Border history · 1886–2023

Vietnam borders over time

CShapes records 5 changes to the borders of Vietnam (also recorded as French Indochina, North Vietnam) between 1886 and 2023. It has been independent since May 1, 1954. Its territory covers 324,217 km², less than the 379,848 km² it covered in 1886. The largest single change came on May 1, 1954, when it lost about 168,563 km².

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Border changes
5
Area today
324,217 km²
Largest change
−168,563 km² (1954)
Status
Independent since 1954
May 1, 1975 – presentChoose a period to see its borders. The dashed line is the period before.

Timeline of Vietnam's borders

Each period is one border version in CShapes, with its area and the change from the period before.

  1. January 1, 1886 – May 31, 1887

    379,848 km²First recorded versionIndependentWorld map in 1886

  2. June 1, 1887 – January 1, 1893

    379,848 km²±0 km²IndependentWorld map in 1887

  3. January 2, 1893 – October 2, 1893

    379,848 km²±0 km²Ruled by FranceWorld map in 1893

  4. October 3, 1893 – April 30, 1954

    324,217 km²−55,631 km²Ruled by FranceWorld map in 1894

  5. May 1, 1954 – April 30, 1975

    155,654 km²−168,563 km²IndependentWorld map in 1954

  6. May 1, 1975 – present

    324,217 km²+168,563 km²IndependentWorld map in 1975

What changed

Independence, transfers between rulers, and border changes recorded for this country.

  1. Vietnam loses its independence to France.
  2. Vietnam loses about 55,632 km² of territory.
  3. Vietnam becomes an independent state.
  4. Vietnam ceases to exist as a separate entity; its capital passes to Vietnam, Republic of.
  5. Vietnam gains about 168,563 km² of territory.