Vietnamese are the 63^rd happiest people on the planet on aspects such as long life expectancy, high average income and robust social ties, according to a 156-nation survey just published by the United Nations Sustainable Development Solutions Network. 

Other neighboring countries in Asia are Thailand (36), Singapore (30), Philippines (92), Cambodia (140), Myanmar (121), Malaysia (56), and Laos (109).

Five countries with the highest levels of happiness are Denmark, Norway, Switzerland, Netherlands and Sweden while Rwanda, Burundi, the Central African Republic, Benin and Togo -- all nations in Sub-Saharan Africa -- are the least happy people, according to the report.

The survey, conducted between 2010 and 2012, ranks the US as the 17^th happiest country in the world. Other major nations included Germany (26), Japan (43), Russia (68) and China (93).

The six factors to rank 156 countries are real GDP per capita, healthy life expectancy, having someone to count on, perceived freedom to make life choices, freedom from corruption, and generosity, according to the report.

“There is now a rising worldwide demand that policy be more closely aligned with what really matters to people as they themselves characterize their well-being,” Professor Jeffery Sachs, director of Columbia University's Earth Institute, said in a statement.

“More and more world leaders are talking about the importance of well-being as a guide for their nations and the world. The World Happiness Report 2013 offers rich evidence that the systematic measurement and analysis of happiness can teach us a lot about ways to improve the world’s well-being and sustainable development,” he added.