🇻🇳 Vietnamese in France
📊 Overview
Vietnamese is one of the most widely spoken Asian languages in France. It is spoken by the large Vietnamese diaspora, one of the oldest and most established Asian communities in the country.
- Estimated speakers: 250,000–350,000+
- France has one of the largest Vietnamese communities in Europe.
🕰️ Historical Background
Vietnamese migration to France is closely tied to colonial history:
- In the 19th and early 20th centuries, Vietnam was part of French Indochina.
- Students, workers, and soldiers from Vietnam came to France during both World Wars.
- A major wave arrived after the end of the Vietnam War in 1975, including refugees (the “boat people”).
Because of this long history, Vietnamese communities in France are generally well integrated and often highly educated.
📍 Where Vietnamese Is Spoken
Large Vietnamese communities are found in:
- Paris (especially the 13th arrondissement)
- Marseille
- Lyon
- Toulouse
Paris has the largest concentration.
🏫 Language & Culture Today
- Vietnamese is mainly spoken at home and in community settings.
- Weekend language schools teach Vietnamese to younger generations.
- Cultural associations maintain traditions, festivals (like Tết), and media.
- Some French universities offer Vietnamese language studies.
Second and third generations often speak French as their dominant language, with varying proficiency in Vietnamese.
🧾 Legal Status
Vietnamese has no official status in France but is recognized as a community/heritage language. France does not grant official recognition to most minority languages beyond French.
If you’d like, I can also compare Vietnamese in France with Vietnamese communities in the U.S., Canada, or Australia.
