Vietnam: flag, capital, currency and history

Vietnam, officially the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, is a country in South-Eastern Asia, Asia. Its capital is Hanoi. The currency is the Vietnamese đồng. Languages spoken include Vietnamese.

Quick facts about Vietnam

Official name: Socialist Republic of Vietnam
Capital: Hanoi
Region: Asia, South-Eastern Asia
Currency: Vietnamese đồng (VND, ₫)
Languages: Vietnamese
Calling code: +84
Internet domain: .vn
Area: 331,212 km² (127,882 sq mi)
Land borders: Cambodia, China, Laos
Demonym: Vietnamese
National day: National Day, September 2

Flag of Vietnam

Download the flag of Vietnam as a scalable SVG or as a PNG in three sizes. The flag emoji is 🇻🇳.

SVG (vector)

History of Vietnam

Early Vietnamese states developed in the Red River Delta, and Chinese dynasties ruled the north from the 2nd century BC until the 10th century AD. After Ngô Quyền's victory in 938, independent dynasties including the Ly, Tran and Le governed. The Nguyen dynasty unified the country in 1802. France colonised Vietnam in the 19th century and included it in French Indochina. Ho Chi Minh declared independence in 1945, and a war against France ended in 1954 with the country divided. The Vietnam War ended in 1975, and the country was reunified in 1976 as a one-party socialist republic.

Key dates

111 BCThe Han dynasty conquers the Nanyue kingdom and begins long Chinese rule in the north.
938Ngô Quyền defeats a Southern Han fleet at the Bach Dang River.
1802Nguyen Anh founds the Nguyen dynasty as Emperor Gia Long.
1887France forms French Indochina, which includes Vietnamese territories.
1945Ho Chi Minh declares the independence of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam.
1954The Geneva Accords end the war with France and divide the country.
1976North and South are officially reunified as the Socialist Republic of Vietnam.