Culture, Poetry and Family
Family
Family is at the heart of daily Vietnamese life and tradition. Offering comfort, security, and a sense of history, close-knit families have proved to be the unfailing strength of Vietnam. Rooted in the ancient lessons of the celebrated Chinese teacher, Confucius, the elderly in Vietnam are revered and understood to hold great wisdom. According to the Confucius, respect and honor for the elderly is a responsibility and privilege for Vietnamese.
As contrasted with the family home in places like the United States, the Vietnamese family consists of more than just parents and their children. Indeed, the extended family, including grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins often fill single households. Living and working together, as many as three generations at a time, each member of the family unit has his or her role to play. For example, since both parents often work, grandparents look after the children. Older children also help baby-sit their younger brothers and sisters. As compared to time’s past when it was solely a son’s responsibility to live with and take care of his parents, today both sons and daughters are expected to look after their parents as they age. Often living with or nearby to their families, grown children frequently share their homes with their parents even after they are married.
The importance of family members and relatives remains central to the well-being of the family unit even after death. Many Vietnamese homes contain small shrines where photographs of dead relatives are kept. Offerings of food or incense are made by surviving family members on special occasions to honor the spirits of their familial ancestors. Some families also have “spirit houses” constructed outside of their homes. A spirit house is built when someone actually dies in the family’s home. The spirit to the dead person is believed to live in the special house, rather than in the family home itself-keeping respect, harmony, and balance between family and their ancestors.
Children
Most Vietnamese children live a very different life than their Western counterparts. With comparatively few toys, Vietnamese children spend their free time relaxing with their family or playing with friends. At the age of six, most children usually start school. Consistent with a culture where individuals respect their elders, children are respectful of their teachers and are eager to do well. As evidence of their deep love for their children, parents hope their children will have more success in life than they had. The Vietnamese have a saying that affirms this wish most perfectly, “A family in which the son is superior to his father is a family blessed with happiness.” And, of course, this applies to daughters, too. Besides spending many hours studying for school, children take on a number of household responsibilities at a very young age. Girls often help in the kitchen, wash clothes, and clean the house. In rural areas, boys can be found working outside, looking after the animals, fetching water, and helping with the farming or fishing. Boys and girls also look after their younger brothers and sisters.
Vietnamese Homes
In Vietnam, the landscapes and climates are many and varied. Whereas it is tropical in south, it is monsoonal in north with a hot, rainy season as well as dry, cold winters. Accordingly, the Vietnamese have a variety of house-types to accommodate the conditions. For example, in the north, where winters can get quite cool, small cozy houses are built of stone to keep in the warmth. In cities, houses are often constructed of brick and have tile roofs and there are numerous large-scale apartment buildings. In the warmer south, homes are larger and can be found built of bamboo and wood. Many of these homes have open windows so that the cool breezes blow right through the center of the house. In mountain areas, houses-called ‘long houses’-are built on stilts and, if the family has animals, these are kept under the houses.
Country Living
Most houses in the countryside are simple, with dirt floors and no electricity or running water. Villages sometimes have a well that families share, or water is carried up from nearby streams. Electricity is becoming more common, but most people still use lanterns as a source of light. People spend much of their time outdoors. The typical village house is likely to have one large room that is divided only by curtains. In addition, there is very little furniture in country homes. In some cases, there may be nothing more than two large beds with mattresses woven from palm leaves. Homes are kept very clean and custom dictates that, before entering a house, a person should always take off their shoes off. Kitchens are separate from the main house and are used only as cooking areas. It is not uncommon to see chickens walking wherever they please.
Houses on water
Numerous regions of Vietnam, such as the area around the great Mekong River, are crisscrossed by rivers and canals. In these areas, many people live on houseboats. Fish hatcheries are often kept along the shores, but some fish farmers like to be closer to their work and actually keep their hatcheries below their boats. Feeding the catfish through a trap door in the bottom of the boat, these farmers keep their business close at hand at all times. In addition to houseboats, there are other ways people deal with living on the waterways of Vietnam. Many houses are built upon wooden poles that elevate the house above the waterline. With bamboo supports and straw roofs, these houses serve as fine living places. Residents who need to often take boats to reach the mainland.
City homes
Most city dwellers live in overcrowded apartment buildings. Many of these massive structures were built more than 50 years ago. In the 1970s and 80s, more apartments were built in the larger cities, but a large majority of these concrete buildings were poorly constructed and are now in various states of decay. Most city apartments have two or three small rooms, a small kitchen, and a bathroom. In these cramped quarters, it is not uncommon to find up to three generations of a family living together in one apartment. Some apartments have a balcony or share a courtyard with others for socializing and daily chores, such as drying laundry. Like many country houses, city homes have very little furniture. The lack of furniture doesn’t seem to affect the strength of Vietnamese families as one can see when watching a family eat together. At mealtimes, families sit together on the floor around a low table and share stories about their day filled with much laughter and enthusiasm.
Art and Poetry
As a nation, Vietnam is steeped in ancient history, vibrant customs, and colorful traditions. The history of art and poetry within the country is long and rich. In the 1987, Vietnam actually celebrated the 1,000 year anniversary of its first recorded poem. The poem, written in 987 by Do Phap Thuan, read:
There: wild geese, swimming side by side,
Staring up at the sky.
White feathers against a deep blue,
Red feet burning in green waves.
One of our favorite books of Vietnamese poems at Operation Reunite is called “Spring Essence.” With a collection of Ho Xuan Huong’s beautiful poetry (translated by John Balaban), we really enjoy simply viewing the poetry in its original Nam script, with the Vietnamese and English translations listed side by side as well.
Our favorite poem is called Canh Thu or “Autumn Landscape”
Drop by drop rain slaps the banana leaves.
Praise whoever sketched this desolate scene:
the lush, dark canopies of the gnarled trees,
the long river, sliding smooth and white.
I lift my wine flask, drunk with rivers and hills.
My backpack, breathing moonlight, sags with poems.
Look, and love everyone.
Whoever sees this landscape is stunned.
In addition to an abundant history of poetry, Vietnam has also seen numerous great artists walk its soil. From potters to calligraphers, craftsmen to painters, art has long been a staple of expressing beauty, philosophy, and creativity for the Vietnamese people.
Interestingly, many contemporary galleries hosting collections of current and historical Vietnamese artworks are popping up in chic places like Soho and Tribeca. The art they are showcasing is as culturally interesting as it is diverse. We highly recommend the New York gallery, Gallery Vietnam, in New York City.
55 North Moore Street
New York, NY 10013
Tel: 212- 431-8889
Hours: 7 days: 11 AM – 6 PM
info@galleryvietnam.com
To learn more about Vietnamese art and poetry, past and present, we suggest conducting an online search. By simply visiting your favorite Internet search engine and typing in “Vietnamese art,” you will find a whole world of art and cultural resources available to you.
