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Vietnam - The country




The land and the sea that form the country of Vietnam have played an integal role in the development of its people. A land border is shared with China, Laos, and Cambodia and this central position in East Asia has shaped the country`s war-torn history. Tropical forests, mangrove swamps, fertile plains and long beaches; a climate that varies greatly from north to south, and season to season; and a wealth of natural resources all exist here. They have influenced the Vietnamese way of life and made the country what it is today.
A glance at a map shows Vietnam stretching 1,650 km from north to south, although a mere 600 km at its widest and just over 50 km at its narrowest. Three - quarters of the land is mountainous but the other quarter consists of rich alluvial plains where most of the people live. The country is shaped like an "S" as it winds its way down the length of the Indo - Chinese peninsula, its southern coast overlooking the South China Sea. Many writers have likened the shape to a peasant carrying a bamboo pole, with a large rice basket on either end.
Vietnam is devided into three geographical regions - the south centre







Member countries of ASEAN
1. Vietnam


2. Thailand
Flag:

Introduction
Thailand, officially the Kingdom of Thailand (Prathet Thai, or “Land of the Free”), country in Southeast Asia. Thailand is the only Southeast Asian country never to have been occupied by any European or other foreign power, except in war. The country was an absolute monarchy from 1782 until 1932, when rebels seized power in a coup and established a constitutional monarchy. Since then, Thailand has come under the rule of many governments, both civil and military. The country was known as Siam until 1939 (when it was renamed Thailand), and again for a few years in the late 1940s. In 1949 the name Thailand was adopted a second time.
Central Thailand is dominated by a large fertile plain, formed by the country’s chief river, the Chao Phraya, and its tributaries. Much of the country’s rice and other crops are grown in this region. Mountains and plateaus surround the central plain on the west, north, and east. The western mountain ranges extend south onto the Malay Peninsula (Malaya). Bangkok, located on the Chao Phraya near the Gulf of Thailand, is Thailand’s capital and largest city.
Thai people form the large majority of Thailand’s population, and most of them practice Theravada Buddhism. Other ethnic groups within the population include Chinese, Malays, and indigenous hill peoples, such as the Hmong and Karen. Thailand is known for its highly refined classical music and dance and for a wide range of folk arts. Traditionally based on agriculture, Thailand’s economy began developing rapidly in the 1980s
Facts and figures of Thailand
Basic Facts
Official name Kingdom of Thailand
Capital Bangkok
Area 513,115 sq km
198,115 sq mi
People
Population 64,865,523 (2004 estimate)
Population growth
Population growth rate 0.91 percent (2004 estimate) Projected population in 2025 3,260,176 (2004 estimate) Projected population in 2050 73,950,633 (2004 estimate) Population density 127 persons per sq km (2004 estimate)
328 persons per sq mi (2004 estimate
Urban/rural distribution
Share urban 20 percent (2002 estimate)
Share rural 80 percent (2002 estimate)
Largest cities, with population
Bangkok 6,320,174 (2000)
Nonthaburi 291,307 (2000)
Songkhla 288,000 (1998 estimate)
Nakhon Ratchasima 204,391 (2000)
Chiang Mai 167,776 (2000)
Ethnic groups
Thai 75 percent
Chinese 14 percent
Malay 3 percent
Khmer, Hmong, Karen, and other 8 percent
Government
Form of government Constitutional monarchy
Head of state King
Head of government Prime minister
Legislature Bicameral legislature
House of Representatives: 500 members
Senate: 200 members
Voting qualifications Universal at age 18 and older
Constitution 11 October 1997
Highest court Supreme Court
Armed forces Army, Navy, Air Force
Total number of military personne l 314,200 (2002)
Military expenditures as a share 1.5 percent (2002)
of gross domestic product (GDP)
First-level political divisions 76 provinces
Energy, Communications, and Transportation
Electricity production
Electricity from thermal sources 91.28 percent (2001 estimate)
Electricity