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  • Kirkeby Thurston posted an update 6 years, 2 months ago

    Most of the Vietnamese population are now living in the rural areas nevertheless the proportion of the urban human population are gradually increasing from 19.7% in 1990 to 26.0% in 2004. Vietnam’s largest city is Ho Chi Minh City (population 5.0 million) and Hanoi (population of 3.5 million) then Nai, Haiphong and Dac Lac.

    Household income in Ho Chi Minh City is virtually 3 x the national average – town accounts for up to 50 % of all the so-called motorbikes in Vietnam. Around 20% of the population live under the poverty level and mainly from rural households. 10%-15% from the households are middle to high-income households while 65%-70% are lower-income households.

    INFRASTRUCTURE. Vietnam’s telecommunication systems lag behind many neighbouring countries in your neighborhood and for that reason government puts great increased exposure of its modernisation. Digital exchanges now attached to Hanoi, Da Nang, and Ho Chi Minh City and main lines have increased whilst the use of mobile telephones is growing. The nation’s road system stretches through the northern to southern tip of Vietnam. Northern and southern Vietnam are with two air terminals and two main sea ports serving international shipping.

    INTERNATIONAL TRADE. Vietnam’s major trading partners will be the US, Japan, China, Australia, Germany, Singapore, Taiwan, Thailand and Mexico. Major exports include oil, seafood, rice, coffee, cashew nuts, rubber, tea, garments and shoes. Major imports include machineries and equipments, petroleum products, fertilisers, steel products, cotton, grains, cement and motorcycles.

    CONSUMER Use of TECHNOLOGY. There have been nearly 10.2million telephones placed in Vietnam and nearly 5.0 million cellphone subscribers in 2004. The federal government is putting considerable efforts to modernise and help the country’s telecommunication system but nonetheless lags compared to Singapore, Thailand and Malaysia. Computer penetration is low; estimates consist of 2% to 4% of people in 2004 as well as an estimated 5.8 million internet users. The penetration of television is merely 20% and concentrated to homes within the cities. Similarly, setting up refrigerators is targeted within the cities where 60% of the homes have refrigerators.

    RETAIL MARKET. Retail sales in Vietnam grew by 8%-12% annually from 2000 to 2004 brought about by increasing disposable income because of the country’s strong economic growth. Vietnamese consumers spend two-thirds of these income on retail purchases amounting to US$16.3 billion in 2004. Traditional wet markets and the "mom and pop" shops dominate the retail industry accounting for 95% in the total retail trade. A number of these retail shops measure only five square metres (54 sq . ft .). Modern stores are restricted but gradually emerging in the nation and generally locally owned businesses concentrated in Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi.

    FOOD CULTURE. Rice and noodles would be the staple food in the Vietnamese but taste preference differs by region. Foods in central Vietnam are spicier while foods in southern and northern Vietnam are less spicy and tend to be saltier. The Vietnamese often dip their foods with chilli, garlic or fish sauce to provide flavour. French colonialists introduced European style bread and bakeries into the Vietnamese food culture. Western style junk food service establishments are starting to emerge plus the traditional snack bars, cake shops and mobile food carts.

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