Cultural Profile Resource: Vietnamese

A resource for aged care professionals

Birgit Heaney Dip. 19/06/2016

A resource for aged care professionals

Table of Contents

Introduction ...... 3 Location and Demographic ...... 4 Everyday Life ...... 5 Family ...... 8 Personal Hygiene ...... 10 Leisure and Recreation ...... 11 Religion ...... 12 Food and Diet ...... 13 Health ...... 14 Death and Dying ...... 15 Language ...... 16 Cue Cards ...... 16 Disclaimer ...... 17 References ...... 17

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A resource for aged care professionals Vietnamese Culture Profile

Introduction This profile of the cultural community is just one of the many projects undertaken by Quality Aging.

This project aims to provide relevant information for community groups and residential aged care providers to implement “best practice” strategies of care for the older individuals from diverse backgrounds.

This project is about ensuring the needs of older persons from a Vietnam cultural background are met.

Population trends within Australia are increasingly characterized by a diversity of people, languages and culture. Together with this trend is an aging population, also with a rich diversity of languages and cultures.

Not surprisingly then, that residential aged care providers are faced with growing demands for culturally responsive facilities and care.

This profile aims to create a tool to provide aged care providers with

• An awareness of the cultural and linguistically diverse needs of older persons from a Vietnam background.

• It also strives to enable the professional capability and progress of staff in the provision of culturally inclusive care; and

• The organisation’s compliance with the Residential Care Standards and National Care Standards as they pertain to the issue of cultural and linguistic needs.

The profile provides beneficial information about a variety of subjects and resources.

This is a guide only and is not intended to replace one stereotype of this culture with another; it is only intended to provide some insight into the culture. Nor does it reduce the importance of you establishing the individual cultural needs of each person as part of your care planning process.

In an effort to continue to provide you with updated information of this profile and improve its contents, we encourage readers to provide feedback by contacting Quality Aging at [email protected]

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A resource for aged care professionals

Location and Demographic

Located in the Southeastern Asia, Vietnam is slightly larger than New Mexico. According to the demography of Vietnam this country covers 329,560 sq km area of which 325,360 sq km are land and 4,200 sq km are occupied by water bodies. The land boundaries of this country are 4,639 km and the coastline are 3,444 km. The highest point is 3,144 m Fan Si Pan and the lowest point is 0 m South China Sea.

Demography of Vietnam shows that the population of Vietnam is 85,262,356. The population is constituted of many ethnic groups such as Hoa 1.1%, Kinh (Viet) 86.2%, Khome 1.4%, Thai 1.7%, Nun 1.1%, Muong 1.5%, Hmong 1%, Tay 1.9% and others 4.1%. The age structure of the population can be divided into three parts such as 0-14 years: 26.3%; 15-64 years: 67.9% and 65 years and over: 5.8%.

Vietnam demography reveals that the birth rate of Vietnam is 16.63 births/1,000 population and death rate is 6.19 deaths/1,000 population. The total fertility rate is 1.98 children born/woman. The life expectancy rate of total population is 71.07 years. For male it is 68.27 years and for female it is 74.08 years. The total infant mortality rate is 42.37 deaths/1,000 live births.

According to Vietnam Demography the sex ratio of the country is at birth: 1.07 male/female, under 15 years: 1.077 male/female, 15-64 years: 0.983 male/female, 65 years and over: 0.634 male/female and total population: 0.982 male/female. 90.3% of the population are literate.

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Everyday Life

Someone has remarked that Vietnam is characterized by two odors-that of Nuoc-mam (fish sauce) and that of incense. The Vietnamese reaction is that Nuoc-mam represents the material life whereas incense from the places of worship symbolize the spiritual life of Vietnam. The smoke of joss sticks and incense burners rise from family altars, spirit houses, and temple courtyards and before the figures of Buddha which abound in great numbers. In the old days people used rough toilet paper similar to that found in the Soviet Union. Coconut shells were turned into brushes, used as fuel, ladles or as containers for honey. Popular Vietnamese products included Kiss Me toilet paper and Jiridium brand pens. Vietnamese champagne sold for about $2 a bottle. The label read "Champagne, product of Vietnam, Nitrogen Fertilizer Corporation." Tribespeople often store grain in small houses to protect it from fire or rats. In the 1990s there were only one television per 31 people, one radio per 10 people, and one telephone per 544 people in Vietnam. Now cell phones and electronics are everywhere. The Los Angeles Times described Phan An, a 26-year-old freelance IT consultant who grew up with five siblings in Danang without electricity or running water. They took baths in flooded rice fields and read by oil lamp, sleeping with the rest of the family in a single room and walking three miles to school. Nowadays Phan sits at his computer listening to digital music files in a building on land that was a field a few years back. The two-room apartment he shares with a friend is stuffed with a fan, washing machine. flat-screen television, Sanyo refrigerator and electric guitar.

Etiquette

Vietnamese society has a fair amount of public etiquette. The following are some of the more common points: Etiquette in Vietnam

• Avoid public displays of affection with a member of the opposite sex. • Do not touch someone's head. • Pass items with both hands. • Do not point with your finger - use your hand. • Do not stand with your hands on your hips. • Do not cross your arms on your chest. • Do not pass anything over someone's head. • Do not touch anyone on the shoulder. • Do not touch a member of the opposite sex. • Shorts should only be worn at the beach.

Dining Etiquette: If invited to a Vietnamese home:

• Bring fruit, sweets, flowers, fruit, or incense. • Gifts should be wrapped in colourful paper. • Do not give handkerchiefs, anything black, yellow flowers or chrysanthemums.

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Table Manners:

• Wait to be shown where to sit. • The oldest person should sit first. • Pass dishes with both hands. • The most common utensils are chopsticks and a flat spoon. • Chopsticks should be placed on the table or a chopstick rest after every few mouthfuls or when breaking to drink or speak. • People hold bowls close to their faces. • Hold the spoon in your left hand while eating soup. • Meals are typically served family-style. • Try to finish everything on your plate. • When you are finished eating, rest your chopsticks on top of your rice bowl. • Cover your mouth when using a toothpick.

Cultural Stereotype

Asian males are Chauvinistic Asian males are stereotyped as irrational and disrespectful towards women. The stereotypical view says that east Asian men are chauvinistic and that they despise women empowerment and liberation. They are often believed to be orthodox and biased when it comes to women rights. Moreover, these misogynistic Asian males are portrayed as a threat to white women, by American media. there are a lot of movies in which the Asian men, esp the Chinese guys are shown alike. The Asian men are also portrayed as less ‘manly’ in various movies The western males, on the other hand are labeled to be the most romantic and lovable men across the world who unlike Asians, respect women’s liberty and advancement

Asian parents are conservative and strict Asian parents are considered relatively strict, constantly nagging their children. Mommies are, in particular portrayed as complaining while fathers are believed to be the monopolist and dictator- like, whose will shall be final and binding. The Asian parents are not assumed to be liberal about letting their kids go partying with friends. Instead they would ask them ‘Have you studied yet?’ Asian parents think that their kids should not date anyone until university and even thereafter its too early. Also, the parents tend to compare their children against others’. Further, the worst suffering of Asian kids is that their parents wake up the entire household with loud noises by turning the TV on or by sound of vaccuming.

Asians have bad English This stereotype might be true for some Asians. Western people vouch that Asians, no matter how they learn, are not good at speaking and using English. They think that the Asian countrymen are incapable of handling the language in its prestige. When Asians use English, they do not use it in its pristine form. Instead, they fuse it with the local dialect and dip it in their local accent, thereby imparting a regional beat to the dialect of West – English. The Chinese, Japanese and the Koreans are pointed to speak the language using very unnecessarily short and soft words . The Western World believes that Asians miss the style of English speaking. The middle Eastern people are stereotyped as the ones who barely talk in English because they simply do not tend to know it well. The Indians especially the North Indians are universally famous for the way they use the language-with a tint of their local tone. Plus, they are notorious for talking very loudly.

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Sikhs are same as Muslims The western people find it difficult to distinguish between Sikhs and Muslims, probably because both the religious groups do not shave the beard. The Sikhs who bear the buns are also confused with the Muslims who keep their head covered using a drape. This stereotype is a total fiction because the two religious groups are entirely different and have no such commonalities. further, the local clothing in Asian zone makes it further difficult for them to differentiate in the two groups. This typecast is particularly popular amongst English and Americans who try to trace similarities amongst all the Asians , which is in turn , also a Stereotypical Asian view towards the former.

Asians are bad at athletics This a highly notorious label for Asians that they are and can never be good athletes. Though Asians comprise 57% of the world’s population and are excellent at academics and in professional life, but when it comes to sports front, they suck! Though this is not very true for all Asians (east Asians being the exception ) , but there is substantial support for the fact that Asians do not believe in taking sports that seriously as to make it profession .This classification arises from the fact that the Asians, genetically are not as tall and fit as the Americans , Europeans , Australians and Africans athletes and thus under represent and under perform in track and field events , football , basketball , soccer , tennis , and the similar athletic stuff .But then , it is not true that Asians do not entirely play even a bit ! If East Asians master at badminton and table tennis, the south eastern subcontinent is a cricket-maniac.

Asians are mathematics brainpans Western countries perceive Asians as the mathematics whiz who can calculate and solve the mathematical and quantitative problems with the blink of an eye. This is partially a fact, because Asians have superior mathematics than the non-Asians. But it does not necessarily mean that they a very good mathematical knowledge, on an absolute scale. The Asians, are cultured in a way that they are always made to stress more on studies and the traditional learning methods (Do -It-A-Thousand-Times-Until-It-Is-Done) help them score brilliantly. By this very way they can out stand the western traditional learning methods and so their students.

Most Asians are doctors or engineers It is funny, but the facts support this pigeonhole! Most of the Asians that have travelled and settled beyond Asia are Doctors or engineers and are earning richly, more than the native residents in some cases. A study by University of California, Berkeley, reported that 33% of the engineers working in the Silicon Valley are of Indian descent, while 7% of valley hi-tech firms are led by the Indian CEOs. Other Asians on the list comprise of Chinese, Hispanics, Japs, Koreans etc . The Asians occupying the higher posts in such professions had been a worldwide discussion. Further half of the % Asians in America hold bachelors degree in comparison with 30%of the natives.

Asians are poor except for Arabs To the west, the Arabs seems to be the only rich Asians. The Arabs are believed to be the billionaires, who own cars plated with gold and studded with diamonds, owning large oil refineries and massive land shares that have huge potential to be oil wells, and that’s all is the secret of their wealth. Arabs however are attacked with the worst stereotypes- bombers, belly dancers and terrorists. Whereas, the south Asian continent is considered to be the poorest people in the world who are barely provided with basic amenities. The countries like Laos, Vietnam, India, Pakistan, Bangladesh are quoted as the homes of the poorest.

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Family

Values For centuries in Vietnam, traditional family values were accomplished by the fulfillment of traditional roles: the role of man and woman as parents. Vietnamese valued their traditional ideal of male superiority. Since the highest status in Vietnamese families is given to the man (father), he had absolute authority in the household. His position as the provider for the family was unchallenged. Because he provided the main source of income for the household, he was never expected to work in the kitchen or to cook. After work, he returned home and relaxed. As a head of household, he had the final decision in all matters, although he might consult his wife or children. In her report, Phung cited that the father, however, had the duty to exercise restraint and wisdom in running his family in order to deserve his respected position. Having a boy in the family was a “must” because the eldest son would assume the duties of his father when he died. A family which had no son to continue the process was superstitiously thought to have disappeared forever.

In a patriarchal society, Vietnamese woman had limited rights and took a secondary place in the family. Women were brought up according to a strict discipline and have been traditionally less educated than men. They usually do not enter the job market outside the home. “Girls from birth were at a disadvantage”. Daughter is not considered necessary in heritage. According to Lam, Vietnamese traditional viewpoint was “If you have a son, you can say you have a descendent. But you cannot say so even if you have ten daughters”.

Traditional values of Vietnamese lifestyle were deeply affected by Confucian ethics. During thousand years the Chinese invaded and maintained control Vietnam, Vietnamese culture was permeated by their Confucian philosophical beliefs. This philosophy based for the existence of and extended family structure through 2,000 years of Vietnamese history (Lam).

It was believed that: …” in order to achieve human perfection, one must follow the established codes of behavior of which include reverence for ancestors and respect for elders…The importance is not upon the individual’s accomplishments but upon his duty to family and society”.

The Vietnamese household traditionally followed the extended multi-generational pattern. The parents, their sons and their wives, their children, and unmarried siblings usually constituted a Vietnamese household. In this structure, frequent contacts were maintained, and this constant closeness to the family was emphasized from childhood and continued to be important to Vietnamese throughout their lifetime.

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Attitudes to Residential Care

Religion and philosophy influence the role of family in caring for older people. Confucianism dictates strict family hierarchies, in which seniority is accorded the highest status. Children are indebted to the parents for their birth and are taught to obey their parents through a sense of gratitude. Taoist and Buddhist influences also promote the values of harmony, duty, respect, honour and allegiance to family.

Older arriving in Australia under the Family Reunion Scheme experience great difficulty in adjusting to their new lives. In many families, there has been a move away from traditional family values and beliefs. Grandchildren may not even speak Vietnamese or follow the traditional rules of respect and obedience for the aged. Traditionally, elderly Vietnamese-born people remain at home caring for their grandchildren. Sending elderly Vietnamese people to a nursing home when they become frail seems disrespectful.

For elderly Vietnamese people, self-management of chronic illness goes beyond individual self- care to an expectation of family members to be supportive. Endurance and stoicism during sickness is culturally viewed as having strength of character.

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Personal Hygiene

Schedules and choices surrounding the following personal hygiene activities greatly affect the person’s sense of self, pride, dignity and confidence.

Bathing Every afternoon, the Tu Le people, regardless of ages and sexes, flock to the spring for bath. The majority are beautiful Thai girls with snow-white skin, long black hair and pink cheek. It is not strange if you see a Thai girl undress clothes and slowly step into the spring, submerge in the steaming water. Nowadays, we rarely see a girl in Tu Le naked bathing but the custom is still preserved.

Naked bathing is considered as a relaxing activity of Thai boys and girls after a hard-working day. Some people believe that it is the reason why Thai girls have such a snow-white skin. The boys and girls are allowed to bath in the same tub but they must keep the distance. The girls clean each other by round pebbles and sometimes make a laugh.

Dress The formal dress, is worn for special occasions such as weddings and religious festivals. White áo dài is the required uniform for girls in many high schools across Vietnam. was once worn by both genders, but today it is mostly the preserve of women, although men do wear it to some occasions, such as traditional weddings. Other examples of traditional include the áo tứ thân, a four-piece woman's dress; the áo ngũ, a form of the thân in 5-piece form, mostly worn in the north of the country; the yếm, a woman's undergarment; the áo bà ba, rural working "pyjamas" for men and women; the áo gấm, a formal brocade tunic for government receptions; and the áo the, a variant of the áo gấm worn by grooms at weddings. Traditional headwear includes the standard conical nón lá and the "lampshade-like" nón quai thao.

Grooming

It is important that the hygiene preferences of each person are established as part of the care planning process.

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Leisure and Recreation

Children are involved in athletic and artistic activities such as dance, music and painting. They also enjoy reading comics, swimming, riding bicycles, playing card games and jumping ropes.

Soccer and billiards are popular in Vietnam. Volleyball, badminton, table tennis, chess and Vivonam-Viet Vo Dao (Vietnamese ) are also widely enjoyed.

In the evenings and on weekends, Vietnamese living in the cities enjoy strolling and chatting with friends in the parks. The Vietnamese also love going to the movies and singing karaoke.

Most of the recreation and leisure activities of the Vietnamese in Australia focus on the family. Most social events are arranged within the extended family or with the wider social networs of other Vietnamese families. Eating Vietnamese food at home or in restuarants is popular, as is shopping and visiting family and friends. For excusions beyond the home or the local area Vietnamese often like to go fishing or have BBQ’s in national parks or scenic areas, such as at the coast or in the mountains. In the evenings Vietnamese videos and home Karaoke machines are popular, as are local and visiting Vietnamese perfomers such as singers and comedians.

A routine needs to be established with each individual relating to their personal preference.

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Religion

Many Vietnamese habits, customs, and traditions are rooted in, and conditioned by, religious beliefs. For many Vietnamese, the village encompasses their lives. They are born, grow up, marry, have children, grow old, if fortunate, and die, often without ever having left their village environment. Since religious beliefs affect every phase of Vietnamese life, and because these are quite different from Judeo-Christian beliefs, the resulting value systems determine patterns of thinking, habits, customs, and taboos quite different from those found in America. The use of religious concepts in everyday life is more evident among the Vietnamese than among Americans. Americans tend to compartmentalize religion into a limited part of the week-in many cases to less than one hour per week. Most of the Vietnamese religious beliefs affecting daily life are so complex that they do not easily lend themselves to precise statements, definitions, beliefs, or creeds which can readily be understood by Americans. Into the "cooking pot" of Vietnam, the various ingredients of animism, Ancestor Veneration or Worship, Taoism, Confucianism, Hinduism, Islamism, Roman Catholicism, Protestantism, etc., have been tossed. To season and spice the dish, secular culture concepts of various origins have been added. This has bubbled and stewed through the centuries, so that few of the basic religions or religious ideas will be found identical to the original. Exception must be made for such religious ingredients as Protestantism which has been added too recently, and for the animism of the tribal people who have normally stayed aloof from the whole "show" and have suffered with their "fear-controlled religion". The imported religious ideas have induced permanent changes in the thought and behavior patterns of the people, and have become so deeply woven into Vietnamese daily life that Westerners tend to disbelieve their eyes, and fail to comprehend the resulting value systems. These ideas mixed with animism and ancestor veneration from South China have formulated the moral codes and standards. They have also established the various rules and systems of government, and have either promoted or hindered the growth of arts, crafts, industry and technological developments. Until very recently, and in many areas is still fact, the pagoda, the wat, the shrine, the communal house, the mosque, have been the focus of village life. Birth, marriage, festivals, death, lunar occasions, etc., as well as health, posterity, travels, planting of crops, house building, are all governed by religious beliefs and ceremonies. The religious figures of the community are important personages because of either individual belief or community pressure. Social approval is essential to any Vietnamese. Many would rather die than to be held in disfavor with family or community. This would be the "sin" to many Vietnamese that creates guilt, rather than the concept held by many Americans that all men are accountable to a supreme God. Ancestral altars and shrines, with pictures of deceased loved ones have traditionally dominated the front room of a house. Members of the household bow before it, light incense and pray. Altars are decorated with incense, fruit and flowers during Tet. Some Buddhist altars are situated outside in front of the house. After Tet, chicken feet are hung from the front of the house to ward off evil spirits. If the feet turn black it means a year of bad luck is ahead. You need to establish each person’s religious preference and link them into a local minister of that religion.

Important cultural and religious days can be found in the Multi-Cultural Events Calendar

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Food and Diet

Rice Jasmine rice is the most common rice, used at lunch and dinner every day. Sticky rice cooked with fruit fragrance and colours are often eaten for breakfast. Broken rice, a special kind of white rice unique to Vietnam is used for special dishes. Rice cakes, both sweet and savoury are popular snack food

Bread French baguette is very popular because of the French influence.

Noodles Ph - thick rice noodles are perhaps the most popular of . Ph is usually eaten in soup form. There is the famous ph from the north, ph Hue from , and ph dai from . Bun or vermicelli - thin rice noodles are also very popular. These noodles are usually eaten dry with grilled meat or seafood, fresh vegetable, and fish sauce.

Fish sauce Like soy sauce to Chinese cuisine, fish sauce or nuóc mam is the main ingredient in all Vietnamese cooking.

Fresh Vegetables Fresh vegetables such as lettuce, cucumbers, carrots and a variety of herbs (basils, peppermint, coriander) are an essential part of every meal.

Meat Seafood is more popular than other kind of meat, followed by pork, beef and poultry.

Drinks Variety of sweet drinks; coconut and sugar-cane juices are among the most popular. Black drip coffee, introduced by the French, is also a popular morning/breakfast drink. Iced tea and hot tea are consumed on a regular basis.

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Health

In 2009, Vietnam's national life expectancy stood at 76 years for women and 72 for men, and the infant mortality rate was 12 per 1,000 live births. By 2009, 85% of the population had access to improved water sources. However, malnutrition is still common in the rural provinces. In 2001, government spending on health care corresponded to just 0.9% of Vietnam's gross domestic product (GDP), with state subsidies covering only about 20% of health care expenses.[148]

In 1954, established a public health system that reached down to the hamlet level. After the national reunification in 1975, a nationwide health service was established. In the late 1980s, the quality of healthcare declined to some degree as a result of budgetary constraints, a shift of responsibility to the provinces, and the introduction of charges. Inadequate funding has also contributed to a shortage of nurses, midwives, and hospital beds; in 2000, Vietnam had only 250,000 hospital beds, or 14.8 beds per 10,000 people, according to the World Bank.

Since the early 2000s, Vietnam has made significant progress in combating malaria, with the malaria mortality rate falling to about 5% of its 1990s equivalent by 2005, after the country introduced improved antimalarial drugs and treatment. However, tuberculosis cases are on the rise, with 57 deaths per day reported in May 2004. With an intensified vaccination program, better hygiene, and foreign assistance, Vietnam hopes to reduce sharply the number of TB cases and annual new TB infections.

As of September 2005, Vietnam had diagnosed 101,291 HIV cases, of which 16,528 progressed to AIDS, and 9,554 died. However, the actual number of HIV-positive individuals is estimated to be much higher. On average, 40–50 new infections are reported every day in Vietnam. As of 2007, 0.5% of the population is estimated to be infected with HIV, and this figure has remained stable since 2005. In June 2004, the United States announced that Vietnam would be one of 15 nations to receive funding as part of a US$15 billion global AIDS relief plan.

Perceptions of Health Professionals

Going to Health professionals is usual and Vietnamese people are used to the medical heiarchy. Some older Vietnamese people would prefer to go the pharmacy and ask for medication, and can get frustrated if they need to visit the doctor and ask for a prescription. For them going to a doctor unless they want to see a specialist, it’s a waste of time. Vietnamese patients may be reluctant to speak up about their illness. They often expect quick relief from symptoms. They are cautious about Western medicines and sometimes initiate downward dosage adjustments to avoid even minor side effects. In their opinion, western medication can be quick and effective in removing symptoms, but not a permanent cure. In effect, they rely on Chinese medicine for long term treatment. Due to language barriers, aged Vietnam born people prefer Vietnamese speaking medical practitioners.

This may mean YOU shouldn’t perceive a Vietnam person who questions a doctor or health professional as being difficult. Nor should you consider the person as ‘being difficult’ should he/she want a second opinion or to access complementary medicines or some type.

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Death and Dying

When a person passes away in Vietnam, the surviving family holds a wake or vigil that typically lasts about five to six days, but may last longer if the surviving family is waiting for other traveling relatives. The body is washed and dressed. A le ngam ham, or chopstick, is laid between the teeth and a pinch of rice and three coins are placed in the mouth. The body is put on a grass mat laid on the ground according to the saying, "being born from the earth, one must return back to the earth." The dead body is enveloped with white cloth, le kham niem, and placed in a coffin, le nhap quan. Finally, the funeral ceremony, le thanh phuc, is officially performed.

The surviving family wear coarse gauze and tunics for the funeral. There are two types of funeral processions:

• Traditional: The date and time for the funeral procession, le dua tang, must be carefully selected. Relatives, friends, and descendants take part in the funeral procession to accompany the dead along the way to the burial ground. Votives are dropped along the way. At the grave site, the coffin is lowered and buried. After three days of mourning, the family visits the tomb again, le mo cua ma, or worship the opening the grave. After 49 days, le chung that, the family stops bringing rice for the dead to the altar. And finally, after 100 days, the family celebrates tot khoc, or the end of the tears. After one year is the ceremony of the first anniversary of the relative's death and after two years is the ceremony of the end of mourning. • Modern: Nowadays, mourning ceremonies follow new rituals which are simplified; they consist of covering and putting the dead body into the coffin, the funeral procession, the burial of the sike into the grave, and the visits to the tomb.

In Vietnam, the family of the deceased undergo a ritual after 100 days of them passing away, where the whole family sits in pairs in a long line up to a single member of the family. A monk (Thay Cung) will place a thin piece of cotton over the family member's head and ring a bell and chant while rotating the bell around the deceased's head, sending them in to a trance and open a way for the deceased to return to the living. A bamboo tree with only leaves on the top with small pieces of paper with the deceased's name written on them will start to wave when the deceased is coming. They believe that after 100 days the deceased may return to this realm and "possess" the body of the member of the family undergoing the ritual and once it is completed the other members of the family can communicate with the spirit of the deceased through the tranced family member.

Normally this ritual will take all day to prepare and then as long as 6 hours praying and chanting, changing the family member at the front of the line. Afterwards they will then burn a paper house and paper made possessions (that which the deceased would have loved during his/her life) so that they may take it through to their next life with them.

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Language

The official national language of Vietnam is Vietnamese, a tonal Mon–Khmer language which is spoken by the majority of the population. In its early history, Vietnamese writing used Chinese characters. In the 13th century, the Vietnamese developed their own set of characters, referred to as Chữ nôm. The folk epic Truyện Kiều ("The Tale of Kieu", originally known as Đoạn trường tân thanh ) by Nguyễn Du was written in Chữ nôm. Quốc ngữ, the romanized used for spoken Vietnamese, was developed in the 17th century by the Jesuit Alexandre de Rhodes and several other Catholic missionaries.[125] Quốc ngữ became widely popular and brought literacy to the Vietnamese masses during the French colonial period.

Vietnam's minority groups speak a variety of languages, including Tày, Mường, Cham, Khmer, Chinese, Nùng, and H'Mông. The Montagnard peoples of the Central Highlands also speak a number of distinct languages. A number of sign languages have developed in the cities.

The French language, a legacy of colonial rule, is spoken by many educated Vietnamese as a second language, especially among the older generation and those educated in the former , where it was a principal language in administration, education and commerce; Vietnam remains a full member of the Francophonie, and education has revived some interest in the language. Russian – and to a much lesser extent German, Czech and Polish – are known among some Vietnamese whose families had ties with the Soviet bloc during the Cold War. In recent years, as Vietnam's contacts with Western nations have increased, English has become more popular as a second language. The study of English is now obligatory in most schools, either alongside or in many cases, replacing French. Japanese and Korean have also grown in popularity as Vietnam's links with other East Asian nations have strengthened.

YOU need to be aware that just because they could once speak English, does not mean a) They necessarily spoke it fluently or extensively OR b) They have retained these skills as he/she aged OR c) That it is their preferred language.

Speaking English can be tiring to the elderly – as they are engaging in a translation-type of process. Many elderly people revert back to their native language as they aged.

Cue Cards Quality Aging has cue cards that you may find useful and assist you in communicating with a person that speaks a language other than English.

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Disclaimer The information herein is a synthesis of information from a range of sources believed to be reliable. Quality Aging gives no warranty that the said base sources are correct, and accepts no responsibility for any resultant errors contained herein or for decisions and actions taken as a result and any damage from these decisions or actions.

References

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vietnam

http://vietnamconsulateinhouston.org/en/general-information/religion-and-belief

http://www.mccsa.org.au/site/wp-content/uploads/2014/08/Guide-to-Working-Cross- Culturally.pdf

http://factsanddetails.com/southeast-asia/Vietnam/sub5_9c/entry-3407

http://www.mapsofworld.com/vietnam/demography.html

http://www.vietnam-travel-guide.net/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/vietnam-map.jpg

http://www.commisceo-global.com/country-guides/vietnam-guide

http://www.vietnam-culture.com/articles-53-6/Vietnamese-traditional-family-values.aspx

http://www.diversicare.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/Vietnamese.pdf

http://www.vietnamvisa-easy.com/blog/naked-bathing-cultural-tradition-in-tu-le/

http://www.vtaide.com/ASEAN/Vietnam/recreation.

https://books.google.com.au/books?isbn=0306483211

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Culture_of_Vietnam

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