Flag of Vietnam: History and Symbolism

Flag of Vietnam

• The flag features a yellow color representing the Vietnamese race, a red background symbolizing blood, and a five-pointed star representing the workers, peasants, intellectuals, soldiers, and traders.

Geography of Vietnam

• Vietnam is located in the Indochina peninsula, east of India and South China.
• The country shares borders with Cambodia and Laos.
• Important cities in Vietnam include Ho Chi Minh City (formerly Saigon) and Hue, the old capital.
• Vietnam is two-thirds covered with hills and densely forested mountains, making it one of the most biodiverse countries.
• The country is home to unique species, such as the Solar deer.

History of Vietnam

• The name Vietnam was derived from the word Nam-Yueh, which was given by the Han to Chinese people who moved southward to the Red River delta.
• In 1257, the Chinese attempted to regain Vietnam, but the Vietnamese leader, Ngo Queyen, established himself as the king of the Vietnamese people.
• The Mongols attacked Hanoi in 1281, but the Vietnamese helped Champa and defeated the enemy.
• The French established colonial rule in Vietnam, which was meant to improve trade relations and protect French missionaries conducting conversion activities.

Major Land and Water Forms

• The Mekong River is a trans-boundary river in East Asia and Southeast Asia, with an estimated length of 4,909 km.
• The Red River Delta is a 1,149-kilometer-long river that flows from Yunnan in Southwest China through northern Vietnam to the Gulf of Tonkin.
• The Dong Nai River is a 586 km long river entirely located in Vietnam, giving its name to Dong Nai Province.
• The Da River, also known as the Black River, is a 910 km long river that courses through three provinces in northwestern Vietnam.

Vietnamese Culture and Practices

• Burning votive paper is a ritual that represents gifts for ancestors, and is performed regularly on particular days such as festivals, new and full moon days, yearly ancestors' death anniversaries, or the Lunar New Year.
• The God of Wealth is worshipped in businesses, and an altar is placed in a well-ventilated position to bring fortune into the business.
• Visiting the pagoda by the beginning of the year is a cultural practice where people gather to pray for health, peace, and happiness, and to feel connected with the harmony of heaven and earth.
• The Lunar New Year reunion (Tet Holiday) is a joyful family reunion that takes place from the first day of the first month of the Lunar calendar, and is a time for families to express filial piety, family bonds, and desire for a happy and prosperous coming year.

Vietnamese Inventions and Contributions

• Do Duc Cuong, a Vietnamese, is one of the inventors of the ATM.

Current Events

• President Võ Văn Thưởng, 54, is the youngest president in Vietnam's political history, and belongs to the southern province of Vinh Long.