 A young Vietnamese family spends time together after a busy day at work. (Photo: Le Hanh/VOV) |
Family is our first school. It shapes characters, morality, and a way of life. Family culture is present in the little things, like showing respect to your parents and grandparents, being loyal to your significant others, and loving your siblings.
These values have been preserved for many generations - an opinion shared by many people in Vietnam: "Education isn’t just about school subjects, but it is also based on building character and teaching children manners and courtesy like asking for permission to go out or greeting your parents when you arrive home."
"I taught my children to show their parents and grandparents respect. By demonstrating respect, it should become second nature for them as they grow up."
A family’s culture is the glue that binds its members. Family culture nurtures children’s souls and is unique to each family - a spiritual heritage passed down from one generation to the next. In Vietnam, sharing a meal is the hallmark of family culture. Having a meal together lets everyone in the family recharge after a long day at work, share stories, and bond.
Many Vietnamese consider this the most effective and natural way to preserve family culture and values: "To me, the word “family” is sacred and warms me up inside. Sharing a meal with my parents, wife, and children after a long day at work is a wonderful feeling."
"The first thing I taught my children is what it means to be a family. We tell each other about our day while having dinner together."
Family culture is also present in shared routines like reading, watching movies, traveling, or cleaning the house together on the weekend. These simple activities can bring family members closer together.
 A Vietnamese mother and daughter prepare a meal for the whole family together. (Photo: Le Hanh/VOV) |
For Vietnamese people living far from home, preserving family culture means teaching their children Vietnamese, telling them about their ancestors, and making traditional holiday foods like banh chung (square-shaped sticky rice cake) and banh tet (cylinder-shaped sticky rice cake). These customs serve as an invisible thread that binds generations and ensures that Vietnamese children born and raised abroad still carry within them the essence of Vietnam.
Ngo Thanh Hang, a Vietnamese living in the UK, said: "We try to organize gatherings between Vietnamese families and make traditional food together. We encourage our children to speak Vietnamese to one another and sing Vietnamese children’s songs, so that when they return to Vietnam, they can speak Vietnamese and enjoy Vietnamese food."
Preserving and promoting family culture is how Vietnamese people build strong, happy homes that provide a solid foundation and the motivation for each individual to grow.
"Family is very important to me and also my motivation to work hard."
"To me, family is the safest and most loving place on Earth. And it determines our success in life."