In Vietnam, the sweeping history of the nation unfolds—from its earliest origins to the present day. Across millennia, emperors, revolutionaries, religious leaders, and foreign powers have all left indelible and often complex marks on this dynamic land. Successive periods of Chinese domination, French colonization, and Japanese occupation brought profound changes, shaping Vietnam’s political, cultural, and social landscape. Yet transformation also came from within: as Vietnamese kingdoms expanded southward from the Red River Delta, their own imperial ambitions played a crucial role in forging the nation.

Throughout its long history, the territory now known as Vietnam has been home to a succession of kingdoms, dynasties, and states. In the 17th century, rival military clans—the Trinh in the north and the Nguyen in the south—ruled competing realms, fragmenting the country during a turbulent era. Later, French colonial rule consolidated Vietnam, along with Laos and Cambodia, into the Indochinese Union, yet administered Vietnam itself as three distinct regions: Tonkin, Annam, and Cochinchina. The 20th century brought further upheaval, culminating in the Vietnam War—a pivotal, devastating conflict of the Cold War era—during which the American-backed Republic of Vietnam stood in opposition to the communist North, once again dividing the nation.

Vietnam stands as a landmark achievement—an authoritative and comprehensive single-volume account of the country’s intricate past and the emergence of the modern Vietnamese state. At a time when Vietnam is increasingly central to global attention and more travelers seek to understand its rich heritage, this book offers an essential foundation for comprehending the forces that have shaped Vietnam’s identity and its place in the world today.