Vietnam

Where the name comes from

Vietnam means “southern Viet”; Viet is related to Yue, an ancient name for peoples of southern China and neighbouring northern Vietnam.

First people

The Đông Sơn culture made great bronze drums here more than 2,000 years ago, and regional states later developed under Chinese rule and expanded southward.^1,2

Known for

Vietnam is known for Ha Long Bay, with thousands of limestone islands, and for pho noodle soup.³

Outside contact

French conquest began in 1858; Japan occupied the country in 1940 and took over its government in 1945, the year independence was proclaimed.²

The modern country

Victory over French forces in 1954 was followed by division and another long war; North Vietnamese forces took Saigon in 1975, and the country formally reunified in 1976.⁴