About VIETNAM country:
National Flag
 National Emblem |
 National Anthem |
Vietnam Map
- The National Flag of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam is rectangular in shape, its width is equal to two thirds of its length, in the middle of fresh red background is a bright five-pointed golden star.
- The national emblem of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam is circular in shape; in the middle of a red background is a five-pointed golden star framed by rice ears below which is half a cogwheel and the inscription: Socialist Republic of Vietnam
- The national anthem of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam is the music and words of the song Tiến quân ca (The Song of the Marching Troops) composed by musician Văn Cao.
- Geographical location: (main land)Longitude: from 102o09’ to 109o30’ EastLatitude: from 8o10’ to 23o24’ NorthMainland area: 331,690 km2Distance (air way) between the Northernmost point and the Southernmost point:1,650 kmDistance East-West at max: 600 km (Northern), 400 km (Southern); at min: 50 km (Quảng Bình, Central Part)
About VIETNAM stamps:
The first postage stamp officially circulated in Cochinchina (now South Vietnam) in 1863 by the French colonialists which were used in all French colonies (the difference was the post marks of each colony). The first type of commercial stamps appeared in Vietnam in the period between 1886 and 1887, overprinted with abbreviation C.CH, (which stand for Cochinchine – the former name of South Vietnam).
In 1888, this kind of stamps circulated in central Vietnam which was overprinted with the letter A (abbreviation of ANNAM) in northern Vietnam it was over-printed with the letter T (abbreviation of TONKIN).
In 1889, the Indochinese stamps officially came into being and were used in Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia.
From 1941 to 1945, almost all of Indochinese stamps were designed by Vietnamese painters and printed in Vietnam as well.
From 1945 to 1975, Vietnam had undergone an extraordinary historical stage. There existed several political regimes in the country and they all issued their own postage stamps. Historically, there were two major ideologies of stamps, namely:
POSTAGE STAMPS ISSUED BY REVOLUTIONARY ADMINISTRATIONS:
They included stamps issued by Revolutionary Administrations in different periods.
1. Postage stamps issued by the Democratic Republic of Vietnam:
- The over-printed Indochinese stamps: 1945 – 1946 (provisional stamps). The August Revolution triumphed, on 2 Sept. 1945, President Ho Chi Minh proclaimed in Hanoi the independence of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam. During the first days of the independence, Vietnam Postal Administration had to over-print several Indochinese stamps to use as provisional postage stamps of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam. There are 53 Indochinese stamps which had been over-printed by typography with 13 different inscriptions in black, red, green or blue are converted into 57 stamps of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam. Among 57 provisional stamps there are 21 surcharged with new face-values in Vietnamese currency, 6 in both Indochinese and Vietnamese currencies, the remaining 30 stamps without any change of their face-value (still in Indochinese currency).
First over-printed Indochinese stamps
- The stamps issued by the Democratic Republic of Vietnam: From 2 September 1946 to 24 June 1976, circulated in North Vietnam. From 2 September 1946 to 24 June 1976, circulated in North Vietnam.
On 2 Sept. 1946, marking the first National Day of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam, the Postal Administration of Vietnam issued the stamp-set featuring the President Ho Chi Minh’s portrait consisting of 5 values. This is the first stamp-set designed and printed by Vietnamese. The issuance of this stamp-set has ushered in a new era for the independent development of Vietnamese Postage Stamps.
First stamp 2 September 1946
2. Postage stamps issued by the Socialist Republic of Vietnam: since 24 June 1976, circulated all over the country.
HochiMinh and Map
3. Postage stamps issued by the National Front for Liberation of South Vietnam (from 20 December 1963 to 1969); and Postage stamps issued by Provisional Revolutionary Government of Republic of South Vietnam (from 22 April 1970 to 24 June 1976), circulated in the liberated zones of South Vietnam.
- From 20 Dec. 1963 to 1969, the National Front for Liberation (NFLSV) of South Vietnam issued 8 stamp-sets (consisting of 22 values)
- And continuously, from 22 Apr. 1970 to 24 Jun. 1976, the Provisional Revolutionary Government of Republic of South Vietnam (PRGRSV) issued 14 stamp-sets (consisting of 48 values).
Postage stamps issued by the National Front for Liberation of South Vietnam and the Provisional Revolutionary Government of Republic of South Vietnam were continuously arranged in numbers and become a branch of Vietnam Revolutionary Postage Stamp.
National Front for Liberation of South Vietnam
POSTAGE STAMPS ISSUED BY OTHER REGIMES:
1. Vietnam National stamps (Bao Dai stamps): from 1951 to 1955, circulated in temporarily occupied areas.
2. Stamps of the Republic of Vietnam (former Saigon puppet regime): from 1956 to 1975, circulated in the areas under the control of the former Saigon puppet regime.
With the victory on 30 April 1975, South Vietnam was completely liberated and Vietnam reunified, the stamps issued by Saigon puppet regime terminated its circulation.
After half a century of existence and development, Vietnamese Postage Stamps have been growing in every aspect. Vietnam’s stamps have reflected the country of Vietnam: land and people, historical landmarks, development and all social activities.
