[history, culture] Ai la` ngu+o+`i Vie^.t ? (fwd)

[AnHai Doan <anhai@cs.washington.edu>]

Ca'c ba'c, ho+'t ha?i cha.y va`o tru+o+`ng kho^ng tha^'y o^ng 
director-advisor dda^u, la.i ra ta'n phe't va`i ca^u. Tru+o+'c tie^n, 
to^i nha^.n ddu+o+.c ba`i vie^'t sau cu?a mo^.t DHS ta.i cha^u A^u, xin 
dda(ng le^n  vnsa. Nh~ cho^~ trong ngoa(.c [] la` to^i the^m va`o cho 
ca^u ddu? nghi~a. 

-------------------------------

                    Ai la` ngu+o+`i Vie^.t ?

                                                     L. H. P.



[Xin ba`n ddo^i lo+`i nha^n ddo.c ba`i] ba`i Va(n ho'a
va` su+. pha't trie^?n tinh tha^`n da^n to^.c Vie^.t cu?a Nguye^~n Hu+~u
Nha^.t. Tru+o+'c he^'t pha?i no'i la` ba`i ba'o cu?a Nguye^~n Hu+~u Nha^.t
co' kha? na(ng khi'ch le^. lo`ng tu+. ha`o da^n to^.c bo+?i vi` ngu+o+`i v
ie^'t, tu+. nhu? ra(`ng mi`nh dda~ co' y' thu+'c tu+. ha`o da^n to^.c kha'
cao, va^.y ma` ddo.c ba`i ddo' va^~n tha^'y pha^'n cha^'n the^m ddo^i
chu't. Tuy nhie^n ne^'u ba`i Va(n ho'a va`... co' the^? la`m ngu+o+`i
vie^'t la^ng la^ng ty' ddi?nh thi` cu~ng la.i khie^'n ngu+o+`i [ddo.c]
ngu+'a o'c kho^ng du+'t, va` bo+?i va^.y buo^.c pha?i "ga~i" ba(`ng ca^u
chuye^.n thie^n ha. ky` na`y. Song, kho^ng the^? ga~i ddu+o+.c he^'t ca'c
cho^~ ngu+'a, ngu+o+`i vie^'t chi? xin ta^.p trung va`o ca'ch hie^?u ai
la` ng u+o+`i Vie^.t ma` tho^i. 

Ba`i Va(n ho'a va`... ddu+a ra ba quan nie^.m la`m ranh gio+'i dde^?
khoanh vu`ng kha'i nie^.m ngu+o+`i Vie^.t, hay da^n to^.c Vie^.t. Mo^.t
la` "da^n to^.c Vie^.t dda~ tra?i qua ca'c ne^`n va(n minh So+n Vi, Ho`a
Bi`nh va` Ba('c So+n tho+`i ky` ddo^` dda '; Ddo^ng So+n, Sa Hu`ynh, O'c
Eo tho+`i ddo^` ddo^`ng; Long Tha.nh, Bi`nh Cha^u, Go` Ma Vu+o+ng, Tam My~
va` Da^`u Gia^y cu?a tho+`i ky` ddo^` sa('t tu+` dda^`u thie^n nie^n ky?
thu+' 2 cho dde^'n 1,2 tra(m na(m tru+o+'c Co^ng nguye^n." Hai la` "...
hai tie^'ng Vie^.t Nam dda~ no'i le^n pha^`n na`o nguo^`n go^'c ga^`n
nha^'t cu?a mo^.t da^n to^.c vo^'n tu+` phu+o+ng ba('c, trong co^.ng
ddo^`ng Ba'ch Vie^.t, ro+`i xuo^'ng phu+o+ng nam, i't nha^'t tu+` ddo+`i
Ta^`n..." Va` ba la` "... khoa?ng 3 trie^.u ngu +o+`i Ta`u ta.i Cho+.
Lo+'n ma` to^?ng so^' lo+.i tu+'c ho+n ha(?n 70 trie^.u da^n Vie^.t go^.p
la.i. Trong dda'nh ra, ngoa`i dda'nh va`o..." Sau dda^y xin ba`n ve^`
tu+`ng quan nie^.m mo^.t. 



Da^n to^.c Vie^.t tho+`i ddo^` dda'? 

Chu+a tha^'y mo^.t nha` khoa ho.c na`o no'i tho+`i ddo^` dda' dda~ co'
da^n to^.c cu~ng nhu+ va(n minh. Tuy nhie^n ngu+o+`i vie^'t kho^ng co^'
ti`nh hie^?u mo^.t ca'ch ma'y mo'c la` o^ng Nguye^~n Hu+~u Nha^.t kha(?ng
ddi.nh tho+`i ddo^` dda' dda~ co' ca'c da^n to^.c va` ca'c ne^`n va(n minh
ro^`i. Ddie^`u o^ng muo^'n no'i co' le~ la` to^? tie^n cu?a ngu+o+`i
Vie^.t hie^.n nay dda~ tra?i qua ca'c ne^`n va(n ho'a tu+` So+n Vi, Ho`a
Bi`nh, Ba('c So+n qua Ddo^ng So+n, Sa Huy`nh, O'c Eo cho dde^'n Go` Ma
Vu+o+ ng, Tam My~, Da^`u Gia^y. Ne^'u qua? nhu+ va^.y thi` su+. "khoanh
vu`ng" kha'i nie^.m "to^? tie^n ngu+o+`i Vie^.t" cu?a Nguye^~n Hu+~u
Nha^.t tha^.t la` ro^.ng ra~i. 

Ta dde^? y' trong khi So+n Vi, Ho`a Bi`nh, Ba('c So+n va` Ddo^ng So+n la`
ca'c ddi.a ddie^?m ta.i mie^`n Ba('c Vie^.t Nam thi` ca'c no+i co`n la.i
dde^`u na(`m tre^n mie^`n Trung va` mie^`n Nam Vie^.t Nam nga`y nay, tu+'c
la` nhu+~ng no+i ma` chi? va`i th e^' ky? ga^`n dda^y mo+'i tro+? tha`nh
la~nh tho^? Vie^.t Nam. 

Ca'c nha` khoa ho.c cho hay tuy na(`m tre^n ddi.a ba`n Ba('c Vie^.t Nam,
ca'i no^i cu?a da^n to^.c Vie^.t, nhu+ng chu? nha^n cu?a ca'c ne^`n va(n
ho'a ddo^` dda' So+n Vi, Ho`a Bi`nh va` Ba('c So+n kho^ng pha?i la` to^?
tie^n tru+.c tie^'p cu?a ngu+o+`i Vi e^.t (ngu+o+`i Kinh) hie^.n dda.i,
cu. the^? la` ho. kho^ng thuo^.c chu?ng Mongoloid nhu+ chu'ng ta. 

Co`n chu? nha^n cu?a ca'c ne^`n va(n ho'a ddo^` ddo^`ng va` ddo^` sa('t
o+? mie^`n Trung va` mie^`n Nam Vie^.t Nam thi` khoa ho.c chu+a xa'c
ddi.nh ddu+o+.c du+'t khoa't co' pha?i la` to^? tie^n tru+.c tie^'p cu?a
ca'c sa('c da^n thie^?u so^' hie^.n nay o +? Trung va` Nam Vie^.t Nam hay
kho^ng, nhu+ng cha('c cha('n kho^ng pha?i to^? tie^n tru+.c tie^'p cu?a
ngu+o+`i Kinh. 

Trong ca'c ne^`n va(n ho'a tie^`n su+? ma` Nguye^~n Hu+~u Nha^.t lie^.t
ke^ chi? co' chu? nha^n ne^`n va(n ho'a Ddo^ng So+n la` ddu+o+.c nhie^`u
nha` khoa ho.c (kho^ng pha?i ta^'t ca?) thu+`a nha^.n la` to^? tie^n
tru+.c tie^'p cu?a ngu+o+`i Vie^.t (Kinh). 

Ngu+o+`i Vie^.t dde^'n tu+` phu+o+ng ba('c? 

Ngu+o+`i ta thu+o+`ng ca(n cu+' va`o ca'i chu+~ "Vie^.t" trong te^n
nu+o+'c cu?a Vie^.t Nam dde^? ng tu+o+ng ddu+o+ng vo+'i vie^.c thu la.i
ddu+o+.c qua^`n dda?o Hoa`ng Sa tu+` Trung Quo^'c. Ma` trong chuye^.n
"co^ng ta^m" thi` hi`nh nhu+ Vie^.t Nam ta co ' "vu~ khi' nguye^n tu+?",
cha(?ng ha.n nhu+ ti`nh nghi~a, trong khi o+? chuye^.n "co^ng tha`nh" thi`
vu~ khi' nguye^n tu+? chi? co' Trung Quo^'c na('m tho^i ma` ta thi`
kho^ng. Vie^.c ngu+o+`i Ta`u Cho+. Lo+'n du` ddu+o+.c ddo^'i xu+? nhu+
ngu+o+`i Vie^. t nhu+ng va^~n to+ tu+o+?ng dde^'n mo^.t mo^'i lie^n he^.
na`o ddo' vo+'i Trung Quo^'c hoa(.c vo+'i "mo^.t gio^'ng da^n Ta`u", va^~n
ba?o to^`n mo^.t thu+' va(n ho'a co' pha^`n kha'c vo+'i thu+' va(n ho'a
cu?a nhu+~ng ngu+o+`i Vie^.t kho^ng go^'c Hoa, vie ^.c ddo' se~ bie^'n ho.
tha`nh nhu+~ng ca^y ca^`u ca?m tho^ng giu+~a Vie^.t Nam va` ca'c nu+o+'c
la'ng gie^`ng va` la`m gia`u cho va(n ho'a va` kinh te^' cu?a Vie^.t Nam,
hay se~ bie^'n ho. tha`nh "ddo^.i qua^n thu+' na(m", tha`nh nhu+~ng "con
ong trong t ay a'o" la` tu`y thuo^.c kho^ng i't va`o tha'i ddo^. va` u+'ng
xu+? cu?a nhu+~ng ngu+o+`i Vie^.t co`n la.i ddo^'i vo+'i ho.. 


Khoa ho.c, chi'nh tri. va` ca?m ti'nh

Ba.n ddo.c co' the^? dda~ nha^.n xe't, quan nie^.m ve^` ai la` ngu+o+`i
Vie^.t trong hie^.n ta.i va` tu+o+ng lai cu?a ngu+o+`i vie^'t ro^.ng ra~i
ho+n cu?a o^ng Nguye^~n Hu+~u Nha^.t bao nhie^u thi` quan nie^.m ve^` ai
la` ngu+o+`i Vie^.t trong qukha(?ng ddi.nh ngu+o+`i Vie^.t dda~ tu+`
phu+o+ng ba('c, tu+` mie^`n Nam Trung Quo^'c hie^.n nay, khi xu+a la`
ddi.a ba`n cu?a ca'c gio^'ng ma` Hoa to^.c go.i chung la` "Ba'ch Vie^.t",
tra`n xuo^'ng vu`ng cha^u tho^? so^ng Ho^`ng ro^`i sinh con dde? ca'i ra
ngu+o +`i Kinh ba^y gio+`. Nhu+ng Ba'ch Vie^.t va^~n co`n mo+ ho^` qua',
nhie^`u ngu+o+`i dda~ ddinh ninh cu. the^? ra(`ng ngu+o+`i Vie^.t o+?
ddo^`ng ba(`ng Ba('c Bo^. la` con cha'u cu?a da^n nu+o+'c Vie^.t Ca^u
Tie^~n, mo^.t xu+' o+? ven bie^?n Trung Nam Trun g Quo^'c nga`y nay. 

Khoa ho.c hie^.n nay va^~n chu+a nha^'t tri' ve^` nguo^`n go^'c ngu+o+`i
Vie^.t (Kinh). Tu+.u trung co' hai loa.i gia? thuye^'t. Mo^.t loa.i cho
ra(`ng to^? tie^n cu?a ngu+o+`i Vie^.t dda~ tu+` dda^u ddo' di cu+ to+'i
mie^`n ddo^`ng ba(`ng Ba('c Bo^. tron g va`i the^' ky? tru+o+'c Ta^y
li.ch. Thuye^'t thi` cho ra(`ng ho. dde^'n tu+` hu+o+'ng ddo^ng ba('c,
tu+'c la` mie^`n Ddo^ng Nam Trung Quo^'c nga`y nay. Thuye^'t la.i kha(?ng
ddi.nh ho. dde^'n tu+` phi'a ta^y ba('c, tu+'c la` mie^`n Ta^y Nam Trung
Quo^'c ba^y gio+`. Cu~ng co' thuye^'t nghi~ ra(`ng ho. tu+` ngoa`i bie^?n
va`o hoa(.c ho. dde^'n tu+` phu+o+ng nam. 

Loa.i gia? thuye^'t thu+' hai cho ra(`ng ngu+o+`i Vie^.t cha(?ng "tu+`
dda^u dde^'n" he^'t. Ngu+o+`i Vie^.t co^? (tu+'c to^? tie^n cu?a ngu+o+`i
Kinh va` ngu+o+`i Mu+o+`ng) theo thuye^'t na`y la` ke^'t qua? su+. ho^~n
chu?ng cu?a ddu? mo.i gio^'ng ngu+o+` i dda~ ke'o dde^'n mie^`n Ba('c
Vie^.t Nam suo^'t trong khoa?ng mo^.t thie^n nie^n ky? tru+o+'c Ta^y
li.ch. Nhu+~ng cu+ da^n dda~ so^'ng o+? ddo^`ng ba(`ng Ba('c Bo^. so+'m
ho+n khoa?ng mo^.t nga`n na(m tru+o+'c Ta^y li.ch mo^.t pha^`n co' the^?
dda~ di c u+ ddi no+i kha'c, pha^`n kha'c co' the^? dda~ "bi. tra`n
nga^.p" bo+?i ca'c gio^'ng ngu+o+`i dde^'n muo^.n ho+n. 

Thuye^'t "nguo^`n go^'c ba?n ddi.a" na`y co' ve? dda'ng tin ho+n ca?,
ne^'u ta ga('n va^'n dde^` nguo^`n go^'c da^n to^.c Vie^.t vo+'i va^'n
dde^` nguo^`n go^'c tie^'ng Vie^.t (hai va^'n dde^` kho^ng ma(.c nhie^n
la` mo^.t). Ca'c nha` ngo^n ngu+~ ho.c sau khi co^' ga('ng ghe'p tie^'ng
Vie^.t va`o cu`ng mo^.t nho'm vo+'i he^'t ca'c ngu+~ he^. tu+` Mo^n-Khme
(co`n go.i ngu+~ he^. Nam A'), ro^`i Ha'n, ro^`i Ta`y-Tha'i dde^'n Ma~
Lai-Dda Dda?o (co`n go.i ngu+~ he^. Nam Dda?o) ma` kho^ng co' ca'ch ghe'p
na`o t ho?a dda'ng dda~ buo^.c pha?i coi tie^'ng Vie^.t (cu`ng tie^'ng
Mu+o+`ng va` mo^.t va`i ngo^n ngu+~ kha'c chi? co' va`i tra(m dde^'n va`i
nga`n ngu+o+`i no'i o+? ru+`ng sa^u Ha` Ti~nh, Qua?ng Bi`nh) la^.p tha`nh
mo^.t ngu+~ he^. rie^ng. 

Ddie^`u co' the^? kha(?ng ddi.nh la` tie^'ng Vie^.t co' nho'm tu+` vu+.ng
co+ ba?n thuo^.c he^. Mo^n-Khme, cha(?ng ha.n nhu+ nhu+~ng tu+` ma('t,
mu~i, mo^`m,..., mo^.t, hai, ba... la` nhu+~ng tu+` Mo^n-Khme. Xin ddu+`ng
hie^?u nha^`m ra(`ng nhu+ va^.y ngu +o+`i Mo^n va` ngu+o+`i Khme la` to^?
tie^n cu?a ngu+o+`i Vie^.t. Ca'ch go.i Mo^n-Khme chi? la` ca'ch go.i quy
u+o+'c. Ma(.t kha'c, ddi.a ba`n cu+ tru' cu?a ca'c gio^'ng ngu+o+`i no'i
ca'c ngo^n ngu+~ Mo^n-Khme, hay co`n go.i la` ca'c ngo^n ngu+~ Nam A' (
Austroasiatic) tho+`i tru+o+'c Ta^y li.ch chie^'m he^'t mie^`n lu.c ddi.a
cu?a Ddo^ng Nam A' co^? dda.i, tu+` vu`ng Ddo^ng A^'n Ddo^. o+? phi'a ta^y
dde^'n bo+` bie^?n Vie^.t Nam o+? phi'a ddo^ng va` tu+` mie^`n Nam Trung
Quo^'c o+? phi'a ba('c dde^'n ba' n dda?o Malay o+? phi'a nam. Bo^. pha^.n
cu+ da^n no'i tie^'ng Nam A' o+? mie^`n nga`y nay la` Ba('c Vie^.t Nam
dda~ la` mo^.t trong nhu+~ng to^? tie^n cu?a ngu+o+`i Kinh. 

Nhu+ng co' ddie^`u cha('c cha('n la` trong khoa?ng tho+`i gian mo^.t hai
nghi`n na(m cuo^'i cu`ng tru+o+'c Ta^y li.ch, tu+'c la` ca'ch dda^y 3-4000
na(m, o+? ca'c ddo^`ng ba(`ng Ba('c Vie^.t Nam, ca'i no^i cu?a ngu+o+`i
Vie^.t, kho^ng chi? co' nhu+~ng bo^ . to^.c no'i tie^'ng Nam A'
(Mo^n-Khmer) ma` co' ca? nhu+~ng sa('c da^n no'i tie^'ng Ta`y-Tha'i co^?
va` tie^'ng Nam Dda?o (Malayo-Polynesian) sinh so^'ng. Ai ddo^ng ho+n ai,
ai dde^'n tru+o+'c ai, khoa ho.c chu+a xa'c minh ddu+o+.c. Quan ddie^?m
ddu+o+.c thu+`a nha^.n nha^'t hie^.n nay la` dda~ co' mo^.t su+. co^.ng
cu+ la^u da`i giu+~a nhu+~ng nho'm ngu+o+`i thuo^.c ca? ba kho^'i ngo^n
ngu+~ cu?a Ddo^ng Nam A' co^? vu+`a no'i o+? tre^n ta.i ca'c ddo^`ng
ba(`ng Ba('c Vie^.t Nam. 

Ve^` ma(.t ddi.a ly' ddie^`u na`y hoa`n toa`n thuye^'t phu.c ddu+o+.c
bo+?i vi` tre^n ba?n ddo^` ngo^n ngu+~ Ddo^ng Nam A' cu?a thie^n nie^n ky?
thu+' nha^'t tru+o+'c Ta^y li.ch, chi'nh la` Ba('c Vie^.t Nam na(`m o+?
"nga~ ba bie^n gio+'i" cu?a ba kho^'i . Ngu+o+`i Nam Dda?o pha^n bo^' men
theo da?i bo+` bie^?n Ta^y Tha'i Bi`nh Du+o+ng suo^'t tu+` Trung Quo^'c,
Vie^.t Nam, Malaysia ra kha('p ca'c ha?i dda?o tu+` Nha^.t Ba?n o+? phi'a
ba('c to+'i Indonesia o+? phi'a nam ro^`i vu+o+n qua ca? da?i bo+` bie^? n
A^'n Ddo^. Du+o+ng. Ra^'t gio?i nghe^` ddi bie^?n, sau na`y ho. dda~ bo+i
to+'i ta^.n dda?o Maddagascar o+? ngoa`i kho+i cha^u Phi ro^`i ho`a
huye^'t vo+'i ngu+o+`i Bantu da dden tu+` lu.c ddi.a cha^u Phi ke'o ra
dde^? tha`nh ngu+o+`i Maddagascar ba^y g io+`. Ngu+o+`i Nam A' ta^.p trung
tre^n lu.c ddi.a ke'o tu+` Ddo^ng A^'n Ddo^. o+? phi'a ta^y ra ven bie^?n
Vie^.t Nam o+? phi'a ddo^ng. Ngu+o+`i Ta`y-Tha'i cu+ tru' o+? phi'a ba('c,
nay la` Trung Nam va` Nam Trung Quo^'c. Nhie^`u nghi`n na(m tru+o+'c, co '
the^? ca? ba kho^'i dde^`u co`n no'i chung mo^.t thu+' ngo^n ngu+~ go.i
la` tie^'ng Nam Phu+o+ng (Austric). Su+. "ta'ch rie^ng" ve^` sau tha`nh ba
kho^'i nhu+ tre^n nhie^`u kha? na(ng la` do tie^'p xu'c vo+'i ca'c ngo^n
ngu+~ la'ng gie^`ng cu?a mo^~i kh o^'i. 

Ve^` ma(.t dda(.c tru+ng ngo^n ngu+~, ngoa`i tie^u chi' tu+` vu+.ng co+
ba?n ke^? tre^n, ca'c ta'c gia? co`n du+.a va`o ca^'u tru'c cu~ng nhu+ co+
che^' cu?a ngo^n ngu+~ va` dda(.c bie^.t lu+u y' dde^'n hie^.n tu+o+.ng
tie^'ng Vie^.t la` mo^.t ngo^n ngu+~ co' nho'm tu+` vu+.ng co+ ba?n
Mo^n-Khme nhu+ng la.i kho^ng nhu+ ca'c tie^'ng Mo^n-Khme kha'c ma` gio^'ng
tie^'ng Ha'n va` tie^'ng Ta`y-Tha'i o+? cho^~ co' thanh ddie^.u (6 thanh:
ngang, huye^`n, sa('c, na(.ng, ho?i, nga~). Tuy nhie^n nhu+~ng tie^u chi'
na`y kho^ng nhu+~ng kho^ng giu'p la`m sa'ng to? nguo^`n go^'c cu?a tie^'ng
Vie^.t (tu+` Nam A', hay Ta`y-Tha'i, hay Nam Dda?o) ma` co' pha^`n co`n
la`m ro^'i ho+n bo+?i chi'nh ca'c nha` nghie^n cu+'u cu~ng chu+a hoa`n
toa`n tho^'ng nha^'t ddu+o+.c vo+'i n hau la` tie^'ng Vie^.t co' ca^'u
tru'c cu~ng nhu+ co+ che^' Tha'i, hay Mo^n-Khme, hay Ma~ Lai; va` su+. co'
thanh ddie^.u o+? tie^'ng Vie^.t la` do "ba('t chu+o+'c" qua tie^'p xu'c
thu+o+`ng xuye^n hay la` "mo^.t ngo^n ngu+~ Tha'i dda~ thay the^' mo^.t ng
o^n ngu+~ Mo^n-Khme dde^? tro+? tha`nh tie^'ng Vie^.t". 

Su+. "ro^'i ren" na`y ca`ng la`m ta(ng lo`ng tin ve^` nhu+~ng su+. tro^.n
la^~n thu+o+`ng xuye^n giu+~a ca'c nho'm to^.c cu`ng so^'ng o+? cho^'n
do^`n ve^` cu?a mo.i phi'a la` cha^u tho^? so^ng Ho^`ng, no+i tru.c xoay
cu?a ca'c luo^`ng giao tho^ng va` di cu+ tho+`i co^?, no+i dda~ co' mo^.t
ma^.t ddo^. da^n so^' ddo^ng nha^'t nhi` Ddo^ng Nam A' co^? dda.i. Co'
the^? la` khoa?ng tru+o+'c dda^y 4000 na(m mo^.t so^' nho'm ngu+o+`i no'i
tie^'ng Mo^n-Khme dda~ tu+` vu`ng Thu+o+.ng La`o va` Thanh Ho'a di cu+ ra
vu`ng vi.nh Ba('c Bo^. va` ho`a huye^'t vo+'i ca'c cu+ da^n Ta`y co^? o+?
dda^y. Nhu+~ng ngu+o+`i Ta`y co^? na`y dda~ co' quan he^. ra^'t ga^`n
vo+'i kho^'i Nam Dda?o. Ddie^`u na`y co' the^? hie^?u ddu+o+.c ne^'u ta
dde^? y' to+'i kha(?ng ddi.nh cu?a von Heine-Geldern va` Solheim, hai nha`
kha?o co^? ho.c ha`ng dda^`u ve^` Ddo^ng Nam A', ve^` co^.i nguo^`n ga^`n
gu~i giu+~a hai nho'm Ta`y-Tha'i va` Ma~ Lai-Dda Dda?o no'i chung va`
thuye^'t cu?a hai o^ng ra(`ng nhu+~ng nho'm va(n ho'a Long So+n (Ddo^ng va
` Nam Trung Quo^'c; Long So+n cu`ng Ngu+o+~ng Thie^`u ddu+o+.c coi la` hai
ne^`n va(n ho'a tie^`n su+? ha.t nha^n cu?a va(n minh Trung Hoa sau na`y)
co' nguo^`n go^'c Nam Dda?o o+? nhu+~ng mu+'c ddo^. kha'c nhau, ddo^`ng
tho+`i la.i la` ha.t nha^n cu?a ca 'c cu+ da^n no'i tie^'ng Nam Tha'i
(Austro Thai) no'i rie^ng. 

Cu+ da^n ho+.p huye^'t Mo^n-Khme vo+'i Ta`y co^? o+? ddo^`ng ba(`ng so^ng
Ho^`ng dda~ da^`n da^`n chuye^?n sang no'i tie^'ng Mo^n-Khme co' lu+u la.i
mo^.t co+ so+? Ta`y co^? va` ho. chi'nh la` to^? tie^n tru+.c tie^'p cu?a
ngu+o+`i Vie^.t (Kinh) nga`y nay . No'i theo ca'ch nhuo^'m ma`u truye^`n
thuye^'t la` 50 con theo me. le^n nu'i (tu+'c ca'c bo^. to^.c no'i tie^'ng
Mo^n-Khme) va` 50 con theo cha xuo^'ng bie^?n (tu+'c ngu+o+`i Ta`y co^?)
dda~ la.i ddoa`n tu.. Tuy nhie^n ho. kho^ng pha?i dda~ hoa`n toa`n thua^`n
nha^'t. Vi` ly' do ddi.a ly', va^~n co' su+. kha'c bie^.t nha^'t ddi.nh
giu+~a "Keo" (a^m no^m cu?a "Giao" trong "Giao Chi?", o+? mie^`n ddo^`ng
ba(`ng Ba('c Bo^.) va` "Doan" (o+? mie^`n ddo^`ng ba(`ng so^ng Ma~, Thanh
Ho'a). 

Nhu+ng cha^u tho^? so^ng Ho^`ng co`n la` no+i dde^'n cu?a ca'c sa('c da^n
no'i tie^'ng Ta`y-Tha'i tu+` Ta^y Nam Trung Quo^'c. Su+. nam tie^'n cu?a
ca'c to^.c Ta`y-Tha'i la` mo^.t qua' tri`nh dda~ ba('t dda^`u tu+` ra^'t
xu+a va` va^~n co`n tie^'p die^~n l ie^n tu.c cho dde^'n ta^.n nga`y nay,
ddo^i lu'c o^` a.t le^n trong mo^.t to^?ng the^? "a^m tha^`m" nhu+ng
kho^ng ngu+`ng nghi?. Co' le~ chi'nh su+. "tha^m nha^.p" dai da(?ng, ma.nh
me~ va` luo^n luo^n na`y cu?a ca'c ye^'u to^' Tha'i dda~ la`m cho tie^'ng
tie^`n Vie^.t-Mu+o+`ng thuo^.c he^. Mo^n-Khme ddi va`o con ddu+o+`ng a^m
tie^'t ho'a, cu. the^? la` na?y sinh 3 tuye^'n ddie^.u (sa('c-na(.ng,
ngang-huye^`n, ho?i-nga~; co`n su+. ta'ch tu+` 3 tha`nh 6 tuye^'n ddie^.u
sau na`y la` do ye^'u to^' Ha'n), cu~ ng nhu+ cung u+'ng cho tie^'ng
Vie^.t mo^.t loa.t tu+` vu+.ng thuo^.c ca'c li~nh vu+.c qua^n su+., to^?
chu+'c xa~ ho^.i... ddo^`ng tho+`i ba?n tha^n co+ ca^'u to^? chu+'c xa~
ho^.i va` ra^'t co' the^? la` ca? ca'i sa'ng kie^'n ve^` mo^.t the^? che^'
quye ^`n lu+.c ma` ta co' the^? go.i la` "nha` nu+o+'c" (ne^'u nhu+ dda~
dda.t ddu+o+.c mo^.t mu+'c ddo^. to^? chu+'c chi'nh tri. nhu+ the^' o+?
Ba('c Vie^.t Nam tru+o+'c khi Ha'n to^.c ke'o dde^'n). 

Mo^.t ye^'u to^' nu+~a, tuy chu+a bao gio+` ddo'ng ddu+o+.c vai tro` chu?
dda.o, cho su+. to^?ng ho+.p va(n ho'a va` chung so^'ng la`m ne^n ngu+o+`i
Vie^.t la` luo^`ng di da^n tu+` hu+o+'ng ddo^ng ba('c, chu? ye^'u theo
ma.n bie^?n, thoa.t dda^`u mang the o ca'c da^n "Vie^.t" o+? Ddo^ng Nam
Trung Quo^'c va` sau na`y la` "ngu+o+`i Ta`u". 

Nhu+ va^.y, co' the^? no'i, chi'nh la` vi. the^' va` mo^i tru+o+`ng ddi.a
chi'nh tri. ddo^.c dda'o cu?a Ba('c Vie^.t Nam dda~ nha`o na(.n ne^n
ngu+o+`i Vie^.t, mo^.t da^n to^.c vu+`a cha(?ng tu+` dda^u dde^'n la.i
vu+`a dde^'n tu+` mo.i no+i. 



Ngu+o+`i Ta`u Cho+. Lo+'n la` "ddi.ch" hay la` "ta"? 

O^ng Nguye^~n Hu+~u Nha^.t tha^.t qua' ma.nh mo^`m khi ddu+a ra hai
"chu+'ng lie^.u" ngu+o+`i Ta`u Cho+. Lo+'n ddo^ng to+'i 3 trie^.u va`
lo+.i tu+'c cu?a ho. ho+n ha(?n cu?a 70 trie^.u da^n Vie^.t (tru+` ho. ra,
di~ nhie^n) go^.p la.i. Theo so^' lie^.u c hi'nh thu+'c cu?a cuo^.c
ddie^`u tra da^n so^' ca'ch dda^y ma^'y na(m thi` toa`n bo^. sa('c to^.c
Hoa o+? Vie^.t Nam chu+a ddo^ng qua' 2 trie^.u nha^n ma.ng. Co' the^? o^ng
Nguye^~n Hu+~u Nha^.t co^.ng ca? va`o dda'm "ngu+o+`i Ta`u Cho+. Lo+'n"
cu?a o^ng ca? nhu+~ng ngu+o+`i ma` theo o^ng "thu+.c ra la` ngu+o+`i Ta`u"
nhu+ng cu+' "nha^.n xa(`ng" la` ngu+o+`i Vie^.t cha(ng? Ngoa`i ra chu+a
tha^'y co' mo^.t con so^' na`o ddu+o+.c tho^'ng ke^ hoa(.c u+o+'c lu+o+.ng
mo^.t ca'ch nghie^m tu'c kha'ch quan ve^` l o+.i tu+'c cu?a "ngu+o+`i Ta`u
Cho+. Lo+'n" so vo+'i lo+.i tu+'c cu?a "da^n Vie^.t" ma` chi? toa`n tha^'y
nhu+~ng a'ng chu+`ng tu`y tie^.n dda^`y ca?m ti'nh kie^?u nhu+ cu?a o^ng
Nguye^~n Hu+~u Nha^.t ma` tho^i. 

Cu+' theo o^ng Nguye^~n Hu+~u Nha^.t thi` nhu+ va^.y ddo^? ddo^`ng mo^.t
ngu+o+`i Ta`u Cho+. Lo+'n thu nha^.p nhie^`u ga^'p ho+n 20 la^`n mo^.t
ngu+o+`i Vie^.t. Ta la.i bie^'t ra(`ng lo+.i tu+'c theo dda^`u ngu+o+`i
cu?a Vie^.t Nam na(m vu+`a qua va`o qua ~ng 250 ddo^ la, cu?a tha`nh pho^'
Ho^` Chi' Minh la` khoa?ng 900-1000 ddo^ la. So^' da^n co' ho^. kha^?u
cu?a tha`nh pho^' na`y la` 4,5 trie^.u, ne^'u ke^? ca? nhu+~ng ngu+o+`i
kho^ng co' ho^. kha^?u thi` cu`ng la('m le^n dde^'n 6 trie^.u. Dde^?
kie^?m t ra mu+'c ddo^. dda'ng tin cu?a nhu+~ng so^' lie^.u o^ng Nguye^~n
Hu+~u Nha^.t ddu+a ra, ta chi? vie^.c thu+? mo^.t va`i con ti'nh ba(`ng
ca'ch ke^'t ho+.p ca'c so^' lie^.u tu+o+ng ddo^'i nghie^m tu'c dda~
ddu+o+.c tho^'ng ke^ vu+`a ne^u vo+'i ca'c du+~ ki e^.n cu?a Nguye^~n
Hu+~u Nha^.t. Dde^? ti'nh lo+.i tu+'c bi`nh qua^n cu?a ngu+o+`i Ta`u Cho+.
Lo+'n, ta chi? vie^.c la`m phe'p ti'nh 250x73/2/3=3000 ddo^ la (ti'nh
tro`n). Ta tha^'y: mo^.t la`, trong hai ngu+o+`i da^n cu?a tha`nh pho^'
Ho^` Chi' Minh thi` co' mo^.t ngu+o+`i la` Ta`u Cho+. Lo+'n; va` hai la`,
lo+.i tu+'c bi`nh qua^n cu?a ngu+o+`i Ta`u Cho+. Lo+'n le^n dde^'n ho+n
3000 ddo^ la, ga^'p ho+n 3 la^`n bi`nh qua^n cu?a toa`n tha`nh pho^' Ho^`
Chi' Minh. Muo^'n bie^'t lo+.i tu+'c bi`nh qua^n cu?a nhu+~ng ngu+o+`i
da^n co`n la.i o+? tha`nh pho^' Ho^` Chi' Minh, ta chi? vie^.c gia?i
phu+o+ng tri`nh (3000+x)/2=1000. Dda'p so^': thu nha^.p dda^`u ngu+o+`i
cu?a nhu+~ng ngu+o+`i da^n tha`nh pho^' Ho^` Chi' Minh kho^ng pha?i Ta`u
Cho+. Lo+'n la` a^m 1000 ddo^ la. Nhu+~ng con so^' tu+. no' bie^'t no'i. 

Nhu+ng chuye^.n kha(?ng ddi.nh nhu+ ddanh ddo'ng co^.t ddie^`u ma` mi`nh
vo~ ddoa'n kho^ng dde^'n no^~i la`m ngu+o+`i vie^'t "ngu+'a o'c" ba(`ng
tha'i ddo^. thu` ddi.ch ddo^'i vo+'i nhu+~ng ngu+o+`i cu`ng que^ hu+o+ng
vo+'i mi`nh. Mo^.t ddie^`u co' le~ kh o' ai cho^'i ddu+o+.c la` ngu+o+`i
Ta`u Cho+. Lo+'n no'i chung dda~ a(n ddo+`i o+? kie^'p tre^n dda^'t na`y
cu~ng la^u ngang ngu+?a vo+'i ngu+o+`i Vie^.t mie^`n Nam. Ngay ca? ne^'u
ho. dde^'n muo^.n ho+n thi` cu~ng kho^ng the^? vi` the^' ma` "kho^ng cho" 
ho. la`m nguo+`i Vie^.t ne^'u ho. muo^'n la`m ngu+o+`i Vie^.t. To^? tie^n
cu?a nhu+~ng ngu+o+`i go.i la` "Vie^.t thua^`n tu'y" cu~ng hoa`n toa`n co'
the^? tu+` dda^u ddo' dde^'n dda^y, co' ddie^`u vi` ly' do na`y hay ly' do
kha'c ma` con cha'u ho. que^n m a^'t chuye^.n ddo' ma` tho^i. Ca'i "lo^~i"
cu?a ngu+o+`i Ta`u Cho+. Lo+'n la` ho. kho^ng muo^'n hoa(.c kho^ng the^?
que^n ca'i vie^.c to^? tie^n ho. dda~ tu+` Trung Quo^'c to+'i. 

Ngu+o+`i vie^'t ddo^` ra(`ng o^ng Nguye^~n Hu+~u Nha^.t chi? co' kha?
na(ng tu+ duy loa.i tru+` "hoa(.c the^' na`y, hoa(.c the^' kia" ma` kho^ng
hi`nh dung no^?i co' nhu+~ng chuye^.n "vu+`a the^' na`y, vu+`a the^' kia".
Co' nhu+~ng ngu+o+`i My~ go^'c Vie^ .t vu+`a nha^.n la` ngu+o+`i My~ vu+`a
tu+. coi mi`nh la` ngu+o+`i Vie^.t. Va` co' (kho^ng i't) ngu+o+`i Ta`u o+?
Vie^.t Nam kho^ng cho^'i bo? go^'c ga'c tu+` Trung Quo^'c qua ddo^`ng
tho+`i va^~n tu+. nha^.n la` ngu+o+`i Vie^.t (hoa(.c la` ngu+o+`i Vie^. t
Nam). Co' nhie^`u (ngu+o+`i vie^'t kho^ng da'm ddoa'n mo` la` dda so^')
ngu+o+`i Ta`u o+? Vie^.t Nam ke^? ca? sau khi dda~ ra ddi.nh cu+ ta.i ha?i
ngoa.i va^~n coi Vie^.t Nam la` mo^.t (hoa(.c tha^.m chi' ca'i) que^
hu+o+ng cu?a mi`nh. So+? di~ kha(?ng ddi.nh ddu+o+.c ba ddie^`u ke^? tre^n
la` vi` ngu+o+`i vie^'t dda~ tu+. mi`nh kie^?m chu+'ng. 

Ddu+'ng ve^` ma(.t nha^n quye^`n, ngu+o+`i Ta`u Cho+. Lo+'n, hay no'i cho
co' political correctness la` "ngu+o+`i Vie^.t go^'c Hoa", co' quye^`n
nha^.n Vie^.t Nam la`m que^ hu+o+ng, va` ve^` ddie^?m na`y kho^ng ddu+o+.c
pha^n bie^.t ddo^'i xu+? ho. kha'c vo+'i nhu+~ng ngu+o+`i Vie^.t co`n
la.i. 

Tu+` go'c ddo^. chi'nh tri., mo^.t nha` ca^`m quye^`n khe'o le'o va` nhi`n
xa tro^ng ro^.ng pha?i bie^'t mua lo`ng ngu+o+`i, bie^'t kho+i da^.y tinh
tha^`n tra'ch nhie^.m vo+'i dda^ 't nu+o+'c cu?a mo.i ngu+o+`i da^n, va`
pha?i bie^'t the^m ba.n bo+'t thu`. 

Ke^'t ho+.p hai ddie^?m tre^n, kho^ng ca'ch gi` hay ho+n la` pha?i coi
ngu+o+`i Ta`u Cho+. Lo+'n cu~ng la` ngu+o+`i Vie^.t Nam, pha?i ddo^'i xu+?
vo+'i ho. bi`nh dda(?ng nhu+ vo+'i mo.i ngu+o+`i Vie^.t Nam kha'c, no'i
mo^.t ca'ch "ky~ thua^.t" la` pha?i h o^.i nha^.p ho. va`o co^.ng ddo^`ng
da^n to^.c Vie^.t Nam (co^.ng ddo^`ng na`y kho^ng chi? go^`m co' sa('c
to^.c Kinh). Binh pha'p To^n Tu+? co' da^.y ra(`ng dda'nh tha`nh kho^ng
ba(`ng dda'nh va`o lo`ng ngu+o+`i. A'p du.ng va`o dda^y, ngu+o+`i vie^'t
thi e^'t nghi~ ne^'u nu+o+'c Vie^.t Nam chie^'m la.i ddu+o+.c tra'i tim
cu?a nhu+~ng "ngu+o+`i Vie^.t go^'c Hoa" thi` mo^'i lo+.i co' le~ cu~a'
khu+' cu?a ngu+o+`i vie^'t la.i he.p ho`i ho+n ba^'y nhie^u. Ngu+o+`i
vie^'t cho ra(`ng o+? dda^y va^'n dde^` kho^n g pha?i la` ro^.ng ra~i hay
he.p ho`i, ma` ra(`ng quan nie^.m ngu+o+`i vie^'t vu+`a tri`nh ba`y ve^`
ngu+o+`i Vie^.t trong qua' khu+' la` mo^.t quan nie^.m khoa ho.c, quan
nie^.m ma` ngu+o+`i vie^'t dde^` xu+o+'ng ve^` ngu+o+`i Vie^.t trong
hie^.n ta.i va ` tu+o+ng lai la` mo^.t quan ddie^?m chi'nh tri., co`n quan
nie^.m cu?a o^ng Nguye^~n Hu+~u Nha^.t trong ba`i Va(n ho'a va`... la`
the^? hie^.n mo^.t lo^'i nhi`n ca?m ti'nh. Ba loa.i quan nie^.m na`y
thu+o+`ng la` kha'c nhau do xua^'t pha't tu+` nhu+~ng c a'ch nhi`n kha'c
nhau. Khoa ho.c thi` nha('m to+'i su+. tha^.t, la^'y kha'ch quan la`m
tie^u chua^?n. Chi'nh tri. la.i kho^ng nha('m to+'i su+. tha^.t, ma`
nha('m ddu+o+.c vie^.c, va` kho^ng la^'y kha'ch quan, ma` la^'y sa'ng
suo^'t la`m chua^?n mu+.c. Co `n ne^'u ba.n ddo.c ga(.ng ho?i ngu+o+`i
vie^'t va^.y chu+' ca?m ti'nh nha('m to+'i ca'i gi` thi` ngu+o+`i vie^'t
dda`nh chi.u ma` no'i du+.a theo Freud, o^ng to^? nga`nh pha^n ta^m ho.c,
ra(`ng ca?m ti'nh nha('m... gia?i to?a a^?n u+'c, va` la^'y... tho? a ma~n
ta^m sinh ly' la`m chua^?n. 

Quan ddie^?m cu?a chi'nh tri. ve^` ai la` ngu+o+`i Vie^.t trong qua' khu+'
thu+o+`ng bi. khoa ho.c che^ la` "sai la^`m". Vi' du. nhu+ nhie^`u nha`
khoa ho.c dda(.t ca^u ho?i: nhu+~ng ai dda~ nha(.t nha.nh mo^.t va`i
truye^`n thuye^'t tu` mu` trong da^n gi an ro^`i ve^` du+.ng ra ca^u
chuye^.n lo+'p lang 18 ddo+`i Hu`ng Vu+o+ng chi'nh xa'c dde^'n tu+`ng na(m
la.i co`n di'nh ca? vo+'i cu. to^? cu?a Ha'n to^.c va` ca^u chuye^.n nha^n
ta.o (ne^'u kho^ng muo^'n no'i la` bi.a dda(.t) na`y dda~ phu.c vu.
nhu+~ng mu.c ddi'ch chi'nh tri. gi`? Nhu+ng tu+` khi co' ba`i gia?ng no^?i
tie^'ng cu?a Ernest Renan ve^` "Da^n to^.c la` gi`?" o+? dda.i ho.c
Sorbonne (Pha'p) na(m 1882, chu'ng ta ddu+o+.c bie^'t ca'c da^n to^.c ra
ddo+`i do su+. que^n va` su+. nho+' nha^`m li.c h su+?. Ne^'u thuye^'t
na`y ddu'ng thi` co' the^? no'i, chi'nh nhu+~ng a'ng va(n vo+'i tinh
tha^`n nhu+ cu?a ba`i Va(n ho'a va`... dda~ go'p pha^`n ta.o ne^n da^n
to^.c Vie^.t, hie^?u theo nghi~a la`m mo^.t dda'm ngu+o+`i co^' ke^'t la.i
va` nga^?ng cao d da^`u. Die^~n dda.t ba(`ng ngo^n ngu+~ khoa ho.c la.nh
lu`ng, ca'i ma` chu'ng ta va^~n cho la` thie^ng lie^ng cao quy' (da^n
to^.c, quo^'c gia) dda~ co' ddu+o+.c do nhu+~ng tin tu+o+?ng sai la^`m,
ddo^i khi ca? do su+. do^'i ga.t nu+~a. Nhu+ng ca'i su+. t ha^.t cu?a khoa
ho.c chi? ddu'ng khi no' dda~ xa?y ra ro^`i chu+' no' kho^ng co' gia' tri.
khi no' chu+a xa?y ra. La.i nu+~a, va` ddie^`u na`y mo+'i la` quan tro.ng,
dde^? bie^'t chi'nh tri. co' "sai la^`m" hay kho^ng, thu+o+'c ddo kho^ng
pha?i la` su+. t ha^.t ma` la` su+. ddu+o+.c vie^.c, su+. sa'ng suo^'t.
O^ng Nguye^~n Hu+~u Nha^.t cu~ng co' ba?o ca'ch nhi`n ngu+o+`i Ta`u Cho+.
Lo+'n nhu+ ddi.ch tu+` trong dda'nh ra la` ca'ch nhi`n sa'ng suo^'t.
Nhu+ng ngu+o+`i vie^'t da'm tin ra(`ng su+. "sa'ng suo^'t " pha^n ro~
ddi.ch ta che'm giu+~a lo`ng da^n to^.c na`y se~ kho^ng ddu+o+.c vie^.c
chu't na`o, va` do ddo' se~ kho^ng sa'ng suo^'t mo^.t chu't na`o he^'t. 

------------------------------