ch, Chinese, English, Khmer,
tribal languages (Mon-Khmer and Malayo-Polynesian)

Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1995 est.)
total population: 93.7%
male: 96.5%
female: 91.2%

Government
----------

Name of country:
conventional long form: Socialist Republic of Vietnam
conventional short form: Vietnam
local long form: Cong Hoa Chu Nghia Viet Nam
local short form: Viet Nam
abbreviation: SRV

Data code: VM

Type of government: Communist state

Capital: Hanoi

Administrative divisions: 50 provinces (tinh, singular and
plural), 3 municipalities* (thu do, singular and plural); An Giang,
Ba Ria-Vung Tau, Bac Thai, Ben Tre, Binh Dinh, Binh Thuan, Can Tho,
Cao Bang, Dac Lac, Dong Nai, Dong Thap, Gia Lai, Ha Bac, Ha Giang,
Ha Noi*, Ha Tay, Ha Tinh, Hai Hung, Hai Phong*, Ho Chi Minh*, Hoa
Binh, Khanh Hoa, Kien Giang, Kon Tum, Lai Chau, Lam Dong, Lang Son,
Lao Cai, Long An, Minh Hai, Nam Ha, Nghe An, Ninh Binh, Ninh Thuan,
Phu Yen, Quang Binh, Quang Nam-Da Nang, Quang Ngai, Quang Ninh,
Quang Tri, Soc Trang, Son La, Song Be, Tay Ninh, Thai Binh, Thanh
Hoa, Thua Thien-Hue, Tien Giang, Tra Vinh, Tuyen Quang, Vinh Long,
Vinh Phu, Yen Bai

Independence: 2 September 1945 (from France)

National holiday: Independence Day, 2 September (1945)

Constitution: 15 April 1992

Legal system: based on communist legal theory and French civil law
system

Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:
chief of state: President Le Duc ANH (since 23 September 1992) was
elected for a five-year term by the National Assembly from among its
members
head of government: Prime Minister Vo Van KIET (since 9 August 1991)
was appointed by the president from among the members of the
National Assembly; First Deputy Prime Minister Phan Van KHAI (since
10 August 1991) and Deputy Prime Ministers Nguyen KHANH (since NA
February 1987) and Tran Duc LUONG (since NA February 1987) were
appointed by the prime minister
cabinet: Cabinet was appointed by the president on proposal of the
prime minister and ratification of the National Assembly

Legislative branch: unicameral
National Assembly (Quoc-Hoi): elections last held 19 July 1992 (next
to be held NA July 1997); results - CPV is the only party; seats -
(395 total) CPV or CPV-approved 395

Judicial branch: Supreme People's Court, chief justice is elected
for a five-year term by the National Assem