Vietnam: Land of Paradoxes

By: Bonnie Duncan

November 1, 2011

Vietnam is a country unlike any other in the world. In the cities, heavy traffic, construction equipment, and modern-day skyscrapers reflect Vietnam’s rapid urbanization. Yet, the countryside tells a different story. Deep in the rural areas that occupy a majority of the country live tight-knitted communities deeply rooted in traditions of family and camaraderie. A stark contrast from the plethora of motorbikes that engulf the city streets, rural peasants are often seen enjoying their mid-day break resting in hammocks or playing a game of cards with their neighbors.

These differences exist in every aspect of society. While some disparities perpetuate injustice, others exemplify the richness of Vietnamese culture—a culture shaped by years of war, triumphs, poverty, and wealth.

Vietnam is a country at a crossroads, where the traditions of religion and family values of the past are integrating with the modern Western influences of the present. Living in Vietnam, one of the biggest challenges is putting into words how to describe the country. Though Vietnam has experienced years of peace, the government is still heavily influenced by the decades of war. Despite being a country rich in resources, the standard of living ranks low among the world’s countries.

Officially a socialist country, Vietnam is emerging as one of Southeast Asia’s leading market economies. Though the literacy rate is one of the highest in the world, freedom of press and expression are heavily restricted. Throughout the country exist thousands of pagodas, Buddhist and Confucian temples, a vast majority of the population (over 80 percent) consider themselves non-religious.

All of these paradoxes reflect that Vietnam is still trying to find its place in the global arena after decades of war nearly destroyed it. As my time here comes to a close, I’ve learned that trying to define Vietnam politically or economically is difficult, if not impossible.

Unfortunately, common perceptions of Vietnam reflect heavily on its history of war, often negating the truth that a history does not merely define a country. The true reflection of Vietnamese history and culture is the resilience of the people. The Vietnamese people are among the warmest and self-sacrificing I have ever met. Despite many living through unimaginable heartache during the war, the people I meet are never without a smile on their face.

Leaving behind a largely individualist American society, I was shocked to discover the extent to which the people depend on community and family. Unlike Western cultures emphasis on the individual, Confucian philosophy places importance on family and collectivism.

Despite the fact that a majority of Vietnamese people are not religious, ancient traditions still permeate everyday life. Confucianism, though more popular in traditional Vietnam, developed a complex system of relationships still existing today. This Confucian-style system of relationship is conveyed especially through language, where people are address through specific pronouns that signify the status and importance of the person you are speaking to.

For example, I would address a woman as old as my father as and person slightly younger than me as em, literally translated as “little sister.” Not only are these pronouns important in establishing respect and honor, but it is considered a great compliment to be referred to as big sister (chị) as opposed to friend (bạn).

Though Confucian philosophy heavily influenced traditional culture, religion in Vietnam can be defined through a combination of Buddhism, Confucianism, and Daoism—also called the Tam Giáo, or “triple religion.” The conglomeration makes it difficult for Vietnamese people to ascertain which religion they practice. Though the physical landscape of Vietnam is saturated with temples and statues, religion seems almost an effort for the older generations to maintain traditional aspects of Vietnam, with many of the younger generations not practicing any religion.

Despite the diversity of religious belief in Vietnam, ancestor worship is a common practice for most people across the country. Since early roots of Confucianism took place thousands of years ago, filial piety has been considered one of the greatest virtues in Vietnamese culture. Throughout my time in Vietnam, filial piety—especially respect for elders—is evident in every encounter I’ve had with families.

Like with many things in Vietnam, traditional practices continue to mesh with Western influences in a way that creates differences in thinking between the older generations and the younger. The older generations largely seek to hold tightly to traditional practices that survived a long period of colonialism and war. However, the majority of the population (which was born after 1975) knows little of the impact of war outside of information from government-written textbooks. Thus, the attitudes towards Westernization and importance of tradition differ quite dramatically between the two population groups.

As pervasive as these traditions are in Vietnamese culture, the large percentage of non-religious people suggests that practicing these values is largely a measure to maintain a traditional culture that is rapidly transitioning into the modern world.

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