Area: 331,699 km2
Population: 97, 793, 803
Capital: Hanoi
Hanoi by David Emrich on Unsplash
National anthem: Tiến Quân Ca
Government type: Unitary Marxist-Leninist One Party Socialist Republic
Languages: Vietnamese
Religion: Buddhism
Ethnic Groups: 85.32% Vietnamese
Climate: Tropical Monsoon Climate
Currency: Dong
Expat Population: 83,500
Taboos:
Cultural behaviour: The Vietnamese value humility, restraint, and modesty. Be humble and modest while visiting Vietnam and dress modestly. The Vietnamese culture also has a great respect for elders.
Vietnam, officially named as the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, is a long and narrowly shaped nation in Southeast Asia near China, Laos and Cambodia. With the South China Sea on it’s East, Vietnam is filled with mountains and a thousand-mile coastline.
Most of the Vietnamese people reside in the countryside, where it is filled with rural areas. However, in the recent years, more people have moved to main cities such as Ho Chi Minh and Hanoi. Vietnam has developed immensely over the past 30 years, with economic and political reforms, and rapid economic growth, Vietnam has been transformed from what once was known as the world’s poorest nations to a middle-income country.
The people in Vietnam are of diverse cultures and historical backgrounds. Vietnamese people originated from the Mongol races of north and east Asia and is one of the region’s most ethnically homogenous country in the world.
As Vietnam’s largest religion is Buddhism, you will be able to find multiple Buddhist pagodas and shrines across the country. You may also experience various festivals and ceremonies, which date back hundreds of years.
In 2005, it has been noted that there has been more emigrants than immigrants in Vietnam, with a net migration rate of -0.8. However, since then, immigration has increased by 19.29% in 2005 and by 17.87% in 2010. One of the reasons for an increase in immigrants is due to its rising rank in the Human Development Index. In 2019, Vietnam has a HDI value of 0.0.704, ranking 117 out of 189 countries.
The cost of living in Vietnam is relatively low, with Vietnamese and immigrants being able to live with a budget of around $800-$1,100 (USD) a month. Do note that your lifestyle is a factor in determining how much you need to live in Vietnam.