TOEFL Test Centers in Vietnam

EDU February 16, 2019

Vietnam Overview

Vietnam is a state in Southeast Asia, on the South China Sea. The capital is called Hanoi. Large plains in the north and south form the core areas of the country. They are connected to one another by a narrow, elongated mountainous area. Vietnam has a tropical monsoon climate. The southwest monsoon from May to October brings heavy rains with it.

A very large part of the population lives in the river valleys and lowlands. The delta area around the Red River in the north is particularly densely populated. The approximately 50 ethnic minorities live mainly in the mountain regions. Most Vietnamese do not belong to any religious community, traditionally Buddhism is the most widespread.

Vietnam is a socialist republic. The Communist Party of Vietnam is the only party allowed. There are no opposition parties, censorship restricts freedom of speech and expression and human rights are curtailed. Since the 1990s, the communist regime loosened up the planned economy with market economy reforms. Foreign companies invested in industrial plants. Mainly clothing and shoes, cell phones and other electronic products are manufactured there. This has contributed to high economic growth. Since 1987 the gross domestic product has reached an annual growth rate of 5-10%.

From 111 BC. until 939 AD Vietnam was a Chinese province. From the 19th century it came under French colonial rule. 1946-75 there was a war in Vietnam (Vietnam War). 1954-76 it was divided into a communist north and a south ruled by France and the USA. In reunified Vietnam, the communists have power, the country has opened up economically to the outside world. Vietnam is a member of the Southeast Asian confederation ASEAN and the World Trade Organization (WTO).

Country facts

• Official name: Socialist Republic of Vietnam
• License plate: VN
• ISO-3166: VN, VNM (704)
• Internet domain:.vn
• Currency: 1 dong (D) = 10 Hào = 100 Xu
• Area: 330,967 km²
• Population (2018): 95.5 million
• Capital: Hanoi
• Official language (s): Vietnamese
• Form of government: Socialist republic
• Administrative division: 58 provinces, 5 cities with provincial status
• Head of State: President Nguyen Phu Trong
• Head of Government: Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc
• Religion (s) (2009): 81.8% non-denominational, 7.9% Buddhists, Christians (6.6% Catholics), Confucians, Daoists
• Time zone: Central European Time +6 hours
• National Day: September 2nd

Location and infrastructure

• Location (geographical): Southeast Asia
• Location (coordinates): between 8 ° 33 ‘and 23 ° 22’ north latitude and 102 ° 08 ‘and 109 ° 28’ east longitude
• Climate: Subtropical to tropical, hot and humid monsoon climate
• Highest mountain: Fan Si Pan (3143 m)
• Road network (2013): 148 338 km (paved), 47 130 km (unpaved)
• Railway network (2014): 2,600 km

Population

• Annual population growth (2018): 0.9%
• Birth rate (2018): 15.2 per 1,000 residents.
• Death rate (2018): 5.9 per 1000 residents.
• Average age (2018): 30.9 years
• Average life expectancy (2018): 73.9 years (women 76.7; men 71.4)
• Age structure (2018): 23.3% younger than 15 years, 6.4% older than 65 years
• Literacy rate (15 year olds and older) (2015): 94.5%
• Mobile phone contracts (pre-paid and post-paid) (2017): 126 per 100 residents
• Internet users (2016): 46 per 100 residents

Economy

• GDP per capita (2017): US $ 2,353
• Total GDP (2017): US $ 220 billion
• GNI per capita (2018): US $ 2,400
• Education expenditure (2013): 5.7% of GDP
• Military expenditure (2017): 2.2% of GDP
• Unemployment rate (2017): 2.1%

Climate

The climate is tropical and monsoonal ; however, the change between rain-bringing summer southwest monsoon and dry winter northeast monsoon is only clearly pronounced in the south. The north also receives precipitation during the winter months, it is also more strongly influenced by the cooler northeast air currents from the mainland. Hanoi, for example, has larger temperature fluctuations (January mean 17 ° C, July mean 29.1 ° C), while Ho Chi Minh City has hardly any deviations from the annual mean of 27 ° C. In the Mekong Delta and on the southern Annamite coast, between 1,000 and 2,200 mm of precipitation falls annually, and 1,000–1,900 mm in the Tongking Delta. Typhoons which hit the east coast from June to November can bring rainfall in excess of 3,000 mm. In the mountain areas, the annual rainfall increases to more than 4,000 mm.

Vegetation and wildlife

The natural vegetation in the mountainous and windward areas is composed primarily of tropical rainforests, in the lee areas of the basins and plateaus of deciduous monsoon forests. The high elevations of the mountains in the north are often covered with coniferous forests, while mangroves are widespread on the coasts.

The species-rich fauna is in part severely threatened by the destruction of forest areas and illegal poaching. Rhinos, elephants and tigers are particularly at risk.

The consequences of the Vietnam War can still be felt today. The forests have not yet recovered from the use of Agent Orange defoliant. There are still hidden landmines along the 17th parallel, the former border between North and South Vietnam.