North Vietnam, Production and Defense, April 25th, 1968, Michel Nr. 522-525; Four stamps with a nominal of 6 xu and 12 xu (three stamps) were issued in perforation 11.0. The inscription, a quote by Ho Chi Minh from July 17th, 1966, reads: “Nothing is more valuable than freedom and independence…Forward, be brave, citizens and fighters of the entire land”.
Here is the mint set with side margins (note the yellow overprint on the turquoise stamp extends onto the margin)
Postally used stamps. Postally used stamps are at least ten times rarer than cancelled to order stamps.
These stamps were not officially released im-perforated however, some imperforate stamps have come to market. Here is a mint im-perfroated pair of the 6 xu value.
This is an imperforate version the 12 xu brown-red value:
Perforation errors did occur like on this pair of the 12 xu brown-red which shows a double strike of the perforation comb in-between the two stamps.
Very rare local letter (full contents preserved) sent within Hanoi using the reduced 6xu intra-city rate. Very few letters documenting this 50% reduced rate have survived. Most local letters got destroyed in the multi-decadal war, the tropical climate or recycling due to raw material shortages. Hanoi machine cancel form 1970 on the reverse.
Very rare multiple franking of the 6xu value on a local letter (full content preserved) sent shortly after the fall of Saigon from Saigon to Hanoi paying the 12xu domestic letter rate. The sender writes about the increased economic activity in Vinh Long and the fact that there is a lot of merchandise. But he also states that he is leery to go out at night on foot or bicycle as the situation is still very complicated. Many high officials, officers and rich South Vietnamese that worked with the Americans and the old regime have fled. We could confiscate many beautiful houses (even high rises) and luxury cars. The writer is amazed how many cars there are in the South – may be millions. Most local letters were destroyed during the multi-decadal war, the tropical climate or recycling due to raw material shortages. Note that the Saigon hand stamp had “M.N.” (Mien Nam) added to signify the Viet Minh control of the city. The handwritten “Tho Ra Bac” means “Letter to the North”. It is interesting that North Vietnamese stamps were used in this area that was controlled by the National Liberation Front and that was still using the South Vietnamese Dong as its currency. The NLF still issued stamps used in South Vietnamese Dong until April of 1976 so one would have expected that one of those stamps would have been used for this mailing. Very unusual usage of North Vietnamese stamps in the South.
Another very rare local letter featuring the blue 12xu stamp on a homemade cover sent from Hanoi to Phong Ky Thuat. Hanoi machine cancel.
Rare single franking of the blue 12xu value this time on a letter sent to Budapest, Hungary. This nicely demonstrates that the local letter rate and the international letter rate to fellow socialist countries was identical.
Rare single franking of the blue 12xu value on a letter from Hanoi to Helsinki, Finland. Finland was a rare destination at the time and since the 12xu tariff to Eastern European locations applied it appears that neutral Finland was considered as an Eastern country.
Very rare local letter franked with a single of the red 12xu stamps sent in October of 1976 from Bo Ha (small post office) using an unusual cancel that shows the numerals 5261. The editor does not believe that the numerals represent a zip code (this were introduced at a later date in 1977 and had five digits). Ho Chi Minh City transit machine cancel on the reverse.
Very rare local letter (letter contents preserved) or package wrapper sent from Nam Ha (small post office) to Hai Phong using a single fo the red 12xu stamp. Interesting custom declaration sticker on front. It is unclear why this was required for a domestic mailing inside North Vietnam
Rare multiple franking of the red 12xu stamp paying the second weight level rate for a letter to Brno, Czechoslovakia in October of 1969.
Rare single franking of the brown-red 12 xu stamp from July of 1972 on a letter sent between two members of the North Vietnamese Military (full contents preserved). Note the Hom Thu number in the senders line.
Rare multiple franking of the 12 xu brown-red value sent from Quang Xuong to France (most likely in 1968). The cancel does not show a date, which is normally only known from so called “mute cancels” that were used by the military. 
Very rare registered express mail letter sent to Klewitz in October of 1968. It features the entire set. The overall postage amounted to 1.58 Dong which was 2 xu shy of the required tariff for a standard registered express mail letter to West Germany (1.60 Dong). Fulda arrival cancel on the reverse.
Here is a very rare registered express mail letter sent to Klewitz featuring the entire set. The overall franking amounted to 1.50 Dong which appears to be a bit shy of the required tariff for a standard registered express mail letter to West Germany (50 xu base rate, 60 xu registration fee, 50 xu express mail fee). Nevertheless it was transmitted without any penalties. Fulda arrival cancel on the reverse. 
Mixed franking of the red 40xu Aircraft Shot Down value plus the 6xu value from the Production and Defense set for an overall postage of 46xu. The postcard was sent to East Germany in December of 1973.
Exceedingly rare package wrapper from May of 1975. Most package wrappers were simply thrown out after the package was opened and hence very few of them survive today. The package was sent via registered mail from Hanoi to a clinic in East Germany and it featured a mixed franking of the 20xu October revolution stamp, the 50xu Hai Thu’o’ng stamp, the 2xu NLF stamp and the 6xu Production and Defense stamp for an overall postage of 78xu. The standard letter rate to East Germany was 12xu and the registration fee 60xu, so this package must have been very light. Red propaganda cachet on front.
Registered letter sent to Klewitz in June of 1982 sent from Nguyen Trai. It carries the National Union Congress set plus the 12 xu red Production and Defense stamp for an overall postage of 11.04 (including the 8 Dong from the red free frank on the back). Green Fulda custom cachet on front.
Registered letter sent from Nguyen Trai to Klewitz in May of 1982. The letter carries three of the 2 Dong value of the Nutritional Day set. The bottom left stamp shows the plate error “deformed d”. Production and Defense stamp on the reverse. The overall postage amounted to 8.22 Dong. Green Fulda custom cachet on front.
Registered air mail letter sent in December of 1989 as a mixed currency franking from Ho Chi Minh City to Klewitz. The letter carries perforated stamps from the Inoculation set plus stamps from the Flowers, Production and Defense and Hydro Station sets. The Production and Defense stamps were still denominated in old Dong while all other stamps were already denominated in new Dong. The Vietnamese Government conducted a devaluation of the Dong on September 14th, 1985. This meant that all stamps issued prior to this date were only worth one tenth at the time of mailing. The overall postage hence amounted to 0.24 oD = 0.02 nD. plus the stamps in new Dong (3,700 nD) and the red free frank for 5,260 nD for 8,960.02 nD. Green Fulda custom cachet on the reverse.
Registration Nr. 101550
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