Who are the people?
Nearly 90 percent of the population in the Socialist Republic of Vietnam is ethnic Vietnamese. Many people live with their extended families, illustrating the importance of close relationships. The younger generation, however, is increasingly beginning to embrace the Western values of individual freedom and gender equality.

More than half of the nation’s population lives in poverty, with an unemployment rate hovering around 25 percent. The Vietnamese government is attempting to alleviate problems that have resulted from rapid population growth and over-crowded cities by resettling millions of urban residents into the sparsely inhabited mountains and upland plateaus.

The official language of the nation is Vietnamese, a blend between Chinese and Khmer (the official language of Cambodia). Tribal languages are also spoken by many people living in the mountains.

A small percentage of Vietnamese families practice Buddhism. In some parts of the country, indigenous beliefs and spirit worship are still common. Although the Vietnamese constitution grants freedom of worship, the Communist government suppresses any religious groups that it considers to be a threat to national security.
Nearly 90 percent of the population in the Socialist Republic of Vietnam is ethnic Vietnamese. Many

Country Comparison	Vietnam	United States
Population	83.1 million	295.4 million
Land Mass	125,622 sq. miles	3,537,439 sq. miles
Life Expectancy	71 years	78 years
Infant Mortality Rate (per 1,000)	17	7
Literacy Rate	90%	97%
Primary School Enrollment	96%	92%
Access to Safe Water	73%	100%
Average Annual Income (GNI per capita)	$550	$41,400

Religion

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What is it like to live there?
The country, which is shaped much like the letter S, is covered with rugged land and dense forests. River deltas contain rich soils that are highly suitable for crop cultivation, especially rice. The tropical climate includes a monsoon season that extends from May to October, as well as frequent typhoons that cause flooding in the northern coastal areas.

The history of Vietnam has been a turbulent one. In the 19th century, the country was absorbed, along with Cambodia and Laos, into French Indochina. Communist-led forces within Vietnam battled for independence after World War II, prompting the 1954 Geneva Agreement that divided the nation into North and South. The 20-year Vietnam War followed. The Vietnamese Communist Party has been in power since the reunification of the country in 1975.

Today, Vietnam is undergoing tremendous political and social changes. The recent pursuit of an export-oriented economy has reopened the country to the outside world, bringing both new opportunities and new challenges for families.

Thanks to sponsors like you, World Vision is helping to meet the needs of the Vietnamese people. Community based projects are continuing to provide children and their families with life-changing opportunities and hope for a better future.
The country, which is shaped much like the letter S, is covered with rugged land and dense forests.
Vietnam Projects
With the support of generous donors like you, World Vision is partnering with families throughout Vietnam to build brighter futures filled with hope for their children.

Many activities are under way to help meet immediate needs and promote lasting changes that will strengthen communities and move families toward self-reliance.

Overall program goals include:

• Increasing school enrollment through improved educational techniques, teacher training, school improvements, and family outreach events.
• Providing sponsored children with uniforms, textbooks, and the school supplies they need to attend class and achieve a good education.
• Helping to reduce the incidence of preventable diseases by offering sponsored children and their families access to improved health care, clean water, and better sanitation.
• Making improvements to bridges and walkways to increase accessibility and encourage commerce between villages.
• Training farmers in improved agricultural techniques to help them increase harvests and grow more nutritious food for their families.
• Training selected community members in project management and leadership development skills.

• Pray that your sponsored child might respond to God’s love and grace.
• Ask God to guide your sponsored child as he or she learns, grows, and moves toward a future full of hope and possibilities.
• Pray for God to protect the health of your sponsored child and his or her family.

Unfortunately, at this time, online picture folders are not available from Vietnam.

You may still be able to sponsor a child from Vietnam by clicking here and submitting a special request.