Vietnam

Vietnam is a Southeast Asian country located on the eastern edge of the Indochinese Peninsula, bordered by China to the north, Laos and Cambodia to the west, and the South China Sea to the east and south. The capital is Hanoi, while Ho Chi Minh City (formerly Saigon) is the largest city and economic hub. With a population exceeding 98-million people, Vietnam is one of the most populous countries in the region. The economy is characterised by rapid industrialisation, export-oriented manufacturing, and a growing services sector, with key exports including electronics, textiles, footwear, seafood and agricultural products. Vietnam operates as a socialist republic under single-party rule by the Communist Party of Vietnam, though it has embraced market-oriented economic reforms since the Đổi Mới (Renovation) policy was introduced in 1986. The currency is the Vietnamese dong. Vietnam is a member of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum, and the World Trade Organization. The country has emerged as a significant manufacturing destination, attracting foreign investment particularly in electronics assembly and textile production. Vietnam's modern economic trajectory has been shaped by its transition from a centrally planned economy to a mixed economy, achieving substantial poverty reduction and GDP growth over recent decades. The country's strategic location along major shipping routes and its young, increasingly skilled workforce have contributed to its integration into global supply chains.