The document provides a comprehensive overview of Vietnam, covering its historical evolution from a French colony to a socialist republic, with key milestones including independence, the Vietnam War, and post-war developments. It highlights Vietnam's demographic makeup, cultural significance, economic comparisons with India, and its geopolitical importance, especially in relation to China and the USA. Recent events, including shifts in political relations and developments in civil rights, are also discussed.

1. 1
Contains
S. No. Title Page
1 Introduction 2
2 History 3
3 Timeline 6
4 Demographic 8
5 Cultural 9
6 Economy– A comparative
analysis with India
10
7 Major Companies 11
8 Polity, Government and
Leadership
12
9 Geopolitical Significance 13
10 India & Vietnam 14
11 Recent Events 15
Prepared By Swaraj Mishra

2. 2
Introduction
Etymologically Vietnam came from the “Nam viet ” meaning
southern viet in Chinese. The form Vietnam was first used orally in
16th
century in a poem. Between 1804 and 1813, the name was used
officially by Emperor Gia Long.
Officially country is known as Socialist Republic of Vietnam.
It is situated in the extreme east of Indochina peninsula in S.E.
Asia surrounded by China in north, Laos and Cambodia in
South China Sea in the east.
It has 58 provinces, and Hanoi as its capital. Vietnam
west, and
14th
is the
8th
most populous country in the world and in Asia having 93 million
people. It has 58 provinces, and Hanoi as
in the world
its capital. Vietnam is the
14th
8th
most populous country and in Asia having 93
million people. It is a communist country with Marxist-Leninist single
party state. Vietnamese is the both official language and script.

3. 3
History
French colony
One of the first Frenchmen to visit Vietnam was the Jesuit father Alexandre de Rhodes, who
arrived there in 1620. But French colony started from 1874. They ruled the country includ-
ing Laos and Cambodia by dividing it into 3 parts Tonkin, Annam and cochin-china.
French had their colony until 1941. This French colony is also known as Indochina colony.
Again after the defeat of japan French people returned to South
World War 2
Vietnam and invaded Vi-
After the defeat of France on June 22,
under direct German military control
1940, roughly two-thirds of the country was put
and others are in puppet state of Germany. In 1941
when japan entered into World War 2
china. Japan also made an agreement
with Germany, japan established its colony in Indo-
with France about indo china which was known as
the Japanese revoked French administrative control“Vichy agreement”. In 1944 march, 9
and took French administrators prisoner. After losing World War 2 japan left the place and
at that time French people again came to Vietnam (south).

4. 4
Vietnam independence
In 1941 Ho Chi Minh returned to Vietnam and started a Communist party. After the defeat of Japan
in World War 2, they surrendered, the Viet Minh made a deal with the Japanese. They allowed the
Japanese soldiers to leave peacefully, and the Japanese gave their arms to the Vietnamese before the
return of the French. In August 1945, the Viet Minh launched a revolution which brought them to
Partition of Vietnam and Geneva Conference
In 1945, Ho Chi Minh declared an independent Democratic Republic of Vietnam, which was rec-
ognized by the fellow Communist governments of China and the Soviet Union. Fighting lasted until
March 1954, when they won the decisive victory against French forces at the “gruelling Battle of
Dien Bien Phu”.
This led to the partition of Vietnam into the “Democratic Republic of Vietnam” in the north, under
Ho Chi Minh control, and the “State of Vietnam” in the south, which had the support of the Unit-
ed States, the United Kingdom, and France.
It was at the 1954 “Geneva Conference” that France relinquished any claim to territory in the

5. 5
Civil War (Communist North & capitalist South)
The division of the country into a communist North, led by Ho Chi Minh, and the non-communist South, led byNgo
Dinh Diem, created a new dynamic. Diem, a Catholic, disliked the communists and rejected Ho Chi Minh's vision of one
socialist republic of Vietnam. Thus,
Minh had the support of the USSR,
ceived U.S., South Korea, Australia,
the conflict turned into a civil war with Vietnamese fighting Vietnamese. Ho Chi
Chinese, Cuba, North Korea, Bulgaria and East German, whereas Ngo Dinh Diem re-
UK, West Germany, Spain support.
In November of 1968, Richard Nixon was elected President in the U.S. inheriting a nation that was impatient to see
American involvement in Vietnam come to a close. Nixon began a policy of "Vietnamization" which entailed the with-
drawal of U.S. troops and "handing over the regions" to the South Vietnamese military and the U.S. finally withdrew in
1975.
After withdraw of the US army South Vietnam economy took a down shift, inflation went up high, and the capital of
South Vietnam Saigon became the most expensive city in the world. North Vietnam surprised attack and capturing of
Saigon (Now it is known as Ho Chi Minh City) made the war end. At the end civil war stopped and South Vietnam be-
came the part of North Vietnam.

6. 6
Timeline

7. 7
2 Lakh US
Army
at South
Vietnam
1st US
commercial
flight to
Vietnam
Vietnam
Action against
democracy and
freedom of
expression
Strong ac-
tion against
democracy
activist
Vietnam
Independency
North
Vietnam
Army march
towards
South
Saigon renamed
as Ho Chi Minh
City Agreement
with china
sea dispute
onCease Fire US and
Vietnam
US lifted its 30 became the
Agreement, treadYear trade
embargo
150th member
of WTO
US Army Left
2013
1965 20101969 20001975 1989 1995 20082002 20051957
19761959 1966 1973 1994 1999 2001 2004 2007 20091945 2011
1st com-
municatio
n satellite
launch ,
New banned
laws on in-
ternet users,
economy
grew with
5.14%
Russia
hands
back the
Cam Ranh
bay naval
Full diplo-
matic rela-
tion with
d
North
Vietnam
won
2 Lakh US
China &
Vi-
etnam
resolve
border
Army Human
right activ-
ists sen-
tenced to
Com-
munist
insurgency
in
the South.
US, JoineHo Chi
dies
Minh
Vietnam
troops
withdrawn
from
Cambodia
at South
Vietnam
baseAsean 1st
cial
Offi-1st
cial
Offi-
visit of
Vietnam
visit of US
president
for 3 days

8. 8
Demographics of Vietnam
Population
Capital -
Provinces -
Ethnicity -
- 92.5 million
Hanoi
58
(14th largest populous country in the world)
Kinh ethnic group or viet constituted 85.8% of the population.
Vietnam is also home to 54 ethnic minority groups, including
the Hmong, Dao, Tay, Thai, and Nung.
National language of is Vietnamese. French is the second language.
About 45.3% of the Vietnamese adhere to Indigenous religions,
16.4% to Buddhism, 8.2% to Christianity, 0.4% to other faiths, and
29.6% of the population isn't religious.
93.4% (118th in the world)
Language
Religion -
-
Literacy-

9. 9
Culture of Vietnam
Vietnam's culture has developed over the centuries from indigenous ancient Dong Son culture. Some elements of the national
culture have
phy.
Music -
Folk Music -
Chinese origins, drawing on elements of Confucianism and Taoism in its traditional political system and philoso-
Impacted by the Chinese musical tradition.
Hat Xam
Hat Van specially used in spiritual ceremonies.
Started at 10th century mainly in poetic form.
“Tho Moi” literature transformation movement in 1932.
“Tet” (lunar new year and most famous festival).
Ao Dai used in special ceremony by girls, but in wedding by both.
Vovinam and Binh Dinh are the famous martial arts.
Soccer is the most popular sports.
Spiritual Music
Literature -
-
Festival -
Clothing
Sports -
-
“Pho” the popular cuisinePopular Cuisine - “Pho, Fish sauce”

10. 10
Economy—A comparative analys is with India
India Vietnam
Population 1.252 billion 92.5 million
Currency Rupee
5,350
0.586
Vietnamese Dong
5,070 ppp dollars
0.638
GNI
HDI
per capita
(2014)
in 2013 ppp dollars
Nominal
PPP
$2.047
$7.277
trillion
trillion
$187.848
$509.466
billion
billion
GDP
6.9% 5.98%
GDP growth
5.11
$464.2
Inflation (CPI)(Jan
Exports in 2013
2015) 6.6
$128.9 billionbillion
Imports in 2013 $590.6 billion $121.4 billion

11. 11
Major companies
1. Bank of agriculture and rural development (AGRIBANK)
2. Vietnam Post and Telecommunication (VNPT)
3. Electricity of Vietnam (EVN)
4. Bank of investment and development in Vietnam (BIDV)
5. VietsovPetro Jv enterprises (VietsovPetro)

12. 12
Vietnam Polity, Government and Leadership
The current Constitution was adopted by the 8th National Assembly in 1992 and was supplemented then amended in 2001
at the 10th session of the 10th National Assembly. The 1992 Constitution inherits from and builds on previous Constitutions
(1946, 1959, and 1980).
The politics of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam are defined by a single party socialist republic framework, where the Presi-
dent is the head of the constitution and the PM is the head of the government , in a one party system led by the communist par-
ty of Vietnam . Executive power is exercised by the government and the President of Vietnam.
Judiciary act independently.
Last election held in
President -
Vietnam - May 22, 2011 (13th National assembly)
Truong Tan Sang (for 5 years from 2011)
500 total seats
458 (Communist party of Vietnam)
42 (independent)
National Assembly
Majority -
Minority -
-

13. 13
Geo Political Significance
Current tensions between Vietnam and China demonstrate the rising geopolitical importance of
Vietnam and the South China Sea.
Vietnam's geopolitical significance will rise over the coming decade, as the US courts it as a
potential ally to counterbalance China.
Vietnam has a very long coastline, spanning almost all of the western stretch of the disputed
South China Sea. (China regards most of the sea as its own and has become more assertive in its
claims
part.)
since 2010, whereas Vietnam, the Philippines and several other states claim the sea in
Vietnam also has a high degree of political and economic influence in Laos, where it competes
with China and Thailand for loyalty and business opportunities. Vietnam's influence in Cambodia
less.
is
Japanese, South Korean and Western multinationals are said to favour Vietnam as an alternative
to China, partly as a hedge against political risk in China (although there is considerable political
risk in Vietnam, too), but also because Vietnam offers competitive labour costs.

14. 14
India & Vietnam
Vietnam is a key player in India’s act “Look east policy” under PM Narendra Modi.
From India’s perspective, a strategic partnership with Vietnam will only deepen political,
nomic, and security ties and be a bulwark against China.
India strongly condemned US action during the Vietnam War and was also one of the few
eco-
non-
communist countries to assist Vietnam during the Cambodian-Vietnamese.
1975
1997
2003
have
- India granted the "Most Favored Nation" status to Vietnam.
- Bilateral Investment Promotion and Protection agreement (BIPPA).
- Free tread agreement. India is the 13th-largest exporter to Vietnam, with exports that
grown steadily from $11.5 million $95.68 million by 2003.
2010 - ASEAN-India free trade agreement came into effect .
2012 - Vietnam exporting $1.7
billion to India which was 55.6% higher than previous year.
2013 - In November Vietnamese Communist Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong visited India and met India’s PM and
signed “8 MoUs”, and Vietnam offered India “7 Oil Blocks for exploration” where India already had 3 oil blocks for explora-

15. 15
Recent events
Largest fraud trial in Vietnam
2014 Jan -Court sentenced former Vietinbank official Huynh Thi Huyen Nhu to life in prison in country's largest fraud trial.
Vietnam & US Relationship
2014 Mar-Vietnam released high-profile democracy campaigners Cu Huy
Ha Vu, Nguyen Tien Trung and Vi Duc Hoi amid Trans-Pacific Partnership
free trade talks with the United States.
2014 Aug-The chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff, held talks with Viet-
namese leaders, in the highest level visit by an American military officer
since the Vietnam war.
2014 Oct-The United States said, it would partially lift its embargo on arms
sales to Vietnam, which had been in place for three decades.

16. 16
Vietnam & Vatican city
2014 Oct-PM Nguyen Tan Dung met Pope Francis in Rome and
restarted diplomatic ties that broken off in 1975.
Humps in Fre edo m of s peec h in Vietnam
2014 Mar-Bloggers Pham Viet Dao and Truong Duy Nhat jailed for
"abusing democratic freedoms to infringe interests of state".
2014 Oct-Blogger Nguyen Van Hai was released from prison and flew to
the US after serving two years of a 12-year sentence for conducting
"anti-state propaganda".
2015 Feb- The government revoked license of outspoken newspaper
Nguoi Cao Tuoi website - "Elderly" in Vietnamese - after it had published
articles which allegedly "abuse freedom and democratic rights".

17. 17