Chinese – also known as Mandarin – is one of the most widely spoken languages in the world, with over a billion speakers. However, for many foreigners, learning Chinese is often considered as difficult as climbing a mountain. But there’s an interesting exception: Vietnamese people. In recent years, more and more Vietnamese are choosing to learn Chinese for work, study, business, or communication with the Chinese community. What’s remarkable is that many Vietnamese learners pick it up quickly, pronounce it well, and absorb the language more easily than learners from other countries. So, why do Vietnamese people find it easy to learn Chinese?
1. Shared linguistic roots influenced by Classical Chinese
One of the deepest and most important reasons lies in the historical connection between Vietnamese and Chinese. For over a thousand years under Chinese rule, Classical Chinese was the official language of Vietnam. Its influence is still evident in Sino-Vietnamese vocabulary, which makes up around 60–70% of the modern Vietnamese lexicon.
For example:
- “Học sinh” (student) in Vietnamese corresponds to “学生” (xué shēng) in Chinese,
- “Giáo viên” (teacher) aligns with “教师” (jiào shī),
- “Thư viện” (library) translates to “图书馆” (tú shū guǎn).
When Vietnamese learners study Chinese, many words feel familiar — they already know the meanings, and only need to learn how to pronounce and recognize the characters. This similarity gives Vietnamese a significant advantage.
2. Similar sentence structure
It’s not just the vocabulary — the grammar structure of Chinese is also quite close to Vietnamese, especially in the order of words: subject – verb – object. Unlike English or French, Vietnamese learners don’t need to mentally rearrange sentences.
For example:
- “Tôi ăn cơm” (I eat rice) becomes “我吃饭” (wǒ chī fàn).
- “Mẹ đi chợ” (Mom goes to the market) becomes “妈妈去市场” (māma qù shìchǎng).
This parallel in sentence construction helps Vietnamese learners quickly adapt and form correct Chinese sentences without too much effort.
3. Tonal pronunciation is familiar
One of the biggest challenges for foreigners learning Chinese is tones. But for Vietnamese people, this is no big deal — Vietnamese is also a tonal language, and in fact, it has more tones than Chinese (six in Vietnamese compared to four in Mandarin).
For instance:
- Vietnamese distinguishes “ma – má – mà – mạ – mã – mả”,
- Mandarin uses “mā – má – mǎ – mà” (妈 – 麻 – 马 – 骂).
Because they already use tones daily, Vietnamese learners are more comfortable recognizing and producing tonal differences, making pronunciation easier to master.
4. Easier to remember Chinese characters through Sino-Vietnamese
Another key advantage is the ability to remember Chinese characters via Sino-Vietnamese words. Although modern Chinese uses logograms, many Vietnamese find these characters familiar thanks to their education and exposure to classical texts.
For example:
- The character “学” (study) instantly reminds Vietnamese of “học”.
- “爱” (ài – love) relates to “ái” in words like “ái quốc” (patriotism) or “tình ái” (romantic love).
This phonetic and semantic connection makes it easier for Vietnamese learners to guess meanings and memorize new characters more efficiently.
5. Clear and practical motivation for learning
Beyond linguistic similarities, Vietnamese people often have clear, practical reasons to learn Chinese — such as working with Chinese businesses, studying abroad, doing trade, or even livestreaming on Chinese platforms like TikTok.
Furthermore, the growing cultural and economic exchange between Vietnam and China boosts the demand for Chinese proficiency. Many companies offer higher salaries to Chinese-speaking employees, making learning the language a direct path to better career opportunities.
In short, learning Chinese isn’t just a hobby; for many Vietnamese, it’s a practical tool for income growth and future success.
6. Access to abundant learning resources
Today, learning Chinese has never been easier. Vietnamese learners can access countless free resources online: YouTube channels, TikTok lessons, mobile apps, and Facebook study groups.
Moreover, Chinese language education in Vietnam has improved significantly. Many language centers now offer quality courses with experienced Vietnamese teachers and even native Chinese instructors.
This creates a supportive learning environment that helps Vietnamese learners thrive.
7. A flexible, modern approach to language learning
One underrated strength of Vietnamese learners is their adaptive and proactive learning style. Whether it’s English, Korean, Japanese, or Chinese, Vietnamese students tend to find creative ways to learn — from self-study to watching dramas, listening to music, and casual conversation.
Especially the Gen Z generation, who are tech-savvy and trend-sensitive, often use short videos, flashcards, or educational apps to learn languages in a fun and engaging way. This mindset makes learning Chinese feel more natural and enjoyable.
Conclusion
Why Vietnamese People Find It Easy to Learn Chinese? For Vietnamese learners, Chinese is not just an achievable goal — it’s a language full of opportunities. Thanks to shared vocabulary roots, familiar grammar, tonal pronunciation, cultural history, and a wide range of learning tools, Vietnamese students are well-positioned to excel in learning Chinese.
If you’re wondering which language to pick up next, Chinese is a smart and realistic choice — not only is it easier than expected, but it also opens the door to valuable future opportunities.