025)

PowerIndex score

0.4066

IDPs

2,568 (2024 est.)

Refugees

19 (2024 est.)

Stateless persons

20,590 (2024 est.)

1980 - first Vietnamese astronaut/cosmonaut into space on Soviet spacecraft<br><br>2008 - first telecommunications satellite (VINASAT-1) built by US company and launched on European rocket<br><br>2012 - first educational/scientific cube satellite (F-1) built jointly with and launched by Japan; second telecommunications satellite (VINASAT-2) built by US and launched on European rocket<br><br>2013 - first domestically built remote-sensing (RS)/technology-demonstrator cube satellite (PicoDragon) launched by Japan; first RS satellite (VNREDSat-1a or Vietnam Natural Resources, Environment, and Disaster Monitoring Satellite) launched on European rocket<br><br>2016 - signed an agreement with India to establish a satellite tracking and imaging center in Ho Chi Minh City in exchange for access to Indian RS imagery<br><br>2018 - completed National Space Center in Hanoi<br><br>2021 - announced a developmental roadmap for producing “Made in Vietnam” small satellites as part of a larger effort to increase space sciences and technology through 2030; signed an agreement with Japan to increase cooperation on space defense

Vietnam National Space Center (VNSC; established 2011) (2025)

note

<strong>note:</strong> the VNSC is under the Vietnamese Academy of Science and Technology (VAST)

has a growing national space program focused on acquiring, operating, and exploiting satellites, as well as expanding domestic capabilities in satellites and associated sub-system production, space sciences, and technology applications; builds and operates communications and remote sensing satellites; conducting research and development on space science and applied space technologies, such as advanced optics and space data exploitation; has worked closely with Japan on its space program; has also established relationships with the space agencies or commercial space sectors of some European countries (such as France), India, and the US (2025)

From coal and metallurgical coke

218.502 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

From consumed natural gas

14.52 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

From petroleum and other liquids

72.383 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

Total emissions

305.404 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

deforestation and soil degradation from logging and slash-and-burn agriculture; water pollution; overfishing; groundwater contamination limits potable water supply; air pollution

Global geoparks and regional networks

Dak Nong; Dong Van Karst Plateau; Lang Son; Non nuoc Cao Bang (2025)

Total global geoparks and regional networks

4 (2025)

Party to

Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 2006, Wetlands

Signed, but not ratified

none of the selected agreements

Agriculture

2,146.3 kt (2019-2021 est.)

Energy

806.7 kt (2022-2024 est.)

Other

40.4 kt (2019-2021 est.)

Waste

683.4 kt (2019-2021 est.)

20.9 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)

3 % of total land area

10 % of total

884.12 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)

23 % of internal resources

Agricultural

77.75 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)

Industrial

3.074 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)

Municipal

1.206 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)

Municipal solid waste generated annually

9.57 million tons (2024 est.)

Percent of municipal solid waste recycled

46% (2022 est.)