1. Bo Bruinsma

2. Located in Southeast Asia Bordered by China, Laos, and Cambodia Surrounded by the Gulf of Tonkin, South China Sea, and Gulf of Thailand

3. Vietnam has been a Communist state since September 2 nd, 1945, after it broke away from France. The Communist Party of Vietnam is the only prominent political party in the country Nguyen Minh Triet has been the president of Vietnam since June of 2006. During his presidency he has overseen policies to try to reduce organized crime and corruption.

4. Judicial – Supreme People’s Court, French civil law system Executive – Chief of State, Prime Minister, Permanent Prime Minister Legislative – unicameral, house called Quoc Hoi, 500 seats, 450 of which are elected

5. Vietnam used a communist economic system. They depend heavily on agricultural and are struggling right now. The country is still trying to recover from war debts and a loss of financial support from the Old Soviet Bloc.

6. Since Vietnam is under Communist rule, the media is very closely monitored and censored. One event recently released is the country has placed surveillance on all borders to prevent the spread of the avian flu into the country. Another is a small dispute with Japan and the Philippines over the Spratly Islands.