Historical features
Vietnam has undergone a surprisingly long-lasting history, and has been considered as one of the earliest cradles of mankind. Archaeological excavations of fossils in Bac Son Grotto in Lang Son Province, vestiges in caves in Nghe An Province, and the discovery of some artifacts at Do Mountain in Thanh Hoa Province which are thought to belong to the Stone Age have proved that human life started in Vietnam 10,000 to 30,000 years ago and Vietnam.
The nation’s thousand-year Dong Son culture can be seen via a number of artifacts of the Phung Nguyen, Dong Dau, Go Mun, and especially the Ngoc Lu Bronze Drums. The vestiges of the historic period of the Hung Kings have revealed that Vietnam was one of the very first countries.
Three main historical periods in Vietnam:
- Northern Kingdom's domination: lasted 1,000 years from the Van Lang-Au Lac period, to Champa Nation age, then to Chinese domination period, and ended in 938 with the historical landmark of the insurrection of Ngo Quyen against Nam Han on the Bach Dang River. One of the fiercest periods of hardship experienced by the different tribal people in Vietnam's history.
- National construction & defense for independence in feudal time: a brilliant era for national revival and development, marked by glorious victories of Vietnamese people against the aggressors. This period has been under Ly & Tran Dynasty in the 11th-14th century, to Ho Dynasty (1400-1407), Le (15th-early 17th century), Tay Son (1771-1802) and Nguyen Dynasty (1802-1945), with both significant historical values, monuments, and vestiges, bright development, and also heroic struggle.
- National Independence and socialism: This is one of the most severe and glorious periods of Vietnam, with years of struggling against invaders for independence, which has made Vietnam known by the world as a heroic nation. Under the French oppression since 1857, Vietnamese people had constantly fought for independence. The revolution succeeded in August 1945 under the leadership of President Ho Chi Minh and Vietnamese Communist Party. Vietnam proclaimed its independence on September 2nd 1945. During the following 30 years, Vietnamese people continued to resist and protect their independence. Vietnam has been unified ever since the great victory over Americans in Spring 1975. The Socialist Republic of Vietnam was born with Hanoi as the capital.