With jVectorMap is it possible to hide zoom buttons and call Zoom In/Out using their API? I've checked the API documentation and couldn't find any methods, causing the map re-zoom.
Sure.
Hide the buttons:
$('#map').vectorMap({
map: 'world_mill_en',
zoomButtons : false
});
Get reference to the map:
map = $("#world-map-gdp").vectorMap('get', 'mapObject');
Set the zoom level:
map.setScale(4);