Kinh

The Kinh are the largest ethnic group in Vietnam, constituting the majority of the population. They are also known as Viet or Vietnamese in common usage, while the term Kinh is used in official contexts to distinguish the majority ethnolinguistic group from Vietnam’s minority groups. The Kinh traditionally refer to themselves as nguoi Viet (Vietnamese people).

Population and distribution: The Kinh form the overwhelming majority of Vietnam’s population, with estimates commonly placing them at roughly 85–90 percent. They are widespread across the country, with high concentrations in the northern Red River Delta, the central coastal plains, and the southern lowlands around the Mekong Delta. Major urban centers such as Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City are predominantly inhabited by the Kinh. The Kinh also form significant communities in the Vietnamese diaspora worldwide.

Language: The Kinh speak Vietnamese, the national language of Vietnam. Vietnamese is an Austroasiatic language of the Viet–Muong branch and uses a Latin-based script known as Quoc-ngu. Dialects exist across regions, reflecting geographic and social variation within the group.

Culture and society: Kinh culture has been shaped by long-standing Confucian-influenced social norms, family-centered values, and traditional rites of ancestor worship. The cultural sphere includes cuisine, literature, music, and arts that form a core part of the broader Vietnamese national culture. Religious affiliation among the Kinh is diverse, encompassing Buddhism, Catholicism, Cao Dai, Protestantism, and various folk practices.

History and status: As the historic core of modern Vietnam, the Kinh have played a central role in the country’s political and cultural development. While recognizing Vietnam’s ethnic diversity, the state language, institutions, and many cultural practices are predominantly associated with the Kinh majority.