Introduction

Viet Nam is a unitary state with a single Communist Party, which rules over all organs of government, politics and society. The territory is organised into 58 provinces and 5 major cities, which have provincial status. Each province is split into districts (698 at present), which are in turn divided into communes. The provinces are regrouped into non-administrative regions: Northwest and Northeast (also called Midlands and Northern Mountains) Red River Delta North Central Coast and South Central Coast (also called Northern and Coastal Central Region) Central Highlands Southeast and Mekong River Delta The population numbers 90 million and is composed of 54 officially recognised ethnic groups, of whom the Kinh form the majority. With the exception of the Hoa (Chinese), ethnic minority groups live mostly in the highlands (Northern Mountains and Central Highlands) away from the coastal areas and major cities. The current working-age group (15-64) makes up about 70% of the total population.