The Country's General Features


Monkey bridge over a branch of the Mekong river. Can you see it ?
The Mekong River
Vietnam is well endowed with natural resources, including two major 'rice baskets' of the Red River and the Mekong River deltas, sizable forest cover, and reserves of coal, petroleum, natural gas and hydro-electric potential. It has a population of over 70 million, 80 percent of whom live in rural areas.

All through its long history Vietnam has suffered from the invasions of foreign countries. Relations with China have always been friendly and tense at the same time. During this century especially, the Vietnamese have experienced invasions and wars from the French, the Japanese, the Americans, and the Chinese. It also occupied military Cambodia up to 1989.

Beautiful Country!
The most important recent event was the reform in the Vietnamese economy (doi moi) initiated in 1986. This opened the way to end the international isolation of Vietnam. Since then foreign investment has also gradually increased and Vietnam has recently become a member of the ASEAN regional community.