You can learn Vim by reading :help from top to bottom. When you enter :help, it looks like this:
*help.txt* For Vim version 7.3. Last change: 2010 Jul 20
VIM - main help file
k
Move around: Use the cursor keys, or "h" to go left, h l
"j" to go down, "k" to go up, "l" to go right. j
Close this window: Use ":q<Enter>".
Get out of Vim: Use ":qa!<Enter>" (careful, all changes are lost!).
Jump to a subject: Position the cursor on a tag (e.g. |bars|) and hit CTRL-].
With the mouse: ":set mouse=a" to enable the mouse (in xterm or GUI).
Double-click the left mouse button on a tag, e.g. |bars|.
Jump back: Type CTRL-T or CTRL-O (repeat to go further back).
Get specific help: It is possible to go directly to whatever you want help
on, by giving an argument to the |:help| command.
It is possible to further specify the context:
As you can see, it starts from the essentials, such as moving around, jumping to subjects and back, and so on. If you scroll down a little bit, this list of documents becomes visible:
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*doc-file-list* *Q_ct*
BASIC:
|quickref| Overview of the most common commands you will use
|tutor| 30 minutes training course for beginners
|copying| About copyrights
|iccf| Helping poor children in Uganda
|sponsor| Sponsor Vim development, become a registered Vim user
|www| Vim on the World Wide Web
|bugs| Where to send bug reports
USER MANUAL: These files explain how to accomplish an editing task.
|usr_toc.txt| Table Of Contents
Getting Started
|usr_01.txt| About the manuals
|usr_02.txt| The first steps in Vim
|usr_03.txt| Moving around
Using the navigation tips that were given at the top (and Ctrl] to follow a link) you can start visiting the sections, for example starting from tutor.
(This is actually how I learned Vim in the first place.)
