Hà Tây province and several neighbouring districts are merged into Hanoi, roughly tripling the capital's area.
Vietnam's first communications satellite is launched into orbit.
Vietnam becomes the 150th member of the World Trade Organization.
A magnitude 9.1 earthquake off Sumatra triggers tsunamis that kill around 230,000 people across many countries.
General Võ Nguyên Giáp, commander at Điện Biên Phủ, dies in Hanoi aged 102.
Following the 1999 referendum and a period of UN administration, East Timor becomes an independent state.
The Ho Chi Minh City Securities Trading Center begins trading, launching Vietnam's stock market.