Ngo Mon Gate - a heritage site of the Nguyen Dynasty and a symbol of Hue culture.

“220 Years of Vietnam's National Name – Historical Journeys (1804 - 2024)” was the theme of a scientific conference organized by the Provincial Historical Science Association, held at the end of April with the participation of numerous scholars and intellectuals.

The name Vietnam will forever endure in the minds of the Vietnamese people.

In Vietnamese history, the name Vietnam has existed for a long time, but it was not the official national name. It was only officially established in the year of Giáp Tý, on the 17th day of the 2nd lunar month (March 28, 1804), when Emperor Gia Long held a ceremony at the Thái Miếu temple inside the Imperial Citadel, officially naming the country Vietnam. In his decree, the Emperor affirmed: “When an emperor establishes a nation, he must first value the national name to demonstrate unity… The national name is being changed to Vietnam to establish a great foundation for lasting prosperity. In all matters concerning our country, including the national name and correspondence with foreign countries, Vietnam shall be the official name of the country; the old name An Nam shall no longer be used.”

Under the Nguyen Dynasty, the national name Vietnam was maintained for nearly four decades through the reigns of two emperors, Gia Long and Minh Mang. In the 19th year of Minh Mang's reign (1838), the emperor changed the national name from Vietnam to Dai Nam. In 1945, the August Revolution succeeded, ending the Nguyen Dynasty. On September 2, 1945, President Ho Chi Minh, in the Declaration of Independence, proclaimed the establishment of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam - now the Socialist Republic of Vietnam.

According to researcher Duong Phuoc Thu, from the time King Gia Long chose Hue as the capital and named the country Vietnam, to the time King Minh Mang changed the national name to Dai Nam in 1838, this was a historical period, a milestone marking the achievements made that allowed the king to "publicly" declare to the world the powerful position of the Vietnamese nation through the name Dai Nam.

According to Mr. Thu, in reality, the official name of Vietnam has changed to Dai Nam, but it can still be called Dai Viet Nam. And ever since President Ho Chi Minh read the Declaration of Independence, giving birth to the Democratic Republic of Vietnam, today the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, the sacred name Vietnam has resonated across the planet, in world forums, and is considered an immortal spiritual symbol.

A symbol of a nation with a vast, unified territory and sovereignty.

Dr. Vo Vinh Quang argues that the national name of a country not only holds high legal and international significance, representing the country's status, but also represents the boundless pride of every citizen. The name Vietnam, since its selection as the national name in 1804, despite 220 years of significant changes and upheavals, has not only remained but seems to endure forever in the blood and minds of every Vietnamese person.

Some opinions have suggested that the name Vietnam existed before 1804, but that it was only an unofficial name in historical records and literature. Dr. Phan Thanh Hai, Director of the Department of Culture and Sports of the province, affirmed that the name Vietnam, established in 1804, was the official national name and has been used in official documents and letters. This shows a Vietnam with a clear shape, a vast and unified territory and maritime area unlike anything seen before. This confirms the legal basis of territorial sovereignty of an independent nation.

To further clarify this, Dr. Nguyen Quang Trung Tien presented numerous examples. While the name Vietnam mentioned in international publications during the reigns of Emperors Gia Long and Minh Mang was quite scarce, it consistently highlighted the main content: the recognition of An Nam or Vietnam as a unified empire from many previously existing territories, spanning the Indochinese peninsula and the South China Sea. The Paracel Islands, which at that time also included the Spratly Islands located in the territorial waters of the Southern Kingdom, were also part of this empire.

According to Mr. Tien, the recognition of the unified territory including the Paracel and Spratly Islands as belonging to the "Annam Empire or Vietnam" in international publications during the reigns of the two Kings Gia Long and Minh Mang has profound historical significance and value: the two words "Vietnam" thus became a symbol of a nation with vast and unified territorial sovereignty both on land and at sea, including the Paracel and Spratly Islands.

Nhat Minh