Generally speaking, Vietnam was ruled by Chinese for some ten centuries. Vietnamese then imported Chinese characters as writing communication means. Chinese characters are used so long that many people mistakenly thought Vietnamese language originated from Chinese. 

Vietnamese Alphabetical letter was brought about 400 years ago by European Catholic Priests. However, for over 300 years, these alphabetical letters are only used in seminaries. Not until around 1867, alphabetical letter is officially used in public. In other words, Vietnamese has 5000 years of history, yet Vietnamese language that we are using nowaday is just 100 years old. Very young, yet was born when the nation had to face repeatedly wars and famines, Vietnamese language doesn't really have a chance to improve and grow. After 1975, millions Vietnamese left Vietnam to seek for freedom in another country. Busy with the new living and culture, most Vietnamese parents living in foreign country do not have enough time to maintain and teach the younger generation their own language. Never before, the task of maintaining the Vietnamese culture, spirit, and language is more crucial to Vietnamese publishing media like today. 

VietMedia with its best capability will try to take part in this battle fighting to keep Vietnamese root. Please feel free to join us in our writing forums to help one another learn and love the beauty of our Vietnamese language.