I am excited to share my free printable map of Vietnam with you as well as a tutorial for the beautiful traditional Vietnamese lantern. Also, look at my post Free Lapbook Asia For Kids Who Love Hands-On Learning.
Vietnam is a country full of vibrant culture, dramatic landscapes, and a long, complex history. It is located in Southeast Asia and stretches along the eastern edge of the Indochinese Peninsula.
On your printable map, you will notice its distinctive S-shape, with mountains, deltas, and coastline all packed into one narrow country.
You can download it immediately by adding your email below.
Vietnam boasts a rich cultural heritage, shaped by family values, religious traditions, and artistic expressions.
Together, we will explore the geography, cultures, language, and history of Vietnam before we discover more projects to create a full unit study and end with our lantern tutorial.
BOOKS ABOUT VIETNAM FOR KIDS
Next, look at these books about or set in Vietnam.
We prefer living books when learning so when I can find them, I list them
10 Books About or Set in Vietnam
Add these books to your home library for fun reading or to use on as a unit study spine.
Finding Papa has been named the 2024 Asian/Pacific American Award Picture Honor Book by the Asian Pacific American Librarians Association!
This poignant and lyrical debut picture book based on the author’s own experience and illustrated by Caldecott Honoree Thi Bui follows young Mai and her mother’s perilous journey from Vietnam to America to find Papa—who left ahead of them to start a better life for their family.
No one can make Mai laugh like her Papa! She loves playing their favorite game—the crocodile chomp chomp! But then Papa leaves Vietnam in search of a new home for their family in America and Mai misses him very much.
Until one day Mama and Mai pack a small bag and say goodbye to the only home Mai has ever known. And so begins Mai and Mama’s long, perilous journey by foot and by boat, through dangers and darkness, to find Papa.
Fought in a small Asian country unfamiliar to most Americans at the time, the Vietnam War became a cause that divided the nation and defined a counter-culture. The first televised war, newscasters became a force creating the greatest anti-war movement in history, while American boys suffered and died in jungles and rice paddies against guerilla soldiers they rarely saw face to face. As Marrin does so well, he brings an objective look at the complex issues that brought America into this war, that compelled her to stay there, and that prevented her from pursuing a definitive conclusion. Beginning with a history of Vietnam from ancient times, readers will understand the cultural, religious, and geo-political forces that made Vietnam a desirable territory conquered again and again by rival nations. They will learn how America's initial efforts to support anti-communist forces led to greater and greater involvement eventually spanning the administrations of Eisenhower, Kennedy, LBJ, and Nixon.
Inspired by the author's childhood experience as a refugee—fleeing Vietnam after the Fall of Saigon and immigrating to Alabama—this coming-of-age debut novel told in verse has been celebrated for its touching child's-eye view of family and immigration.
Hà has only ever known Saigon: the thrills of its markets, the joy of its traditions, and the warmth of her friends close by. But now the Vietnam War has reached her home. Hà and her family are forced to flee as Saigon falls, and they board a ship headed toward hope—toward America.
A moving young adult graphic memoir about a Vietnamese immigrant boy's search for belonging in America, perfect for fans of American Born Chinese and The Best We Could Do!Thien's first memory isn't a sight or a sound. It's the sweetness of watermelon and the saltiness of fish. It's the taste of the foods he ate while adrift at sea as his family fled Vietnam.After the Pham family arrives at a refugee camp in Thailand, they struggle to survive. Things don't get much easier once they resettle in California. And through each chapter of their lives, food takes on a new meaning. Strawberries come to signify struggle as Thien's mom and dad look for work. Potato chips are an indulgence that bring Thien so much joy that they become a necessity.
Wishes tells the powerful, honest story about one Vietnamese family's search for a new home on the other side of the world, and the long-lasting and powerful impact that makes on one of the youngest members of the family. Inspired by actual events in the author's life, this is a narrative that is both timely and timeless. Told through the eyes of a young girl, the story chronicles a family's difficult and powerful journey to pack up what they can carry and to leave their world behind, traveling to a new and unknown place in a crowded boat.
As a young boy, Bao Phi awoke early, hours before his father's long workday began, to fish on the shores of a small pond in Minneapolis. Unlike many other anglers, Bao and his father fished for food, not recreation. A successful catch meant a fed family. Between hope-filled casts, Bao's father told him about a different pond in their homeland of Vietnam.
When she is forced to leave Vietnam, a young girl brings a lotus seed with her to America in remembrance of her homeland.
Written in a spare, lyrical style using fresh, evocative imagery, Village by the Sea tells the story of longing for the comforts of home. A perfect book for teaching about diverse cultures and lifestyles through rich pictures and words, moving from the wide world to the snugness of home and back out again.
Over a million South Vietnamese children were orphaned by the Vietnam War. This affecting true account tells the story of Long, who, like more than 40,000 other orphans, is Amerasian -- a mixed-race child --with little future in Vietnam. Escape from Saigon allows readers to experience Long's struggle to survive in war-torn Vietnam, his dramatic escape to America as part of "Operation Babylift" during the last chaotic days before the fall of Saigon, and his life in the United States as "Matt," part of a loving Ohio family. Finally, as a young doctor, he journeys back to Vietnam, ready to reconcile his Vietnamese past with his American present. As the thirtieth anniversary of the end of the Vietnam War approaches, this compelling account provides a fascinating introduction to the war and the plight of children caught in the middle of it.
A gripping story of a boy’s escape from Communist Vietnam by boat, based on the author’s own experience.
It’s 1980, and 12-year-old Tho Pham lives with his family in South Vietnam. He spends his afternoons playing soccer and cricket fighting with his friends, but life is slowly changing under the Communists. His parents are worried, and Tho knows the Communist army will soon knock on their door to make his brother, and then him, join them. Still, it shocks him when his father says that arrangements have been made for him to leave Vietnam by boat, immediately. Tho tries to be brave as he sets out on a harrowing journey toward the unknown.
Then, look at some geography facts about Vietnam.
THE GEOGRAPHY OF VIETNAM
Coastline- Vietnam boasts more than 2,000 miles of coastline along the South China Sea, which has shaped its fishing traditions, trade routes, and coastal cuisine.
The Red River Delta (North): A fertile region where Vietnamese civilization first developed. Hanoi, the capital, is located here.
The Mekong Delta (South): Known as Vietnam’s “rice bowl,” this region is full of rivers, floating markets, and lush farmland.
Mountain Ranges: The Annamite Range runs along the western border, home to ethnic minority groups, rainforest ecosystems, and rare wildlife.
Hanoi: The historic capital famous for its old quarter and lakes.
Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon): A bustling southern city influenced by French colonial architecture and modern trade.
Also, look at a timeline of the history of Vietnam.
TIMELINE OF VIETNAM HISTORY
Vietnam’s history is shaped by resilience, foreign influence, and a strong sense of national identity.
- Early Vietnamese culture began in the Red River Delta over 4,000 years ago.
- The legendary Hùng Kings are traditionally considered the founders of the nation.
- Vietnam spent over 1,000 years under Chinese rule, absorbing Confucianism, language influences, and political systems while still preserving its own identity.
- Vietnamese dynasties such as the Lý, Trần, and Lê strengthened the government, expanded territory, and promoted art, literature, and scholarship.
- France colonized Vietnam in the mid-1800s, combining it with Laos and Cambodia to form French Indochina.
- The Vietnam War (1955–1975)- After World War II, Vietnam declared independence, but political tensions split the country into North Vietnam (communist) and South Vietnam (anti-communist). The U.S. became involved in support of the South. The long and devastating Vietnam War ended in 1975 when North Vietnam unified the country.
Today, Vietnam is one of Asia’s fastest-growing nations. It blends traditional culture with rapid economic development, global trade, and a booming tourism industry.
Finally, look at how to get the free printable map of Vietnam.
VIETNAMESE CUSTOMS AND TRADITIONS
- Family loyalty and respect for elders are central to their beliefs.
- Households often include multiple generations.
- Ancestor worship is still practiced; families honor loved ones through special altars and holidays.
LANGUAGE
Vietnamese is the national language and uses the Latin alphabet with tone marks; each syllable can change meaning depending on tone.
FOOD CULTURE
Vietnamese cuisine is renowned for its balance of salty, sweet, sour, and spicy flavors. Some of the most popular dishes are:
- Cơm tam (broken rice)
- Phở (noodle soup)
- Bánh mì (baguette sandwich)
- Spring rolls
VIETNAM CRAFTS AND LEARNING ACTIVITIES
- Giant Lotus Paper Craft
- Compare Vietnamese lanterns with those of Chinese or Japanese traditions.
- Vietnamese Silk Painting Using Acrylic Paint
- Make simple Vietnamese rice paper rolls or try a Vietnamese dessert.
- Give your child the writing prompt “Describe what it would be like to walk through Hội An during the Lantern Festival.”
- Vietnamese DIY Tết Decorations
- Map Challenge: Have students trace Vietnam’s borders and label neighboring countries (China, Laos, Cambodia).
- Create a timeline from the ancient Hùng Kings to modern Vietnam.
HOW TO MAKE A VIETNAMESE LANTERN
Our lantern craft ties beautifully to Vietnamese tradition. Lanterns are especially famous in Hội An, a city filled with glowing lanterns at night.
Traditionally used materials: bamboo frames, silk fabric, and bright colors. Lanterns symbolize luck, prosperity, and happiness.
Festivals throughout Vietnam, including the Mid-Autumn Festival, feature vibrant lantern parades.
You will need:
- Wooden hoops
- Silk or satin fabric
- Thin wood strips
- Hot glue
- Tassel or string to make your own.
- Battery-operated candle-optional
I found these wooden strips, but they were longer than I wanted, so I used my multi-angle miter cutter to trim them down to 12.”
Begin by hot-gluing 4 wooden strips to a wooden hoop, evenly spaced.
Hold them in place by hand or with clothespins until the glue is cooled and hardened completely.
Hot glue the top of the strips in place into the second wooden hoop.
Bend another strip across the top to create a handle.
Once the glue has cooled, wrap your silk around the frame and pull tightly, gluing to one wooden strip at a time.
Fold the excess over the edges of the top and bottom, and trim the excess after gluing them down.
Add a fun little tassel or multiple tassels all the way around to add a little more decoration.
HOW TO GET THE FREE PRINTABLE MAP OF VIETNAM
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