Vietnam Partner Community

Over the centuries, Hanoi has borne a variety of names, including Dong Kinh (Eastern Capital), from which the Europeans derived the name they eventually applied to all of northern Vietnam, Tonkin. The city was named Hanoi (The City in a Bend of the River) by Emperor Tu Duc in 1831. From 1902 to 1953, Hanoi served as the capital of French Indochina. The city celebrated its 1,000-year anniversary in 2011 with nationwide festivals, commemorative municipal projects, and a call from Vietnamese President Nguyen Minh Triet for continued development and unity for the entire country.

From the 1950s through much of the 1970s, Vietnam was the battleground of an extended war – divided north from south. The north was closely allied with Communist nations, primarily the Soviet Union (USSR). The south was supported by the United States and other allied nations. The Vietnam War (called "the American War" in Vietnam) ended in 1975, and political unity was established the next year when the Democratic Republic of Vietnam in the north and the Republic of Vietnam in the south once again became one nation. Despite the protracted war with the U.S., Americans are warmly welcomed by Vietnamese people throughout the country.

After the U.S. government lifted its 20-year trade embargo in 1994, the Vietnamese economy improved significantly. However, Vietnam is still a developing country with pervasive poverty in rural areas and depressed regions of the cities. Tourism has grown enormously over recent years, and Vietnam is now one of the top Asian travel destinations. International tourists from Asia, Europe, and North America can be seen in most large cities.

The Vietnamese culture was strongly influenced by China until French domination in the 19th century. During the French occupation, the traditional culture acquired an overlay of Western characteristics. Today, the French influence is still apparent in architecture, food, and clothing. Moreover, the rich mixture of religions practice by the Vietnamese reflects the influences of many cultures. Traditional Vietnamese religion included elements from Hinduism, Mahayana Buddhism, Taoism, and Confucianism. A majority of adherents today follow Buddhism; however, Christianity is also prevalent with as many as six million followers, most of whom are Roman Catholic. Read on for more information about Vietnamese people and culture.