stem

Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:
chief of state: President Le Duc ANH (since 23 September 1992)
head of government: Prime Minister Vo Van KIET (since 9 August 1991);
First Deputy Prime Minister Phan Van KHAI (since 10 August 1991);
Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen KHANH (since NA February 1987); Deputy
Prime Minister Tran Duc LUONG (since NA February 1987)
cabinet: Cabinet; appointed by the president on proposal of the prime
minister and ratification of the Assembly

Legislative branch: unicameral
National Assembly (Quoc-Hoi): elections last held 19 July 1992 (next
to be held NA July 1997); results - VCP is the only party; seats -
(395 total) VCP or VCP-approved 395

Judicial branch: Supreme People's Court

Political parties and leaders: only party - Vietnam Communist Party
(VCP), DO MUOI, general secretary

Member of: ACCT, AsDB, ASEAN (observer), CCC, ESCAP, FAO, G-77, IAEA,
IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, INTELSAT,
INTERPOL, IOC, IOM (observer), ISO, ITU, NAM, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO,
UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Diplomatic representation in US:
chief of mission: Liaison Officer Le Van BANG
liaison office: address NA, Washington, DC
mailing address: NA
telephone: NA
FAX: NA
note: negotiations between representatives of the US and Vietnam
concluded 28 January 1995 with the signing of an agreement to
establish liaison offices in Hanoi and Washington

US diplomatic representation:
chief of mission: Liaison Officer James HALL
liaison office: address NA, Hanoi
mailing address: NA
telephone: NA
FAX: NA
note: negotiations between representatives of the US and Vietnam
concluded 28 January 1995 with the signing of an agreement to
establish liaison offices in Hanoi and Washington

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

@Vietnam:Economy

Overview: Vietnam has made significant progress in recent years moving
away from the planned economic model toward a more effective
market-based economic system. Most prices are now fully decontrolled,
and the Vietnamese currency has been effectively devalued and floated
at world market rates. In addition, the scope for private sector
activity has been expanded, primarily through decollectivization of
the agricultural sector and introduction of laws giving legal
recognition to private business. Nearly three-quarters of export
earnings are gene