Việt gian

Việt gian (chữ Hán: 越奸; lit. 'Vietnamese traitor') refers to a Vietnamese person who sells Vietnamese interests. It is similar to the Chinese term hanjian, meaning a Chinese traitor, and uses the same character for "traitor". This term has existed since the 1920s and was later used by both the North Vietnamese and South Vietnamese to refer to supporters of the other side.^[1]

A 1945 propaganda poster by the Việt Minh calling for the eradication of the Việt gian.

North Vietnam

Since 1945, the Viet Minh have officially used it in legal documents to refer to the Vietnamese who cooperated or collaborated with French colonists. The policies of the Viet Minh include "arming the people, punishing the Việt gian" and "confiscation of the assets of the French and Japanese imperialists and the Việt gian." On January 20, 1953, Ho Chi Minh issued Order No. 133-SL in North Vietnam to punish the Việt gian.^[2][3][4]

South Vietnam

Propaganda poster of the South Vietnam, in which the phrase Việt gian cộng sản is used.

It is sometimes interpreted that the term "Việt Cộng" is a contraction of the term Việt gian cộng sản ("Communist Traitor to Vietnam").^[5]

See also

• Hanjian