500 Dong (front) / 200 Dong (back) VND #565

Front

Ho Chi Minh (1890–1969), Vietnamese revolutionary leader, president of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam (North Vietnam) from 1945 until his death, and founding father of modern Vietnam. He led the Vietnamese independence movement against French colonial rule and the subsequent reunification struggle; he remains the most revered figure in Vietnamese history and appears on all Vietnamese banknotes since independence. The note displays the national emblem of Vietnam (coat of arms with star, rice, and cogwheel) at left, lotus flowers, and ornate traditional Vietnamese decorative motifs throughout.

Back

Ho Chi Minh portrait repeated on the reverse, with the national emblem of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam at center left. The inscription 'HAI TRAM DONG' (200 Dong) appears prominently, with date '1987' at lower left corner. Traditional Vietnamese decorative patterns and geometric designs frame the composition.

History

This note exhibits a denomination mismatch between front (500 Dong) and back (200 Dong), strongly suggesting these are images of two different notes rather than the front and back of the same note. Both belong to the third 'Liberation' series of Vietnamese dong issued 1987–1991 during a period of severe hyperinflation. The front is dated 1988, while the back is dated 1987. The entire series was demonetized in 1991 when Vietnam conducted a currency reform replacing 10 old dong with 1 new dong. Serial number 'DG 8248938' appears on the 500 dong front; serial 'MK 1237793' appears on the 200 dong back. These notes circulated during Vietnam's transition from a centrally planned to a market-oriented economy (Doi Moi reforms). The repeated use of Ho Chi Minh's portrait on both denominations reflects his status as the paramount symbol of Vietnamese national identity and socialist revolution.