Politics of Vietnam

conventional long form: Socialist Republic of Vietnam

conventional short form: Vietnam

local long form: Cong Hoa Chu Nghia Viet Nam

local short form: Viet Nam

abbreviation: SRV

Data code: VM

Government type: Communist state

Capital: Hanoi

Administrative divisions:

Vietnam is divided into 58 provinces (tinh, singular and plural), 3 municipalities* (thu do, singular and plural):

An Giang[?], Bac Giang[?], Bac Kan[?], Bac Lieu[?], Bac Ninh[?], Ba Ria-Vung Tau[?], Ben Tre[?], Binh Dinh[?], Binh Duong[?], Binh Phuoc[?], Binh Thuan[?], Ca Mau[?], Can Tho[?], Cao Bang[?], Dac Lac[?], Da Nang, Dong Nai[?], Dong Thap[?], Gia Lai[?], Ha Giang[?], Hai Duong[?], Hai Phong[?]*, Ha Nam[?], Ha Noi[?]*, Ha Tay[?], Ha Tinh[?], Hoa Binh[?], Ho Chi Minh*, Hung Yen[?], Khanh Hoa[?], Kien Giang[?], Kon Tum[?], Lai Chau[?], Lam Dong[?], Lang Son[?], Lao Cai[?], Long An[?], Nam Dinh[?], Nghe An[?], Ninh Binh[?], Ninh Thuan[?], Phu Tho[?], Phu Yen[?], Quang Binh[?], Quang Nam[?], Quang Ngai[?], Quang Ninh[?], Quang Tri[?], Soc Trang[?], Son La[?], Tay Ninh[?], Thai Binh[?], Thai Nguyen[?], Thanh Hoa[?], Thua Thien-Hue[?], Tien Giang[?], Tra Vinh[?], Tuyen Quang[?], Vinh Long[?], Vinh Phuc[?], Yen Bai[?]

Independence: 2 September 1945 (from France)

National holiday: Independence Day, 2 September (1945)

Constitution: 15 April 1992

Legal system: based on communist legal theory and French civil law system

Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:

Chief of state: President Tran Duc Luong[?] (since September 24, 1997) and Vice President Nguyen Thi BINH (since NA October 1992)

Head of government: Prime Minister Phan Van Khai[?] (since 25 September 1997); First Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Tan DUNG (since 29 September 1997); Deputy Prime Ministers Nguyen Cong TAN (since 29 September 1997), Nguyen Manh CAM (since 29 September 1997), and Pham Gia KHIEM (since 29 September 1997)

The General Secretary of the Communist party is Nong Duc Manh.

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 Vietnam or CPV [Le Kha PHIEU, general secretary]

International organization participation: ACCT[?], APEC, AsDB, ASEAN, CCC, ESCAP, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, 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

telephone: [1] (202) 861-0737

FAX: [1] (202) 861-0917

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

telephone: [84] (4) 8431500

FAX: [84] (4) 8350484

consulate(s) general: Ho Chi Minh City

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

See also : Vietnam