NG (since 29
September 1997); Deputy Prime Ministers Nguyen Cong TAN (since 29
September 1997), Ngo Xuan LOC (since 29 September 1997), Nguyen Manh
CAM (since 29 September 1997), and Pham Gia KHIEM (since 29
September 1997)
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president on the proposal of the
prime minister and ratification of the National Assembly
elections: president elected by the National Assembly from among its
members for a five-year term; election last held 25 September 1997
(next to be held when National Assembly meets following legislative
elections in NA 2002); prime minister appointed by the president
from among the members of the National Assembly; deputy prime
ministers appointed by the prime minister
election results: Tran Duc LUONG elected president; percent of
National Assembly vote--NA

Legislative branch: unicameral National Assembly or Quoc-Hoi (450
seats; members elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms)
elections: last held 20 July 1997 (next to be held NA 2002)
election results: percent of vote by party--CPV 92%, other 8% (the 8%
are not CPV members but are approved by the CPV to stand for
election); seats by party--CPV or CPV-approved 450

Judicial branch: Supreme People's Court, chief justice is elected
for a five-year term by the National Assembly on the recommendation
of the president

Political parties and leaders: only party--Communist Party of

International organization participation: ACCT, APEC, AsDB,
ASEAN, CCC, ESCAP, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFAD,
IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer),
ISO, ITU, NAM, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO,
WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO (applicant)

Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador LE VAN BANG
chancery: 1233 20th Street NW, Washington, DC 20036, Suite 400
consulate(s) general: San Francisco

Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Douglas B. "Pete" Peterson
embassy: 7 Lang Ha Road, Ba Dinh District, Hanoi
mailing address: PSC 461, Box 400, FPO AP 96521-0002
consulate(s) general: Ho Chi Minh City

Flag description: red with a large yellow five-pointed star in
the center

Economy

Economy--overview: Vietnam is a poor, densely populated country
that has had to recover from the ravages of war, the loss of
financial support from the old Soviet Bloc, and