Country:
The Socialist Republic Of Vietnam 

Hanoi 

Administrative Divisions:

Vietnam has 64 provinces, including 5 municipalities (Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh, Hai Phong, Can Tho, Da Nang). Major cities are:
- In the North: Hanoi, Hai Phong
- In the Central: Hue, Da Nang, Qui Nhon
- In the South: Ho Chi Minh City, Nha Trang, Can Tho

Climate:

Vietnam’s climate varies a great deal from north to south. Northern Vietnam has four distinct sea-sons: spring, summer, autumn and winter. In the north, summers are hot, while winters are cool and misty. Southern Vietnam is hot year-round, with temperatures typically varying by just three degrees Celsius. Tropical monsoons occur from May to October in the north and south, and from September to January in the centre

Population:

- 86,116,559 (July 2008 est.), over 50% of the population being under the age of 25

- Labor force: 46.42 million (2007 est.)

54 Ethnic Group. The largest group is Kinh comprising 88% of the population and mainly living in the Red River Delta, the central coastal delta, the Mekong Delta and major cities. The other 53 ethnic minority groups (approximately 8 million people) are scattered over mountainous area

Energy resources (oil, gas, coal, and hydropower); minerals (bauxite, iron ore, lead, gold, precious stones, tin, chromate, anthracite, construction materials, granite, marble, clay, white sand and graphite); sea and tropical forestry resources and agricultural potential

Transportation:
- Airports: 44 (2007) 

- Railways: 2,600 km

- Roadways: 222,179 km

- Waterways: 17,702 km (5,000 km navigable by vessels up to 1.8 m draft) (2005)

- Merchant Marine: 359 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 2,154,881 GRT/3,324,373 DWT

- Ports and Terminals: Hai Phong, Da Nang, Ho Chi Minh

Communications:

- Telephones - Main Lines in use: 10.8 million (2007) 

- Telephones - Mobile Cellular: 33.2 million (2007)

- Radio Broadcast Stations: AM 65, FM 7, Shortwave 29 (1999)

Legislative:

The Government is overseen by a legislative body known as the National Assembly, which elects a president to serve as head of state and a prime minister to administer the daily affairs of the government