Vietnam National Day

Vietnam National Day

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  1. 1945Independence declared in Hanoi
  2. 1975Country reunified after war
  3. 1945National Day established

The story behind the declaration

Vietnam marks National Day on 2 September, the date in 1945 when Ho Chi Minh read the Declaration of Independence at Ba Dinh Square in Hanoi. The moment announced the Democratic Republic of Vietnam after Japanese occupation and French colonial rule.

The day became a core national holiday through decades of war, division and reunification. It carries both civic and historical weight, linking independence with the long struggle for sovereignty.

Today the holiday is marked by flags, public ceremonies, concerts and family travel. Hanoi is the symbolic centre, especially around Ba Dinh Square and the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, while cities across the country decorate streets in red and yellow.

  1. 20262 September 2026 · Wednesday
  2. 20272 September 2027 · Thursday
  3. 20282 September 2028 · Saturday
The Vietnamese flag
Vietnam flag

The Vietnamese flag has a red field with a single yellow five-pointed star. Red is associated with revolution and sacrifice, while the star is commonly understood to represent unity among the people.

National Day food in Vietnam is everyday festive food: noodle soups, street snacks and family dishes shared during the public holiday.

What to eat

PhoSpiced beef and rice noodle soup from the North — eaten for breakfast across Vietnam; the clear broth with star anise and charred ginger.
Banh miVietnamese bánh mì sandwich — French baguette with pâté, Vietnamese cold cuts, pickled daikon, coriander and chilli.
Bun chaFresh spring rolls — rice paper wraps with shrimp, pork, herbs and rice noodles dipped in peanut or hoisin sauce.
Goi cuonThick Vietnamese rice porridge with ginger and fish — the comforting Vietnamese cháo, served at celebrations and as a recovery food.
Banh xeoSteamed sticky rice wrapped in banana or dong leaves — the traditional Vietnamese celebration rice parcel at Tết and national festivals.
CheCentral Vietnam spicy beef noodle soup with lemongrass, shrimp paste and fresh herbs — Huế's most famous dish.

What to drink

Ca phe sua daFresh coconut water from the Mekong Delta's abundant coconut groves — the natural Vietnamese refreshment drunk daily in the south.
Tra daDrip-filter Vietnamese coffee with sweetened condensed milk — iced (cà phê đá) in summer, the country's signature café drink.
Nuoc miaFresh lime with soda and salt or sugar — a Vietnamese street drink that balances sweet, sour and salty perfectly.
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Vietnamese culture on National Day

The holiday blends political memory with street life, family travel and visible national symbols.

Ba Dinh SquareThe Hanoi square where independence was proclaimed in 1945
Ao daiThe long national dress appears in ceremonies and performances
Water puppetryA northern art form often presented to visitors
Red-and-yellow streetsFlags and banners turn city avenues into public celebration spaces