VIETNAM

Socialist Republic of Vietnam Cong Hoa Chu Nghia Viet Nam

CAPITAL : Hanoi

FLAG : The flag is red with a five-pointed gold star in the center.

ANTHEM : Tien Quan Ça (Forward, Soldiers!).

MONETARY UNIT : The dong ( D ) is a paper currency of 10 hao and 100 xu. There are coins of 1, 2, and 5 xu, and notes of 5 xu, 1, 2, and 5 hao, and 1, 2, 5, and 10 dong. D 1 = $0.00007 (or $1 653= D 15,303) as of May 2003.

WEIGHTS AND MEASURES : The metric system is the legal standard, but some traditional measures are still used.

HOLIDAYS : Liberation of Saigon, 30 April; May Day, 1 May; Independence Day, 2 September. Movable holidays include the Vietnamese New Year (Tet).

TIME : 7 PM = noon GMT.

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