History of Vietnam in Timeline

Vietnam, officially the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, is located in Southeast Asia. It shares land borders with China, Laos, and Cambodia, and maritime borders via the Gulf of Thailand and the South China Sea. With a population exceeding 100 million, it's the world's fifteenth-most populous country. It is one of the two Marxist–Leninist states in Southeast Asia. Hanoi is the capital, while Ho Chi Minh City is its largest city.

1908: Hanoi Poison Plot

In 1908, increasing dissatisfaction with French rule led to the infamous Hanoi Poison Plot, a poorly executed attempt to oust the French.

1917: Thái Nguyên uprising

In 1917, the Thái Nguyên uprising, a large-scale rebellion against French rule, was heavily suppressed.

1930: Yên Bái mutiny

In 1930, the Vietnamese Nationalist Party (VNQDĐ) launched the Yên Bái mutiny, which was quashed by the French.

1932: Emergence of the thơ mới Movement

Vietnamese literature has been influenced by Western styles in recent times, with the first literary transformation movement of thơ mới emerging in 1932.

1940: Japanese Invasion of French Indochina

In 1940, the war in the Pacific led to the Japanese invasion of French Indochina.

1941: Emergence of the Việt Minh

In 1941, the Việt Minh, a national liberation movement based on communist ideology, emerged under the leadership of Hồ Chí Minh.

March 1945: Full-Scale Takeover by Japan and Famine

In March 1945, Japan conducted a full-scale takeover of Vietnam, leading to the Vietnamese Famine of 1945 which resulted in up to two million deaths.

July 1945: Allies divide Indochina

In July 1945, the Allies decided to divide Indochina at the 16th parallel to allow Chiang Kai-shek to receive the Japanese surrender in the north, and Lord Louis Mountbatten to receive it in the south.

August 1945: Collapse of Saigon's Services and Occupation of Hanoi by Việt Minh

In August 1945, after the defeat of Japan and the fall of its sponsored government in Vietnam, Saigon's administrative services collapsed, and the Việt Minh occupied Hanoi.

1945: Post-World War II Order Maintenance

In 1945, British-Indian forces and the remaining Japanese Southern Expeditionary Army Group helped France reestablish control.

1945: August Revolution and Declaration of Independence

In 1945, the Viet Minh, led by Ho Chi Minh, launched the August Revolution and declared Vietnam's independence from the Empire of Japan.

1945: Adoption of Việt Nam

In 1945, the imperial government in Huế officially adopted the name Việt Nam for the country.

1946: Việt Minh Launch Guerrilla Campaign

In late 1946, after the French Provisional Government failed to act on requests for independence, the Việt Minh launched a guerrilla campaign against the French.

1952: Summer Olympic Games

Vietnam first participated in the Summer Olympic Games in 1952.

1953: Agrarian reforms

From 1953, the North Vietnamese government instituted agrarian reforms including "rent reduction" and "land reform".

July 1954: Dissolution of French Indochina

In July 1954, French Indochina was dissolved into Vietnam, Cambodia, and Laos, and Vietnam was divided into North and South regions at the Demilitarised Zone.

July 1954: Ceasefire Negotiation at Geneva Conference

In July 1954, the defeat of French colonialists allowed Hồ to negotiate a ceasefire from a favorable position at the Geneva Conference.

1954: Partition of Vietnam

After the partition of Vietnam in 1954, only South Vietnam competed in the Olympic Games.

1954: Victory in the First Indochina War and Division of Vietnam

In 1954, Vietnam emerged victorious in the First Indochina War. Treaties signed between the Viet Minh and France resulted in Vietnam being separated into two parts.

1955: Proclamation of the Republic of Vietnam

In 1955, Ngô Đình Diệm toppled Bảo Đại in a referendum and proclaimed himself president of the Republic of Vietnam, replacing the State of Vietnam.

July 1956: Scheduled Elections

In July 1956, elections were scheduled.

1956: North Vietnamese Subversion

In 1956, Diệm countered North Vietnamese subversion by detaining suspected communists in "political reeducation centres".

1956: South Vietnam Olympics

In 1956, South Vietnam sent athletes to the Olympics.

November 1957: Casualties Reported

In November 1957, the North Vietnamese government claimed that 2,148 people were killed in the process.

1960: Soviet Military Support

From 1960, the Soviet Union and North Vietnam signed treaties providing for further Soviet military support.

1963: Buddhist Discontent and Government Crackdown

In 1963, Buddhist discontent with Diệm's regime led to mass demonstrations and a violent government crackdown.

1964: Gulf of Tonkin Incident

In 1964, the United States used the Gulf of Tonkin incident as a pretext for increasing its contribution of military advisers.

1965: US Ground Combat Involvement

In 1965, US forces became involved in ground combat operations in Vietnam.

1965: US Senate Subcommittee Estimate of Casualties Range Start

The US Senate subcommittee noted that civilian casualties took place between 1965 and 1974.

1967: Fraudulent Elections

In 1967, Thiệu cemented his grip on power through fraudulent elections.

1968: Tết Offensive

In 1968, communist forces launched the Tết Offensive, attacking South Vietnamese targets, which failed militarily but shocked the American public.

1971: Fraudulent Elections

In 1971, Thiệu cemented his grip on power through fraudulent elections.

1972: South Vietnam Olympics

In 1972, South Vietnam sent athletes to the Olympics.

January 1973: Paris Peace Accords

On January 27, 1973, the Paris Peace Accords were signed.

March 1973: Withdrawal of US Combat Troops

By March 29, 1973, all American combat troops were withdrawn from Vietnam following the Paris Peace Accords.

December 1974: Capture of Phước Long

In December 1974, North Vietnam captured the province of Phước Long.

1974: US Senate Subcommittee Estimate of Casualties

In 1974, a US Senate subcommittee estimated that nearly 1.4 million Vietnamese civilians were killed or wounded between 1965 and 1974, including 415,000 deaths.

April 1975: Fall of Saigon

On April 30, 1975, Saigon fell, leading to the end of the Vietnam War.

1975: National Reunification and Health Service Establishment

After the national reunification in 1975, a nationwide health service was established in Vietnam.

1975: North Vietnamese Victory and Reunification

In 1975, North Vietnam achieved victory in the Vietnam War, leading to the reunification of Vietnam as a unitary socialist state.

1975: Establishment of Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology

In 1975, the government established the Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology (VAST).

1975: US Troops Withdraw

President Bill Clinton was the first U.S. leader to officially visit Hanoi and the first to visit Vietnam since U.S. troops withdrew from the country in 1975.

July 1976: North and South Vietnam Merged

On July 2, 1976, North and South Vietnam were officially merged to form the Socialist Republic of Vietnam.

1976: Reunification and Vietnam Olympic Committee Formation

Following the reunification of Vietnam in 1976, the country competed as the Socialist Republic of Vietnam. The present Vietnam Olympic Committee was formed in 1976.

1976: Vietnam Reunified as a Socialist State

In 1976, following the North Vietnamese victory, Vietnam reunified as a unitary socialist state under the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV).

1976: Increase of communist policies nationwide

Since the reunification in 1976, an increase of communist policies nationwide resulted in the nationalisation and confiscation of property especially from the Hoa in the south and the wealthy in cities, which led many of them to leave Vietnam.

1978: Vietnamese Invasion of Cambodia

In 1978, the Vietnamese military invaded Cambodia in response to Khmer Rouge massacres of Vietnamese residents, ousting them from power and establishing the pro-Vietnam People's Republic of Kampuchea.

1979: Chinese Incursion into Northern Vietnam

In 1979, China launched a brief incursion into northern Vietnam, leading Vietnam to increase its reliance on Soviet aid and escalate its mistrust of the Chinese government.

1979: International Olympic Committee Recognition

In 1979, the Vietnam Olympic Committee was recognised by the International Olympic Committee (IOC).

1979: Vietnam's population after reunification

In 1979, the census showed the total population of reunified Vietnam to be 52.7 million.

1985: Agriculture's contribution to Vietnam's GDP

In 1985, agriculture made up 37.2% of Vietnam's GDP.

December 1986: Sixth National Congress of the Communist Party of Vietnam

In December 1986, at the Sixth National Congress of the Communist Party of Vietnam, reformist politicians led by Nguyễn Văn Linh replaced the old guard, implementing Đổi Mới reforms to transition to a socialist-oriented market economy.

1986: Vietnam retreats from totalitarianism to authoritarianism

In 1986, Vietnam shifted from totalitarianism to authoritarianism, with significant restrictions on freedoms of assembly, association, expression, press, and religion, as well as civil society activism.

1986: Economic and Political Reforms

In 1986, the Communist Party of Vietnam initiated economic and political reforms, transforming the country into a socialist-oriented market economy.

1986: CPV introduces Đổi Mới reform programme

In 1986, the Sixth National Congress of the CPV introduced socialist-oriented market economic reforms as part of the Đổi Mới reform programme, encouraging private ownership in industry, commerce, and agriculture.

1986: End of VNPT monopoly

In 1986, the VNPT Group's monopoly on telecommunications services in Vietnam ended.

1986: Rapid urbanization after Đổi Mới economic program

Since 1986, Vietnam's urbanisation rates have surged rapidly after the Vietnamese government implemented the Đổi Mới economic program.

1988: Socialist Republic of Vietnam Summer Olympics

Since 1988, the Socialist Republic of Vietnam has attended every Summer Olympics.

1989: End of Occupation in Cambodia

By 1989, the People's Republic of Kampuchea had ruled until the Vietnamese occupation was over.

1989: Agriculture share of Vietnam's GDP

In 1989, agriculture's share of Vietnam's GDP was 42%.

1990: Economic growth

Between 1990 and 1997, Vietnam achieved approximately 8% annual gross domestic product (GDP) growth as a result of the Đổi Mới reforms.

1992: Freedom of belief and religion in Vietnam

Under Article 70 of the 1992 Constitution of Vietnam, all citizens enjoy freedom of belief and religion.

1993: Access to electricity in Vietnam

In 1993, access to electricity grew to 14% of total households in Vietnam.

1994: The United States ended its economic embargo against Vietnam

In early 1994, the United States ended its economic embargo against Vietnam.

August 1995: Restoration of Diplomatic Ties with the US

In August 1995, relations between Vietnam and the United States began improving, with both states upgrading their liaison offices to embassy status.

1995: Telecom sector reformed

In 1995, the Vietnamese government reformed the telecom sector by implementing a competitive policy that led to the creation of two domestic telecommunication companies, the Military Electronic and Telecommunication Company (Viettel) and the Saigon Post and Telecommunication Company (SPT).

1995: Enrolment in higher education grows

Since 1995, enrolment in higher education has grown tenfold to over 2.2 million with 84,000 lecturers and 419 institutions of higher education.

1997: Asian financial crisis slowdown

In 1997, the Asian financial crisis caused an economic slowdown in Vietnam, reducing growth to 4–5% per year.

1997: Regulation of Public Internet Access

Since 1997, Vietnam has extensively regulated public internet access using both legal and technical means, resulting in the "Bamboo Firewall".

1999: Vietnam's economy began to recover

In 1999, Vietnam's economy began to recover from the Asian financial crisis.

October 2000: Pakistan Reopened its Embassy

Pakistan reopened its embassy in Hanoi in October 2000.

November 2000: Bill Clinton's Historic Visit to Vietnam

In November 2000, President of the United States Bill Clinton made a historic visit to Vietnam, the first U.S. leader to officially visit Hanoi since 1975.

2000: Economic growth around 7% per year

From 2000 to 2005, Vietnam's economy grew at around 7% per year, one of the fastest in the world.

2000: Hospital Beds per Capita

In 2000, Vietnam had 24.7 hospital beds per 10,000 people due to inadequate funding for healthcare.

2000: AFC U-16 Championship

In 2000, the Vietnamese under-17 football team achieved fourth place at the AFC U-16 Championship.

2000: Founding of Education for Nature – Vietnam

In 2000, the non-governmental organization Education for Nature – Vietnam was founded to promote wildlife conservation.

2000: Increase in the number of colleges and universities

In the 2000s, the number of colleges and universities increased dramatically from 178 in 2000 to 299 in 2005.

2001: Moped increase in Hanoi

In 2001, the number of mopeds in Hanoi was 0.5 million.

2002: Access to the water network in Vietnam

In 2002, data from 65 utility companies shows that only 12% of households in the area covered by them had access to the water network in Vietnam.

2003: Solid waste generation increases in Vietnam

From 2003 to 2008, the amount of solid waste generated in urban areas of Vietnam increased by more than 200%.

2003: Vietnam Establishes Embassy in Wellington

In 2003 Vietnam established an embassy in Wellington.

2003: VNPT's monopoly officially ended

In 2003, the government officially ended VNPT's monopoly by issuing a decree.

2004: Healthcare Subsidies and AIDS Relief Funding

In 2004, government subsidies covered about 15% of health care expenses in Vietnam. Also in 2004, the United States announced that Vietnam would receive funding as part of its global AIDS relief plan.

2004: Government Spending on Biodiversity Preservation

In 2004, the Vietnamese government spent US$49.07 million on the preservation of biodiversity.

2004: Law on Publication

Vietnam's media sector is regulated by the government under the 2004 Law on Publication.

November 2005: Vietnam Opened Trade Office in Karachi

Vietnam opened a trade office in Karachi in November 2005.

December 2005: Vietnam Reopened its Embassy in Islamabad

Vietnam reopened its embassy in Islamabad in December 2005.

2005: Vietnamese Scientific Publications

Between 2005 and 2014, the number of Vietnamese scientific publications recorded in Thomson Reuters' Web of Science increased at a rate well above the average for Southeast Asia.

2005: Malaria Mortality Rate

By 2005, Vietnam's malaria mortality rate had fallen to about five per cent of its 1990s equivalent due to improved antimalarial drugs and treatment.

2005: Economic growth around 7% per year

From 2000 to 2005, Vietnam's economy grew at around 7% per year, one of the fastest in the world.

2005: National Environmental Condition Report

In 2005, Vietnam's National Environmental Condition Report noted the country's uniquely high level of biodiversity.

2005: Decline in Hospital Beds per Capita

In 2005, the number of hospital beds in Vietnam declined to 23.7 per 10,000 people, according to the Vietnamese Health Ministry's annual report.

2005: Increase in the number of colleges and universities

In the 2000s, the number of colleges and universities increased dramatically from 178 in 2000 to 299 in 2005.

2006: Agriculture share of Vietnam's GDP declines

By 2006, agriculture's share of Vietnam's GDP had declined to 20% as production in other sectors rose.

January 2007: Vietnam becomes the 150th member of the WTO

On January 11, 2007, Vietnam became the 150th member of the WTO (World Trade Organization).

2007: Survey on religious belief

According to a 2007 survey, 81% of Vietnamese people did not believe in a god.

2007: HIV Infection Rate

In 2007, it was estimated that 0.4% of the Vietnamese population was infected with HIV, a figure that had remained stable since 2005.

2007: Access to water network in Vietnam increases

In 2007, more than 70% of the population in Vietnam was connected to the water network.

2007: AFC Asian Cup

In 2007, the Vietnamese national football team reached the AFC Asian Cup.

2008: Vietnam Water Supply and Sewerage Association survey

Based on a 2008 survey by the Vietnam Water Supply and Sewerage Association (VWSA), existing water production capacity in Vietnam exceeded demand, but service coverage was still sparse.

2008: Solid waste generation increases in Vietnam

From 2003 to 2008, the amount of solid waste generated in urban areas of Vietnam increased by more than 200%.

2008: Agriculture's contribution to Vietnam's GDP declines

In 2008, agriculture made up 18.5% of Vietnam's GDP.

2008: Industry's contribution to Vietnam's GDP increases

In 2008, industry made up 43.2% of Vietnam's GDP.

2008: National literacy rate

In 2008, the national literacy rate in Vietnam stood at 90%.

2008: ASEAN Football Championship Win

The Vietnamese national football team won the ASEAN Football Championship in 2008.

2009: Increase in the number of religious people

Based on government findings in 2009, the number of religious people in Vietnam increased by 932,000.

2009: High-speed railway deal signed with Japan

In 2009, Vietnam and Japan signed a deal to build a high-speed railway using Japanese technology.

2009: Arrest of Vietnamese lawyer Lê Công Định

In 2009, Vietnamese lawyer Lê Công Định was arrested and charged with subversion, with Amnesty International labeling him and his associates as prisoners of conscience.

2009: Access to electricity in Vietnam increases

In 2009, access to electricity increased to above 96% of total households in Vietnam.

2009: Discovery of Hang Sơn Đoòng Cave

In 2009, the Hang Sơn Đoòng Cave was discovered and is considered the largest known cave passage in the world.

December 2010: Vietnam's inflation rate reaches 11.8%

In December 2010, Vietnam's year-on-year inflation rate reached 11.8%, and the Vietnamese đồng was devalued three times.

2010: Diplomatic Relations

As of 2010, Vietnam had established diplomatic relations with 178 countries.

2010: Vietnam Ranked eighth-largest crude petroleum producer

In 2010, Vietnam was ranked as the eighth-largest crude petroleum producer in the Asia and Pacific region.

2010: Road System

In 2010, Vietnam's road system had a total length of about 188,744 kilometers, of which 93,535 kilometers were asphalt roads.

2010: Science and Technology Spending

In 2010, Vietnam's total state spending on science and technology amounted to roughly 0.45% of its GDP. Ngô Bảo Châu also won the 2010 Fields Medal for his proof of fundamental lemma in the theory of automorphic forms.

2010: Last Javan rhinoceros shot

In 2010, the last individual Javan rhinoceros in Vietnam was reportedly shot in Cát Tiên National Park.

2011: Science Research and Development Spending

According to the UNESCO Institute for Statistics, Vietnam devoted 0.19% of its GDP to science research and development in 2011.

2011: General Secretary Nguyễn Phú Trọng

In 2011, Nguyễn Phú Trọng served as the Communist Party of Vietnam's General Secretary.

2011: PetroVietnam operates five renewable energy power plants

In 2011, PetroVietnam operated five renewable energy power plants, including the Nhơn Trạch 2 Thermal Power Plant (750 MW), Phú Quý Wind Power Plant (6 MW), Hủa Na Hydro-power Plant (180 MW), Dakdrinh Hydro-power Plant (125 MW) and Vũng Áng 1 Thermal Power Plant (1,200 MW).

2011: Oil Production

In 2011, Vietnam was the third-largest oil producer in Southeast Asia with a total output of 318,000 barrels per day.

2012: Top three telecom operators in Vietnam

By 2012, the top three telecom operators in Vietnam were Viettel, Vinaphone and MobiFone.

2012: Vietnam Ranked 76th in the Global Innovation Index

In 2012, Vietnam was ranked 76th in the Global Innovation Index.

2012: US Clean-Up Project in Vietnam

In 2012, approximately 50 years after the war, the US began a US$43 million joint clean-up project in the former chemical storage areas in Vietnam.

2013: Moped increase in Hanoi

In 2013, the number of mopeds in Hanoi increased to 4.7 million.

2014: Vietnamese Scientific Publications

Between 2005 and 2014, the number of Vietnamese scientific publications recorded in Thomson Reuters' Web of Science increased at a rate well above the average for Southeast Asia.

2014: Number of followers of recognised religions

In 2014, the Vietnamese government reported to the United Nations that the overall number of followers of recognised religions was about 24 million out of a total population of almost 90 million.

2015: Sanitation access survey

According to a survey conducted in 2015, approximately 78% of Vietnam's population had access to "improved" sanitation, but about 21 million people still lacked access.

2015: Access to Improved Water Sources

In 2015, 97% of the Vietnamese population had access to improved water sources.

2015: Vietnam's crude oil and gas reserves

In 2015, Vietnam's crude oil reserve was approximately 4.4 billion barrels, ranking first in Southeast Asia, while the proven gas reserves were about 0.6 trillion cubic metres, ranking it third in Southeast Asia.

2015: Vietnam's Military Expenditure

In 2015, Vietnam's military expenditure totalled approximately US$4.4 billion.

2015: Tourism contributes to Vietnam's economic growth

In 2015, tourism significantly contributed to Vietnam's economic growth, with 7.94 million foreign visitors recorded.

May 2016: US Lifts Arms Embargo on Vietnam

In May 2016, US President Barack Obama further normalized relations with Vietnam by announcing the lifting of an arms embargo on sales of lethal arms to Vietnam.

2016: Vietnam's First Gold Medal at the Olympics

In 2016, Vietnam won their first gold medal at the Olympics.

2016: Life Expectancy and Infant Mortality

In 2016, Vietnam's national life expectancy was 80.9 years for women and 71.5 for men, while the infant mortality rate was 17 per 1,000 live births.

2016: Vietnam marine life disaster

In 2016, the Vietnam marine life disaster occurred.

2016: Fisheries production

In 2016, the overall fisheries production of Vietnam from capture fisheries and aquaculture was 6.7 million MT.

2016: Nuclear reactor plan abandoned

In late 2016, the Vietnamese government abandoned its plan to develop a nuclear reactor due to public concern.

2017: EVN power generation

As of 2017, the Vietnam Electricity Group (EVN) made up about 61.4% of the country's power generation system with a total power capacity of 25,884 MW.

2017: Tourism in Vietnam

In 2017, Vietnam hosted roughly 13 million tourists, an increase of 29.1% over the previous year, contributing 7.5% of the total GDP.

2017: Vietnam Signed UN Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons

In 2017, Vietnam signed the UN treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons.

2017: FIFA U-20 World Cup Qualification

In 2017, the Vietnamese under-20 football team qualified for the FIFA U-20 World Cup for the first time.

2017: Completion of the First Phase of the Đà Nẵng Clean Up

In late 2017, following the completion of the first phase in Đà Nẵng, the US announced its commitment to clean other sites, especially in the heavily impacted site of Biên Hòa.

September 2018: Hanoi Urges Ban on Dog and Cat Meat

In September 2018, the Hanoi People's Committee urged citizens to stop eating dog and cat meat due to the risk of diseases like rabies and leptospirosis.

2018: Vietnam as a Destination for Illegal Rhinoceros Horns

A study released in 2018 revealed that Vietnam is a destination for the illegal export of rhinoceros horns from South Africa.

2018: Hội An ranked as a top destination

In 2018, Travel + Leisure ranked Hội An as one of the world's top 15 best destinations to visit.

2018: Decree on university autonomy in final stages

In 2018, a decree on university autonomy allowing them to operate independently without ministerial control is in its final stages of approval.

2018: Completion of infrastructure at the Vietnam Space Centre

In 2018, infrastructure was completed at the Vietnam Space Centre (VSC).

2018: Construction of Plant for Agent Orange Treatment

In 2018, the Japanese engineering group Shimizu Corporation, working with Vietnamese military, built a plant for the treatment of soil polluted by Agent Orange.

2018: Water supply and drainage industry applies hi-tech methods

In 2018, the construction ministry said that the country's water supply, and drainage industry had been applying hi-tech methods and information technology (IT) to sanitation issues but faced problems like limited funding, climate change, and pollution.

2018: ASEAN Football Championship Win

The Vietnamese national football team won the ASEAN Football Championship in 2018, and the under-23 team became runners-up of the AFC U-23 Championship and reached fourth place in the Asian Games.

June 2019: Water inspection units to be established nationwide

In June 2019, the health ministry announced that water inspection units would be established nationwide to conduct unannounced inspections due to health issues caused by poor or polluted water supplies and unhygienic conditions.

2019: Vietnam's population census

According to the 2019 census, the country's population was 96,208,984.

2019: Religious demographics in Vietnam

According to the General Statistics Office of Vietnam in 2019, Buddhists account for 4.79% of the total population, Catholics 6.1%, Protestants 1.0%, Hoahao Buddhists 1.02%, and Caodaism followers 0.58%.

2019: Forest Landscape Integrity Index Ranking

In 2019, Vietnam's Forest Landscape Integrity Index mean score was 5.35/10, ranking it 104th globally out of 172 countries.

2019: AFC Asian Cup Quarter-Finals

In 2019, the Vietnamese national football team reached the quarter-finals of the AFC Asian Cup.

2019: Urbanized population in Vietnam

In 2019, the number of people who lived in urbanised areas in Vietnam was 33,122,548 people (with the urbanisation rate at 34.4%).

2020: Forecasted urbanisation rate by the Vietnamese government

The Vietnamese government forecasted the country would have a 45% urbanisation rate by 2020, but the census confirmed to only be 34.4% according to the 2019 census.

2020: Vietnam Airlines fleet expansion target

Vietnam Airlines aims to operate 170 passenger aircraft by 2020.

2021: Vietnam's population

As of 2021, the population of Vietnam stands at approximately 97.5 million people.

2021: Nguyễn Phú Trọng re-elected

In 2021, Nguyễn Phú Trọng, General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam, was re-elected for his third term.

2021: Prime Minister Phạm Minh Chính

In 2021, Phạm Minh Chính was the Prime Minister.

2022: IMF findings on unemployment and GDP

Based on findings by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) in 2022, the unemployment rate in Vietnam was 2.3%, the nominal GDP was US$406.452 billion, and the nominal GDP per capita was $4,086.

2023: Leadership of Vietnam

In 2023, a three-person collective leadership was responsible for governing Vietnam, including President Võ Văn Thưởng, Prime Minister Phạm Minh Chính, and General Secretary Nguyễn Phú Trọng.

2023: FIFA Women's World Cup Appearance

In 2023, the Vietnamese women's national football team made their first appearance at the FIFA Women's World Cup.

May 2024: Tô Lâm voted as president

On May 22, 2024, Tô Lâm was voted as the president of Vietnam by the National Assembly, after Võ Văn Thưởng resigned.

July 2024: Death of Nguyễn Phú Trọng

Nguyễn Phú Trọng, General Secretary of the Communist Party, died on July 19, 2024.

August 2024: Tô Lâm elected as general secretary

On August 3, 2024, Tô Lâm, who is also serving as president, was elected as the general secretary following the death of Nguyễn Phú Trọng.

October 2024: Lương Cường Appointed as President

On October 21, 2024, the National Assembly appointed army general Lương Cường as president, succeeding Tô Lâm.

2024: Vietnam Ranked 44th in the Global Innovation Index

In 2024, Vietnam was ranked 44th in the Global Innovation Index.

2024: ASEAN Football Championship Win

The Vietnamese national football team won the ASEAN Football Championship in 2024.

2025: Planned airport expansions

According to a government-approved plan, Vietnam will have another seven international airports by 2025. The planned Long Thanh International Airport will have an annual service capacity of 100 million passengers once it becomes fully operational.