Chau Thi Thu (C) and the family of her second child Pham Xuan Huong.

Chau Thi Thu of Ha Long City in Quang Ninh province has turned 100 this year. Her family has had four generations living together for years. All eight of her children are now around 70 years old. Thu lives with her second child, Phạm Xuân Hưởng, his wife, and two grandchildren. Despite wide differences in age, lifestyle, and ways of thinking, each family member knows the importance of preserving a tradition in which children respect their parents and grandparents.

Diep Anh Sang, a neighbor of Chau Thi Thu’s family, said: “They are a great family. They are a 4-generation family with a revolutionary tradition and a cultivated lifestyle. The great-grandfather died 10 years ago. All the children and grandchildren are well-educated. They are role models for the entire area.”

Though her eyesight has dimmed and her legs have slowed, Thu still enjoys watching TV and listening to the radio. She says it keeps her up to date with the news of a rapidly changing Vietnam, and helps her understand young people like her great-grandchildren.

To be able to live in such a family, each person must learn to restrain themself, says Huong, adding: “It is difficult to get along if each generation doesn’t try to understand social changes and respect other viewpoints. It’s also important not to discriminate against daughters-in-law, or sons-in-law.”

Hoang Thi Quang, Huong’s wife and the eldest daughter-in-law in the family, says that relations between her and her mother-in-law have been pretty good for more than half a century, although, of course, they still have disagreements sometimes.

Nguyen Thi Thanh Tam, Quang’s daughter-in-law and the eldest grandchild-in-law, said: “We all know that old people play an important role in the family, setting directions for the children and teaching them the family’s origin, tradition, and the reasons why they have to preserve it. I’m proud of my 4-generation family.”