Vietnam

The name is officially the Socialist Republic of Vietnam (Vietnamese: Cộng hòa xã hội chủ nghĩa Việt Nam). After the French withdrawal in 1954 the country was divied in communist North Vietnam and South Vietnam. The country was reunited in 1975 following the Vietnam War (with heavy US involvement in support of South Vietnam) when North Vietnamese troops entered Saigon - the former capital of South Vietnam.

Vietnam overthrew the Khmer Rouge regime of Cambodia in 1978, leading to tense relations to China and the Sino-Vietnamese war in 1979.

The Vietnamese army is called VPA - Vietnam People's Army. The Police is called People's Police. They have used a large number of camouflage patterns.

Army Camouflage patterns

• Vietnamese special forces green base spot pattern. Used by đặc công (VPA Commandos) during the 1980s.

• quân đội green leaf pattern. In service with the VPA during the 1980s and 1990s.

• VPA stripe and palm leaf pattern. In general use with the VPA. Late 1990s to the present day. Several colourations exist.

• VPA lime woodland pattern. Current era.

Police Camouflage patterns

• Police 2nd Leaf Pattern. The brown spots are due to rust - not a part of the pattern! Used from the late 1990s to present day.