Nghiem is my mom's last name and I don't know if it is a viet last name or not so does any one here knows?

Yes. See this thread about surnames

http://www.asiafinest.com/forum/index.php?...pic=16772&st=80

It's a very ancient Chinese/Vietnamese family name.

Nghiem last name isn't "ancient". Nghiem is a famous family last name in Hue.

You did understand very well what I meant. It is a Chinese name which has existed in Vietnam since a very long time. Not a newish Chinese name.

So are all Vietnamese names :/?

Surnames below are very new as Viet names...

Cai, Cái, (Đèo,) Giang, Giạ, Giáp,
Hầu, Kha, Khuất, Khuơng, Khưu,
Ly, Lồ, Lộ, Lều, Liều, Lực, Lư,
Ma, Mạch, Mạnh, Mao
Ngu, Ngũ , Ngụ, Ninh.
Ông, On, Oanh. Phi, Phố, Phổ, Phong, Phú,
Tâm, Tăng, Tao, Tất, Thân, Thanh,
Thiệu, Tiến, Trâm, Tư, Từ,
Ung, Vân, Vi, Viên, Vinh, Vô, Vong, Vưụ
(Quốc, Quang, Sơn, ) Sa, San


Nota. And they've forgotten Thẩm in their list.

hrmmm is funny i knoe some cambos with the last name ngiem, and my last name happens to be ong, but i aint viet, im cambo. should really ask my dad more about my family history.

wOoooot wooOOT GO Tran.

im guessing you guys came from china right? so maybe you guys also kept some chinese surnames...