Vietnam Fun Facts

1. Vietnam is the largest exporter of cashews in the world, as well as the second largest exporter of rice and coffee.

2. The population of Vietnam is approximately 84 million, 67% of whom are aged 15 to 64.

3. Vietnam has 54 different ethnic groups. The largest one is Kinh (or Viet) who make up 88% of the population.

4. The currency of Vietnam is the “Dong“.

5. According to Vietnamese legend, the people are descended from the king of the underwater kingdom and a fairy from the mountain highlands.

6. “Nguyen” is the most popular surname in Vietnam.

7. Avoiding eye contact is considered respectful when talking to senior Vietnamese people.

8. Denying compliments is considered polite and equivalent to saying “thank you” in a humble and appropriate manner.

9. Ao Dai is he traditional dress for Vietnamese women and is worn during ceremonies and other important events. The Ao Dai consists of a body-tight tunic, with two side-slits from the waist to the ankles, worn over flowing white trousers. It’s also the uniform for many Vietnamese schoolgirls.

10. In the 1990s, English surpassed French and Russian as the second most popular language in Vietnam.