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.
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 US combat forces were withdrawn following a cease-fire agreement in 1973.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), caused more than 58,000 US combat and non-combat deaths and created deep domestic divisions in the US. It also 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.
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.
Geography
Location
Southeastern Asia, bordering the Gulf of Thailand, Gulf of Tonkin, and South China Sea, as well as China, Laos, and Cambodia
Geographic coordinates
16 10 N, 107 50 E
Map references
Southeast Asia
Area
total : 331,210 sq km
land: 310,070 sq km
water: 21,140 sq km
comparison ranking: total 67
Area – comparative
about three times the size of Tennessee; slightly larger than New Mexico
Area comparison map:
Land boundaries
total: 4,616 km
border countries (3): Cambodia 1,158 km; China 1,297 km; Laos 2,161 km
Coastline
3,444 km (excludes islands)
Maritime claims
territorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 24 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
continental shelf: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin
Climate
tropical in south; monsoonal in north with hot, rainy season (May to September) and warm, dry season (October to March)
Terrain
low, flat delta in south and north; central highlands; hilly, mountainous in far north and northwest
Elevation
highest point: Fan Si Pan 3,144 m
lowest point: South China Sea 0 m
mean elevation: 398 m
Natural resources
antimony, phosphates, coal, manganese, rare earth elements, bauxite, chromate, offshore oil and gas deposits, timber, hydropower, arable land
Land use
agricultural land: 39.3% (2022 est.)
arable land: 21.5% (2022 est.)
permanent crops: 15.7% (2022 est.)
permanent pasture: 2% (2022 est.)
forest: 47.2% (2022 est.)
other: 13.5% (2022 est.)
Irrigated land
46,000 sq km (2012)
Major rivers (by length in km)
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
note: [s] after country name indicates river source; [m] after country name indicates river mouth
Major watersheds (area sq km)
Pacific Ocean drainage: Mekong (805,604 sq km)
Population distribution
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
Natural hazards
occasional typhoons (May to January) with extensive flooding, especially in the Mekong River delta
Geography – note
note 1: extending 1,650 km (1,025 mi) north to south, the country is only 50 km (31 mi) across at its narrowest point
note 2: 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
People and Society
Population
total: 105,758,975 (2024 est.)
male: 53,109,175
female: 52,649,800
comparison rankings: total 16; female 16; male 16
Nationality
noun: Vietnamese (singular and plural)
adjective: Vietnamese
Ethnic groups
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: 54 ethnic groups are recognized by the Vietnamese Government
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):
Dữ kiện thế giới, là nguồn thông tin cơ bản không thể thiếu. (Vietnamese)
The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information.
Vietnamese audio sample:
Religions
Catholic 6.1%, Buddhist 5.8%, Protestant 1%, other 0.8%, none 86.3% (2019 est.)
note: most Vietnamese are culturally Buddhist
Age structure
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)
2024 population pyramid:
Dependency ratios
total dependency ratio: 45.9 (2024 est.)
youth dependency ratio: 33.8 (2024 est.)
elderly dependency ratio: 12.1 (2024 est.)
potential support ratio: 8.3 (2024 est.)
Median age
total: 33.1 years (2024 est.)
male: 32 years
female: 34.2 years
comparison ranking: total 113
Population growth rate
0.89% (2024 est.)
comparison ranking: 102
Birth rate
14.9 births/1,000 population (2024 est.)
comparison ranking: 111
Death rate
5.8 deaths/1,000 population (2024 est.)
comparison ranking: 165
Net migration rate
-0.2 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2024 est.)
comparison ranking: 106
Population distribution
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
Urbanization
urban population: 39.5% of total population (2023)
rate of urbanization: 2.7% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Major urban areas – population
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)
Sex ratio
at birth: 1.1 male(s)/female
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
total population: 1.01 male(s)/female (2024 est.)
Maternal mortality ratio
124 deaths/100,000 live births (2020 est.)
comparison ranking: 62
Infant mortality rate
total: 14.1 deaths/1,000 live births (2024 est.)
male: 14.4 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 13.7 deaths/1,000 live births
comparison ranking: total 99
Life expectancy at birth
total population: 76.1 years (2024 est.)
male: 73.5 years
female: 78.9 years
comparison ranking: total population 115
Total fertility rate
2.03 children born/woman (2024 est.)
comparison ranking: 102
Gross reproduction rate
0.96 (2024 est.)
Contraceptive prevalence rate
72.8% (2020)
Drinking water source
improved:
urban: 99.2% of population
rural: 95.5% of population
total: 96.9% of population
unimproved:
urban: 0.8% of population
rural: 4.5% of population
total: 3.1% of population (2020 est.)
Health expenditure
4.6% of GDP (2021)
10.7% of national budget (2022 est.)
Physician density
1.11 physicians/1,000 population (2021)
Hospital bed density
2.6 beds/1,000 population (2017 est.)
Sanitation facility access
improved:
urban: 98.7% of population
rural: 90% of population
total: 93.3% of population
unimproved:
urban: 1.3% of population
rural: 10% of population
total: 6.7% of population (2020 est.)
Obesity – adult prevalence rate
2.1% (2016)
comparison ranking: 192
Alcohol consumption per capita
total: 3.41 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
beer: 3.18 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
wine: 0.02 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
spirits: 0.21 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
other alcohols: 0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
comparison ranking: total 105
Tobacco use
total: 22% (2025 est.)
male: 43.1% (2025 est.)
female: 2.1% (2025 est.)
comparison ranking: total 53
Children under the age of 5 years underweight
11.6% (2020)
comparison ranking: 46
Currently married women (ages 15-49)
72.6% (2023 est.)
Child marriage
women married by age 15: 1.1% (2021)
women married by age 18: 14.6% (2021)
men married by age 18: 1.9% (2021)
Education expenditure
2.9% of GDP (2022 est.)
15.4% national budget (2022 est.)
comparison ranking: Education expenditure (% GDP) 160
Literacy
total population: 96% (2022 est.)
male: 97% (2022 est.)
female: 95% (2022 est.)
Environment
Environment – current issues
deforestation and soil degradation from logging and slash-and-burn agriculture; water pollution; overfishing; groundwater contamination limits potable water supply; air pollution
Environment – international agreements
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
Climate
tropical in south; monsoonal in north with hot, rainy season (May to September) and warm, dry season (October to March)
Land use
agricultural land: 39.3% (2022 est.)
arable land: 21.5% (2022 est.)
permanent crops: 15.7% (2022 est.)
permanent pasture: 2% (2022 est.)
forest: 47.2% (2022 est.)
other: 13.5% (2022 est.)
Urbanization
urban population: 39.5% of total population (2023)
rate of urbanization: 2.7% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Air pollutants
particulate matter emissions: 20.89 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)
carbon dioxide emissions: 192.67 megatons (2016 est.)
methane emissions: 110.4 megatons (2020 est.)
Waste and recycling
municipal solid waste generated annually: 9,570,300 tons (2011 est.)
municipal solid waste recycled annually: 2,201,169 tons (2014 est.)
percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 23% (2014 est.)
Major rivers (by length in km)
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
note: [s] after country name indicates river source; [m] after country name indicates river mouth
Major watersheds (area sq km)
Pacific Ocean drainage: Mekong (805,604 sq km)
Total water withdrawal
municipal: 1.21 billion cubic meters (2020 est.)
industrial: 3.07 billion cubic meters (2020 est.)
agricultural: 77.75 billion cubic meters (2020 est.)
Total renewable water resources
884.12 billion cubic meters (2020 est.)
Geoparks
total global geoparks and regional networks: 3
global geoparks and regional networks: Dak Nong; Dong Van Karst Plateau; Non nuoc Cao Bang (2023)
Government
Country name
conventional long form: Socialist Republic of Vietnam
conventional short form: Vietnam
local long form: Cong Hoa Xa Hoi Chu Nghia Viet Nam
local short form: Viet Nam
former: Democratic Republic of Vietnam (North Vietnam), Republic of Vietnam (South Vietnam)
abbreviation: SRV
etymology: the name translates as “Viet south;” Viet is an ethnic term of unknown origin that dates back to ancient times, and nam (south) refers to the country’s location
Government type
communist party-led state
Capital
name: Hanoi (Ha Noi)
geographic coordinates: 21 02 N, 105 51 E
time difference: UTC+7 (12 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
etymology: the name means “inside the river,” from the Vietnamese words ha (river) and noi (inside), and refers to its location in a bend of the Red River
Administrative divisions
58 provinces (tinh, singular and plural) and 5 municipalities (thanh pho, singular and plural)
provinces: 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
municipalities: Can Tho, Da Nang, Ha Noi (Hanoi), Hai Phong, Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon)
Legal system
civil law system with European influences
Constitution
history: several previous; latest adopted 28 November 2013, effective 1 January 2014
amendment process: proposed by the president, by the National Assembly’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’ opinions; passage requires at least two-thirds majority of the Assembly membership; the Assembly can opt to conduct a referendum
International law organization participation
has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICCt
Citizenship
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
Suffrage
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch
chief of state: President Luong CUONG (since 21 Oct 2024)
head of government: Prime Minister Pham Minh CHINH (since 26 July 2021)
cabinet: Cabinet proposed by the prime minister, confirmed by the National Assembly, and appointed by the president
elections/appointments: 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 confirmed by the National Assembly and appointed by the president
note: 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
Legislative branch
legislature name: National Assembly (Quoc-Hoi)
legislative structure: unicameral
number of seats: 500 (all directly elected)
electoral system: plurality/majority
scope of elections: full renewal
term in office: 5 years
most recent election date: 5/23/2021
parties elected and seats per party: Communist Party (485); Other (14)
percentage of women in chamber: 31.4%
expected date of next election: May 2026
Judicial branch
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
subordinate courts: High Courts (administrative, civil, criminal, economic, labor, family, juvenile); provincial courts; district courts; Military Court
note: the National Assembly Standing Committee can establish special tribunals on the recommendation of the chief justice
Political parties
Communist Party of Vietnam or CPV
note: other parties proscribed
Diplomatic representation in the US
chief of mission: Ambassador Nguyen Quoc DZUNG (since 19 April 2022)
chancery: 1233 20th Street NW, Suite 400, Washington, DC 20036
telephone: [1] (202) 861-0737
FAX: [1] (202) 861-0917
email address and website:
[email protected]
http://vietnamembassy-usa.org/
consulate(s) general: Houston, San Francisco
consulate(s): New York
Diplomatic representation from the US
chief of mission: Ambassador Marc KNAPPER (since 11 February 2022)
embassy: 7 Lang Ha Street, Hanoi
mailing address: 4550 Hanoi Place, Washington, DC 20521-4550
telephone: [84] (24) 3850-5000
FAX: [84] (24) 3850-5010
email address and website:
[email protected]
https://vn.usembassy.gov/
consulate(s) general: Ho Chi Minh City
International organization participation
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)
Independence
2 September 1945 (from France)
National holiday
Independence Day (National Day), 2 September (1945)
Flag description
red field with a five-pointed yellow star in the center; 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
National symbol(s)
five-pointed yellow star on a red field, lotus blossom
National colors
red, yellow
National anthem
name: “Tien quan ca” (The Song of the Marching Troops)
lyrics/music: Nguyen Van CAO
note: adopted as the national anthem of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam in 1945; it became the national anthem of the unified Socialist Republic of Vietnam in 1976; although it consists of two verses, only the first is used as the official anthem
National heritage
total World Heritage Sites: 8 (5 cultural, 2 natural, 1 mixed)
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)
Economy
Economic overview
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
Real GDP (purchasing power parity)
$1.354 trillion (2023 est.)
$1.289 trillion (2022 est.)
$1.192 trillion (2021 est.)
note: data in 2021 dollars
comparison ranking: 25
Real GDP growth rate
5.05% (2023 est.)
8.12% (2022 est.)
2.55% (2021 est.)
note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency
comparison ranking: 51
Real GDP per capita
$13,500 (2023 est.)
$12,900 (2022 est.)
$12,000 (2021 est.)
note: data in 2021 dollars
comparison ranking: 131
GDP (official exchange rate)
$429.717 billion (2023 est.)
note: data in current dollars at official exchange rate
Inflation rate (consumer prices)
3.6% (2024 est.)
3.3% (2023 est.)
3.2% (2022 est.)
note: annual % change based on consumer prices
comparison ranking: 118
GDP – composition, by sector of origin
agriculture: 12% (2023 est.)
industry: 37.1% (2023 est.)
services: 42.5% (2023 est.)
note: figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data
comparison rankings: services 185; industry 35; agriculture 66
GDP – composition, by end use
household consumption: 54.6% (2023 est.)
government consumption: 8.9% (2023 est.)
investment in fixed capital: 30.4% (2023 est.)
investment in inventories: 1.6% (2023 est.)
exports of goods and services: 87.2% (2023 est.)
imports of goods and services: -79.1% (2023 est.)
note: figures may not total 100% due to rounding or gaps in data collection
Agricultural products
rice, vegetables, sugarcane, cassava, maize, pork, fruits, bananas, coconuts, coffee (2023)
note: top ten agricultural products based on tonnage
Industries
food processing, garments, shoes, machine-building; mining, coal, steel; cement, chemical fertilizer, glass, tires, oil, mobile phones
Industrial production growth rate
3.74% (2023 est.)
note: annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency
comparison ranking: 86
Labor force
57.133 million (2024 est.)
note: number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work
comparison ranking: 12
Unemployment rate
1.4% (2024 est.)
1.6% (2023 est.)
1.5% (2022 est.)
note: % of labor force seeking employment
comparison ranking: 13
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24)
total: 6.8% (2024 est.)
male: 7% (2024 est.)
female: 6.6% (2024 est.)
note: % of labor force ages 15-24 seeking employment
comparison ranking: total 156
Population below poverty line
4.3% (2022 est.)
note: % of population with income below national poverty line
Gini Index coefficient – distribution of family income
36.1 (2022 est.)
note: index (0-100) of income distribution; higher values represent greater inequality
comparison ranking: 66
Average household expenditures
on food: 34.9% of household expenditures (2023 est.)
on alcohol and tobacco: 1.9% of household expenditures (2023 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share
lowest 10%: 2.6% (2022 est.)
highest 10%: 28.1% (2022 est.)
note: % share of income accruing to lowest and highest 10% of population
Remittances
3.26% of GDP (2023 est.)
3.22% of GDP (2022 est.)
3.47% of GDP (2021 est.)
note: personal transfers and compensation between resident and non-resident individuals/households/entities
Budget
revenues: $42.247 billion (2014 est.)
expenditures: $38.025 billion (2014 est.)
note: central government revenues and expenses (excluding grants/extrabudgetary units/social security funds) converted to US dollars at average official exchange rate for year indicated
Public debt
58.5% of GDP (2017 est.)
note: 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
comparison ranking: 83
Taxes and other revenues
24.8% (of GDP) (2017 est.)
comparison ranking: 47
Current account balance
$25.833 billion (2023 est.)
$1.402 billion (2022 est.)
-$4.628 billion (2021 est.)
note: balance of payments – net trade and primary/secondary income in current dollars
comparison ranking: 21
Exports
$375.1 billion (2023 est.)
$385.241 billion (2022 est.)
$340.126 billion (2021 est.)
note: balance of payments – exports of goods and services in current dollars
comparison ranking: 25
Exports – partners
USA 28%, China 20%, Japan 6%, Hong Kong 4%, Germany 3% (2023)
note: top five export partners based on percentage share of exports
Exports – commodities
broadcasting equipment, garments, integrated circuits, machine parts, footwear (2023)
note: top five export commodities based on value in dollars
Imports
$339.859 billion (2023 est.)
$369.746 billion (2022 est.)
$338.327 billion (2021 est.)
note: balance of payments – imports of goods and services in current dollars
comparison ranking: 26
Imports – partners
China 49%, Singapore 6%, Japan 6%, Hong Kong 5%, Taiwan 4% (2023)
note: top five import partners based on percentage share of imports
Imports – commodities
integrated circuits, broadcasting equipment, fabric, plastics, telephones (2023)
note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold
$92.238 billion (2023 est.)
$86.54 billion (2022 est.)
$109.371 billion (2021 est.)
note: holdings of gold (year-end prices)/foreign exchange/special drawing rights in current dollars
comparison ranking: 27
Debt – external
$34.426 billion (2023 est.)
note: present value of external debt in current US dollars
comparison ranking: 25
Exchange rates
dong (VND) per US dollar –
Exchange rates:
24,164.886 (2024 est.)
23,787.319 (2023 est.)
23,271.212 (2022 est.)
23,159.783 (2021 est.)
23,208.368 (2020 est.)
Energy
Electricity access
electrification – total population: 100% (2022 est.)
Electricity
installed generating capacity: 85.725 million kW (2023 est.)
consumption: 277.501 billion kWh (2023 est.)
exports: 933.237 million kWh (2023 est.)
imports: 3.106 billion kWh (2023 est.)
transmission/distribution losses: 18.197 billion kWh (2023 est.)
comparison rankings: transmission/distribution losses 188; imports 60; exports 71; consumption 17; installed generating capacity 19
Electricity generation sources
fossil fuels: 50.6% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
solar: 9.7% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
wind: 4.2% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
hydroelectricity: 34.3% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
biomass and waste: 1.1% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Coal
production: 51.519 million metric tons (2023 est.)
consumption: 96.099 million metric tons (2023 est.)
exports: 815,000 metric tons (2023 est.)
imports: 43.637 million metric tons (2023 est.)
proven reserves: 3.116 billion metric tons (2023 est.)
Petroleum
total petroleum production: 187,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
refined petroleum consumption: 544,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
crude oil estimated reserves: 4.4 billion barrels (2021 est.)
Natural gas
production: 7.48 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
consumption: 7.48 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
proven reserves: 699.426 billion cubic meters (2021 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions
305.404 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
from coal and metallurgical coke: 218.502 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
from petroleum and other liquids: 72.383 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
from consumed natural gas: 14.52 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
comparison ranking: total emissions 20
Energy consumption per capita
40.263 million Btu/person (2023 est.)
comparison ranking: 102
Communications
Telephones – fixed lines
total subscriptions: 2.316 million (2023 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 2 (2023 est.)
comparison ranking: total subscriptions 46
Telephones – mobile cellular
total subscriptions: 131 million (2023 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 140 (2022 est.)
comparison ranking: total subscriptions 14
Broadcast media
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 (2018)
Internet country code
.vn
Internet users
percent of population: 78% (2023 est.)
Broadband – fixed subscriptions
total: 22.8 million (2023 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 23 (2023 est.)
comparison ranking: total 12
Transportation
Civil aircraft registration country code prefix
VN
Airports
36 (2025)
comparison ranking: 112
Heliports
26 (2025)
comparison ranking: 50
Railways
total: 2,600 km (2014)
standard gauge: 178 km (2014) 1.435-m gauge; 253 km mixed gauge
narrow gauge: 2,169 km (2014) 1.000-m gauge
Merchant marine
total: 1,973 (2022)
by type: bulk carrier 117, container ship 45, general cargo 1,176, oil tanker 134, other 501
comparison ranking: total 13
Ports
total ports: 16 (2024)
large: 0
medium: 1
small: 6
very small: 9
ports with oil terminals: 12
key ports: Da Nang, Hai Phong, Nghe Tinh, Nha Trang, Thanh Ho Chi Minh, Vinh Cam Ranh, Vung Tau
Military and Security
Military and security forces
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
Vietnam People’s Ministry of Public Security; Vietnam Civil Defense Force (2025)
note 1: 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
note 2: the Vietnam Coast Guard was established in 1998 as the Vietnam Marine Police and renamed in 2013; Vietnam officially established a maritime self-defense force (civilian militia) in 2010 after the National Assembly passed the Law on Militia and Self-Defense Forces in 2009; 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
Military expenditures
1.8% of GDP (2023 est.)
2.3% of GDP (2022 est.)
2.3% of GDP (2021 est.)
2.4% of GDP (2020 est.)
2.3% of GDP (2019 est.)
Military and security service personnel strengths
approximately 450,000 active-duty People’s Army of Vietnam (2025)
Military equipment inventories and acquisitions
the PAVN is armed largely with weapons and equipment from Russia and the former Soviet Union; in recent years, Vietnam has moved to diversify arms its arms suppliers and has acquired items from countries such as India, South Korea, and the US; Vietnam has a small defense industry involved in the manufacture of small arms, ground combat vehicles, and naval systems (2024)
note: the US lifted an embargo on arms sales to Vietnam in 2016
Military service age and obligation
18 years of age for compulsory and voluntary military service for men and women (in practice only men are drafted); service obligation is between 24 (Army, Air Defense) and 36 (Navy and Air Force) months (2024)
Military deployments
190 Abyei/South Sudan/Sudan (UNISFA) (2024)
Military – note
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 that emphasizes friendly ties with all members of the international community; Hanoi adheres to a security doctrine called 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
the PAVN is one of the region’s largest militaries and has participated in numerous conflicts since its founding in the mid-1940s, including the First (1946-54) and Second (1955-1975) Indochina Wars, the Cambodian-Vietnamese War (1978-1989), and the Sino-Vietnamese War (1979); the PAVN’s current missions include protecting the country’s independence, sovereignty, territorial integrity, and national interests; in recent years, it has placed additional emphasis on protecting the country’s maritime economy and sovereignty in the South China Sea, including strengthening air and naval capabilities; the PAVN also assists with natural disasters and is 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
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 (2024)
Space
Space agency/agencies
Vietnam National Space Center (VNSC; established 2011; formerly known as the Vietnam National Satellite Center); Space Technology Institute (STI; established 2006); both the VNSC and the STI operate under the Vietnamese Academy of Science and Technology (VAST); Ministry of Science and Technology (2024)
Space program overview
has a growing 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 since inception; cooperation has included funding, loans, training, technical expertise, and data sharing; has also established relationships with the space agencies or commercial space sectors of some European countries (such as France), India, and the US (2024)
note: further details about the key activities, programs, and milestones of the country’s space program, as well as government spending estimates on the space sector, appear in the Space Programs reference guide
Transnational Issues
Refugees and internally displaced persons
stateless persons: 35,475 (2022); note – Vietnam’s stateless ethnic Chinese Cambodian population dates to the 1970s when thousands of Cambodians fled to Vietnam to escape the Khmer Rouge and were no longer recognized as Cambodian citizens; Vietnamese women who gave up their citizenship to marry foreign men have found themselves stateless after divorcing and returning home to Vietnam; the government addressed this problem in 2009, and Vietnamese women are beginning to reclaim their citizenship
Illicit drugs
a transshipment and destination country for all types of illegal drugs; most transshipments destined for other Asian countries and not the United States; heroin transits from Thailand, Laos, and Burma for domestic use and shipping to r countries in Southeast Asia, Oceania, China and Taiwan; methamphetamine and amphetamine type stimulants from Burma locally consumed and shipped; South American cocaine locally consumed and distributed to Southeast Asia and Oceania
