The Democratic Republic of Vietnam, established on September 2, 1945, adopted a constitution on December 31, 1959, based on communist principles and calling for reunification of all Vietnam.

After several years of war, North and South Vietnam became a unified country in 1975, which is now known as the Socialist Republic of Vietnam.

In 1986, Vietnam took significant steps away from a centrally planned economy to a market oriented economy. The most recent constitution was adopted in 2013.

Vietnam is long and narrow, with a 2,300 km coast. About 22% of the country is arable, including the densely settled Red River Delta in the north, narrow coastal plains in center, and the wide, often marshy Mekong River Delta in the south. The rest consists of semi-arid plateaus and barren mountains with some stretches of tropical rain forest.