Vietnam Quiz: Test Your Knowledge About Vietnam

Overview of Vietnam: History, Geography, Politics, and Economy

Vietnam is a country in Southeast Asia with an area of 331,212 sq km and a population of 99 million.
It shares land borders with China, Laos, and Cambodia, and maritime borders with Thailand, the Philippines, Indonesia, and Malaysia.
Vietnam has a long history of being ruled by Chinese dynasties, with brief periods of independence.
After gaining independence in 939, Vietnam developed its own dynasties and went through a period of prosperity during the Lý and Trần dynasties.
From the 16th century onward, Vietnam faced internal political struggles and civil wars, culminating in the division of the country into North and South in the 17th century.
The French colonized Vietnam in the late 19th century, and the country became part of French Indochina.
Following World War II, Vietnam fought for independence from France in the First Indochina War and emerged victorious in 1954.
The country was then divided into communist North Vietnam and anti-communist South Vietnam, leading to the Vietnam War, which ended with the reunification of Vietnam under communist rule in 1975.
Vietnam has since undergone economic and political reforms, transforming into a market-oriented economy and becoming one of the fastest-growing economies of the 21st century.
However, Vietnam still faces challenges such as corruption, censorship, and a poor human rights record.
The name "Viet Nam" means "Viet of the South" and has been used since the 16th century, after the Chinese emperor refused to confer the title "King of Nam Viet" on the Vietnamese ruler.
Vietnam is part of international and intergovernmental institutions such as ASEAN, APEC, CPTPP, Non-Aligned Movement, OIF, and WTO, and has served on the United Nations Security Council twice.A Brief History of Vietnam: Conquest, Colonization, War, and Reforms
Vietnamese authorities felt threatened by Christianization activities in 1834
France eroded Vietnam's sovereignty through conquests from 1859 to 1885
The French introduced significant political and cultural changes on Vietnamese society
Guerrillas of the royalist Cần Vương movement rebelled against French rule and massacred around a third of Vietnam's Christian population
The First Indochina War lasted from 1946 to 1954, resulting in the defeat of French colonialists and Vietnamese loyalists
Vietnam was divided into North and South administrative regions at the Demilitarized Zone, leading to the Vietnam War
The war devastated Vietnam and killed 966,000 to 3.8 million people
The Socialist Republic of Vietnam was established on 2 July 1976 after the North and South merged
The government embarked on a mass campaign of collectivization of farms and factories
In response to the Khmer Rouge government of Cambodia, Vietnam invaded Cambodia and removed them from power in 1978
The Sixth National Congress of the Communist Party of Vietnam in 1986 implemented a series of free-market reforms known as Đổi Mới ("Renovation")
Vietnam is located on the eastern Indochinese Peninsula and covers a total area of approximately 331,212 km2 (127,882 sq mi)Geography, Biodiversity, Government, and Military of Vietnam
Vietnam is located in Southeast Asia and has a diverse geography, including highlands, deltas, and islands.
Fansipan is the highest mountain in Vietnam, while Phú Quốc is the largest island.
Vietnam has a tropical climate, with monsoon seasons and variations in temperature across regions.
Vietnam is one of twenty-five countries with a high level of biodiversity, with many endemic species and two World Natural Heritage Sites.
Wildlife poaching is a major concern, but NGOs and local authorities have made efforts to protect wildlife.
Agent Orange, a chemical herbicide used during the Vietnam War, continues to cause health problems and birth defects.
Vietnam is a one-party socialist republic with the Communist Party of Vietnam controlling all branches of government.
The president is the head of state, the prime minister is the head of government, and the National Assembly is the unicameral state legislature.
Vietnam has had historical tensions with China, but has established diplomatic relations with over 178 countries and is a member of numerous international organizations.
The Vietnam People's Armed Forces consist of the Vietnam People's Army, the Vietnam People's Public Security, and the Vietnam Self-Defence Militia.
Vietnam's military expenditure is approximately 8% of its total government spending, and joint military exercises have been held with various countries.
Human rights issues in Vietnam include restrictions on political parties and freedom of speech, religion, and the press, as well as human trafficking.Overview of Vietnam's Economy, Agriculture, Science, Technology, Tourism, Infrastructure, and Energy
Vietnam's administrative divisions consist of 58 provinces and five municipalities, which are further divided into districts and wards.
Vietnam's economy has historically been based on agriculture, primarily wet rice cultivation, and bauxite mining in central Vietnam.
Since reunification, the country's economy has been shaped primarily by the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) through Five Year Plans decided upon at the plenary sessions of the Central Committee and national congresses.
Vietnam began to liberalize its trade in 1986 with socialist-oriented market economic reforms as part of the Đổi Mới reform program, leading to approximately 8% annual GDP growth between 1990 and 1997.
Vietnam achieved strong GDP growth of around 7% per year from 2000 to 2005, one of the fastest in the world, and its economy has continued to grow despite the late-2000s global recession.
Vietnam is a relative newcomer to the oil industry, but it is the third-largest oil producer in Southeast Asia with a total 2011 output of 318,000 barrels per day (50,600 m3/d).
Agriculture is a major industry in Vietnam, with the country being the world's largest producer of cashew nuts and black pepper, and the second-largest rice exporter in the world after Thailand.
Vietnam's fisheries sector has seen strong growth, with the overall fisheries production of Vietnam from capture fisheries and aquaculture being 5.6 million MT in 2011 and 6.7 million MT in 2016.
Vietnamese scholars have a long history of academic development in various fields, including social sciences, humanities, mathematics, and science and technology.
Tourism is an important element of economic activity in Vietnam, contributing 7.5% of the total GDP, and the country is home to eight UNESCO World Heritage Sites.
Vietnam's transportation network includes national and provincial roads, railways, civil airports, and sea ports; however, road accidents and traffic congestion are growing problems in major cities.
Vietnam's energy sector is dominated largely by the state-controlled Vietnam Electricity Group (EVN), with other energy sources being PetroVietnam, Vinacomin, and build–operate–transfer (BOT) projects.