• MyHeritage Wiki
  • Genealogy research by location
  • Vietnam
  • Vietnam

    • See all articles relating to: Vietnam

    Hoi An city, Vietnam
    Hoi An city, Vietnam

    Vietnam is an Southeast Asian country whose history is a rich tapestry of resilience, cultural fusion, and national liberation. Early Vietnamese civilizations, like the Bronze Age Đông Sơn culture, reveal a profound connection to the land and waterways, a theme that continues throughout Vietnam's history. The country endured a thousand years of Chinese rule, beginning in 111 BCE, which heavily influenced its cultural and social structures, yet it always retained a distinct identity. Vietnam's struggle for autonomy reached a crescendo during the mid-20th century. Notable figures like Hồ Chí Minh, the revolutionary leader who declared Vietnam's independence from France in 1945 and later led the North during the Vietnam War, and General Võ Nguyên Giáp, the architect of significant victories against both French and American forces, played pivotal roles in shaping modern Vietnam. Following the war, the reformist leader Đổi Mới played a crucial role in transitioning Vietnam from a centrally planned economy to a socialist-oriented market economy, contributing to the nation's significant growth in recent decades.

    Research your ancestors on MyHeritage

    The regions of Vietnam

    Vietnam is typically divided into three main geographical regions, from North to South:

    • Northern Vietnam
    • The Red River Delta, including the capital Hanoi.
    • The Northwestern region, which includes provinces like Lao Cai, Dien Bien, and Son La.
    • The Northeastern region, which includes provinces such as Quang Ninh, Ha Giang, and Bac Kan.
    • Central Vietnam
    • The North Central Coast, including provinces like Thanh Hoa, Nghe An, and Quang Binh.
    • The South Central Coast, including provinces such as Da Nang, Quang Nam, and Khanh Hoa.
    • The Central Highlands, often referred to as "Tay Nguyen," which includes provinces like Dak Lak, Lam Dong, and Gia Lai.
    • Southern Vietnam
    • The Southeast, including Ho Chi Minh City and the surrounding provinces.
    • The Mekong River Delta, including provinces like Can Tho, Vinh Long, and An Giang.

    Vietnamese history

    See:

    Vietnamese geography

    See:

    Researching family history in Vietnam

    See also:

    Vietnamese ethnicity

    Vietnam is a culturally diverse country, home to 54 officially recognized ethnic groups. The Kinh (or Việt) people make up the vast majority, They are primarily based in the lowlands and urban areas. The remaining population is composed of 53 different ethnic groups, often collectively referred to as ethnic minorities. These include the Tay, Thai, Muong, Khmer Krom, and Hoa (ethnic Chinese), among others. Each of these groups has its own unique languages, lifestyles, and cultural traditions, contributing to the rich tapestry of Vietnam's cultural heritage.

    See also

    Vietnamese surnames

    Drying incense sticks in Vietnam
    Drying incense sticks in Vietnam

    Vietnamese surnames are essential to researching family history, providing valuable clues and connections to one's lineage. Vietnamese naming conventions differ from Western naming conventions as Vietnamese surnames come first, followed by the middle and given names. The most common surname in Vietnam is Nguyễn, followed by Trần and Lê. These surnames are shared by millions of people, making it challenging to trace family lines based solely on them. However, combined with other sources of data like birth records, marriage certificates, and household registries, surnames become an essential piece of the genealogical puzzle. For example, Vietnam has around 300 family or clan names, and the most common are Le, Pham, Tran, Ngo, and Vu.

    See also:

    Retrieved from ""