ViệtNam
Diego R - 6th
Introduction
Lying on the eastern part of the Indochinese peninsula, Vietnam is a strip of land shaped like the letter “S”. China borders it to the north, Laos and Cambodia to the west, the East Sea to the east and the Pacific Ocean to the east and south. Vietnam is also a transport junction from the Indian Ocean to the Pacific Ocean. Vietnam is a beautiful country with mountains, rain forests and beaches. Vietnam has an estimated 89.7 million inhabitants and is the world's 13th most populous country and the 8th most populous Asian country. Vietnam's main exports are clothes and shoes and is experiencing growth in the manufacturing of other goods due to how attractive it has become to foreign investment. Vietnam is ranked as the 67th largest country with approximately 128 thousand square miles. Vietnam is the the worlds 30th most dense country as compared to the U. S. A., which has a ranking of 142nd in density.
Flag of Vietnam
Map of Vietnam
Situated on the south eastern Asia, towards the South China Sea, Vietnam covers an area of about 329, 560 sq km. Surrounded by China, Laos and Cambodia, it is a flat delta land with hilly ridges on north and northwest.
Cyclos
Slogan
"Independence - Freedom - Happiness" or "Doc Lap - Tur Do - Hanh Phuc"
Geography / Climate
Vietnam occupies the eastern and southern part of the Indochinese peninsula in Southeast Asia, with the South China Sea along its entire coast. China is to the north and Laos and Cambodia are to the west. Vietnam's climate ranges from subtropical to tropical given its differences in latitude along the 2,025 miles of coastline. Temperatures range from an average of 41 degrees in the cold months of December and January to 98.6 degrees in the hottest month of April. Vietnam ranges from zero feet above sea level to the highest point of 10,308 feet above sea level in the northern section of the country's highest peak, Fansipan Mountain. The Central Highlands area of Vietnam offer rugged mountain peaks and forests and rich soil. The south of the country holds the Mekong Delta famous for being on of the major rice-growing regions of the world. In Vietnam you can find everything from beautiful beaches to mountain ranges.
Lang Co Beach
Fansipan Mountain
Fansipan Mountain is located 9km south-west of Sapa Townlet in the Hoang Lien Mountain Range. Fansipan is branded "the Roof of Indochina" at the height of 3,143m.
Yang Bay Waterfall
People and Culture
The Vietnamese people are an Asian ethnic group originating from present-day northern Vietnam and southern China. The origins of the Vietnamese people are a combination of the Mongol races of north and eastern Asia, with Chinese and Indian influences. Vietnam's people are a special mix of cultures, languages and historical backgrounds. The one common denominator among them is that, as in most Southeast Asian countries, they love to smile and are genuinely interested in foreign visitors. The new generation of Vietnamese people is largely unfamiliar with the devastation the country suffered years ago. The most appropriate manner of greeting is a gentle handshake and a smile. Though occasionally rigid, Vietnamese officials - such as the police - appreciate being treated in a firm, yet diplomatic manner. It is best to deal with misunderstandings with patience and good humor. Local people who offer assistance appreciate small gifts such as cigarette lighters, pens, foreign cigarettes, liquor, perfume and even shampoo.
With ten million followers and 20,000 pagodas, Buddhism is undoubtedly the largest established religion, however Vietnam has a rich and wide variety of religions based on imported faiths and popular beliefs, with several indigenous groups embracing animism, theism and ancestor worship. Catholicism, introduced by European missionaries, is the second largest religion, with about six million followers, and more than 6,000 churches. Confucianism, which places strong emphasis on duty, courtesy and virtue, also has strong influence in Vietnam. As a result, Vietnamese people have a tradition of respecting teachers, elders and authorities and being responsible to their families and society. Because, according to the Confucianism virtue principle, a person’s actions determine his future, much emphasis is placed on education in Vietnam, resulting in the country’s current high literacy rates.
As with many other Asian nations, the concept of face is extremely important to the Vietnamese. Face is a tricky concept to explain but can be roughly described a quality that reflects a person's reputation, dignity, and prestige. It is possible to lose face, save face or give face to another person. Companies as well as individuals can have face or lose face. In general, the Vietnamese are collectivists. The individual is seen as secondary to the group - whether the family, school or company. As a result there are strict guidelines for social interaction that are designed to protect a group's face.
Mù Cang Chả
Traditional Betrothal Ceremony
Bringing the Bride to the Groom's House
First Fruit Festival
Smiles
Cao Dai Temple
Country Time Line
1802 - Prince Nguyen Anh unites the northern, central and southern regions of his country and calls it Vietnam. The prince and the emperors who follow establish programs to build new bridges and castles and restore old structures.
1940 - Japan takes over Vietnam during World War II after its ally Germany defeats the French.
1946 - France tries to regain control of Vietnam. Ho Chi Minh, a Vietnamese Communist, leads an independence movement, called the Vietminh, against the French. Communism is a form of government where a country's resources are shared and the government controls all property; many freedoms are restricted.
1954 - The Vietminh defeats the French. Vietnam is divided into two zones: the Communist-ruled north and a republic in the south. Ho Chi Minh is President of North Vietnam until 1969.
1959 - Communists supported by North Vietnam cause conflict in South Vietnam. This conflict between the two halves of Vietnam marks the beginning of the Vietnam War.
1965 - Trying to stop the spread of Communism, the United States sends combat troops to Vietnam. About 60,000 American soldiers and many more Vietnamese soldiers die in the years to follow. This loss of lives sparks anti-war protests all over America.
1975 - South Vietnam surrenders to Communist North Vietnam. North and South Vietnam are united in 1976 under Communist leadership.
1993 - The U.S. and Vietnam successfully work together to recover the remains of American soldiers missing since the war.
1995 - The U.S. and Vietnam restore diplomatic ties.
2007 - Thirteen years after the U.S. lifts its 19-year ban on trading with Vietnam, the country joins the World Trade Organization as its 150th member.
Ho Chi Minh
US Troops
US Signs Peace Accord
Government and Citizenship
Vietnam is defined as a socialist country but the policies are capitalist. The capitalist policies attract more and more foreign businesses bringing with them opportunities and jobs. Vietnam has a large number of press agencies and publications. The country also has a large number of journalists, radio and television stations and electronic newspapers. Vietnam's percentage of citizens with access to the internet is larger than the average Asian population, with approximately 25% of Vietnam citizens having access to the internet while less than 18% of all Asians have such access.
The voting age in Vietnam is 18 years old. The 1992 constitution of Vietnam states "The people make use of state power through the agency of the National Assembly and the People's Councils, which represent the will and aspiration of the people, are elected by them and responsible to them." While elections are held, the Communist Party of Vietnam controls the elections and controls who can be elected. The highest court in Vietnam is the Supreme People's Court, whose members are appointed for five-year terms by the National Assembly on the recommendation of the president. In addition, there are local people's courts at each administrative level; military courts; and "special courts" established by the National Assembly in certain cases. Law enforcement is handled by the People's Organs of Control; the president, or procurator-general, of this body is appointed by the National Assembly. Although the constitution provides for the independence of judges and jurors, there is close control of the entire governmental system by the Vietnamese Communist Party (VCP) and a judicial selection process which favors appointment of jurists supportive of the VCP. Prison sentences are frequently imposed through administrative procedures without the protections of procedural due process or judicial review. Trials are generally open to the public. Defendants have the right to be present at the trial, to have an attorney, and to cross-examine witnesses. The legal system is based on communist legal theory and French civil law. Vietnam has experienced rapid growth in its economy and is attempting to overhaul it educational system so the people can have the training needed to keep up with the growth.
Ho Chi Minh City Hall
Ho Chi Minh Complex in Hanoi
Vietnam Parliament Building
Economy
The Socialist Republic of Vietnam is a Communist dictatorship characterized by political repression and a lack of respect for basic human rights. Economic liberalization began in 1986 with its doi moi reforms, and Vietnam joined the World Trade Organization in 2007. In 2012, Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung acknowledged mismanagement of the Vietnamese economy and affirmed his commitment to reforming the state sector, but delays persist. Vietnam’s economy is driven primarily by tourism and exports, but inflation is a problem, and the country has struggled to attract more investment in the absence of a transparent legal and regulatory system.
Vietnam maintains diplomatic relations with 169 countries and has signed bilateral and multilateral trade agreements with 80 countries. Vietnam has also exchanged most favored nation privileges with over 70 countries and territories, namely those with high capital, industrial resources.
Vietnam's main exports include: crude oil, textiles and garments, rice, coffee, rubber, coal.
Vietnam’s key import commodities include: petroleum products, steel, fertilizer, electronics, machinery and equipment.
Imports
Exports
Saigon Trade Center
Company List
Symantec
Vietnam’s workforce under 30 years of age is 60% of the total population of 90 million people. The under 30 year olds are highly motivated and are becoming technologically advanced. Vietnam is producing around 25,000 technical engineers annually making it an ideal location for software companies. The cost of a software engineer is much less (ranging from 30% - 50%) less than an Indian software engineer. The same engineer is 90% less than an American software engineer. This significant of a cost savings coupled with a high degree of ability and proficiency makes Vietnam an ideal location for software companies like Symantec. The outsourcing of Symantec’s products would mean higher profitability making Symantec a more competitive company against other American competitor companies like McAfee and Microsoft. Vietnam would benefit from bringing a large American computer security company and its many employment opportunities.
Hewlett Packard
Vietnam has broadened its economic policies while at the same time working to make its workforce competitive on a global level. Vietnam offers investment incentives for various types of manufacturing and one is the manufacturing of computers and computer components. Vietnam has realized the need to increase the skill level of its workforce and has concentrated on developing skills necessary to compete in today’s technological environment. Vietnam produces a significant number of graduates capable of working in the information technology industry. Vietnam committed in 2006 to creating the Vietnam Computer Manufacturing Service and has signed agreements with various Original Equipment Manufacturers to manufacture computers. Deals were signed with companies such as Microsoft to assemble and package computers to be sold and distributed by Microsoft. The success of the Microsoft venture, workforce education along with Investment incentives will enable companies like Hewlett Packard to invest in Vietnam and increase profits due to low wages and high investment credits. Hewlett Packard being one of the world’s largest retailers of personal and commercial computers can contribute to an already successful operating model by entering into agreements with the Vietnam Computer Manufacturing Service. This will create a beneficial relationship between HP, its shareholders and the country of Vietnam.
Invacare Corporation
Vietnam still maintains a portion of its workforce that is economically competitive in manufacturing products that do not require a highly skilled worker. This lower skilled workforce is sufficiently skilled to manufacture non-acute medical equipment such as wheelchairs, mobility scooters and walkers. This manufacturing environment makes for good economics for companies like Invacare Corporation that distributes non-acute medical equipment to over 80 countries worldwide. Vietnam offers the ability to manufacture such products for less than countries such as India and China and offers speedy transport due to its multiple ports along its 2,000 mile coast . Also, Vietnam offers Investment Incentives that encourage companies like Invacare to set up factories to get the low cost labor, ease of distribution and get the investment incentives that reflects in their profit margin.
Mcgregor Metalworking Company
One of Vietnam’s oldest industries dating back to 800 B.C. is metalworking. Vietnam has a history of being one of the region’s better metalworking countries with factories dating back to 1915, 1959 and some more recent as 1994. The factories produce items ranging from steel manufacturing to pre-engineered steel buildings and hangars to fine dining metal materials. Vietnam has an experienced metalworking workforce capable of providing low cost materials and workforce to companies wanting to expand into the low cost environment of Vietnam. Mcgregor Metalworking Company with core processes of stamping, spinning welding, assembly and tool and die management would be able to show significant cost reduction and increased distribution ability through use of Vietnam’s metalworking infrastructure and location.
American Packing and Rubber, Inc
The rubber extrusion industry is responsible for the manufacture of rubber gaskets necessary to run much of today’s machinery and factories. Vietnam is known for its rubber extrusion capability and one of the companies set up in Vietnam is primarily in business to take on outsourcing contracts from companies around the globe. The Vietnam company called Green Le Corp is uniquely situated as a product designer and manufacturer in Cu Chi, Vietnam. One of its core capabilities is the extrusion of rubber and the molding of rubber and other products. GLC can take on the manufacturing of rubber items using the favorable labor conditions and favorable rates found in Vietnam. Professional degreed workers in this industry typically receive monthly wages between $150 and $300 USD making Vietnam a very inviting country for companies like American Packing and Rubber, Inc. The ability to reduce expenses in the manufacturing of gaskets and other products makes Vietnam an attractive manufacturing alternative. Vietnam gains the jobs and use of its, in this case, skilled workforce while companies like American Packing and Rubber gain lower expenses and higher profitability.