Vietnam: for business, culture and tourism ... - Business Works

Vietnam: for business, culture and tourism ...
an introduction

I am delighted to welcome you to this special feature about the Socialist Republic of Vietnam.

From ancient times to the present day, national identity, with its most fundamental and best meaning, enables the Vietnamese people to overcome seemingly unsurpassable hindrances and to continue on our path of relentless development.

Vietnam has an “S-shape” with an area of about 331,000 square kilometres and a population of 86 million inhabitants. In the north, Vietnam borders the People’s Republic of China, in the west Laos and Cambodia and to the south and east is the South China Sea.

The country is principally agricultural and the lowlands of the Red River delta in the north (15,000km2) are separated from the huge Mekong River delta (40,000km2) in the south by coastal plains which back on to the forested central highlands. Mountains and highlands occupy some three-quarters of Vietnam’s total area and the highest peak is Fansipan (Phan Xi Pang) at 3143m. Hanoi is the capital and Ho Chi Minh City (former Saigon) is the main city on the Mekong River delta.

The climate is tropical and we experience monsoons, so the average rainfall is about 223cm per year and the relative humidity is typically around 84%. The country enjoys a variety of natural resources from oil & gas to forestry, minerals and agricultural produce.

In 1986, Vietnam launched the cause of Doi Moi – Renovation - and since then has become one of the most dynamic growing economies in the region and the world at large.

Cau mythuan
Over the past more than 20 years, our economy has recorded an annual growth rate of 7% to 8% and our foreign trade has increased by more than 20% per year on average. Our main export products are oil, textiles, aquatic products, shoes, rice, coffee, electronic products and computers, coal and wood products. Our main import products are fuel, machinery and equipment, other processed goods and materials. In the year 2008, registered foreign direct investment (FDI) into Vietnam climbed to a record level of over 64 billion USD. And as a tourist destination, today, Vietnam is a hidden charm to be discovered by millions of foreign tourists from all countries.

In 2009, despite the world economic problems, Vietnam’s economic growth forecast is around 6%.

On the international arena, Vietnam consistently pursues an open-door foreign policy. Vietnam joined the WTO since 2007 and is a non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council for the 2008 - 2009 term.

At present, Great Britain is one of Vietnam’s largest European partners in trade and investment and the UKTI designates Vietnam one of the top high-growth markets deserving special attention. Many major British companies have been operating very successfully in the areas essential to Vietnam’s economy for many decades – such as BP, HSBC, Standard Chartered Bank, Prudential, Rolls Royce, Premier Oil, International Power and Harvey Nash.


Welcome to Vietnam! we offer you:

  • A partner with political and social stability, a market with 86 million of consumers, a qualified and young labour force and more than two decades of sustainable and high growth rate;
  • A Government resolved to continue to intensify economic reforms and international integration and determined to create the most favourable climate for foreign companies and businessmen;
  • And a country with a history and culture spanning thousands of years, charming and virgin landscapes and very friendly and hospitable people.


For more information please contact:
The Commercial Office, Embassy of Vietnam in London:
t: 020 7727 08830
f: 020 7243 0471
e: uk@moit.gov.vn
w: www.moit.gov.vn




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