🇻🇳 Vietnam Quiz: 25 Fun Facts & Trivia Questions You Should Know

Hanoi has been Vietnam’s capital since 1945, after the declaration of independence by Ho Chi Minh. It’s the country's second-largest city, rich in history, culture, and French colonial architecture. It was also the capital of North Vietnam during the Vietnam War.

The Vietnam War ended on April 30, 1975, when North Vietnamese forces captured Saigon, the capital of South Vietnam. This marked the reunification of the country under communist rule and ended decades of conflict.

The Mekong River originates in Tibet and runs through China, Myanmar, Laos, Thailand, Cambodia, and Vietnam. In Vietnam, it forms the vast Mekong Delta, known as the "Rice Bowl of Vietnam" due to its fertile soil and intensive rice farming.

Fansipan, also called “The Roof of Indochina,” stands at 3,147 meters (10,326 feet) and is the tallest peak in Vietnam, as well as the highest in the Indochinese Peninsula. It's located in the Lào Cai Province in northern Vietnam near Sapa.

The lotus flower symbolizes purity, resilience, and enlightenment in Vietnamese culture and Buddhism. It grows in muddy water, yet rises above the surface clean and beautiful—an analogy cherished in Vietnamese philosophy.

Vietnam shares land borders with China to the north, Laos to the west, and Cambodia to the southwest. The border with Laos is the longest, spanning over 2,000 km, and cuts through mountainous and forested terrain.

Emperor Gia Long unified Vietnam in 1802 and established the Nguyen Dynasty, which ruled until 1945. He moved the capital to Hue and sought to modernize Vietnam while maintaining Confucian values.

Vietnam is one of the top three rice exporters in the world, alongside Thailand and India. The Mekong and Red River deltas are the main rice-producing regions, supporting the country’s food supply and export economy.

Vietnam has a long eastern coastline along the South China Sea, which is a strategic and economically vital waterway. The sea supports Vietnam’s fishing industry and is significant for regional geopolitics and maritime trade.

Quốc Ngữ, meaning “national language,” is a Romanized script created in the 17th century by missionaries. It replaced earlier Chinese-based scripts and is now universally used for all writing in Vietnam, helping to increase literacy.

While Vietnam is officially a secular state, Mahayana Buddhism is widely practiced, often blended with elements of Confucianism and Taoism in what's called the "Three Teachings" (Tam Giáo). There are also Catholic and indigenous spiritual communities.

Vietnam was part of French Indochina from the late 19th century until the mid-20th century. The French influence is still visible in Vietnam’s architecture, cuisine (e.g., baguette-based banh mi), and legal systems.

Vietnam has a tropical monsoon climate, meaning it experiences high humidity, a rainy season (typically May to October), and a dry season (November to April). The northern region has more seasonal variation, including cool winters.

The Ao Dai is an elegant, long tunic worn over pants, often made from silk. It’s worn during formal occasions, weddings, and school ceremonies, and represents Vietnamese grace and femininity.

Before 1976, Ho Chi Minh City was known as Saigon. It was the capital of South Vietnam during the war. After reunification, it was renamed in honor of the revolutionary leader Ho Chi Minh, although locals still often call it Saigon informally.

Pho is a traditional Vietnamese soup made with rice noodles, herbs, and meat, usually beef (phở bò) or chicken (phở gà). It’s typically served with lime, bean sprouts, basil, and chili, and is considered a national dish.

The Vietnamese Dong (VND) has been the official currency since 1978. The currency is known for its high numerical denominations, such as 10,000 VND or 500,000 VND, which reflects its relatively low value against major world currencies.

The Central Highlands, particularly Dak Lak province, is the heart of Vietnam's coffee industry. Vietnam is the world’s second-largest coffee exporter, famous for robusta beans and unique brews like egg coffee and iced milk coffee.

The Non La is a traditional conical hat worn throughout Vietnam, especially by farmers and market vendors. It protects against sun and rain and is often considered a cultural icon of rural Vietnam.

Tết Nguyên Đán, or Tet, is the most important celebration in Vietnam. It marks the Vietnamese Lunar New Year and is celebrated with family gatherings, special foods, fireworks, and honoring ancestors. It usually takes place in late January or early February.

On September 2, 1945, Ho Chi Minh declared independence from French colonial rule and established the Democratic Republic of Vietnam. His declaration was inspired in part by the U.S. Declaration of Independence.

Located in Ba Dinh Square, Hanoi, the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum houses the embalmed body of Ho Chi Minh, the founding father of modern Vietnam. It's a significant political and cultural landmark visited by many each year.

Ha Long Bay, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, features around 1,600 limestone islands and islets rising from emerald waters. Its name means “Descending Dragon Bay,” and it’s famous for caves, karst formations, and scenic cruises.

The Vietnamese national flag has a red background symbolizing revolution and bloodshed, with a yellow five-pointed star representing the unity of workers, peasants, soldiers, intellectuals, and youth under the Communist Party.

Vietnamese is the national and official language, spoken by the vast majority of the population. It belongs to the Austroasiatic language family and uses the Latin-based Quốc Ngữ script, which was introduced by Portuguese missionaries in the 17th century.