The Vietnamese alphabet consists of 29 letters, derived from the Latin script. It includes 12 vowels and 17 consonants, making it distinct from other alphabets. The letters are used to represent the sounds of the Vietnamese language, which is tonal, meaning that the pitch of a word can change its meaning. Each vowel can have diacritics, which are marks added to letters to indicate tones or modify pronunciation. There are six tones in Vietnamese, and these diacritics help distinguish between words that may otherwise look similar. The alphabet is essential for reading and writing in Vietnamese, facilitating communication and education.