The ancient Vietnamese people were first known simply as the Lạc or Lạc Việt in recorded history. Archaeological evidence of the Bronze Age Dong Son Culture suggests the ancient Vietnamese people were among the first to practice agriculture.

Many Vietnamese people believe that they are descendants of Dragon and Fairy couple who had 100 sons. Because the dragon was a water creature and the fairy was a land creature, they decided they could no longer stay together. The fairy mother took 50 sons to the highlands, and the dragon father took 50 sons to the coast. The oldest son later became the founder of the Hung King Dynasty which is thought to have existed from as early as 2769 BC until 100 AD.

For centuries Vietnamese society was knit together by Confucian norms based on five relationships: King and subjects, father and son, husband and wife, brother and brother, friend and friend. These norms influenced the evolution of Vietnam as a hierarchic, authoritarian society in which Confucian scholarship, monarchical absolutism; filial piety, the subordinate role of women, and the family system were regarded as integral to the natural order of the universe.

Kinship plays an important role in Vietnam. In the majority of rural Vietnam today one can still see three or four generations living under one roof.

Vietnamese people practice different religions and beliefs but none of them is fanatical. With the majority come from the same origin, their nature, character and style are not much different though their accent diverse from place to place.

Through the process of building and protecting the nation with many vicissitudes of thousands of years, Vietnamese people still keep their strong identity.

The population of Vietnam now is around 87millions with 54 different ethnic groups, in which Kinh or Viet, the largest group, makes up around 86% of the whole population, and 53 other ethnic groups represent over 10%.

Photo by Réhahn - VnExpress

The 54 different ethnic groups inhabiting Vietnam can divide into eight different groups by the Vietnamese languages:

• The Viet - Muong group includes 4 ethnic groups: Chut, Kinh, Muong, Tho.
• The Tay - Thai group includes 8 ethnic groups: Bo Y, Giay, Lao, Lu, Nung, San Chay, Tay, Thai.
• The Mon - Khmer group includes 21 ethnic groups: Ba Na, Brau, Bru-Van Kieu, Cho Ro, Co, Co Ho, Co Tu, Gie Trieng, Hre, Khang, Khmer, Kho Mu, Ma, Mang, M'nong, O Du, Ro Mam, Ta Oi, Xinh Mun, Xo Dang, Xtieng.
• The Mong - Dao group includes 3 groups: Dao, Mong, Pa Then.
• The Kadai group includes 4 ethnic groups: Co Lao, La Chi, La Ha, Pu Peo.
• The Nam Dao group includes 5 ethnic groups: Cham, Chu Ru, Ede, Gia Rai, Raglai.
• The Han Group includes 3 ethnic groups: Hoa, Ngai, San Diu.
• The Tang Group includes 6 ethnic groups: Cong, Ha Nhi, La Hu, Lo Lo, Phu La, Si La.