Vietnam National Anthem

History of the National Anthem

The Vietnamese national anthem is the "Tiến Quân Ca". It was both written and composed in the year 1944 by famous composer Nguyễn Văn Cao. It is known as the "Marching Song" for its famous use by parading soldiers. It was adopted as the national anthem in 1954 by North Vietnam, and the unified country recognized it in 1976. The national anthem contains two verses, but during public demonstrations and sporting events, only the first verse is sung - much like the national anthem of the United States, the Star-Spangled Banner.

Initially, the national anthem was used as a way to march soldiers into battle following the bloodshed during and after World War II and has gone through many lyric changes since then. Notably, lyrics have been made "softer" by removing angry lyrics regarding the socialist Vietnamese administration letting more than two million of its people suffer and perish. On August 17, 1945, the national anthem was approved by Hồ Chí Minh, president and also the namesake of the Vietnamese capital city.

Vietnam National Anthem

In Vietnamese:

Doan ve quoc quan

Doan Quan Viet-Nam Di
Doàn quân Vietnam di
Chung lòng cuu quoc,
Bu'óc chân don vang trên du'óng gap ghenh xa.
Co in máu chien thang mang hon nu'óc
Súng ngoài xa chen khúc quân hanh ca.
Du'õóng vinh quang xây xác quân thù
Thang gian lao, cùng nhau lap chien khu.
Vi nhân dân chien dau không ngung
Tien mau ra sa tru'óng.
Tien lên! Cùng tien lên!
Nuoc non Vietnam ta vung ben.

Doàn quân Vietnam di
Sao vàng phap phoi,
Dát giong nòi que hu'óng qua noi lam than.
Cung chung suc phan dau xây doi moi
Dung deu len gông xích ta dap tan.
Tu bao lâu ta nuot cam hon
Quyet hy sinh, doi ta tu'oi tham hón.
Vi nhân dân chien dau không ngung
Tien mau ra sa tru'óng.
Tien lên! Cùng tien lên!
Nuoc non Vietnam ta vung ben.

Translated into English:

March to the Front

Soldiers of Vietnam, we go forward,
With the one who will save our Fatherland
Our hurried steps are sounding on the long and arduous road
Our flag, red with the blood of victory, bears the spirit of our country
The distant rumbling of the guns mingles with our marching song.
The path to glory passes over the bodies of our foes.
Overcoming all hardships, together we build our resistance.
Ceaselessly for the people's cause, we struggle,
Hastening to the battlefield!
Forward! All together advancing!
Our Vietnam is strong and eternal.

Soldiers of Vietnam, we go forward,
The gold star of our flag in the wind
Leading our people, our native land, out of misery and suffering
Let us join our efforts in the fight for the building of a new life.
Let us stand up and break our chains.
For too long have we swallowed our hatred.
Let us keep all of our sacrifices ready and our life will be radiant.
Ceaselessly for the people's cause, we struggle,
Hastening to the battlefield!
Forward! All together advancing!
Our Vietnam is strong and eternal.