Dong Da

Unified Vietnam, Dong Da, February 10th, 1989, Michel Nr. 2003-2004; Dong Da is a hill close to Hanoi and the name of a battle the Vietnamese fought victoriously against the Chinese Qing Dynasty in 1789. There is also a mass Chinese burial at the site. The Dong Da festival is held annually on the 5. January according to the Moon Calendar. Two stamps in nominals of 100D and 1,000D were issued in perforation 13.

Here is the mint perforated set

These stamps were not officially released imperforate however some imperforate trial proofs have come to market. Below is the imperforate set with matching top margins.

Single franking of the 1,000D stamps on a letter sent in May of 1989 from hanoi to Czechoslovakia.

Mixed franking of the 2,000D Hydro Power Stations together with two 1,000D Dong Da and five Telecommunication stamps paying an overall postage of 4,500D on an international air mail letter sent from Nhu Quynh (small post office) to France in February of 1990.

Mixed franking of the 1,000D stamp (2) together with the 100D Telecommunication stamp (2) paying an overall postage of 2,200D on a picture postcard sent in April of 1989 to Marseille, France.

Mixed franking of two of the 1,000D Dong Da stamps plus three 100D Red Cross stamps paying an overall postage of 4,300D on an international letter sent from Nhu Quynh (small post office) in May of 1990.

Below is the same mixed franking paying a postage 4,300D but this time on an international letter sent from Quet Thang (small post office) to France in January of 1990.

Mixed franking of six of the 100D Red Cross stamps plus four of the 1,000D Dong Da paying an overall postage of 4,600D on an international letter sent in May of 1990 from My Van (small post office) to France.

This is very unusual registered printed matter mailing sent within HCM City in September of 1993. It carries the 1,000D Dong Da stamp plus the 200D Medical Highschool Hanoi stamp paying an overall postage of 1,200D. Very few printed matters are ever sent by registered mail and the editor challenges any other collector to find another sample of this rare postal history.

Registered air mail letter sent in April of 1990 from HCM City to Hong Kong. The letter carries the National Holiday Cambodia and Victory of Dong Da sets paying an overall postage of 14,660D (including the red free frank for 11,260D).

Registered air mail letter sent in February of 1989 from Ho Chi Minh City to Klewitz. The letter carries the perforated Dong Da set plus stamps from the Ton Du’c Thang, Cambodian National Day, Union Conference, USSR Friendship and Party Decision sets for an overall postage of 6,605D (including the red free frank for 3,800D). Fragment of the green Fulda custom cachet on front.

Registered air mail letter sent in March of 1989 from Ho Chi Minh City to Klewitz. The letter carries the perforated Dong Da set plus stamps from the Water Lilies (imperforate), Cambodian National Day, Mutual Economic Aid, Parrots (imperforate), INDIA Stamp Exhibition and Inter-Parlamentarian Union sets for an overall postage of 6,550D (including the red free frank for 2,950D). Green Fulda custom cachet on front.

Registered air mail letter sent in March of 1989 from Ho Chi Minh City to Klewitz. The letter carries the perforated and imperforate Dong Da set plus stamps from the Tourism (imperforate), Cambodian National Day, Water Lilies (imperforate), Cuban Revolution and Off-shore Oil Production sets for an overall postage of 7,830 (including the red free frank for 3,970D). Imperforate stamps on postally used letter are very rare. Green Fulda custom cachet on front.

Registered air mail letter sent in May of 1989 as a mixed currency franking from Ho Chi Minh City to Klewitz. The letter carries perforated stamps from theINDIA Stamp Exhibition set plus stamps from the Five Year Plan (mis-perforated), Sea Snails and Dong Da sets. Error stamps on postally used cover are very rare. The Five Year Plan 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 0.48 oD = 0.05 nD. plus the stamps in new Dong (2,281 nD) plus the two red free franks for 6,240 nD for 8,521.05 nD. Green Fulda custom cachet on front.

Registered air mail letter sent March of 1989 from Ho Chi Minh City to Klewitz. The letter carries imperforate stamps from the Locomotives set plus stamps from the Parrot (imperforate), Mutual Economic Assistance, Dong Da, Cuban Revolution and Inter Paralamentarian Union sets for an overall postage of 7,140D (including the red free frank for 4,350D). Imperforate stamps on postally used cover are very rare. Fragment of the green Fulda custom cachet on front.

Registered air mail letter sent March of 1989 from Ho Chi Minh City to Klewitz. The letter carries imperforate stamps from the Locomotives set plus stamps from the Water Lilies (imperforate), Dong Da, Cuban Revolution, Inter Paralentarian Union sets for an overall postage of 6,955D (including the red free frank for 4,370D). Imperforate stamps on postally used cover are very rare. Fragment of the green Fulda custom cachet on front.

Registered air mail letter sent in March of 1989 from Ho Chi Minh City to Klewitz. The letter carries the perforated and imperforate Animals stamps plus stamps from the Mutual Economic Aid, Hydro Stations and Dong Da sets for an overall postage of 6,410D (including the red free frank for 1,680D). Imperforate stamps on postally used cover are very rare.

Registered air mail letter sent in March of 1989 as a mixed currency franking from Ho Chi Minh City to Klewitz. The letter carries perforated Animals stamps plus stamps from the Dong Da, Hydro Stations, USSR Cooperation, Ton Du’c Thang (one imperforate) and Inter Paralmentarian Union sets. There is also the military free frank issued in 1987. Imperforate stamps on postally used cover are very rare. The USSR Cooperation 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 4 oD = 0.40 nD. plus the stamps in new Dong (4,595 nD) plus the red free frank for 2,160 nD for 6,759 nD. Green Fulda custom cachet on front.

Registered air mail letter sent on April 2nd, 1989 from Ho Chi Minh City to Klewitz. The letter carries part of the perforated Turtle set and the perforated souvenir-sheet plus stamps from the Children Drawings, Cuban Revolution and Dong Da sets for an overall postage of 6,610D (including the red free frank for 4,450D). Souvenir-Sheets stamps on postally used cover are very rare. Green Fulda custom cachet on the reverse.

Registered air mail letter sent in June of 1989 from Ho Chi Minh City to Klewitz. The letter carries the perforated Ice Dancing souvenir-sheet plus stamps from the Dong Da, Communication and Children Drawings sets for an overall postage of 10,310D (including the red free frank for 8,760D). Souvenir-Sheets on postally used cover are very rare. Fragment of the green Fulda custom cachet on front.

Registered air mail letter sent in July of 1989 as a mixed currency franking from Ho Chi Minh City to Klewitz. The letter carries imperforate Ice Dancing stamps plus stamps from the Fruits, Youth Festival, Hydro Stations, Dong Da and Communication sets. Imperforate stamps on postally used cover are very rare. The Youth Festival 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 5 oD = 0.50 nD. plus the stamps in new Dong (3,330nD) plus the red free frank for 6,240 nD for 9,570.5 nD. Green Fulda custom cachet on the reverse.

Registered air mail letter sent in July of 1989 as a mixed currency franking from Ho Chi Minh City to Klewitz. The letter carries imperforate Bicycle stamps plus stamps from the Communication, Lotus Flower, INDIA Stamp Exhibition, Dong Da and Cambodian National Day sets. Imperforate stamps on postally used cover are very rare. The Lotus 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 0.72 oD = 0.07 nD. plus the stamps in new Dong (3,410 nD) plus the red free frank for 6,110 nD for 9,520.07nD. Green Fulda custom cachet on front.

Registered air mail letter sent in February of 1989 as a mixed currency franking from Ho Chi Minh City to Klewitz. The letter carries the perforated Cuban Revolution set plus stamps from the USSR Peace Treaty, Dong Da, Parrots (imperforate), Hydro Stations (imperforate), Cambodian National Day, United Nations and older Cuban themed sets. Imperforate stamps on postally used cover are very rare. The Cuban themed stamps from 1978 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 0.30 oD = 0.03 nD. plus the stamps in new Dong (3,761 nD) plus the red free frank for 8,961.03 nD.

Registered air mail letter sent in March of 1989 from Ho Chi Minh City to Klewitz. The letter carries the imperforate Cosmonautics souvenir-sheet plus stamps from the Dong Da, Hydro Stations, Communist Party, Communication Year and Tourism (souvenir-sheet) sets. Imperforate stamps and souvenir-sheets on postally used cover are very rare. The Communist Party and Communication Year 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 3.20 oD = 0.32 nD. plus the stamps in new Dong (6,230 nD) plus the red free frank for 6,660 nD for 12,890.32 nD.

Registered air mail letters ent in March of 1989from Ho Chi Minh City to Klewitz. The letter carries the Inter-Parlamentarian Union set in pairs plus stamps from the Dong Da and Hydro Station sets for an overall postage of 13,300 (including the red free frank for 5,500D). Green Fulda custom cachet on front.

Registered air mail letter sent on June 17th, 1989 from Ho Chi Minh City to Klewitz. The letter carries perforated World Cup stamps plus stamps from the Hydro Stations (one imperforate), Communication, Union Congress (one set imperforate) and Dong Da sets for an overall postage of 12,461D (including the red free frank for 5,710D). Imperforate stamps on postally used cover are very rare. Fragment pf the green Fulda custom cachet on front.

Registered air mail letter sent on February of 1990 from Ho Chi Minh City to Klewitz. The letter carries perforated World Cup stamps plus stamps from the Dong Da (imperforate), Ice Dancing and Horses sets for an overall postage of 8,000D (including the red free frank for 5,410D). Imperforate stamps on postally used cover are very rare.

Registered air mail letter sent on February of 1990 from Ho Chi Minh City to Klewitz. The letter carries perforated World Cup stamps plus stamps from the Dong Da (imperforate), Water Lilies, Off-shore Oil Production and Hydro Station sets for an overall postage of 7,975D (including the red free frank for 2,450D). Imperforate stamps on postally used cover are very rare.

Registered air mail letter sent on April 19th, 1990 (the First Date of issuance according to Michel) from Ho Chi Minh City to Klewitz. The letter carries stamps from the perforated World Cup Italia I and II (souvenir-sheets), Thanh Giong, 40 Years East Germany (imperforate), Rice Harvest (partially imperforate) and Dong Da sets for an overall postage of 8,800D (including the red free frank for 2,250D). Imperforate stamps and souvenir-sheets on postally used cover are very rare. Fragment of the green Fulda custom cachet on front.