When did Viet Nam become . . .

[CaptnKirk]

Vietnam ?

I noticed in a post last week that someone made the statement, "It's Vietnam"

Well this makes me wonder . . . When I was there it was Viet Nam - 2 separate words.
Every person that I know that went there said it was Viet Nam. (again - 2 words)

I've always seen it that way, and that's how I learned it - First Person Shooter basis.

Is there some effort underway to re-identify that country after it fell to the Communist North ?
Is that like there is no Siagon, Viet Nam - it's always been Ho Chi Mihn City in Vietnam ?

Any Vietnamese decendants out there to bring us up to date ?

 

[Witling]

The correct spelling of Vietnam made me curious too. I got corrected last week for using the two word form. Turns out, according to the CIA World Fact book that the country's long name is, Socialist Republic of Vietnam, the short form of the name is Vietnam but the local short form of the name is Viet Nam. Vietnam

 

[lozina]

http://www.vietnamtourism.com/e_pages/vietnam/introduction/history/eih_quochieu.htm

 

[CaptnKirk]

Thanks Lo....

That does verify that the re-naming was the result of the establishment of the Communist country after the fall.
Official 'Socialist Republic of Vietnam' as cover for the re-unification of the split up into two countries.