The French and The English as a second language,The French, a legacy of colonial rule, is spoken by many educated Vietnamese as a second language, especially among the older generation and those who were educated in the former South Vietnam, where it was a principal language in administration, education and commerce. Vietnam remains a full member of the Francophonie, and education has revived some interest in the language. Russian – and to a much lesser extent German, Czech and Polish – are known among some Vietnamese whose families had ties with the Soviet bloc during the Cold War. In recent years, as Vietnam's contacts with Western nations have increased, English has become more popular as a second language. The study of English is now obligatory in most schools