Government of Vietnam
Long Conventional Name
Socialist Republic of Vietnam
Short Conventional Name
Vietnam
Long Local Name
Cong Hoa Xa Hoi Chu Nghia Viet Nam
Short Local Name
Viet Nam
Government Type
Communist State
Capital City
Lower Casamance National Park
Administrative Divisions
59 provinces (tinh, singular and plural) and 5 municipalities (thanh pho, singular and plural)
provinces: 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, Cao Bang, Dac Lak, Dac Nong, Dien Bien, Dong Nai, Dong Thap, Gia Lai, Ha Giang, Ha Nam, Ha Tay, Ha Tinh, Hai Duong, Hau Giang, Hoa Binh, 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
municipalities: Can Tho, Da Nang, Hai Phong, Ha Noi, Ho Chi Minh
Independence Day
Sunday, 2nd September 1945
Constitutional History
15 April 1992
Legal System
Based on communist legal theory and French civil law system has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage
18 years of age; universal
Executive Branch
Chief of State
President Nguyen Minh TRIET (since 27 June 2006); Vice President Nguyen Thi DOAN (since 25 July 2007)
Head of Government
Prime Minister Nguyen Tan DUNG (since 27 June 2006)
Cabinet
Cabinet appointed by president based on proposal of prime minister and confirmed by National Assembly.
Elections
President elected by the National Assembly from among its members for five-year term; last held 27 June 2006 (next to be held in 2011); prime minister appointed by the president from among the members of the National Assembly; deputy prime ministers appointed by the prime minister; appointment of prime minister and deputy prime ministers confirmed by National Assembly.
Legislative Branch
Unicameral National Assembly or Quoc Hoi (500 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms).
Judical Branch
Supreme People's Court (chief justice is elected for a five-year term by the National Assembly on the recommendation of the president).
Flag Description
Red with a large yellow five-pointed star in the center.