Meaning & use
Vietnam
Last updated
Meanings
proper nounproper
A country in Southeast Asia, with Hanoi as its capital and Ho Chi Minh City as its largest city.
Grammar: Always capitalized; used as a proper noun and not with 'the' except in informal contexts like 'the Vietnam of the 1960s'.
Patterns
- in Vietnam
- to Vietnam
- from Vietnam
- Vietnam War
She was born in Vietnam but grew up in Canada.
Vietnam exports a lot of rice and coffee.
We are planning a trip to Vietnam next summer.
proper nounproper
The Vietnam War (1955–1975), a conflict between North and South Vietnam, with heavy involvement by the United States and other countries.
Grammar: Often used in the phrase 'the Vietnam War' or simply 'Vietnam' when the context is clear.
Patterns
- the Vietnam War
- during Vietnam
- fight in Vietnam
My grandfather served in Vietnam in the late 1960s.
The Vietnam War divided American public opinion.
Many books have been written about Vietnam.
Common combinations
- Vietnam War
- The Vietnam War ended in 1975.
- North Vietnam
- North Vietnam was supported by China and the Soviet Union.
- South Vietnam
- South Vietnam surrendered in 1975.
- visit Vietnam
- Tourists often visit Vietnam for its beaches and food.
- Vietnam veteran
- He is a Vietnam veteran and often speaks about his experiences.
- Vietnam War memorial
- The Vietnam War memorial in Washington, D.C., is a long black wall.
Word family
- Vietnamese adjective
- Relating to Vietnam, its people, or its language.
- Vietnamese noun
- A person from Vietnam, or the language spoken in Vietnam.
Commonly confused: Vietnam or Viet Cong?
Vietnam vs Viet Cong
Viet Cong refers to the communist guerrilla force in South Vietnam during the Vietnam War, not the country itself.
Practice
Which sentence uses 'Vietnam' correctly?
Choose one answer.
Vietnam is a proper noun and the name of a country, so 'Vietnam is a country in Southeast Asia' is correct. 'The Vietnam' is wrong because countries usually don't take 'the' (except a few like the Philippines). 'Speaks Vietnam' is wrong because the language is 'Vietnamese'. 'He is a Vietnam' is wrong because a person from Vietnam is 'Vietnamese'.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “Vietnam”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.