Talk Vietnamese

4 Responses to “Do people still speak French in Vietnam today? Are there many French people in Vietnam today?”

1. Mimi Says:
   November 4th, 2009 at 8:49 am

   "The French language, a legacy of colonial rule, is still spoken by some older Vietnamese as a second language, but is losing its popularity."
   It’s losing popularity just like Christianity in Vietnam. The French introduced Christianity in Vietnam, but Buddhism and Roman Catholicism have taken dominance. I don’t think there are very many French people as before. French architecture is still resembled in the buildings. Time has just led the demise of French popularity. However, I would say it’s still present in their food.

2. Ann (aka Anniest) Says:
   November 4th, 2009 at 8:49 am

   No, they dont speak French in Vietnam now. They speak Vietnamese. And yes, many French here in Vietnam

3. Louy Says:
   November 4th, 2009 at 8:49 am

   Yeah they do, I know 2 people who still speak French from 1956.

4. MojaveDan Says:
   November 4th, 2009 at 8:49 am

   French is still spoken by the Vietnamese in Vietnam, but not as widely as it had been when Vietnam was a French colony. Older people, such as my Grandmother, grand-aunts and grand-uncles speak French occasionally. A cousin of mine in Vietnam speaks French fluently. He is an international shipping broker who speaks English and Spanish as well.

   Believe it or not, The French are among the highest number of tourists from Europe to Vietnam, and I met many from France when I was there. I met the wife of the French Ambassador in Hanoi when she was getting acupuncture treatment. Her doctor (acupuncturist) spoke French too.

   Ho Chi Minh spoke French fluently, because he lived there for several years. He’s dead now, so he doesn’t count for the current population.