Location: Southeastern Asia, bordering the Gulf of Thailand, Gulf of Tonkin, and South China Sea, alongside China, Laos, and Cambodia.

Area: total: 329,560 sq km (slightly larger than New Mexico), land: 325,360 sq km, water: 4,200 sq km.

Climate: tropical in south; monsoonal in north with hot, rainy season (mid-May to mid-September) and warm, dry season (mid-October to mid-March).

Population: 856,967,524(July 2008 est.)

GDP real growth rate: 6.3% (2008 est.).

GDP by sector: Agriculture (19%), Industry and Construction (42.7%), and Services (38.4%).

GDP per Capita: $2,900 (2008 est.).

Labor Force: 47.41million (2008 est.).

Principal Exports: crude oil, marine products, rice, coffee, rubber, tea, garments, shoes.

Main Imports: machinery equipment, petroleum products, fertilizer, steel products, raw cotton, grain, cement, motorcyles.

Please download the "Vietnam at a Glance" fact sheet here: Vietnam at a Glance

or see more about Vietnam at: The World Bank Group and CIA - The World Factbook websites.