modernization and expansion of its telecommunication system, but its
performance continues to lag behind that of its more modern neighbors
domestic: all provincial exchanges are digitalized and connected to
Hanoi, Da Nang, and Ho Chi Minh City by fiber-optic cable or
microwave radio relay networks; main lines have been substantially
increased, and the use of mobile telephones is growing rapidly
international: country code - 84; satellite earth stations - 2
Intersputnik (Indian Ocean region)

Radio broadcast stations:
AM 65, FM 7, shortwave 29 (1999)

Radios:
8.2 million (1997)

Television broadcast stations:
6 (plus 61 provincial TV stations) (2006)

Televisions:
3.57 million (1997)

Internet country code:
.vn

Internet hosts:
12,114 (2006)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
5 (2000)

Internet users:
13.1 million (2006)

Transportation Vietnam

Airports:
32 (2006)

Airports - with paved runways:
total: 26
over 3,047 m: 8
2,438 to 3,047 m: 5
1,524 to 2,437 m: 11
914 to 1,523 m: 2 (2006)

Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 6
1,524 to 2,437 m: 2
914 to 1,523 m: 2
under 914 m: 2 (2006)

Pipelines:
condensate/gas 432 km; gas 163 km; oil 50 km; refined products 206
km (2006)

Railways:
total: 2,600 km
standard gauge: 178 km 1.435-m gauge
narrow gauge: 2,169 km 1.000-m gauge
dual gauge: 253 km three-rail track combining 1.435 m and 1.000-m
gauges (2005)

Roadways:
total: 222,179 km
paved: 42,167 km
unpaved: 180,012 km (2004)

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

Merchant marine:
total: 267 ships (1000 GRT or over) 1,423,936 GRT/2,191,858 DWT
by type: bulk carrier 23, cargo 202, chemical tanker 4, container 5,
liquefied gas 5, petroleum tanker 24, refrigerated cargo 2, roll
on/roll off 1, specialized tanker 1
foreign-owned: 1 (Denmark 1)
registered in other countries: 17 (Antigua and Barbuda 1, Honduras
1, Mongolia 8, Panama 4, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 1, unknown
2) (2006)

Ports and terminals:
Hai Phong, Ho Chi Minh City

Military Vietnam

Military branches:
People's Armed Forces: People's Army of Vietnam (PAVN) (includes
People's Navy Command (with naval infantry, coast guard), Air and
Air Defense Force (Kon Quan Nhan Dan), Border Defense Command),
People's Public Security Forces, Militia Force, Self-Defense Forces
(