Vietnam

Vietnam, Việt Nam or Viet Nam is a country in southeast Asia bordering the South China Sea. It is basically the former provinces of Annam, Tonkin and Cochinchina of French Indochina. See: Indochina.

Democratic Republic
The Viet Minh, Việt Minh, or Việt Nam độc lập đồng minh, was the independence movement in Vietnam created during World War II. Initially declaring independence from Indochina in September 1945, it agreed to the return of French control if autonomy was granted. Negotiations broke down and the Indochina war began in 1947.
 * In 1945, Indochina commemoratives were either overprinted or surcharged with VIET-NAM / DAN-CHU / CONG-HOA. "VN" or other devices were used to obliterate "RF" and French-related inscriptions.
 * In 1946, stamps depicting Ho Chi Minh were issued, inscribed similarly.
 * In 1948, its last issue was released.

 File:Viet minh Pavine surch.jpg|20c Pavie, the base stamp only known with the overprint. File:Viet minh Petain.jpg|3c Petain. File:Viet Minh Ho.jpg|1946 1h Ho Chi Minh. 

State of Vietnam

 * In 1949, Indochina was broken up by France into Cambodia, Laos and a newly created Vietnam, all as semi-autonomous French colonies. Vietnam issued its first stamp in June 1951. Stamps were inscribed VIET-NAM.
 * In August 1952, the ITU issue was released, inscribed VIỆT NAM. Following issues would use the accented character in the country name.
 * By July 1954, after the first Indochina War, the state of Vietnam had been partitioned into North and South Vietnam.

 File:Viet 20c.webp|20c Hué palace. File:Vietnam Bao dai.jpg|3pi Bao Dai. File:Vietnam empress.jpg|1952 1.50pi Empress Nam Phuong. File:Vietnam due A.jpg|1952 10c postage due. 

North and South Vietnam
In 1954, the partition of Vietnam created the new countries of:
 * the Communist Democratic Republic of Vietnam (North Vietnam). See: North Vietnam.
 * the Republic of Vietnam (South Vietnam). See: South Vietnam.
 * Within South Vietnam was the National Liberation Front of South Vietnam (Viet Cong). See: National Liberation Front.

 File:N vietnam 15th.jpg|North Vietnam. 1959 12xu 15th anniversary of the Peoples Army. File:S Vietnam airmail.jpg|South Vietnam. 1955 $4 airmail. File:NLF vote.A.webp|NLF/Viet Cong. 1976 6xu vote. 

Viet Nam
The Democratic Republic of Viet Nam was founded in July 1976.  File:Vietnam radiotelescope.jpg|From the 1983 Communications Year set. File:Vietnam mushroom.jpg|From the 1996 mushroom issue. File:Vietnam year cat 2010.jpg|2010 10500d year of the cat. File:Vietnam 2013 birds.jpg|2013 10500d birds. 
 * In 1976, its first issues were inscribed like the issues of North Vietnam, VIET-NAM DAN-CHU CONG-HOA.
 * Later in 1976, issues were inscribed VIỆT NAM (in two words).
 * That inscription is still used to this day.

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