This paper describes the implications of the Vietnamese government’s language policies for the Mong people. Although the policies have been successful in raising literacy and primary school enrollment since Doi Moi (market-oriented economic reform), they have not been successful in producing the “loyalty to the nation-state” intended by nationalist policies. The policy objective was to make the Mong identify as Vietnamese after mastering the Vietnamese language, but in reality many people stop going to school after mastering basic Vietnamese. Few Mong attend secondary school, especially compared with other ethnic minorities such as the Tay or Muong. More importantly, perhaps, conversion to “Mong Cult Protestantism” continues, and some even cause “riots” in the mountainous areas. At the same time, the government has also provided ethnic language education for the Mong people. The purpose of this policy has evolved over time. In the 1990s the objective was to preserve ethnic culture, but since the 2000s, the purpose has been to maintain national security in the Mong areas. Futhermore, the Vietnamese (Kinh) cadres have also started studying the Mong language in order to increase their understanding of the Mong people and gather information on Mong society.

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