10 famous symbols in Vietnam that you may like to see

We researched and collected information about the symbols of Vietnam to have a universal view of the culture.

In particular, we have selected and grouped into 10 main objects to present in the article.

Now let’s take a closer look together!

symbols of vietnam
The famous symbols of Vietnam

1. Bronze drums and gongs

Copper drums and gongs both function as traditional musical instruments and have a sense of authority of spiritual strength.

The sound of drums and gongs can be seen as a signal of solidarity, community, and national strength. These images appear on important occasions, such as festivals, Tet holidays, important rituals.

Although today bronze drums are no longer used much in life, the spiritual values ​​and images on ancient copper drums show the unique beauty and strength of the Vietnamese people. In many museums, especially the Hanoi National Museum, you can find beautiful antique drums.

bronze drum is a unique symbol of Vietnam
The bronze drum is a unique symbol of Vietnam. Photo: Phuong Hoa/vnexpress

And, gongs are still kept and used in the lives of ethnic minorities, especially in the Central Highlands. If you have the opportunity to visit the sunny and windy land, you will enjoy the cheerful sound of gongs.

gong daklak is a vietnamese symbol
A show performs Gong in Central Highlands. © Bao Dak Lak Dien Tu

2. Ao Dai

Over thousands of years of culture and history, the image of the Ao Dai has more or less changed, but the basic traditional lines are still preserved.

Although Ao Dai is not only for women, when mentioning it, almost everyone immediately thinks of the gentle, slender, and elegant beauty of Vietnamese women. Perhaps this shirt is more suitable for women and they often wear more than men.

traditional ao dai is Vietnamese symbolism
Ao Dai symbolizes the gentle beauty. ©Vietnamdrive

The image of Ao Dai shows a very unique and graceful beauty of the person wearing it. Therefore, this long dress is present at most important events, festivals, schools, hotels… Especially, over time, these clothes have been chosen as the national costume of Vietnam and are the pride of the Vietnamese people.

You will see a lot of high school girl students having to wear Ao Dai on certain days, as well as in important ceremonies, Vietnamese women often have to wear it because it is the pride of their beauty. Also, it is responsible for preserving the culture through the way they dress.

3. Betel leaves, areca nut, and lime

Derived from “The legend of betel nut and areca”, the Vietnamese have conventionalized the image of betel leave – areca nut – lime to express the close affection of brothers, and wife – husband in the family.

These images appear in ancestral worship, traditional festivals in Vietnam, temples, and weddings.

betel nut becomes symbolic things in Vietnam
Betel nuts. @katie.esthe

The custom of eating betel nut for teeth to become black, making the breath more fragrant is no longer as common as it used to be, but sometimes you will come across old people who still like to chew betel nut as a habit.

Although not common in real life, with the spiritual culture, the symbol Betel – Areca – Lime is also seen as hospitality when inviting this typical type to start a meeting.

Therefore, it can be said that the signs of Betel-Areca-Lime have become a symbol in cultural life that has existed for many generations, associated with important events in people’s daily life.

4. Banh chung and banh day

In the emblem of Vietnam, it is impossible to ignore Banh Chung and Banh Day. These images also come from a story of the same name that speaks of agricultural culture, and the custom of worshiping and being grateful to ancestors during the days of the Lunar New Year.

Therefore, especially during the Vietnamese New Year, almost everyone prepares Banh Chung and Banh Day as beauty in spiritual activities.

A symbolic banh chung in Vietnam
Wrap Banh Chung. ©dannyphoto14/pixabay

As Vietnamese, almost every time people mention Banh Chung, people immediately think of Tet, and when it comes to Tet, it is indispensable for these cakes.

If you have the opportunity to visit one of the traditional festivals in Vietnam, especially the Hung Temple festival on the 10th day of the 3rd lunar month, you will see that the process of making Banh Chung and Banh day people is very solemn, which represents the vital sign of Banh Chung and Banh day in local culture.

5. Lotus and rice plants

The lotus flowers and the rice plants are two symbolic images with different meanings in Vietnam. However, they have one thing in common: they originate from an agricultural culture, associated with water, fields, and swamps.

Besides the material meaning of being the staple food in family meals in Vietnam, rice is processed into cultural foods such as Banh Chung, Banh day, pho… Rice becomes an image of conquering nature and swamps to serve human life.

rice flower considered as a vietnam symbol
Rice flower. ©Vietnamdrive

With the lotus that is one of the beautiful Vietnamese flowers, it is the expression of reaching out from the hardships of life, escaping the limits. From the swamp, the lotus flower is still fragrant. With the meaning of longing to live, the lotus has been chosen as the national flower of Vietnam.

lotus flower
Lotus flower presents pure beauty. ©Vietnamdrive

The image of a golden lotus on the famous airline Vietnam Airlines also partly proves a beautiful symbol of Vietnam.

6. Water buffalo

The image of the buffalo associated with the farmer has become a symbol in Vietnam with the meaning of diligence, associated with the development of a country going up from agriculture.

water buffalo
Water buffalo. ©Vietnamdrive

In the belief of feng shui, the buffalo is also one of the 12 animals that are used for the lunar calendar in Vietnam. It is the gentle personality of this animal that is the same meaning as the honest and simple character of the farmers in Vietnam, so the buffalo can be seen as a close friend of many people.

Although life has developed, many places no longer use buffalo for labor, its familiar image has entered the subconscious mind of most Vietnamese people. And, it is considered as a Vietnamese symbolism of tireless labor, looking forward to a bright tomorrow.

7. Banyan tree, water wharf, communal house

The group of emblems of a banyan tree, water wharf, and the communal house often go together. They are associated with the image of ancient villages in Vietnam with peaceful beauty, a familiar sign of all rural people.

The banyan tree is often at the beginning of the village where workers and travelers rest after hours of hard work or travel long distances.

The wharf, in some places, is a well, is where all the villagers come to get water, wash, and even on moonlit nights where the girls and boys of the village meet.

vietnamese communal house
Peaceful communal house. @tho.ngo

The communal house is considered as the place where the spiritual life of the villagers is preserved and promoted. The important festivals gather the elderly, boys and girls, young and old to join to wish together a prosperous, happy, and peaceful life.

All of them cannot be separated from the life of the rural people, becoming dear marks and features of the solidarity of the community.

8. Bamboo tree

Bamboo occupies an important position in daily life as well as in spiritual culture and is considered as one of the cultural Vietnamese symbols.

The bamboos have become one of the peaceful images of the Vietnamese countryside, coming together with the banyan tree, water wharf, and communal house.

bamboo bush becomes symbol of peaceful countryside
Bamboo bush becomes a symbol of peaceful countryside. ©Vietnamdrive

In terms of cultural significance, the bamboo tree represents an indomitable spirit, not afraid of difficulties like the village bamboo ramparts that still stand on rainy and stormy days.

Bamboo often grows in bunches, so it is very sturdy, creating great strength to protect the village, which shows cohesion, community, living together like the Vietnamese way of life.

In terms of application, bamboo becomes a useful material for building houses, boats, bridges in Vietnam, containers, chopsticks… Bamboo appears almost everywhere in life in Vietnam nowadays.

9. National flag of Vietnam

The Vietnamese flag has become a familiar image of every citizen. Every time seeing this sign, everyone feels peaceful and wishes for peace.

red Vietnamese flag
Red Vietnamese flag with a yellow star. ©Vietnamdrive

Since national independence in 1945, the flag with a red image and a yellow star in the middle has been officially recognized as the national flag of Vietnam.

The national flag is a sacred symbol of the nation, the spirit of the struggle for independence and defense of the country, the strength of unity of all people, the unity of the country of Vietnam.

This symbolic thing can be seen in almost every region and city in Vietnam. You can see it appearing on souvenirs and t-shirts, which you can buy as a gift during your holidays in Vietnam.

10. National emblem of Vietnam

If we refer to the symbols in Vietnam, we cannot miss the national emblem of this beautiful country (Quoc Huy), which was officially recognized in 1956.

This national emblem was drawn up by a famous Vietnamese painter, Mr. Bui Trang Chuoc specializing in drawing stamps, money, national emblems, logos, etc. in the years 1953 – 1955.

National Emblem of Vietnam
National Emblem of Vietnam. © wikipedia.org

The images on the national emblem represent the spirit of independence and the identity of Vietnamese culture. Rice flowers symbolize agriculture, the wheel presents industry, the words “Socialist Republic of Vietnam” is the full name of Vietnam, the image of a star and red background have the same meaning as the national flag.


Some symbols in Vietnam have been officially recognized and recorded in documents such as the National Emblem, National Flag, and National Anthem, while most other symbols have not yet been officially recognized.

But for Vietnamese people, all of the above are familiar images associated with both spiritual and real life. Therefore, most people see them as emblems for themselves and the local culture.

In addition to the images mentioned above, there are many other symbols in Vietnamese culture and life, such as the Temple of Literature, the Sword Lake, the Dragon, the Tortoise, etc. However, with the limitation of the article, we only mention prominent symbols.


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    About the author

    The editorial staff of Vietnamdrive is a team of travel experts managed by Mr. Thom who has worked in tourism for 14 years. Trusted by thousands of tourists from all over the world.