Vietnamese refers to the people, language, and culture of Vietnam, a long, narrow country in Southeast Asia that sits along the eastern coast of the Indochinese Peninsula.

The Vietnamese language uses an alphabet based on Latin letters (like English) but with special marks above and below the letters that change how words sound and what they mean. The same syllable pronounced with different tones can mean completely different things: ma with one tone might mean “ghost,” while ma with another tone means something else. This makes Vietnamese challenging but fascinating to learn.

Vietnam has a rich history stretching back thousands of years. The country faced many challenges in the 20th century, including a long war that ended in 1975. Since then, Vietnam has rebuilt and grown into a vibrant nation known for its beautiful landscapes (from misty mountains to tropical beaches), its distinctive cuisine (like phở soup and fresh spring rolls), and its hardworking people.

Vietnamese culture values education, family loyalty, and respect for elders. Many Vietnamese families have a strong tradition of academic achievement and entrepreneurship. People described as Vietnamese might be from Vietnam itself or part of the large Vietnamese communities now established in countries like the United States, France, and Australia.