Vietnam Culture Infographic

Gifting a red envelope with cash during Lunar New Year to bring good luck is a common Vietnamese custom, similar to a lot of Southeast asian countries.

Traditionally, Vietnamese music consists mostly of percussion, followed by string and wind isntruments. Dong Ho paintings are a traditional visual art.

Common foods eaten in Vietnam are pho (noodle soup), banh xeo (Viet omelette), banh mi (sandwich), bun bo hue, bahn cuon, and spring rolls

The majority of Vietnamese aren't religious (about 86%), but most are culturally Buddhist.

Holidays celebrated in Vietnam include the Lunar New Year, the International New Year, National Independence Day (Sept 2), and Liberation day (August 30)

The most popular traditional clothing in Vietnam is the ao dai, a silk dress worn mostly by women. Everyday western clothing usually makes up casual wear.

The national language of Vietnam is Vietnamese. English is increasingly becoming a popular second language.

Date 08/17/23

Cultural Infographic

Haley Kerber

Stories/Customs

Art

Food

Religion

Holidays

Clothing

Languages

Heritage

Vietnam, located in Southeast Asia, has been around since 800-700 B.C. For a long time, Vietnam was dominated by China and was also colonized by France for a little while.

Vietnam

Surface Culture

Traditionally, when a woman gets married in Vietnam, she becomes a part of her husband's family, living with them rather than her own family. You can see how this impacts other aspects Vietnamese culture; for example, in the Vietnamese language, you would call your paternal grandfather ông nội, literally translating to "inner grandfather". You would call your maternal grandfather ông ngoại, translating to "outer grandfather". This is because living and being raised with your father's family is usually favored. Of course, other family arrangements are common as well, but this is what is considered most traditional.

Nature of Relationships

Date 08/17/23

Cultural Infographic

Haley Kerber

Child Rearing/Household

In Vietnam, especially in Sai Gon (Ho Chi Minh City), households are multi-generational, the average middle class living in a single house (another common arrangement is multiple places in the same alleyway/apartment buidling) with their grandparents, parents, and children. It's also common to live with other, loosely related families.

Vietnam

Shallow Culture

In Vietnamese culture, the concept of self is weak; uniformity is encouraged while indiviuality is generally frowned upon (not outwardly; more of an inner bias). Group identity and community is a core value in to the Vietnamese, and they have a strong sense of nationality. This may be due to its history of being invaded; Vietnam was occupied multiple times by China and France, for a short while, as well as the Vietnam War separating the country. This could have led to a strong concept of group identity, sticking together and working as a unit to thrive and live well.

Date 08/17/23

Cultural Infographic

Haley Kerber

Concept of Self

Vietnam

Deep Culture