VIETNAM

Motto: "Independence Freedom Happiness"

Capital: Hanoi
Largest city: Ho Chi Minh City
Official languages: Vietnamese
Official scripts: Vietnamese
Area:
Total: 332,698 km
Water (%) :6.4
Population:
2015 estimate: 91,700,000
VIETNAM

officially the Socialist Republic

the easternmost country on the Indochina Peninsula in Southeast Asia.

estimated 90.5 million inhabitants as of 2014, it is the world's 14th-most-populous

country, and the eighth-most-populous Asian country.

The name Vietnam translates as "Southern Viet"

The country is bordered by China to the north, Laos to the northwest,

Cambodia to the southwest, and Malaysia across the South China Sea to the
southeast

Vietnam is located on the eastern Indochina Peninsula between the latitudes 8

and 24N, and the longitudes 102 and 110E. It covers a total area of
approximately 331,210 km2 (127,881 sq mi), making it almost the size of
Germany.

Climate

During the winter or dry season, extending roughly from November to April, the
monsoon winds usually blow from the northeast along the Chinese coast and
across the Gulf of Tonkin, picking up considerable moisture. Consequently, the

winter season in most parts of the country is dry only by comparison with the
rainy or summer season.

The average annual temperature is generally higher in the plains than in the
mountains, and higher in the south than in the north. Temperatures vary less in
the southern plains around Ho Chi Minh City and the Mekong Delta, ranging
between 21 and 28 C (69.8 and 82.4 F) over the course of the year. Seasonal
variations in the mountains and plateaus and in the north are much more
dramatic, with temperatures varying from 5 C (41.0 F) in December and
January to 37 C (98.6 F) in July and August.

Religion in Vietnam

Non-religious or folk belief (73.2%)

Buddhism (12.2%)

Catholicism (6.8%)

Caodaism (4.8%)

Protestantism (1.5%)

Hoahaoism (1.4%)

Others (0.1%)

The Vietnamese Education System

There are 12 years of formal education, which are divided into the following stages:

Crche and pre-primary school

Primary school

Secondary school

High school

Primary school
Primary school lasts for five years and finishes at the ages of 11. It is divided into two
phases:

Phase 1 Grades 1, 2 and 3 where six subjects are studied: Vietnamese,

mathematics, morality, nature and society, arts, and physical education

Phase 2 Grades 4 and 5 where nine subjects are studied: Vietnamese,

mathematics, morality, science, history, geography, basic techniques, music, arts,
and physical education

At the end of primary school, students choose between going to secondary

school (for four years) or doing professional training, which lasts two years.

Secondary school

Secondary school lasts for four years of school (between sixth and ninth grade),
and finishes at the age of 15.

Subjects studied are Vietnamese, mathematics, biology, physics, chemistry,

history, geography, civics, foreign language, physical education, technology, art,
and music. Optional subjects include: class activities and school activities,
vocational-oriented activities and extra-curricular activities.

TAIWAN

Land area:
12,456 sq mi (32,261 sq km); total area: 13,892 sq mi (35,980 sq km)
Population(2014est.)
23,359,928 (growth rate: 0.25%); birth rate: 8.55/1000; infant mortality
rate: 4.49/1000; life expectancy: 79.84

Capital (2014 est.)

Taipei, 6,950,646 (metro. area), 2,693,672 (city proper)

Other large cities:

New Taipei, 3,913,595
Kaohsiung, 2,773,855
Taichung, 2,662,770
Tainan, 1,876,706
Hsinchu, 419,384
Ethnic Make-up:
Taiwanese (including Hakka) 84%,
mainland Chinese 14%,
indigenous 2%

Religions
MMixture of Buddhist and Taoist 93%, Christian 4.5%,
other 2.5%

Climate
Tropical; marine; rainy season during southwest monsoon (June to August); cloudiness
is persistent and extensive all year.

Monetary unit
New Taiwan dollar

Government
Multiparty democracy.

Geography
The Republic of China today consists of the island of Taiwan, an island 100 mi (161 km)
off the Asian mainland in the Pacific; two off-shore islands, Kinmen (Quemoy) and
Matsu; and the nearby islets of the Pescadores chain. It is slightly larger than the
combined areas of Massachusetts and Connecticut.

Government
Multiparty democracy.
Taiwan was inhabited by aborigines of Malayan descent when Chinese from the
areas now designated as Fukien and Kwangtung began settling it in the 7th century,
becoming the majority. The Portuguese explored the area in 1590, naming it the
Beautiful (Formosa). In 1624 the Dutch set up forts in the south, the Spanish in the
north. The Dutch forced out the Spanish in 1641 and controlled the island until 1661,
when Chinese general Koxinga took it over and established an independent kingdom.
The Manchus seized the island in 1683 and held it until 1895, when it passed to Japan
after the first Sino-Japanese War. Japan developed and exploited Formosa. It was the
target of heavy American bombing during World War II, and at the close of the war the
island was restored to China.
After the defeat of its armies on the mainland, the Nationalist government of
Generalissimo Chiang Kai-shek retreated to Taiwan in Dec. 1949. Chiang dominated
the island, even though only 15% of the population consisted of the 1949 immigrants,
the Kuomintang. He maintained a 600,000-man army in the hope of eventually
recovering the mainland.
Beijing viewed the Taiwanese government with suspicion and anger, referring to
Taiwan as a breakaway province of China.
The UN seat representing all of China was held by the Nationalists for over two

decades before being lost in Oct. 1971, when the People's Republic of China was
admitted and Taiwan was forced to abdicate its seat to Beijing.

Language
Mandarin Chinese

The People
Taiwans population is mostly Han Chinese who were born on the mainland or have
ancestors that were. They are divided into three groups based on the dialect of Chinese
they
speak:
Taiwanese,
Hakka,
and
Mandarin.
Taiwan also has a small population of aborigines who comprise about 2 percent of the
total population.
Taiwans population is mostly Han Chinese who were born on the mainland or have
ancestors that were. They are divided into three groups based on the dialect of Chinese
they
speak:
Taiwanese,
Hakka,
and
Mandarin.
Taiwan also has a small population of aborigines who comprise about 2 percent of the
total population.

Taiwans Education
Subjects include:

Mandarin: The official language of instruction.

Mathematics: Mathematics education begins with the basics and reaches

introductory algebra and geometry by the 6th grade.

Science: Comprehensive science classes covering basic biology, physics, and

chemistry.

English: English is a compulsory subject within the mainstream school system

from Grade 3 Elementary School and up.

Native languages: Additional language classes in Taiwanese and Hakka

Chinese are offered.

Social studies
Music
Art
Junior high school
Junior high school spans grades 7 through 9 and is the last half of
compulsory education.
Subject matter covered includes:

Literature: Classical and modern Chinese literature and poetry, composition and
public speaking.

Mathematics: Covers single and two variable algebra, geometry, proofs,

trigonometry, and pre-calculus.

English: Contains essential English grammar.

Science & Technology

Biology: Taken during first year, includes more in depth studies and lab
work.

Chemistry: Taken during second year. More rigorous introduction to

atoms, molecule, and chemical reactions, including lab work.

Physics: Taken during third year. More rigorous introduction to physical

laws and equations, including lab work.

Earth Science: Taken during third year.

Technology: Taken during the whole three years. Introduce some basic
technology in daily life.

Social Studies

Civics: Basic demotics, politics, and economics.

History: Focus on the history of Taiwan and China during the first two
years, and world history during third year.

Geography: Contain introductive geography accompanied with

geography of Taiwan during first year, geography of China and East Asia
during second year, and the world geography during third year.

Home economics & crafts

Art: Inclusive of three independent parts: Fine Art, Music, and Drama.

PE

Scout education: Outdoor survival skills.

Senior high school

Senior high school spans grades 10 through 12, again the main
goal of students is to score highly on the national university entrance exams at
the end of their third year. The pace is just as, if not more intense than junior high
school.

Taiwan has many universities, both public and private.

Many public universities receive financial support from the government for
research purposes. In terms of public resources and expenses for higher
education, both used to be incentives for students when they are choosing
between public and private universities after their high school education.

Some of the highly regarded public universities in Taiwan include:

North

Middle

South

NORTH UNIVERSITIES:

National Taiwan University:

Taiwan's most recognized and comprehensive public

research university. Distinguished programs in humanities and sciences, with
programs in law, medicine and engineering representing particular strengths.

National Taiwan Normal University:

Prestigious in its education, fine arts, liberal arts, music, and

natural science programs. It is the leading institute in teacher training, and is best
known internationally for its Mandarin Training Center.

NORTH UNIVERSITIES:

National Taiwan University:

Taiwan's most recognized and comprehensive public

research university. Distinguished programs in humanities and sciences, with
programs in law, medicine and engineering representing particular strengths.

National Taiwan Normal University:

Prestigious in its education, fine arts, liberal arts, music, and

natural science programs. It is the leading institute in teacher training, and is best
known internationally for its Mandarin Training Center.

National Tsing Hua University

Distinguished programs in sciences and engineering, including:
physics
chemistry
Mathematics
materials science and engineering
chemical engineering
industrial engineering,
nuclear engineering
electrical engineering

 computer science
life sciences
Linguistics
history
National Chengchi University:
Highly rated in commerce, communications, politics, and foreign languages.
Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business accredited.
National Yang-Ming University:
Distinguished programs in medicine and life science.
National Chengchi University:

Highly rated in commerce, communications, politics,

and foreign languages. Association to Advance
Collegiate Schools of Business accredited.

National Yang-Ming University:

Distinguished programs in medicine and life science.

MIDDLE UNIVERSITY
National Chung Hsing University:
Well known for programs in agriculture and biology.

CHINA

Located in Southeast Asia along the coastline of the Pacific Ocean, China is the
world's third largest country, after Russia and Canada. With an area of 9.6 million
square kilometers and a coastline of 18,000 kilometers, its shape on the map is like a
rooster.

Languages

There are as many as 292 living languages in China.

The languages most commonly spoken belong to the Sinitic branch of the Sino-Tibetan
language family, which contains Mandarin (spoken natively by 70% of the population),
and other Chinese varieties:
Wu(including Shanghainese),
Yue (including Cantonese and Taishanese),
Min (including Hokkien and Teochew),
Xiang,
Gan,
Hakka
Standard Mandarin, a variety of Mandarin based on the Beijing dialect, is the official
national language of China and is used as a lingua franca in the country between
people of different linguistic backgrounds
It reaches Mohe in Heilongjiang Province as its northern end, Zengmu Ansha (or
James Shoal) to the south, Pamirs to the west, and expands to the eastern border at
the conjunction of the Heilongjiang (Amur) River and the Wusuli (Ussuri) River,
spanning about 50 degrees of latitude and 62 degrees of longitude. China is bordered
by 14 countries

Korea,
Vietnam,
Laos,
Burma,
India,
Bhutan,
Nepal,
Pakistan,
Afghanistan,
Tajikistan,
Kyrgyzstan,
Kazakstan

Mongolia,
Russia.
Marine-side neighbors include eight
countries -- North Korea, Korea, Japan,
Philippines, Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia
and Vietnam

Landscape and climate

The territory of China lies between latitudes 18 and 54 N, and longitudes 73 and 135
E.
China's landscapes vary significantly across its vast width. In the east, along the shores
of the Yellow Sea and the East China Sea, there are extensive and densely populated
alluvial plains, while on the edges of the Inner Mongolian plateau in the north, broad
grasslands predominate.

Southern China is dominated by hills and low mountain ranges, while the
central-east hosts the deltas of China's two major rivers, the Yellow River and the
Yangtze River.
To the west sit major mountain ranges, most notably the Himalayas. High
plateaus feature among the more arid landscapes of the north, such as theTaklamakan
and the Gobi Desert. The world's highest point, Mount Everest (8,848m), lies on the
Sino-Nepalese border
The country's lowest point, and the world's third-lowest, is the dried lake bed of
Ayding Lake (154m) in the Turpan Depression
China's climate is mainly dominated by dry seasons and wet monsoons, which
lead to pronounced temperature differences between winter and summer.
The climate in China differs from region to region because of the country's highly
complex topography.
A major environmental issue in China is the continued expansion of its deserts,
particularly the Gobi Desert.

Politics
China's constitution declares that the country is ruled "under the leadership" of the
Communist Party of China (CPC)

China's constitution states that The People's Republic of China "is a socialist
state under the people's democratic dictatorship led by the working class and
based on the alliance of workers and peasants," and that the state organs "apply
the principle of democratic centralism."

The PRC is one of the world's few remaining socialist states openly endorsing
communism.The Chinese government has been variously described as
communist and socialist, but also as authoritarian and corporatist,with heavy
restrictions in many areas, most notably against free access to the Internet,
freedom of the press, freedom of assembly, the right to have children, free
formation of social organizations and freedom of religion.

Economy
Since economic liberalization began in 1978, China has been among the world's fastestgrowing economies, relying largely on investment- and export-led growth
As of 2014, China has the world's second-largest economy in terms of nominal GDP,
totalling approximately US$10.380 trillion according to the International Monetary Fund.
If purchasing power parity (PPP) is taken into account, China's economy is the
largest in the world, with a 2014 PPP GDP of US$17.617 trillion.
China became the world's largest energy consumer in 2010, relies on coal to supply
over 70% of its energy needs, and surpassed the US to become the world's largest oil
importer in September 2013.

Education
Since 1986, compulsory education in China comprises primary and junior secondary
school, which together last for nine years.
In 2010, about 82.5 percent of students continued their education at a three-year senior
secondary school.
Vocational education is available to students at the secondary and tertiary level.

Health
China's population having basic health insurance coverage.
In 2011, China was estimated to be the world's third-largest supplier of
pharmaceuticals, but its population has suffered from the development and distribution
of counterfeit medications
Religion
Religion in China (CGSS's average 2012)
Not religious, traditional worship, or Taoism (87.4%)
Buddhism (6.2%)
Christianity (2.3%)
Folk religious sects (2.2%)
Islam (1.7%)
Other faiths (0.2%)

Culture

They sought to change some traditional aspects of Chinese culture, such as rural
land tenure, sexism, and the Confucian system of education, while preserving
others, such as the family structure and culture of obedience to the state.

Many important aspects of traditional Chinese morals and culture, such as

Confucianism, art, literature, and performing arts like Peking opera.

Literature

Chinese literature is based on the literature of the Zhou dynasty.

Concepts covered within the Chinese classic texts present a wide range
of thoughts and subjects including:

calendar

military

astrology

herbology

geography

Some of the most important early texts include the IChing and the Shujing within
the Four Books and Five Classics which served as the Confucian authoritative
books for the state-sponsored curriculum in dynastic era.