OVERALL COUNTRY
PROFILE
Vietnam is one of the most dynamic countries in South East Asia. The Doimoi ‘Renovation’ reforms, launched by the government in 1986, have spurred economic growth that has transformed Vietnam from one of the world’s poorest nations to one with lower-middle income status.
While both current and future economic growth in
Vietnam are very promising, the benefits do not
always extend to all areas of society. Vietnam is
an ethnically diverse country with 54 recognised
ethnic groups. The majority of the population (85.5
per cent) belongs to the Kinh ethnic group, and
the 53 other ethnic groups in Vietnam account
for the remainder of the population – around 13.4
million people. Many of these ethnic minority
gr
