'Viet' originates from Vietnamese, specifically the word 'Việt' (from the ethnonym), where the term referred to the people known historically as the Yue/Yuet.

'Viet' developed from the Old Chinese/ancient ethnonym 'Yue' (越), passed into Vietnamese as 'Việt' and entered English usage through transliteration of Vietnamese and through European (especially French) contacts with Vietnam.

Initially the term referred to a group/people historically called 'Yue' (a regional ethnonym); over time it became the modern ethnonym for the Vietnamese people and an element in the name of the country (Vietnam).