Vietnam is one of the densely populated countries in Asia, accounting for nearly 80 million of its total population. Amidst the populace, it is consisted of the diverse mosaic of ethnic groups which accounts 54 minorities scattering around the country. Vietnamese people (also known as Viet or Kinh) are the majority among those, around 85-90%. Approximately 2% is ethnic Chinese and the rest are made up of Khmers, Chams and some other minor ethnic groups including mountain-dwelling population who live in Central Highlands.

Vietnamese, who are believed to have their origins in southern China, arrived in the area of Red River Delta about five thousand years ago. They came as a distinct group and then gradually absorbed smaller communities until they became the dominant culture as today. Vietnamese have lived their lives for thousand years by growing rice and therefore prefer to settle in the lowland areas which are suitable for rice cultivation. History of Vietnam indicates the gradual move towards south along the costal lines, defeating Chams in 15th century, and towards Mekong River Delta, taken over from Khmers in 18th century.

In contrast to Vietnamese, Chinese, considered the largest single minority ethnic group, today settle in the South especially in Cholon district of Ho Chi Minh City which is noted for a shoppers' paradise. Although they emigrated in Vietnam for generations, they historically tried to maintain their own Chinese identities such as languages, schools and even citizenship. They also organized themselves into communities according to their ancestors' province and dialect such as a community of Fujian, Cantonese, Dong, Hainan, and Hakka. As the Chinese are well known for their entrepreneurial ability, until the fall of South Vietnam in 1975, the ethnic Chinese had controlled nearly half of the economic activity in the country. However, the prominence of ethnic Chinese had generated a great deal of antipathies and animosity between Chinese and Vietnamese, as a result, the Communist Party launched a campaign against ethnic Chinese which then turn into open racial persecution in 1978. Because of this campaign, China decided to attack Vietnam and most of ethnic Chinese fled to China and the West. Today, Vietnamese officials have admitted that this antiracial campaign was a tragic and costly mistake.

Most of minority ethnic groups, who are believed to number between six and eight million, reside in the central highlands and mountain regions of the northwest with a smattering along the coastal plains in the South. Some of these minorities are believed to have inhabited in the area before the arrival of Viet from southern China five thousand years ago.