Nam quốc sơn hà (chữ Hán: 南國山河, lit.
The poem was first dictated to be read aloud before and during battles to boost army morale and nationalism when Vietnam under Lý Thánh Tông and Lý Thường Kiệt fought against two invasions by Song dynasty in 981 and 1075–1076 and would become became an emblematic hymn in the early independence wars.
The poem is written in Classical Chinese in the form of an oracle following Tang-style rules that would have been hard to understand for Viet soldiers.
The story of singing in temples to boost military morale prior to battle is plausible, but whether or not it was this specific poem that was sung cannot be answered.
[4][5] Lĩnh Nam chích quái ("Selection of Strange Tales from Lingnan") dates this version to the Song–Đại Cồ Việt war:[6][non-primary source needed] 南Nam國quốc山sơn河hà南Nam帝đế居cư,南 國 山 河 南 帝 居Nam quốc sơn hà Nam đế cư,The Southern Country's mountains and rivers, the Southern Emperor inhabits.皇Hoàng天thiên已dĩ定định在tại天thiên書thư.皇 天 已 定 在 天 書Hoàng thiên dĩ định tại thiên thư.The August Heaven hath willed it so in the Heavenly Book.如Như何hà北Bắc虜lỗ來lai侵xâm掠lược,如 何 北 虜 來 侵 掠Như hà Bắc lỗ lai xâm lược,Why dare the Northern Barbarians (Lỗ) come to invade?白Bạch刃nhận翻phiên成thành破phá竹trúc餘dư.白 刃 翻 成 破 竹 餘Bạch nhận phiên thành phá trúc dư.White blade swinging will turn you into broken bamboo chips!Đại Việt sử ký toàn thư ("Complete Historical Annals of Great Viet") dates this version to the Song–Đại Việt war:[7][non-primary source needed]