Contents

Country Overview

Viet Nam is a Southeast Asian country extending along the eastern Indochinese Peninsula from the Red River Delta to the Mekong Delta. Its economic transformation since Đổi Mới has combined one-party socialist institutions with a globally integrated export-manufacturing sector. In 2026, Tô Lâm holds both the Communist Party general secretaryship and state presidency, while Lê Minh Hưng leads the government. The country’s 2025 administrative consolidation reshaped its province-level map.

Reference status: Contemporary country profile • Verified: November 6, 2026 • Statistical years, jurisdictions and definitions are explicitly distinguished.

CapitalHanoiNational capital [8]
Population102.3 millionNational 2025 average estimate [3]
GDPUS$514.7 billionWorld Bank, current US$, 2025 [2]
PresidentTô LâmAlso Communist Party general secretary, 2026 [4]
ExportsUS$475.04 billionNational merchandise exports, 2025 [3]
World Heritage9 propertiesUNESCO, 2026 [10]

Data and status note: Vietnam’s National Statistics Office estimates a 2025 average population of 102.3 million, while the World Bank’s 2025 population series records 101,598,527. The NSO reports 2025 merchandise exports of US$475.04 billion and imports of US$455.01 billion. World Bank current-dollar GDP is US$514.7 billion for 2025. The March 2026 election filled 500 National Assembly seats; UNESCO lists nine World Heritage inscriptions.

Identity & State Formation

Official name
Socialist Republic of Viet Nam (Vietnam). [16]
Capital
Hanoi (Hà Nội). [16]
Modern reunification
The unified socialist republic was established July 2, 1976. [16]
Pre-1976 history
The modern state’s political geography reflects earlier North–South division and reunification. [16]
Colonial period
French colonial rule and anticolonial movements shaped modern institutions. [16]
First Indochina War
Ended in 1954 amid agreements affecting the partition of Viet Nam. [16]
1975 turning point
The end of the war in 1975 preceded formal reunification in 1976. [16]
National day
September 2 commemorates the 1945 independence proclamation. [16]
State form
Socialist republic under Communist Party leadership. [8]
Governing party
Communist Party of Viet Nam (CPV). [8]
Official language
Vietnamese. [8]
Writing system
Vietnamese uses a Latin-based script with diacritics (quốc ngữ). [8]
Currency
Vietnamese đồng (VND). [8]
Time zone
Indochina Time (UTC+7). [8]
Telephone code
+84. [8]
National flag
Red field with a central yellow five-pointed star. [8]
National emblem
Star, rice and cogwheel motifs. [8]
National legislature
Unicameral National Assembly. [8]
President’s role
Head of state under the constitutional framework. [8]
Prime minister’s role
Heads the government and its executive administration. [8]
Party general secretary
Top leadership position of the Communist Party. [8]
National Assembly chair
Presiding officer of the National Assembly. [8]
Regional grouping
Southeast Asia under UN M49. [8]
Provincial levels
Administrative units include provinces and centrally governed municipalities. [8]
Centralized administration
A unitary structure operates with local representative and executive institutions. [8]
Religion and state
The constitution provides for freedom of belief and religion under national law. [8]
National holiday
National Day is observed on September 2. [8]
UN membership
Viet Nam joined the United Nations in September 1977. [15]
Multilateral identity
The country is also a member of ASEAN and the World Trade Organization. [15]
Đổi Mới
Market-oriented renovation reforms began in 1986. [20]
Development model
State-guided economic policy operates alongside domestic private and foreign-invested businesses. [20]
Global value chains
Export manufacturing and trade integration are central economic features. [20]

Geography & Population

Regional classification
Southeast Asia. [21]
Mainland location
Eastern side of the Indochinese Peninsula. [21]
Northern neighbor
China. [21]
Western neighbors
Laos and Cambodia. [21]
Eastern waters
The South China Sea (known domestically as the East Sea). [21]
Coastal geography
A long narrow country with extensive coastline and deltas. [21]
Approximate land area
About 331,000 square kilometers. [21]
Red River Delta
Northern population, agriculture and urban-industry zone. [21]
Mekong Delta
Major southern agricultural region and inland-waterway network. [21]
Annamite Range
Mountains form much of the western interior. [21]
Northern uplands
Mountains and highlands have substantial ethnic and ecological diversity. [21]
Central coast
Narrow plains lie between mountains and sea. [21]
Central Highlands
Highland plateaus important to coffee and other agriculture. [21]
Highest summit
Fansipan (Phan Xi Păng), approximately 3,143 meters. [21]
Hanoi
Northern capital and historic political center. [21]
Ho Chi Minh City
Largest major southern metropolitan economy. [21]
Hai Phong
Important northern port and industrial center. [21]
Da Nang
Major central coastal metropolitan and port area. [21]
Hue
Former imperial capital and a centrally governed city under reorganized administrative structure. [21]
Can Tho
Major Mekong Delta city and transport center. [21]
Major rivers
Red River and Mekong are central to livelihoods and flooding. [21]
Islands
Phú Quốc, Cát Bà, Côn Đảo and other islands have tourism and ecological significance. [21]
Maritime claims
South China Sea territorial and maritime claims are contested among several states. [21]
Sea routes
Coastal ports support trade across the Pacific and Indian Ocean networks. [21]
Climate
Predominantly tropical monsoon, with temperate conditions in northern highlands. [12]
Northern seasons
Northern Viet Nam has more marked cool-season variations. [12]
Southern seasons
Rainy and dry seasons shape southern agriculture and urban life. [12]
Typhoons
Tropical cyclones and associated flooding affect coastal regions. [12]
Mekong salinization
Sea-level rise and seasonal flows increase saltwater intrusion pressures. [12]
Urban flooding
Low-lying cities face intense-rainfall and drainage pressures. [12]
Delta risk
Both major deltas are vulnerable to sea-level rise and changing water regimes. [12]
Mountain hazards
Landslides and flash floods occur in steep terrain. [12]
Coastal ecosystems
Mangroves, estuaries and coral reefs help protect biodiversity. [12]
Environmental policy
Climate adaptation, flood management and energy transition are prominent priorities. [12]
2025 territorial reorganization
The number of province-level units was reduced to 34. [9]
Current provincial structure
The new structure comprises 28 provinces and six centrally governed cities. [9]
Former province count
Older reference works may still list 63 province-level units. [9]
Two-tier local system
Reforms reorganized local government into province and commune levels. [9]
Administrative mapping
Pre-2025 data by province are not automatically comparable with post-reorganization units. [9]
National 2025 average population
Approximately 102.3 million. [3]
Urban 2025 population
About 39.4 million in the National Statistics Office annual report. [3]
Rural 2025 population
About 62.9 million in the National Statistics Office annual report. [3]
Male 2025 population
Approximately 51.0 million. [3]
Female 2025 population
Approximately 51.3 million. [3]
National population growth
National 2025 average up roughly 1.0 million from 2024. [3]
World Bank 2025 population
101,598,527. [2]
World Bank life expectancy
About 75 years for 2024. [2]
Population methodology
The international statistical model and national average estimate are separate series. [2]

National and international population series

The official average population is a different statistical measure from the World Bank series. [3] [2]

MeasurePopulationReference
NSO average total102.3 million2025
NSO average urban39.4 million2025
NSO average rural62.9 million2025
World Bank population101,598,5272025

Geographical and administrative profile

Province-level reorganization in 2025 should be applied to new map editions. [9] [1]

FeatureDescriptionContext
Province-level units342025 reorganization
Provinces28New structure
Centrally governed cities6New structure
Red River DeltaNorthern deltaPopulation and industry
Mekong DeltaSouthern deltaRice, aquaculture and climate risk

Economy & International Trade

GDP 2025
US$514.70 billion in World Bank current dollars. [2]
Real GDP growth 2025
Approximately 8.0 percent in the World Bank series. [2]
GDP per capita 2025
US$5,066.0 in World Bank current dollars. [2]
Inflation 2025
About 3.3 percent in the World Bank CPI series. [2]
Unemployment 2025
World Bank ILO-modeled figure is about 1.5 percent. [2]
Personal remittances
World Bank 2025 remittances are about 5.1 percent of GDP. [2]
GDP series caution
World Bank and national GDP figures differ due to conversions and revision timing. [2]
National GDP growth 2025
Annual GDP growth about 8.02 percent in the national official report. [3]
National GDP estimate
12,847.6 trillion VND, about US$514 billion, for 2025. [3]
National GDP per capita
Approximately US$5,026 in the national estimate for 2025. [3]
National 2025 goods exports
US$475.04 billion. [3]
National 2025 goods imports
US$455.01 billion. [3]
Goods trade surplus 2025
US$20.03 billion. [3]
Goods exports growth
Up 17.0 percent versus 2024. [3]
Goods imports growth
Up 19.4 percent versus 2024. [3]
Foreign-invested sector exports
US$367.09 billion including crude oil in 2025. [3]
Domestic-sector goods exports
US$107.95 billion in 2025. [3]
Manufactures share
Manufactured goods accounted for approximately 88.7 percent of exports in 2025. [3]
US export market
The United States was the largest reported export market, at US$153.2 billion in 2025. [3]
China import source
China was the largest reported import market, at US$186.0 billion in 2025. [3]
Export-led model
Electronics, computers, phones, apparel, footwear and related goods are major export sectors. [3]
Foreign direct investment
FDI-linked production is an important component of manufacturing exports. [3]
Industrial production
Manufacturing and construction contributed substantially to annual growth. [3]
Agriculture share
Agriculture, forestry and fishing accounted for about 11.64 percent of GDP in 2025. [3]
Industry share
Industry and construction represented about 37.65 percent of 2025 GDP. [3]
Services share
Services represented about 42.75 percent of GDP under the 2025 production breakdown. [3]
Rice output
National 2025 rice production was about 43.5 million tonnes. [3]
Rice economy
Rice production remains important for food security and export trade. [3]
Aquaculture
Farmed seafood supports domestic consumption and exports. [3]
Coffee
Central Highlands coffee is a major cash-crop export. [3]
Tourism
International tourism supports accommodation and service businesses. [3]
Working-age labor force
The labor force aged 15 and over averaged about 53.5 million in 2025. [3]
Employed workers
About 52.4 million people were employed in 2025. [3]
Working-age unemployment
The national reported 2025 working-age rate was 2.22 percent. [3]
Digital economy
Semiconductor, digital services and high-technology manufacturing are priority sectors. [3]
Regional production
Northern and southern manufacturing corridors integrate industrial parks with ports. [3]
Supply-chain exposure
Export-oriented factories depend on overseas demand and imported inputs. [3]
Energy demand
Industrialization and growing cities increase electricity needs. [3]
Trade balance scope
Goods-trade surplus is not the same as current-account balance. [3]
Economic transition
Reform since 1986 shifted the country toward a globally integrated mixed economy. [20]
Income gains
Long-term growth significantly reduced poverty and expanded household consumption. [20]
Infrastructure investment
Ports, power systems, transport and urban infrastructure require continued investment. [20]
Climate-economic link
Flooding and coastal exposure affect agriculture, manufacturing and infrastructure. [20]
WTO membership
Viet Nam became a member in 2007. [14]
Trade arrangements
Global market-access commitments complement regional trade agreements. [14]

World Bank and national accounts

World Bank GDP is expressed in current US dollars; growth is real and reported separately. [2] [3]

IndicatorValueYear/source
World Bank GDPUS$514.70 billion2025
World Bank GDP per personUS$5,066.02025
World Bank growth8.0%2025
NSO GDP growthabout 8.02%2025
NSO GDP equivalentabout US$514 billion2025

Merchandise trade — full year 2025

Goods only; these are not total goods-and-services exports and imports. [3]

IndicatorUS$ billion2025
Goods exports475.04Full year
Goods imports455.01Full year
Goods trade surplus20.03Full year
Domestic-sector exports107.95Full year
FDI-sector exports367.09Including crude oil

People & Society

Ethnic composition
The Kinh majority coexists with 53 other officially recognized ethnic groups. [22]
National identity
Vietnamese is the common national language; numerous minority languages are spoken. [23]
Northern minority regions
Tày, Thái, Hmong and Dao communities are among groups in mountain regions. [22]
Central Highlands communities
Ede, Gia Rai, Bahnar and other groups have distinctive languages and traditions. [23]
Southern Khmer community
Khmer people have longstanding communities in the Mekong Delta. [23]
Cham community
Cham communities have historic cultural and religious traditions. [23]
Beliefs
Buddhist, folk-religious, Catholic, Protestant, Cao Dai and Hoa Hao traditions are present. [23]
Village culture
Local festivals, ancestor remembrance and communal houses are important social practices. [23]
Urban lifestyles
Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City and other cities anchor contemporary urban culture. [23]
Vietnamese diaspora
Overseas Vietnamese communities contribute migration and economic connections. [23]
Cuisine
Rice, noodles, fresh herbs and regional culinary traditions characterize cuisine. [23]
Tết
Lunar New Year is a major national holiday and family observance. [23]
Traditional dress
The áo dài is a widely recognized cultural garment. [23]
Rice cultures
Wet-rice farming shaped historical settlement and food traditions. [23]
Higher education
Universities and vocational institutes train workers for an industrializing economy. [23]
Public health
Population aging and chronic disease are rising policy concerns. [23]
Population aging
Falling fertility is changing the age profile of the population. [23]
Gender
Women participate in paid labor and hold seats in national institutions. [23]
Migration
Domestic mobility toward industrial and urban areas reshapes settlement. [23]
Intangible heritage
UNESCO maintains a separate list of Vietnamese cultural practices. [11]
Xòe dance
Traditional Tai dance inscribed in 2021. [11]
Then practices
Cultural and musical traditions of Tày, Nùng and Thái communities. [11]
Bài Chòi
Central Viet Nam performance tradition on the intangible list. [11]
Cham pottery
Traditional pottery-making entered the urgent safeguarding list in 2022. [11]
Dong Ho prints
Craft of Đông Hồ folk woodblock printing entered urgent safeguarding in 2025. [11]
Festival heritage
Bà Chúa Xứ Goddess festival at Sam Mountain was inscribed in 2024. [11]
Fertility 2025
National Statistics Office estimated 1.93 births per woman. [3]
Urban share 2025
Approximately 38.6 percent under national average-population series. [3]
Working-age share
Population aged 15–59 remains a substantial part of the population. [3]
Life expectancy 2025
National statistical office estimated about 74.7 years. [3]

Government & Institutions

State president
Tô Lâm, elected April 7, 2026. [4]
Party general secretary
Tô Lâm also serves as Communist Party general secretary. [4]
Prime minister
Lê Minh Hưng, elected April 7, 2026. [4]
National Assembly chair
Trần Thanh Mẫn. [4]
Secretariat leader
Trần Cẩm Tú held the standing-secretariat position in April 2026. [4]
Central political leadership
The Communist Party’s Central Committee and Politburo are central governing institutions. [4]
National Assembly
Unicameral, 500 statutory seats. [7]
Latest election
March 15, 2026. [7]
Election outcome
All 500 Assembly seats were filled following the 2026 vote. [7]
Communist Party seats
482 of 500 seats following the 2026 election. [7]
Non-party deputies
18 seats in the 2026 National Assembly. [7]
Women deputies
150 women elected in 2026, 30 percent of the legislature. [7]
Election candidates
The IPU reports 864 candidates for the 2026 election. [7]
Assembly term
The current 16th National Assembly serves 2026–2031. [7]
First session
The newly elected National Assembly first met April 6, 2026. [7]
Executive selection
The National Assembly elects the president and prime minister under constitutional rules. [7]
Parliamentary function
The Assembly enacts legislation, approves budgets and oversees government. [7]
Party landscape
The Communist Party is the country’s only legal political party. [7]
Local government
A 2025 territorial merger reduced province-level governments to 34. [9]
City-level status
Six centrally governed municipalities are part of the 34 units. [9]
Commune tier
Local government reforms established a two-tier provincial and commune system. [9]
Pre-reform comparisons
Administrative statistics must be harmonized across old and new geographic boundaries. [9]
Constitution
The 2013 Constitution provides the formal government structure. [8]
Head of state
The president represents the state and performs constitutional duties. [8]
Executive branch
The Government is led by the prime minister and ministers. [8]
Judicial system
People’s courts and procuracies are part of the judicial structure. [8]
Local councils
People’s Councils serve as local representative bodies. [8]
Elections
The National Assembly is elected under the country's legal electoral framework. [8]
Party congress
The CPV’s 14th National Congress was held in 2026. [8]
Policy planning
Five-year socioeconomic development planning is a core government process. [8]
Constitutional governance
Party leadership and state institutions operate within a one-party political system. [8]
Civic-space note
Independent rights monitors report constraints on political dissent and freedom of expression. [19]
Political competition note
National Assembly seats are not allocated through a conventional multiparty opposition system. [19]

Current national political institutions

Offices and seat figures reflect 2026 changes. [4] [7] [6]

InstitutionCurrent structure2026 reference
CPV general secretaryTô LâmParty leadership
PresidentTô LâmElected April 7
Prime ministerLê Minh HưngElected April 7
National Assembly chairTrần Thanh Mẫn16th Assembly
National Assembly500 seats482 CPV; 18 non-party

International Profile

United Nations
Member since September 1977. [15]
UN participation
Participates in development, education, health and environment programs. [15]
ASEAN
Joined the Association of Southeast Asian Nations in 1995. [13]
Regional economic integration
ASEAN agreements support regional manufacturing and trade. [13]
Mekong cooperation
Cross-border rivers make upstream water management important. [13]
WTO
Member since January 2007. [14]
Trade integration
The export sector participates in numerous preferential trading arrangements. [14]
United States market
Largest reported goods export market in 2025. [3]
China import market
Largest reported import market in 2025. [3]
Export competitiveness
Manufacturing exports are central to the country’s external position. [3]
Foreign-invested companies
FDI firms accounted for the majority of reported merchandise exports. [3]
Coastal climate cooperation
Flood control, coastal protection and emissions reduction are international priorities. [12]
Mekong delta risks
Sea-level rise and sediment changes affect agriculture and ecosystems. [12]
Ocean biodiversity
Marine habitats and protected landscapes require regional cooperation. [12]
World Heritage total
Nine properties on UNESCO’s list as of 2026. [10]
Cultural inscriptions
Six properties classified as cultural. [10]
Natural inscriptions
Two properties classified as natural. [10]
Mixed inscription
One property classified as mixed cultural and natural. [10]
Huế monuments
Complex of Hué Monuments; inscribed 1993. [10]
Hoi An
Hoi An Ancient Town; inscribed 1999. [10]
My Son
My Son Sanctuary; inscribed 1999. [10]
Ha Long – Cat Ba
Ha Long Bay – Cat Ba Archipelago natural serial site, original listing 1994, expanded 2023. [10]
Phong Nha – Hin Nam No
Transboundary natural property with Laos; expanded 2025. [10]
Thang Long
Central Sector of the Imperial Citadel of Thang Long – Hanoi; inscribed 2010. [10]
Ho dynasty citadel
Citadel of the Ho Dynasty; inscribed 2011. [10]
Trang An
Mixed landscape property; inscribed 2014. [10]
Yen Tu complex
Yen Tu – Vinh Nghiem – Con Son, Kiep Bac cultural complex; inscribed 2025. [10]
Tentative heritage
Tentative nominations have not yet been inscribed. [10]
International conservation
Some UNESCO listings share protection responsibilities with neighboring countries. [10]
Intangible cultural inventory
UNESCO separately registers national cultural practices and safeguarding programs. [11]
Artistic practice
Music, festival traditions and crafts feature among UNESCO-recognized elements. [11]
Safeguarding needs
Some traditional crafts are specifically listed as needing urgent protection. [11]
State continuity
Vietnam's modern international identity reflects the 1976 unification of north and south. [16]
Disputed maritime areas
The status of maritime features in the South China Sea remains contested. [16]
International institutions
The country maintains relations with both regional and major global economic partners. [16]

UNESCO World Heritage inventory

All nine listed properties, including transnational or expanded inscriptions. [10]

PropertyClassificationInscription
Complex of Hué MonumentsCultural1993
Ha Long Bay – Cat Ba ArchipelagoNatural1994 / 2023 expansion
Hoi An Ancient TownCultural1999
My Son SanctuaryCultural1999
Phong Nha-Ke Bang and Hin Nam NoNatural2003 / 2025 extension
Imperial Citadel of Thang Long – HanoiCultural2010
Citadel of the Ho DynastyCultural2011
Trang An Landscape ComplexMixed2014
Yen Tu – Vinh Nghiem – Con Son, Kiep Bac ComplexCultural2025

Sources & Methodology

The National Statistics Office’s population is the estimated average resident population in 2025; the World Bank’s modeled 2025 count is not the same method or reporting frame. Annual export and import values reflect merchandise trade only, not exports of goods and services in national accounts. The 2025 reduction to 34 province-level units supersedes older references to 63. UNESCO lists properties, including transnational or extended listings, rather than counting individual component locations as separate inscriptions.

Editorial cutoff: November 6, 2026 (Pacific Time). This is a dated reference edition; official statistical and political updates after the cutoff require review.

  1. United Nations Statistics Division — M49 — Southeast Asia geographic grouping.
  2. World Bank — Viet Nam country indicators — 2025 population, GDP, growth and price indicators.
  3. Viet Nam National Statistics Office — 2025 annual report — National average population, GDP estimate, manufacturing and trade statistics.
  4. Viet Nam Government — top four leaders, April 2026 — General secretary, president, prime minister and National Assembly chairman.
  5. Government of Viet Nam — election of Tô Lâm as president — April 7, 2026 presidential appointment.
  6. Government of Viet Nam — Lê Minh Hưng elected prime minister — April 7, 2026 prime minister appointment.
  7. Inter-Parliamentary Union — 2026 National Assembly election — 16th National Assembly election, 500 deputies and political breakdown.
  8. Government of Viet Nam — political system — Formal state and party institutional structure.
  9. Viet Nam Government — 34 provincial-level units — 2025 administrative reorganization and two-tier local governance.
  10. UNESCO World Heritage — Viet Nam — Nine inscribed World Heritage properties and transnational extensions.
  11. UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage — Viet Nam — Music, festivals, crafts and urgent-safeguarding inscriptions.
  12. World Bank Climate Knowledge Portal — Viet Nam — Floods, coastal risk, monsoons and climate projections.
  13. ASEAN — member states — Regional integration and ASEAN membership.
  14. World Trade Organization — Viet Nam — World trade membership and obligations.
  15. United Nations — Member States — Membership in the United Nations.
  16. UN Treaty Collection — historical information — Unification of Viet Nam on July 2, 1976.
  17. World Health Organization — Viet Nam — Public health indicators.
  18. United Nations in Viet Nam — Country cooperation and sustainable-development work.
  19. Human Rights Watch — Viet Nam — Independent reporting on civic and political rights.
  20. World Bank — Viet Nam overview — Long-term economic transformation and development needs.
  21. Embassy of Viet Nam — Geography — Borders, islands, regions, delta systems and physical features.
  22. Viet Nam Government — Ethnic minority population — 54 recognized groups and minority population.
  23. Encyclopaedia Britannica — Vietnam — History, society, regional culture and geography.