Source 22.2: Vietnam’s Independence: Fifty Years Later
In 1995, Vietnam marked the fiftieth anniversary of its earlier Declaration of Independence, an event celebrated by this poster. Pictured on the right side of the poster is Ho Chi Minh, the principal author of the earlier Declaration, who had died in 1969. The caption refers to a “National Day” commemoration for what had become a “unified and socialist” country.
Questions to consider as you examine the source:
- What does the poster suggest have been the country’s major achievements since independence?
- What is the significance of the tanks and soldiers shown in red at the upper left of the poster?
- Does the poster emphasize Vietnam’s nationalist or its communist achievements?
Fiftieth Anniversary of Vietnamese Independence
Vietnam’s IndependenceColor lithograph by Phuong Van Luong/Private Collection/Bridgeman Images