Vietnam has an area of 127,207 square miles and is located in Southeast Asia. The country has a coastline of nearly 1,440 miles (2,317 kilometers), much of which fronts on the South China Sea. Border countries are China, Cambodia, and Laos.

The current government is a Socialist Republic. The population of Vietnam in the early 1990s was estimated at more than 67 million. Birth- and death rates respectively were 31 and 9 per thousand. The natural rate of increase per year is 2.3 percent. If this rate continued, the population of the country would double within 30 years. The average life expectancy is 60 years.

The three traditional religions are Buddhism, Taoism, and Confucianism. Buddhism was brought into Vietnam from China in the 2nd century AD and has the largest number of followers. About 32 million Vietnamese follow Buddhism, and most of these followers are Mahayana Buddhists (see Buddhism). Both Mahayana and Theravada Buddhism are practiced. Most of Vietnam's Theravada Buddhists are Khmer Krom. They number about 900,000 and live in southern and southwestern Vietnam. It is this group that has supplied the Vietnamese army in C

All of the religions in Vietnam are peaceful and get along with each other. Buddhism and Taoism are the most peaceful. Their beliefs consist of not hurting anything living, so they are of no threat to anyone. Roman Catholic is not as widespread so they are of no danger, and it is mainly a peaceful religion. Confucianism is not really even practiced as a religion but more of a tool to be used in social gatherings.

Buddhism is the main religion in Vietnam. Buddhism is when you go through the act of self-denial and right thinking to reach the state of nirvana. Nirvana is any place or condition of great peace or bliss. One of the main forms of Buddhism practiced is theraveda. Theravada is a form of Buddhism stressing the original monastic discipline and attainment of nirvana by meditation. The other form of Buddhism that is practiced is Mahayana. Mahayana is a branch of Buddhism stressing idealism, disinterested love, and relief of the suffering of others. Confucianism is another popular religion, but it is mainly served as a means of forming social patterns. It is used as a form of conduct and how you should act and how to think. It is not a major religion in Vietnam as Buddhism. Taoism is a minor religion and does not have that many followers. Taoism is a Chinese re

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