CONTINENT: Asia OFFICIAL NAME: Socialist Republic of Vietnam FORM OF GOVERNMENT: Socialist republic CAPITAL: Hanoi POPULATION: 93,421,835 OFFICIAL LANGUAGE: Vietnamese MONEY: Dong AREA: 127,123 square miles (329,247 square kilometers) MAJOR MOUNTAIN RANGE: Annam Cordillera MAJOR RIVERS: Mekong, Red, Ma, Perfume GOVERNMENT & ECONOMY Vietnam is a socialist state governed by the Communist Party of Vietnam. A president, chosen by the National Assembly, is head of state and commander of the armed forces. An appointed prime minister runs the government. Vietnam's main exports include crude oil, seafood, rice, shoes, wooden products, machinery, electronics, coffee, and clothing. Between 1975 and the late 1980s, Vietnam traded mainly with other communist countries, but since the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1990, it has expanded trade with other nations. HISTORY Vietnam's first civilizations arose in the Red River Valley some 5,000 yea...