Vietnam’s 2023 stamps are arriving! And I’m hoping it’s as spectacular as the 2022 program. There was lots to love last year.  Vietnam is one of those little design jewels, waiting to be discovered. So far, I’ve written Vietnam‘s delightful Year of the Ox stamps, Folktale from Vietnam – starfruit tree and Tết Quý Mão – Vietnamese New Year 2023, as well as the full 2021 and 2022 programs. 

If there was a world competition for best design/artwork, VietPost’s Vietnamese Fairy Tales: The Starfruit Tree | Truyện cổ tích Việt Nam: Cây khế series would be top of the list for 2022.  Designer  Nguyễn Du combined a charming story with colourful artwork  that tells the tale in 4 small panels. 

I think the Starfruit set even beat out my beloved New Year cats by Nguyễn Quang Vinh.

Also tucked into 2022 was the September Tigers, also by Nguyễn Du. Issued for the Second International Forum on Tiger Conservation, it was easy to overlook amongst the cats and starfruits.  The cover artwork 

And coming in fourth was  Vietnam’s delicious Vietnamese Cuisine series. Nguyễn Du created yet another eye catching series showcasing more tantalizing treats from the country. I count myself lucky that I live in a city with a thriving Vietnamese population that brought wonders like Bánh mi  and Bánh xeo to to the city. 

Now I feel the urge to go get a cup of Vietnamese coffee! What? You’ve never had it? I pity you. 

The 2024 program starts with a major look at a crucial piece of modern Vietnamese history – the Paris Agreement. Who knows where the year will go from there. I’m looking forward to more art from the two Nguyễn’s and dearly hope to see more tales along the line of the Starfruit Tree. 

What’s the best way to find out when I update this page and post new content?  Sign up for my free weekly newsletter. It comes out Sunday evenings (or early Monday morning, depending where you live) and includes all program’s that have been updated with new stamps, alerts on new articles and bonus subscriber content. Sometimes the bonus content makes it’s way into an article, so you, the subscriber, get a first look. 

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February

Commemorating the 50th Anniversary of the Paris Agreement on Ending the War and Restoring Peace in Vietnam (1973-2023)  | Hiệp định Paris về Việt Nam

1 stamp, FDC, cancel

The 1973 Paris Agreement ended the long war in Vietnam.

A peace treaty negotiated chiefly between Le Duc Theu and Kissinger, signed by representatives of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam (North Vietnam), the Republic of Vietnam (South Vietnam), the Provisional Revolutionary Government of South Vietnam (PRG), and the USA. The accords were concluded after more than four years of negotiations, which were begun after the Tet offensive in 1968 but frequently interrupted, e.g. by US bombing offensives. They provided for the withdrawal of US troops and thus an end to direct US military involvement. In return, democratic elections were to be held in South Vietnam, in order to end the rivalry between the official government of Nguyen Van Thieu, and the Communist PRG. Nguyen Van Thieu rejected the treaty, however, and with US assistance continued to defy the Vietcong and North Vietnam’s People’s Army. Peace was enforced only in a final offensive of the People’s Army, which led to the collapse of Nguyen’s regime on 30 April 1975. Paris Peace Accords – Oxford Reference

Read the Peace Accord here volume-935-I-13295-English.pdf (un.org) Agreement on ending the war and restoring peace in Viet-Nam.
Signed at Paris on 27 January 1973

Designer: Nguyễn Du

Release date: February 27, 2023

March

Vietnam – India Joint Issue

2 stamps (FDCs and cancel coming soon)

Vietnam and India established full diplomatic relations January 7, 1972. 

• Kalaripayattu  (Kalari) is an Indian martial art that originated in present-day Kerala, a state on the east coast.
• Introduction to the martial art Vovinam (full name is Vovinam Việt Võ Đạo) was founded by Master Nguyen Loc in 1936, with the desire to improve the self-defense and fighting ability of the Vietnamese people in public the overthrow of the French colonialists.
  VNPost | Giới thiệu bộ tem “Tem phát hành chung Việt Nam – Ấn Độ”

Two artists were involved in the creation of this set: 
Brahma Prakash from India 
Phạm Trung Hà from Việt Nam

Release date:  March 29, 2023

Purple Phoenix

1 stamp, souvenir sheet (FDCs and cancel coming soon)

Jacaranda mimosifolia D. Don – tempura watercolour

designed by artist Nguyễn Quang Vinh, by using tempera watercolors, the artist has described the structure of the purple phoenix flower sharp and fresh, making this material more attractive and attractive by ancient and modern shades intertwined. VNPost | Introducing the stamp set “Purple Phoenix”

Designer: Nguyễn Quang Vinh

Release date:  March 30, 2023

April

Modern Cable Cars

3 stamps, souvenir sheet, 2 FDCs, cancel, 3 maxi cards

• Fansipan Cable Car (Lao Cai) 
  2 world records: The three-rope cable car has the largest difference between departure and arrival stations in the world (1,410m); The longest three-rope cable car in the world (6,292.5 m). The stamp background introduces the landscape of Fansipan peak (Sapa). VNPost | Introducing the stamp set “Modern Cable Car”
• Ba Na Cable Car (Da Nang)
  4 records, including: 2009: The cable car has the highest difference between departure and arrival stations in the world (1,368.93m); The cable car has the longest unconnected cable in the world (11,587m). 2013: The longest one-rope cable car in the world (1,5.771m); The cable car has the heaviest cable roll in the world (61.141 tons). The stamp background introduces the Golden Bridge. VNPost | Introducing the stamp set “Modern Cable Car”
• Hon Thom Cable Car (Kien Giang)
  2019 Guinness record: The longest 3-rope cable car crossing the sea in the world with a length of 7,899.9m. The stamp background introduces the landscape of Hon Thom Island (Phu Quoc) VNPost | Introducing the stamp set “Modern Cable Car”
• Queen Cable Car (Quang Ninh) (souvenir sheet)
  2 Guinness Records: The cabin with the largest capacity in the world (reaching 230 people/cabin); The cable car has the highest cable pillar in the world above the ground (T1 cable pillar is 188.88m high). The stamp background introduces the scenery of Ha Long Bay. VNPost | Introducing the stamp set “Modern Cable Car”

Designer: Nguyễn Du

Release date: April 22, 2023

May

Uncle Ho’s Stilt House in the Presidential Palace Area

1 stamp, 1 stamp on souvenir sheet, FDC, cancel

Celebrating the 65th anniversary of President Ho Chi Minh moving back to live and work in a stilt house

Designer: Lê Khánh Vương

Release date:  May 17, 2023

100th Anniversary of the Birth of Painter Nguyễn Sáng (1923 – 1989)

1 stamp, FDC, cancel

Released in conjunction with the 4th Mekong Delta Postage Stamp Exhibition

Painter Nguyen Sang was born on 1/8/1923 in Điều Hòa village, MỹTho province (now in Mỹ Tho city, Tien Giang province). At the age of 13, he attended Gia Dinh Fine Arts Decorating High School for 4 years. In 1938, he passed the entrance exam to the Indochina College of Fine Arts. In August 8, he participated in the revolution in Hanoi. At the end of December 1945, he went to the Vietnam North War Zone, using his painting talents to serve the resistance.
Nguyen Sang – The artist loved Hanoi until his last breath (nhandan.vn) has an insightful, and approachable, write up on Sáng. You’ll need a translator. 

Designer: Nguyễn Du and Phạm Quang Diệu

Release date: July 29, 2023

August

Bats

5 stamps, FDC, 5 cancels, 3 stamp packs

• Da LatTUBE-NOSED BAT, Murina harpioloides,
• HIPPOSIDEROS ALONGENSIS BOURRET
• YELLOW-SPOTTED SMOOTH-NOSED BAT Kerivoula picta
• GRIP-PHIN NASAL GLUTINOUS BAT Hipposideros griffini
• BIG HORSE BAT Pteropus vampyrus

Released for the 2023th Asia International Stamp Exhibition in Taiwan

Designer: Nguyễn Du
Art work: from the Institute of Ecology and Biological Resources and allowed for use in cooperation with Prof. TS. Vu Dinh Thong and Dr. Nguyen Truong Son

Release date: August 11, 2023

50 Years of Diplomatic Relations Between Vietnam and Australia (1973-2023) 

1 stamp, FDC, 4 cancels, stamp booklet

4 cancels: Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Thua Thien Hue, Khanh Hoa

Image includes both the lotus flower (Vietnam) and golden acacia flower (Australia).
Australia Post will release a stamp set in October featuring the same image. 

Designer: Nguyễn Du

Release date: August 28, 2023

September

Terraced Fields

4 stamps, stamp on souvenir sheet

• water pouring season in Ngu Chi Son commune, Sa Pa, Lào Cai
• rice transplantation in Ta Phin commune, Sa Pa, Lào Cai
• ripe rice season in Union commune, Sa Pa, Lào Cai
• golden autumn on Sang Nhu, Mù Căng Chải, Yên Bái village
• terraced fields in Muong Hoa commune, Sa Pa, Lào Cai

Designer: Nguyễn Du
Photographer: Phạm Bằng, reporter for the Lào Cai newspaper.  

Release date: September 23, 2023

October

National Year of Digital Data
Theme: Harnessing digital data to create value

1 stamp, FDC, cancel

Designer: Lê Khánh Vương

Release date: October 10, 2023

Precious Wood

3 stamps, 3 maxi cards, FDC, cancel

• Taiwanese Cypress 
• French spruce
• Water pine (Yew)

This set was created to promote “awareness in protecting the forest ecosystem in general and rare trees in particular”. 

Designer: Phạm Trung Hà

Release date: October 28, 2023

November

Celebrating the 100th Anniversary of the Birth of Musician Văn Cao (1923-2023)

1 stamp, FDC, cancel
offset

Van Cao, a hundred years of genius – Part 1: From Truong Chi to Tien Quan Song – Tuoi Tre Online 
This is a multi-part series that explores Văn Cao’s life and influences. It’s in Vietnamese but translates ok but worth the lengthy read. You can also find various artists performing his works on youtube.

Designer: Phạm Quang Diệu

Release date: November 15, 2023

December

Orchids

3 stamps, 1 stamp on souvenir sheet, 4 maxi cards, info souvenir folder, 3 bookets, cancel
offset

• Paphiopedilum vietnamense Paph. vietnamense – OrchidWeb
• Venus slipper orchid  (Paphiopedilum delenatii)   Paphiopedilum delenatii (aos.org)
• Paphiopedilum tranlienianum – found only in Vietnam. orchids.org/grexes/paphiopedilum-tranlienianum
• PAPHIOPEDILUM appletonianum Paph. appletonianum – OrchidWeb
• Paphiopedilum gratrixianum Paphiopedilum gratrixianum (var. christensonianum) (aeorchids.com)

Designer: Nguyễn Quang Vinh

Release date: December 10, 2023

Tết Giáp Thìn – Year of the Dragon 

2 stamps, 1 stamp on souvenir sheet, 4 FDCs, 4 cancels
offset

The souvenir stamp shows “

“the image of the dragon family flying up with the khanh clouds symbolizing peace and luck. The image of 9 dragons gathered on the pole symbolizes the winding Mekong River emptying into 9 sea gates, bringing richness to the agricultural economy of the Southwest.” VNPost news release

Designer: Nguyễn Quang Vinh

Release date: December 24, 2023