# Vietnamese Nôm Preservation Foundation

> organization

**Wikidata**: [Q17490564](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q17490564)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vietnamese_Nôm_Preservation_Foundation)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/vietnamese-nom-preservation-foundation

## Summary
The Vietnamese Nôm Preservation Foundation (VNPF) is a nonprofit organization established in 1999 to preserve and promote the historical Nôm script, a writing system used for centuries to represent Vietnamese language. Based in the United States, it focuses on digitizing rare texts, supporting scholarly research, and educating the public about Nôm's cultural significance. Led by chairperson John Balaban, the foundation addresses the risk of Nôm's decline due to modernization and language shift.

## Key Facts
- Founded in 1999 in the United States.
- Chairperson: John Balaban.
- Headquarters: Cary, North Carolina.
- Primary fields: Language preservation, research, and education.
- Operates bilingual websites in English and Vietnamese (http://nomfoundation.org/).
- VIAF identifier: 152902287.
- Instance of: Nonprofit organization and research institute.
- Focuses on preserving the endangered Nôm script and texts.

## FAQs
### Q: What is the main purpose of the Vietnamese Nôm Preservation Foundation?
A: The foundation works to preserve the Nôm script, a historical writing system for Vietnamese, through research, digitization, and education to prevent its extinction.

### Q: Where is the foundation based?
A: It is headquartered in Cary, North Carolina, in the United States.

### Q: Who leads the organization?
A: The chairperson is John Balaban, a key figure in its founding and mission.

## Why It Matters
The Vietnamese Nôm Preservation Foundation plays a critical role in safeguarding a unique cultural and literary heritage. Nôm script, central to Vietnamese history for over 1,000 years, faces obscurity as modern Vietnamese uses the Latin-based chữ Quốc ngữ. By digitizing manuscripts, publishing scholarly works, and creating educational resources, the foundation ensures access to historical texts that might otherwise be lost. This work supports academic research, reconnects diaspora communities with their heritage, and raises global awareness of Vietnam’s linguistic diversity. Without such efforts, Nôm—a vital link to Vietnam’s past—could become illegible to future generations, erasing a key part of Southeast Asian cultural identity.

## Notable For
- First major organization dedicated to systematic preservation of Nôm script and texts.
- Developed a groundbreaking *Dictionary of the Vietnamese Language* (2003) with 40,000 entries.
- Provides free online access to digitized Nôm manuscripts and bilingual resources.
- Collaborates with global scholars to advance research on Vietnamese history and linguistics.

## Body
### Founding and Mission
The Vietnamese Nôm Preservation Foundation was established in 1999 in the United States as a nonprofit organization. Its mission is to prevent the extinction of the Nôm script, which flourished from the 10th to early 20th centuries but fell into disuse with the adoption of the Latin alphabet. The foundation emphasizes the cultural and historical value of Nôm, which was used in classical literature, poetry, and royal documents.

### Leadership
John Balaban, a poet and scholar, serves as chairperson. His involvement reflects the organization’s blend of academic rigor and cultural advocacy. The foundation operates from Cary, North Carolina, with a focus on both local and global outreach.

### Projects and Initiatives
Key activities include:
- **Digitization**: Creating digital archives of Nôm manuscripts to ensure their preservation and accessibility.
- **Scholarly Work**: Publishing reference materials, such as dictionaries and textual analyses, to support research.
- **Education**: Offering language classes, workshops, and online resources to teach Nôm literacy.

### Digital Resources
The foundation maintains two websites:
- English: http://nomfoundation.org/
- Vietnamese: http://nomfoundation.org/vn
These platforms provide free access to texts, educational tools, and updates on preservation efforts, catering to both international scholars and Vietnamese speakers.

### Recognition
The foundation holds a VIAF ID (152902287) and a Library of Congress authority ID (nr2002015127), indicating its established presence in academic and cultural institutions. Its work is documented in English, Vietnamese, and Chinese Wikipedia entries, reflecting international recognition of its mission.

## References

1. Virtual International Authority File