COUNTRIES
Vietnam
Vietnam is a Southeast Asian country located on the eastern coast of the Indochina Peninsula. The country is bordered by China to the north, Laos to the northwest, and Cambodia to the southwest. Vietnam’s 2,140 miles of coastline border the South China Sea with mountainous regions rising further inland. At its narrowest point, Vietnam is around 31 miles across. The country’s landscape is full of mountains and tropical rainforests. Rice paddies and jungle regions are fed by beautiful rivers and teem with a diversity of wildlife. This diversity of life is made famous throughout the world by the delicately balanced flavors of Vietnamese cuisine. Today, Vietnam is a densely populated country with a young population, growing economy, and a stable political system.
Crushed and desolate in the wake of the Vietnam War, the Vietnamese have struggled through decades of extreme poverty and hunger. In recent years, the communist government has begun to loosen restrictions on trade and improving foreign relations.
Backed by the generous support of our partners, Food for the Hungry is committed to partnering with Vietnamese leaders and impoverished communities to improve the quality of life for these precious people.
COUNTRY FACTS:
- Capital: Hanoi
- Largest City: Ho Chi Minh City
- Population: 94.5 million
- Language: Vietnamese
- Size: 33,212km (little bigger than New Mexico)
- Exports: Mobile phones, textiles, seafood, steel, crude oil, rice, and coffee.
Our History in Vietnam
In 1975, FH’s founder, Dr. Larry Ward, helped Vietnamese refugees (also known as “boat people”) find new homes in the United States and other countries after fleeing the destruction of the Vietnam War. In the 1970s, FH supported these refugees through literacy, job training, and temporary housing programs. Then, in 2019, through FH partner Korea Food for the Hungry International (KFHI), FH began supporting sponsorship operations in Vietnam. Today, Food for the Hungry supporters sponsor children in Vietnam as part of the holistic community development strategy implemented by KFHI.
Current Work
Current communities: 1 | Children sponsored: 500
Did you know?
- Vietnam is home to the world’s largest cave, Son Doong.
- Motorbikes are one of the most popular forms of transportation but you can always catch an elephant ride, if you like.
- Vietnam’s culture is a unique blend of Chinese, Japanese, French and American influence.
- Vietnam’s ecosystem is incredibly diverse with 16% of the world’s species calling it home.