Legal system: based on communist legal theory and French civil law system
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch: chief of state : President Le Duc ANH (since 23 September 1992) head of government: Prime Minister Vo Van KIET (since 9 August 1991); First Deputy Prime Minister Phan Van KHAI (since 10 August 1991); Deputy Prime Ministers Nguyen KHANH (since NA February 1987) and Tran Duc LUONG (since NA February 1987) cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president on the proposal of the prime minister and ratification of the National Assembly elections: president elected by the National Assembly from among its members for a five-year term; election last held 23 September 1992 (next to be held when National Assembly meets following legislative elections in July 1997); prime minister appointed by the president from among the members of the National Assembly; deputy prime ministers appointed by the prime minister election results: Le Duc ANH elected president; percent of National Assembly vote - NA
Legislative branch: unicameral National Assembly or Quoc-Hoi (395 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms) elections: last held 19 July 1992 (next to be held 20 July 1997) election results: percent of vote by party - CPV or CPV-approved 100%; seats by party - CPV or CPV-approved 395
Judicial branch: Supreme People's Court, chief justice is elected for a five-year term by the National Assembly on the recommendation of the president
Political parties and leaders: only party - Communist Party of Vietnam
(CPV), DO MUOI, general secretary
International organization participation: ACCT, AsDB, ASEAN, CCC,
ESCAP, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO,
IMF, IMO, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), ISO, ITU, Mekong
Group, NAM, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO,
WToO, WTrO (applicant)
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission : Ambassador Le Van BANG chancery: 1233 20th Street NW, Washington, DC 20036, Suite 501 telephone: [1] (202) 861-0737 FAX: [1] (202) 861-0917
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Douglas "Pete" Peterson embassy : 7 Lang Ha Road, Ba Dinh District, Hanoi mailing address: PSC 461, Box 400, FPO AP 96521-0002 telephone: [84] (4) 8431500 FAX: [84] (4) 8350484 or 8431510
Flag description: red with a large yellow five-pointed star in the center