Vietnam, a country rich in history and culture, stands out among its East Asian neighbours for its unique writing system. Unlike China, Japan, and Korea, which use logographic or syllabic scripts influenced by Chinese characters, Vietnam writes its language using the Latin alphabet. This choice reflects a fascinating journey through centuries of linguistic evolution, missionary influence, and political transformation.

From Chinese Characters to Indigenous Innovation

For much of its early history, Vietnam’s writing systems were deeply tied to Chinese influence. Starting in the 1st century CE, during over a millennium of Chinese rule, Vietnam adopted Chữ Hán (Classical Chinese) for governance, literature, and education. However, Vietnamese—an Austroasiatic language—differs significantly from Chinese in grammar and phonetics, making this script cumbersome for native speakers.

By the 10th century, after gaining independence, Vietnamese scholars developed Chữ Nôm, an adaptation of Chinese characters designed to better represent native Vietnamese words and grammar. While innovative, Chữ Nôm was complex, requiring years of study, and remained the domain of the elite.

The Arrival of Latin Letters

The turning point came in the 16th and 17th centuries, when European missionaries, primarily Portuguese and Spanish Jesuits, arrived in Vietnam. Seeking to spread Christianity, these missionaries faced the daunting task of learning the existing scripts. To simplify communication, they began transcribing Vietnamese using the Latin alphabet, drawing on orthographic conventions from their own languages.

A major figure in this transition was Alexandre de Rhodes (also known as Đắc Lộ), a French Jesuit missionary. Building on earlier work by Portuguese missionaries such as Francisco de Pina, Gaspar do Amaral, and António Barbosa, de Rhodes standardized the Latin-based system now known as Chữ Quốc Ngữ (National Script). His 1651 publication, the Dictionarium Annamiticum Lusitanum et Latinum (Vietnamese-Portuguese-Latin Dictionary),laid the foundation for the modern Vietnamese alphabet. The script incorporated diacritical marks to accurately represent Vietnamese tones and sounds, making it uniquely suited to the language.

From Colonization to National Identity

The adoption of Chữ Quốc Ngữ accelerated during French colonial rule in the 19th and early 20th centuries. The French found it more practical than the complex Chữ Hán and Chữ Nôm scripts for administrative purposes and promoted its use in education. Meanwhile, they suppressed the traditional scripts, further entrenching the Latin alphabet in Vietnamese society.

Chữ Quốc Ngữ also played a crucial role in Vietnam’s modernization. Its phonetic nature made literacy more accessible, enabling a broader segment of the population to engage with written texts. By the early 20th century, it had become a vital tool for spreading ideas, fuelling nationalist movements, and fostering cultural pride.

Why Not Return to Chinese Characters?

Despite Vietnam’s deep historical ties to Chinese culture, the country did not revert to Chinese characters after achieving independence. The reasons are both practical and symbolic:

• Linguistic Differences: Vietnamese is structurally distinct from Chinese, making logographic characters less efficient for representing native words and grammar.
• Ease of Learning: Chữ Quốc Ngữ’s phonetic system, with its straightforward representation of sounds and tones, is far easier to learn and teach than the logographic systems of Chữ Hán or Chữ Nôm.
• Cultural Shift: By the 20th century, Chữ Quốc Ngữ had become an integral part of Vietnamese identity, symbolizing progress and resistance to foreign domination.

A Legacy of Adaptation

Today, Chữ Quốc Ngữ is not only the official script of Vietnam but also a powerful emblem of the country’s adaptability and resilience. From its roots in missionary efforts to its role in nation-building, the Latin alphabet has allowed Vietnamese to thrive as both a spoken and written language. This remarkable transformation underscores the unique intersection of history, culture, and practicality in shaping the written word. Further reading – Quốc Ngữ: The Shackle that Became the Sword.

YPT Tours to Vietnam and South-East Asia

About Post Author

Andy Khong

Andy Khong has travelled with YPT on numerous trips. A few years ago, medical episodes forced him to recalibrate priorities in life and redefine spirituality. Nowadays he expands his horizons by believing that life should be lived with variety and experiences, plus continued learning to be a better person. Andy volunteers his time teaching complementary medicine, healing arts like Qi Gong, and contributes articles to spiritual magazines.

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