Group 1 - Vietnam is celebrating the 80th anniversary of its independence from colonial rule, highlighting the diminishing influence of French culture in the country [1] - Only 400 high school students in Vietnam chose French as an exam subject this year, while over 358,000 opted for English and about 4,400 for Chinese, indicating a significant decline in French language popularity [1] - The historical evolution of Vietnamese cuisine reflects the fading French influence, as many young people in Hanoi are unaware of the French origins of popular Vietnamese foods like the baguette [1] Group 2 - The French Embassy in Hanoi reported that 63,000 people registered for French language courses this year, suggesting that French still holds some prestige in Vietnam [2] - Chinese is rapidly gaining popularity in Vietnam, with the country being China's largest trading partner, and the bilateral trade volume expected to exceed $230 billion in 2024 [2] - In 2024, Vietnamese education will officially include Chinese as a compulsory subject alongside English and Japanese, particularly in economically active regions [2] - Proficiency in Chinese significantly enhances employment prospects, with nearly 100% job placement rates for graduates fluent in Chinese [2]