Comments on: Do people still speak French in Vietnam today? Are there many French people in Vietnam today?

By: Mimi

Mimi — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 14:49:25 +0000

"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.

By: Ann (aka Anniest)

Ann (aka Anniest) — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 14:49:25 +0000

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

By: Louy

Louy — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 14:49:25 +0000

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

By: MojaveDan

MojaveDan — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 14:49:25 +0000

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.