The rise and fall of Chinese characters in Vietnam is a long historical process, which is deeply influenced by the historical development process and political environment of Vietnam and can be divided into several unique historical stages. During the Millennium county period, the Vietnamese people accepted China culture and Chinese characters. During the period of feudal autonomy, the Yue nationality took the initiative to accept them, fully absorbed and localized them, and formed a unique Vietnamese culture and writing. After the French colonists ruled Vietnam, they abolished Chinese characters by decree and promoted the use of Latin national characters.

This move was strongly opposed by Vietnamese literati, but after seeing the positive significance of Latin national characters in spreading national independence and revolutionary ideas, it was actively accepted and promoted. After the "August Revolution" in the 1940s, Vietnam officially passed a decree to establish Latin national characters as national common characters.

Successive dynasties in Vietnam maintained vassal relations with China until 1885 when China and France signed the Tianjin Treaty, and Vietnam became a French colony. During the period of feudal autonomy, in order to strengthen the construction of feudal country and consolidate feudal rule, the Vietnamese ruling class took the initiative to accept Chinese characters, China culture and laws and regulations, and carried them forward.

After France obtained the status of sovereign state of Vietnam, in order to cut off the cultural ties between China and Vietnam and strengthen colonial rule, it gradually banned Chinese characters and promoted Latin national scripts and French. This move was strongly opposed by the Vietnamese literati class. However, in Vietnam's struggle for national independence, people of insight in Vietnam gradually realized the benefits of Latin national characters in spreading revolutionary ideas and improving people's wisdom, and spared no effort to advocate and popularize them.