Let's go in Spanish: vayamos vs vamos vs vamonos?

Question

I understand that "Let's go" in Spanish is `vamonos` or `vamos` depending on the context. However, I have also learned from grammar books that all the "let's..." constructs translate into Spanish using the 1st person plural subjunctive conjugation. That's how we get `platiquemos` (from `platicar`) for "let's talk" and `andemos` (from `andar`) for "let's walk." By that analogy, shouldn't "let's go" translate into `vayamos`? Even the first person plural imperative of `ir` is `vayamos`. Why do we use `vamos` then?

Answer 1

It makes sense what you said. I agree with you and many millions of latinos will agree with you too, but unfortunately, we have to follow what La Real Academia decides.

They say: Let's go means vamos or vámonos and the negative command is: No vayamos

Most Natives do not know that. I didn't know until I started teaching Spanish. It's one of those things that we have to accept it. Maybe someday, La Real Academia will change it. They have changed so many other things like accents in (fui, dio, vi) they deleted the CH from the alphabet. So, maybe "vayamos" will be accepted. someday...

For now:

Positive: Vamos, Vámonos

Negative: No vayamos