ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Names of Vietnam

Okay, kiddo, today we're going to talk about the names of Vietnam. Vietnam is a country in Southeast Asia, and like every country, it has different names depending on who you ask and when in history you're talking about.

First of all, the official name of Vietnam is the Socialist Republic of Vietnam. That's because Vietnam is run by a government that calls itself socialist, which means they believe in sharing things equally among everyone in the country.

But that's not the only name Vietnam has had. For much of its history, Vietnam was part of a larger country called China. When it broke away from China and became its own country, it was called Dai Viet, which means "Great Viet." Later, it became known as Annam, which means "Pacified South." That name was used during the time when Vietnam was ruled by France as a colony.

After France left and Vietnam became an independent country, it took on the name North Vietnam and South Vietnam. That's because the country was split into two during a war in the 20th century. Eventually, the two parts were reunited, and the country became Vietnam once again.

So, depending on when you look at Vietnam and who you ask, it might be called the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, Dai Viet, Annam, North Vietnam, or South Vietnam. But no matter what it's called, it's a beautiful country with a rich history and culture!