Main Features:
Population
: 91 millions (2014)
Area: 331,041 km²
Capital city: Hanoi
Main towns: Ho Chi Minh City (8.1 millions), Hanoi (7.3 millions), Hai Phong (1.8 millions)
Apex: Fan Si Pan (3,143m)
Languages: Vietnamese, Chinese, English, French
Religions: Buddhism (75%), Catholism (7%), Caodaists (2%), Hoa hao (2%), Protestants (0.75%), Muslims (0.1%)
Political situation:
Communist regime, single party
Head of state: Tran Dai Quang, President of the Republic since 2 April 2016
Head of Government: Nguyen Xuan Phuc, Prime Minister since April 8, 2016
Unesco World Heritage Sites: Bay of Along, Imperial city and tombs of Hue, Old Town of Hoi An, My Son Sanctuary, Phong Nha-Ke Bàng National Park.
Miscellaneous Features:
Youth population: 56% of the population is under 30 years of age
Political disputes with China, related to the Paracels and Spratleys Islands
Environment:
The country is covered by ¾ of mountains and hills and is encircled by two large deltas: the Red River Delta to the north and the Mekong Delta to the south. Vietnamese forests, threatened by deforestation, are renowned for their diverse and abundant vegetation: there are currently close to 12,000 plant species, 2,300 of which are useful to humans and 5,000 have not yet been identified. The fauna is also very varied. Many mammalian species are also protected because they are endangered (elephants, tigers, rhinos, macaques …). This diversity is reflected in the country’s many national parks (30) and nature reserves (60). Anxious to protect this heritage, Vietnam tries to safeguard forests, destined to become zones of ecotourism.
Meet Binh Vuong, from Vietnam!
Binh Vuong is the development manager at the Vietnamese environmental NGO CHANGE in Ho Chi Minh city. CHANGE focuses on creative communication and community engagement to spread awareness on urgent environmental issues in Vietnam.
And see our Vietnam photo gallery…
