The introduction of Christianity, specifically the Catholic faith, to Vietnam occurred at the same time as the French colonization during the 1850's. During the French reign it came to symbolize both western thought and power.

In order for a Vietnamese national to gain employment, or a government position, it was necessary to demonstrate that loyalty was first to France, then Vietnam. Therefore, converting to Catholicism was one of the first important steps to that end. It was a strong sign of loyalty for a Vietnamese citizen to abandon their religious heritage for that of the Catholic tradition.

Because the Catholic faith was more attached to prestige than religious fervor, the demographic breakdown of converts tended to be the upper middle class. Always a minority, Catholics still wielded a significant amount of power in government. During the reign of Diem, being a Catholic was one of the only ways a person could be determined loyal. All non-Catholics were seen as potential traders and communist sympathizers.

Today the Catholics are still an affluent, though less powerful, minority. Many of the Vietnamese who left South Vietnam at the end of the American involvement were Catholic. They have had an easier time integrating into western culture and are disproportionately represented in the American Vietnamese community.

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