Vietnamese Culture by: Jennifer Durr & Audrey Gruber CIT 506 September 14, 2008

Culture Culture can be defined as all the ways of life including arts, beliefs and institutions of a population that are passed down from generation to generation. Culture has been called “the way of life for an entire society”. It includes codes of: - manners - dress - language - religion - rituals - norms of behavior, such as law and morality - systems of beliefs as well as the art

Demographics of the Vietnamese Culture According to a 1999 census, Vietnam’s population was 76.3 million. The ethnic groups of Vietnam were: - Viet/Kinh: 65.8 million - Tay: 1.48 million - Thái: 1.33 million - Muòng: 1.14 million - Khmer: 1.06 million - Hoa: million - Nung: million - Hmong: million - Cham: million

Social Aspects of the Vietnamese Culture Education is interactive with other cultures. In 1987, education was made more relevant to the nation’s economic and social needs. The low morale of underpaid teachers with low job status complicated the positive attempts to improve education. Students sit together and cooperatively work during lessons. Music was used to express innermost feelings and to encourage students while working.

The Educational History of the Vietnamese Culture Education was originally patterned after the French model. The curriculum was later revised to give more emphasis to Vietnamese history, language and literature. In 1987, reforms provided training of skilled workers, technicians, and managers. General education was extended from 10 to 12 years. Students were perceived as spending too much time trying to earn diplomas and not enough time “in practical, creative activities”. Education included: - Preschools - Vocational schools - Professional schools - Supplementary courses - Higher education

Schooling within the Vietnamese Culture School is 6 days a week (Monday – Saturday) Most school days begin with a test. Saturday is a review day. They have to wear uniforms. They have no playgrounds or extra activities. Schools are very overcrowded. Students clean their classrooms and their school. Some students do not get the opportunity to attend school, due to work demands.

The Language of the Vietnamese Culture Vietnamese is an Austroasiatic language. It is spoken by 82 million people, mainly of Vietnam. Vietnamese has been the official language of Vietnam since Vietnamese was originally written with a Siniform script known as Chu-nôm or Nôm, however, now it is written in Kim Van Kieu.

References Culture. (2008). Wikipedia The Free Encyclopedia. Retrieved September 10, 2008, from Schools in Vietnam – Did You Know. (n.d.). Retrieved September 10, 2008, from Vietnam: Demogaphics-K12 Academics. (1999). Retrieved September 10, 2008, from Vietnam – Education. (n.d.). Retrieved September 10, 2008, from Vietnamese Culture and Tradition. (n.d.). Vietnamese Culture. Retrieved September 10, 2008, from Vietnamese Language, Alphabet and Pronunciation. (2008). Omniglot. Retrieved September 10, 2008, from