Vietnam
A Southeast Asian nation with a long history of Chinese influence and communist rule.
Vietnam, officially the Socialist Republic of Viet Nam (SRV), is a country at the eastern edge of Mainland Southeast Asia. With an area of about 331,000 square kilometres and a population of over 102 million, it is the world's 16th-most populous country. One of two communist states in Southeast Asia, Vietnam is bordered by China to the north, and Laos and Cambodia to the west; it lies along the Gulf of Thailand to the southwest and the South China Sea to the east, where it has shared and disputed maritime borders with other countries. Its capital is Hanoi, while its largest city is Ho Chi Minh City.
- region
- East/Southeast Asia
- primary_competition
- AFC Competitions (World Cup Qualifiers, Asian Cup)
- era_of_significance
- Post-1970s to Present
- rivalry_nature
- Regional Development Matchups
Lore & Background
Vietnam was inhabited by the Paleolithic age, with states established in the first millennium BC on the Red River Delta in modern-day northern Vietnam. The Han dynasty annexed northern and central Vietnam, which were subsequently under Chinese rule from 111 BC until the first dynasty emerged in 939. Successive monarchical dynasties absorbed Chinese influences through Confucianism and Buddhism, and expanded southward to the Mekong Delta, conquering Champa. During most of the 17th and 18th centuries, Vietnam was effectively divided into two domains, Đàng Trong and Đàng Ngoài. The Nguyễn—the last imperial dynasty—surrendered to France in 1883. In 1887, its territory was integrated into French Indochina as three separate regions. In the immediate aftermath of World War II, the communist-led Viet Minh coalition front launched the August Revolution and declared Vietnam's independence from the Empire of Japan in 1945.
In Their Own Story
The humid air hangs heavy over the stadium as the Japan National Team lines up against Vietnam. The crowd's roar is a mix of anticipation and tension, knowing that this Southeast Asian side has evolved into a formidable opponent—one that once held Japan to a 1-1 draw in a World Cup qualifier and stunned them in the 2019 Asian Cup. As the referee blows the whistle, the Japanese players press forward with their signature technical passing, while the Vietnamese defenders stand firm, ready to disrupt the rhythm with aggressive, intelligent pressing—and the occasional flash of counter-attacking speed that has made them a nightmare for slower backlines.
Reader's Guide
Vietnam is a developing country with an upper-middle–income economy. It has high levels of corruption, censorship, environmental issues, and a poor human rights record. It is part of international and intergovernmental institutions, including the ASEAN, the APEC, the Non-Aligned Movement, the OIF, and the WTO. It has assumed a seat on the United Nations Security Council twice.
Did You Know?
- Japan defeated Vietnam 1-0 on November 11, 2021, in a World Cup qualifier.
- Japan drew 1-1 with Vietnam on March 29, 2022, in a World Cup qualifier.
- The name 'Vietnam' was used officially by Emperor Gia Long between 1804 and 1813.
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