Area: 331,114 sq. km. (127,243 sq. mi.); equivalent in size to Ohio, Kentucky, and Tennessee combined.
Cities (2005): Capital--Hanoi (3.145 million). Other cities--Ho Chi Minh City (formerly Saigon; 6.24 million), Hai Phong (1.711 million), Da Nang (715,000; 2002 figure).
Terrain: Varies from mountainous to coastal delta.
Climate: Tropical monsoon
Nationality: Noun and adjective--Vietnamese (sing. and pl.).
Population (2007 estimate): 85.2 million.
Annual growth rate (2007 estimate): 1.004%.
Ethnic groups: Vietnamese (85%-90%), Chinese (3%), Hmong, Thai, Khmer, Cham, mountain groups.
- Religions: Buddhism, Hoa Hao, Cao Dai,
Christian (predominantly Roman Catholic, some Protestant), animism, Islam.
- Languages: Vietnamese (official), English
(increasingly favored as a second language), some French, Chinese, and Khmer, mountain area languages.
Education (2006): Literacy--90%.
Health (2007 estimate): Birth rate—16.63 births/1000 population. Infant mortality rate--17.4 /1000. Life expectancy--70.8 yrs. Death rate--6.56/1,000.
