The history of Vietnam covers a period of more than 2,700 years.

[citation needed] By far Vietnam's most important historical international relationship has been with China.[1] Vietnam's prehistory includes a legend about a kingdom known as Van Lang (27872858 BC) that included what is now China's Guangxi Autonomous Region and Guangdong province, as well as the northern part of Vietnam.[2] Later, successive dynasties based in China ruled Vietnam directly for most of the period from 207 BC until 938 when Vietnam regained its independence.[2] Vietnam remained a tributary state to its larger neighbor China for much of its history but repelled invasions by the Chinese as well as three invasions by the Mongols between 1255 and 1285.[3] Emperor Trn Nhn Tnglater diplomatically submitted Vietnam to a tributary of the Yuan to avoid further conflicts. The independent period temporarily ended in the middle to late 19th century, when the country was colonized by France (see French Indochina). During World War II, Imperial Japan expelled the French to occupy Vietnam, though they retained French administrators during their occupation. After the war, France attempted to re-establish its colonial rule but ultimately failed in the First Indochina War. The Geneva Accords partitioned the country in two with a promise of democratic election to reunite the country. However, rather than peaceful reunification, partition led to the Vietnam War. During this time, the People's Republic of China and the Soviet Union supported the North while the United States supported the South. The Vietnam War ended with theFall of Saigon in April 1975. After the reunification in 1975, Vietnam suffered further internal repression and isolation from the international community due to the Cold War and theVietnamese invasion of Cambodia. In 1986, the Communist Party of Vietnam changed its economic policy and began reforms of the private sector similar to those in China. Since the mid-1980s, Vietnam has enjoyed substantial economic growth.

Mother of God. Perhaps her most common and most profound title is Mother of God. She was declared to be the Mother of God at the Council of Ephesus in 431. That council decreed Can. 1. If anyone does not confess that God is truly Emmanuel, and that on this account the Holy Virgin is the Mother of God (for according to the flesh she gave birth to the Word of God become flesh by birth), let him be anathema. The Council of Ephesus was called to combat the heresy of Nestorianism, which held that in Jesus Christ there were two persons. The official title given to her at the Council of Ephesus was Theotokos which means "God-Bearer". For this reason she is also known as "The Ark of the New Covenant". The Church celebrates her title of "Mother of God" with a solemnity on January 1st.

Our Lady of the Rosary. She is known by this title by proclamation of Pope St. Pius V. In the 16th century, the Islamic Turks had prepared a huge fleet to sail west to attack southern Europe. The pope begged that all Christians pray the Rosary for deliverance. The Turks were defeated at the great naval battle of Lepanto on October 7, 1571. In gratitude that the tide of history had been changed, Pius declared that October 7 would be remembered, and Mary known by this title. The memorial of Our Lady of the Rosary on October 7 survives to this day.