51 Interesting Facts About Vietnam

Last updated on October 25th, 2022

Interesting facts about Vietnam’s current events and economy

41. Football is the most popular sport in Vietnam.

42. LGBT rights are getting more progressive, with a recent uplifting of the ban on same-sex marriage.

43. Motorbikes are the most common form of transport, and riders are fined by the authorities if found without a helmet.

44. Foreigners have the option of applying for a Temporary Residence Card, which is cheaper and easier to process than a visa.

45. Did you know that Vietnam is one of the biggest producers of cashew nuts in the world?

46. The country has a literacy level of 95.8%.

47. Their rate of unemployment is one of the lowest of all developing countries in the world.

48. School children are summoned by traditional gongs instead of bells.

49. Nguyen is the most common name in the country.

50. Vietnam owns about 20% of the coffee market share and is the second largest producer in the world.

51. To crown it all off, the Ha Long Bay is of such scenic beauty that it was included as one of the New 7 Wonders of Nature, as well as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Interesting facts about the Vietnam War

1. The Vietnam War or the Second War of Indochina was formerly America’s longest war until it was surpassed by the war in Afghanistan.

2. It had no clear cause and was started as a conflict.

3. It involved the communist government of North Vietnam in alliance with the Viet Cong against the government of South Vietnam with support from the Americans.

4. It lasted from 1954 to 1975.

5. It continued under the governance of five different American presidents.

6. It is broadly considered a mistake by the Americans, and a tragedy that could have been avoided.

7. It has been estimated to cost about 200 billion US dollars.

8. An estimated 2 million civilians and 1.3 million soldiers died during the war.

9. It is known as the American War in Vietnam.

10. The two countries just recently resumed formal diplomatic relations in 1995.

About the Flag of Vietnam

1. Design and Symbolism

The flag of Vietnam represents the character, society, and history of this Southeast Asian nation. It features a large five-pointed yellow star on a red field.

Yellow is a traditional color associated with the legendary Trung sisters. The women wore yellow turbans as they led a revolt against China in AD 40. The people proclaimed one of them, Trung Trac, their first queen.

Another female warrior, Lady Trieu, famously resisted Chinese rule in the third century. Soldiers made her their leader because of her bravery. She went to battles wearing yellow tunics and riding a war elephant. She proclaimed herself “The Lady General Clad in Golden Robe.” Temples continue to honor her today.

Historical flags from the time of the emperors always featured red and yellow. The meanings have shifted over time. According to a modern interpretation, the red field signifies bloodshed and struggle in a successful revolution. It is also associated with communism. Meanwhile, the yellow star symbolizes the Vietnamese people. Its five points represent the five classes in society: farmers, workers, soldiers, entrepreneurs, and intellectuals.

2. Adoption

Vietnam adopted the national flag on September 2, 1945. The last modification was in 1955 when the star became smaller and the rays straighter.

3. Technical Details

The flag dimensions follow the ratio of 2:3. The color scheme uses 1788 Red and Yellow in the Pantone system. The HEX equivalents are DA251D and FFFF00 for digital designs.

4. History

In the early 1800s, the Vietnamese emperor Gia Long established the Nguyen dynasty that would rule the country until the 1940s. He used a yellow banner with a red circle.

Foreign missionaries came to spread Christianity. Threatened by their activities, authorities detained them. The French Navy retaliated with a series of conquests that ended in colonization. In the late 19th century, Vietnam raised the tricolor flag of France.

The Second World War changed everything. The Japanese army drove out the French and established a puppet government. It used a yellow flag with a red symbol for “south.”

A communist coalition called Viet Minh resisted Japanese rule. When World War II ended, the country split into two. Communist leader Ho Chi Minh proclaimed independence and adopted the red Viet Minh flag as the national flag of North Vietnam.

Meanwhile, South Vietnam chose a yellow flag with three thin red stripes. After the Vietnam War ended in 1975, the North and South began reunification. They adopted the northern flag as the national banner.

5. Flag Facts

The Vietnamese Flag Designer

Nobody knew the creator until the writer Son Tung decided to investigate in the 1960s. He identified a revolutionary leader named Nguyen Huu Tien, head of the printing office, who fell into enemy hands. Before his execution, Tien wrote a farewell poem urging his comrades to fight on while raising the flag. In 1981, state media published his story.

Vietnam Flag Bans in the US

From 2016-2017, several cities in California banned the display of the Vietnam flag on city poles (Westminster, San Jose, and Milpitas). These are home to numerous South Vietnamese migrants who are against communism. They view the red flag as an unpleasant reminder of the past. Many waved the flag of former South Vietnam, a yellow banner with three stripes, in support of the resolutions.

Vietnam – country at a glance