Vietnam

The socialist republic of Vietnam is a long, mountainous country in South East Asia, bordering China to the north and extending 1600km from north to south. With a population of over 85 million, Vietnam is the 13th most populous country in the world. Since the deregulation of its economy and the implementation of market reforms at the end of the 1980's, Vietnam's economy has been growing rapidly at yearly rates of 8%. The first Vietnamese state, Van Lang, was established in the region in 257 BC by the Hong Bang dynasty. In 111 BC Vietnam was occupied by the Chinese, who ruled the country for the next 1000 years - only in 938 AD did Vietnam regain its independence. In the 19th century Vietnam became a French colony and regained its independence after WW II.