Category: Vietnam travel facts

In the 18th century, rural uprisings swept across Vietnam, yet most were easily subdued. However, in 1771, three brothers from Tay Son village, near Quy Nhon, led a rebellion that would reshape the nation. With widespread support from displaced peasants, ethnic minorities, small merchants, and urban dwellers, the Tay Son movement promoted ideals of equality, […]

The first Westerners to reach Vietnamese shores were likely traders from ancient Rome, who visited the ports of Champa around the 2nd century AD. Later, in the 13th century, Marco Polo sailed along the coast on his journey to China. However, the arrival of Portuguese merchant Antonio Da Faria at Fai Fo (modern-day Hoi An) […]

This period of Chinese occupation met with stronger resistance from a now more unified Vietnamese population. Vietnamese resistance took root in the mountains of Thanh Hoa, south of Hanoi, led by the local nobleman and mandarin Le Loi, who launched a prolonged struggle for national liberation. For a decade, Le Loi’s disciplined guerrilla forces disrupted […]

After the Ly dynasty’s decline, the Tran dynasty rose to power in 1225 and achieved notable military triumphs, successfully repelling Mongol invasions in 1257, 1284, and 1288. In the first two invasions, Mongol forces temporarily occupied the capital but were forced to retreat shortly after. The most renowned defense took place in 1288 on the […]

Following independence from Chinese rule in 939 CE, Vietnam faced a turbulent period marked by internal conflicts. When Ngo Quyen, who had liberated the region, passed away after a brief five-year reign, Nam Viet fell into disorder as twelve warlords contested for control. In 968 CE, Dinh Bo Linh emerged as the unifying force, consolidating […]

Funan and Champa: The Historical Legacy of Vietnam’s Southern Civilizations While northern Vietnam has long been influenced by China, the southern region experienced the significant impact of Indian civilization, particularly during the early centuries AD. Indian traders, navigating east towards China, established Hindu settlements along the southern Indochinese coast, with the most notable city-state being […]

Foundations of Early Vietnamese Kingdoms In the mid-3rd century BCE, a Chinese warlord overtook the kingdom of Van Lang, establishing a new realm named Au Lac, with its capital at Co Loa, close to present-day Hanoi. This marked the first unification of the lowland Lac Viet and neighboring hill communities. However, in approximately 207 BCE, […]

The earliest traces of human activity in Vietnam date back to a paleolithic culture that emerged around half a million years ago. These early hunter-gatherers gradually began to develop basic agricultural practices. However, a transformative shift occurred approximately 4,000 years ago when communities in the Red River Delta initiated the cultivation of irrigated rice. The […]

Historical Timeline of Vietnam c. 3000 BCE: First known signs of agriculture in the Red River Delta. c. 2000 BCE: Formation of Van Lang, Vietnam’s first recognized kingdom. 257 BCE: Establishment of the Au Lac kingdom. 111 BCE: Chinese invasion initiates nearly a millennium of intermittent Chinese rule. 40 CE: The Trung sisters lead a […]