[1] After the Partition of Vietnam in 1954, only the Republic of Vietnam competed in the Games, sending athletes to every Summer Olympics between 1956 and 1972.

The present Vietnam Olympic Committee was formed in 1976 and recognized by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) in 1979.

Vietnam won its first medal at the 2000 Summer Games in Sydney, when Trần Hiếu Ngân took home a silver in Taekwondo in the Women's -57 kg category.

Vietnam won its first gold medal at the 2016 Games in Rio de Janeiro, when shooter Hoàng Xuân Vinh was victorious in the Men's 10m air pistol event.

With a lack of investment in competing in the Olympics,[2] Vietnam has sent an average of only around 12 athletes per game until Tokyo 2020.