Vietnamese, an Austro-Asiatic language with about 69 million speakers, is the official language of Vietnam. It is also spoken by a small number of people in neighboring countries, such as Cambodia and China. If you have Vietnamese family and friends or are planning a vacation in Vietnam, it could be very rewarding for your child to learn to speak Vietnamese. There is range of resources available on the Internet to help children learn Vietnamese.

Expose your child to Vietnamese by playing Vietnamese music at home or in the car. Use websites, such as Learning Vietnamese Through Songs, to download music and lyrics. Familiarize yourself with the lyrics in advance, so you can encourage your child to sing along. This will help him develop a feel for how Vietnamese sounds and awaken an interest in learning more.

Teach your child some basic words. Concentrate on words that your child knows in English, such as colors, animals and food. Use flash cards showing different objects and concepts, while you name them in Vietnamese. Encourage your child to repeat the words after you, and reward correct pronunciations.

Play games with your child in Vietnamese. Use online resources, such as the Vietnamese pages on the Hello World website, to play games that reinforce basic concepts like numbers and the alphabet. Allow your child to choose the games he likes, and praise him when he successfully solves the puzzles.

Provide opportunities for your child to practice Vietnamese. Seek out Vietnamese families in your area, and arrange to meet for play time. This gives your child an opportunity to practice the Vietnamese he has already learned and a chance to learn new vocabulary in a fun environment.