ChineseVietnamese

ChineseVietnamese is a term that can refer to two related but distinct topics: the linguistic influence of Chinese on Vietnamese, and the community of people of Chinese descent living in Vietnam.

In linguistic terms, ChineseVietnamese describes the Sino-Vietnamese layer of Vietnamese vocabulary and writing practices. Vietnamese has long absorbed Chinese vocabulary, especially in educated or formal registers, with many morphemes read using Sino-Vietnamese pronunciations. This influence is visible in academic, governmental, religious, and literary terms, many of which originate from Chinese. Historically, chư Hán (Chinese characters) and chữ Nôm were used to write Vietnamese, with chữ Hán serving as a literary and scholarly script and chữ Nôm emerging to represent vernacular Vietnamese. In the 20th century, quốc ngữ, a Latin-based script, became the standard, but Sino-Vietnamese readings and vocabulary remain common in educated speech and formal styles.

In ethnography and demography, ChineseVietnamese can denote the ethnic Chinese community in Vietnam, commonly referred to as Hoa. The Hoa are descendants of Chinese migrants who settled in various regions of Vietnam over several centuries. They have contributed to commerce, crafts, medicine, and cuisine, and have maintained cultural practices such as celebrations for the Lunar New Year and the Mid-Autumn Festival. While many Hoa have integrated into broader Vietnamese society, some communities preserve Chinese-language education, distinctive customs, and religious traditions, including Taoist, Buddhist, and Christian practices. The experience of Hoa in Vietnam has involved periods of assimilation and policy-driven change, influencing the multicultural fabric of Vietnamese society.