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Categories: Blog

by admin

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Languages of Vietnam

Vietnam is one of Southeast Asia’s most linguistically diverse countries. It recognizes 54 ethnic groups, many with their own languages.


1️⃣ Official Language

Vietnamese (Tiếng Việt)

  • Official national language

  • Spoken by ~85–90% of the population

  • Belongs to the Austroasiatic language family

  • Written in the Latin-based Quốc Ngữ script

Vietnamese developed under strong historical influence from China (especially vocabulary) and later from France (modern script and loanwords).


2️⃣ Major Minority Language Families

Vietnam’s minority languages fall into several major language families:

🟢 Austroasiatic (besides Vietnamese)

  • Khmer (Khmer Krom) – related to the official language of Cambodia

  • Mường

  • Bahnar

  • Sedang


🔵 Tai–Kadai

  • Tày

  • Thái

  • Nùng

Mostly spoken in northern mountainous regions.


🟣 Hmong–Mien

  • Hmong

  • Dao (Yao)

Found mainly in highland areas of northern Vietnam.


🟠 Austronesian

  • Cham

  • Jarai

  • Ede

Cham is linked historically to the ancient Champa civilization.


🔴 Sino-Tibetan

  • Hoa (ethnic Chinese communities)
    Includes dialects such as Cantonese, Teochew, and Hakka.


3️⃣ Foreign Languages Widely Used

  • English – most popular foreign language today

  • French – legacy of colonial period

  • Chinese (Mandarin) – growing importance

  • Korean & Japanese – due to investment and trade

  • Russian – historically important

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