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Caleb Smith
GS-2010
J. Phalichanh
02-01-12
Summary of Vietnamese Culture
There are many interesting countries today; each possessing their own cultures and
traditions. In an effort to learn more about these various cultures from around the world, I have
chosen to interview my personal friend Huy Brogdon from Van Khue, Vietnam. Van Khue is
located in central Vietnam near the coastal city of Hai Phong. It is home to a population of
nearly 90,549,390 people, many of whom work in local factories that export various goods. The
official language of Vietnam is Vietnamese which is both spoken, and written by 90 percent of
the population.
While some aspects of Vietnamese culture are similar two our own, many aspects differ
quite a bit. Compared to our culture in the United States, Vietnam has many more social
taboos. Hand gestures of any sort, or trying to communicate with ones hands is extremely
impolite and is viewed as a disrespectful offense. In passing, male individuals who are
acquainted must always acknowledge each other as a sign of mutual respect. Due to the
disrespect associated with hand gestures, this is often accomplished with a slight head nod or
bow, which is perceived as a sign of respect, humility, and gratitude. In addition, women must
always be dressed modestly in either dresses or the traditional pants and buttoned shirt. Public
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displays of affection between two members of the opposite sex is viewed as shameful for both
the individuals and their entire families therefore, couples are discouraged from any physical
contact whatsoever in public. Holding hands is the only exception to this taboo, but is
acceptable only during certain situations.
Family and friends are both another very important aspect in Vietnamese culture. Both
parent figures spend large amounts of time interacting with children and loved ones
throughout the entire week. Family is such an important part of Vietnamese culture that typical
work hours are arranged to provide each individual with a 2-3 hour lunch break with their loved
ones. Adults typically work from 7:30-11:30 and then return to work and finish their shift from
1:30-5:00. Additionally, Uncles and Aunts in Vietnamese society often tend to perceive, and
care for each others nephews and nieces as if they were their own children. Typically, the elder
men of the family are the individuals who have the most authority however; as women are
becoming more independent this mentality is rapidly changing.
The most important holiday in Vietnam is the advent of the New Year. The celebration
typically lasts at least three days, in which the family welcomes the New Year by spending time
together and eating traditional Vietnamese foods. During this time period all schools,
businesses and stores are closed, giving the people time to rest and enjoy the accomplishments
of the previous year. The celebration of the New Year to Vietnamese people is comparable to
the way we celebrate Christmas here in the United States. Children receive money, gifts, and
the young males in the family are allowed to gamble during this special occasion. While
allowing a child to gamble might sound taboo to individuals from the States, in Vietnam it is
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socially acceptable and viewed rather as a right off passage. During this time of celebration
families try to eat as much red colored food as possible because it symbolizes luck and
prosperity. All foods colored black should be avoided as they are thought to bring bad luck into
the oncoming year. Additionally, the Vietnamese celebrate their two most mystical animals
during this time- the dragon and phoenix. Dragons are thought to be a symbolism of life, while
the phoenix has been known to be a symbolism of luck. The number nine is also thought to be a
sign of luck and prosperity and is painted on the doors of many families during this celebratory
period.
Besides the celebration of the New Year, important traditions include the burial and
marriage process. During marriage, males wear a long red gown as a symbol of their love for
the bride. Red is also perceived to be a lucky color, intended to bring success and prosperity
into the marriage. Brides in turn wear long, embroidered, white gowns as a symbol of their
purity and everlasting love for their husbands. In addition to weddings, burials are quite
different as well. Cremations in Vietnamese society are a social taboo, and are viewed as
disrespectful to the deceased individuals body. The deceased are therefore laid in decorated
caskets, and placed into stone tombs. The tomb building process is a large part of Vietnamese
culture. Families buy large plots of land and each member is buried in their own tomb near
their loved ones. Tombs are built very ornately, and are often a sign of prosperity and social
status. The larger and more ornate the tomb is, the more prosperous and wealthy the
individual is perceived to have been during his life. Tombs are typically decorated with bright
colors symbolizing the joy of life, and in wealthy cases they are ordained with precious metals
such as silver and gold.
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While the Vietnamese culture is different from or own in many aspects, it was very
intriguing to learn about Huy Brogdons Vietnamese heritage. It has helped me to open my
mind and consider various aspects of our current culture in comparison to his. The people of
Vietnam manage to effectively balance their work and business lifes while maintaining close,
personal, family relationships.