Vietnam
Capital
Hanoi
Population
~98.2 million
Currency
Vietnamese Đồng (VND)
Quick Facts
- Languages
- Vietnamese
- Religion
- Officially atheist state, but folk traditions, Buddhism, Taoism, Confucianism widely practiced; Catholic minority
- Climate
- Tropical monsoon south; subtropical north; varies significantly
Culture & History
Known for: the Vietnam War (American War), rapid economic growth (Doi Moi reforms), traditional ao dai dresses, and strong coffee culture (esp. Robusta)
Also famous for: Ha Long Bay (UNESCO site), Mekong Delta, pho noodle soup, French colonial architecture (Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City), resilience and unification
Food: Pho, Banh Mi, Goi Cuon (spring rolls)
Brief History
Chinese domination, independent kingdoms, French Indochina, partition North/South, Vietnam War, reunification 1975, economic liberalization since 1986