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It became a unified country in 1976 after the armed forces of the communist north had seized the south of the country in the previous year.
This followed three decades of bitter independence wars, which the communists fought first against the colonial power France, then against US-backed South Vietnam. In its latter stages, this conflict held the attention of the world.
OVERVIEW |
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The US had entered hostilities to stem the "domino effect" of successive nations falling to communism.
The jungle war produced heavy casualties on both sides, atrocities against civilians, and the indiscriminate destruction and contamination of much of the landscape.
A visit to Vietnam by US President Bill Clinton in November 2000 was presented as the culmination of American efforts to normalise relations with the former enemy.
 Economic reform has challenged Communist Party ideology |
But elements of market forces and private enterprise were were introduced from the late 1980s and a stock exchange opened in 2000.
Foreign investment has grown and the US is Vietnam's main trading partner. In the cities, the consumer market is fuelled by the appetite of a young, middle class for electronic and luxury goods. After 12 years of negotiations the country joined the World Trade Organization in January 2007.
But the disparity in wealth between urban and rural Vietnam is wide and some Communist Party leaders worry that too much economic liberalisation will weaken their power base and introduce "decadent" ideas into Vietnamese society.
Vietnam has been accused of suppressing political dissent and religious freedom. Rights groups have singled out Hanoi's treatment of ethnic minority hill tribe people, collectively known as Montagnards.
FACTS |
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- Full name: Socialist Republic of Vietnam
- Population: 83.6 million (UN, 2005)
- Capital: Hanoi
- Largest city: Ho Chi Minh City
- Area: 329,247 sq km (127,123 sq miles)
- Major language: Vietnamese
- Major religion: Buddhism
- Life expectancy: 68 years (men), 72 years (women) (UN)
- Monetary unit: 1 dong = 100 xu
- Main exports: Petroleum, rice, coffee, clothing, fish
- GNI per capita: US $620 (World Bank, 2006)
- Internet domain: .vn
- International dialling code: +84
LEADERS |
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President: Nguyen Minh Triet
Parliament confirmed Nguyen Minh Triet, the head of the Communist Party in Ho Chi Minh City, as president in June 2006. He has a reputation for fighting corruption and is seen as an economic reformer.
The former head of state, Tran Duc Luong, had submitted his resignation alongside the prime minister and the chairman of the National Assembly. The change of guard had been expected.
Secretary-general of the Communist Party: Nong Duc Manh
 Nong Duc Manh aims to modernise Vietnam |
Mr Manh, who is seen as a moderniser, urged Vietnam to speed up economic reforms and to tackle bureaucracy and deep-rooted corruption.
He says he wants to "lift people from poverty and hunger" and to turn Vietnam into a developed, industrialised country.
Mr Manh began his first term in 2001, becoming the first secretary-general with no direct experience of the struggle for independence. He oversaw five years of strong economic growth.
The Communist Party leadership recommends candidates for the posts of president and prime minister.
MEDIA |
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The Communist Party has a strong grip on the media. The Ministry of Culture and Information controls the press and broadcasting.
 |  Internet cafes must register the personal details of customers 14.5m internet users by the end of 2006 (official statistic) Vietnam named as one of 13 "enemies of the internet" by Reporters Without Borders in 2006  |
Internet providers face fines or closure for breaking the rules and "cyber dissidents" have been imprisoned.
There are hundreds of newspapers and magazines, but television is the dominant medium. Vietnam Television (VTV) broadcasts from Hanoi and is available via satellite to the wider region. There are many provincial stations. Some foreign channels are carried via cable.
State-run Voice of Vietnam (VoV) operates national radio networks, including the VoV 5 channel with programmes in English, French and Russian.
The press
Television
Radio
News agency
1 comment:
Good post.
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