The Different Between Vietnamese and American Culture

The Different Between Vietnamese and American Culture

What are some of the areas of difference between Vietnamese and American cultures

I think Americans are fond of saying "I love you " Vietnamese are not . Vietnamese don 't share words of affections very easily . In fact , it was unusual to see in Daughter from Danang the mother being overly affectionate and saying "I love you " repeatedly . My mother who loves me dearly never says "I love you " in such a way

It 's more typical for Vietnamese to demonstrate affections through gestures . When

I went home to visit my parents , my mother would fry a fish as it 's my favorite dish . And to show her I love her I would have to eat the whole fish . When I won a journalism award a few years ago , my father was very proud . But he couldn 't find the words in Vietnamese to say this so finally he shook my hand (which in itself was very unusual and said in English "I 'm very proud of you , son " It was the first time I heard him saying something like this and it was in English . In some way , English is used when Vietnamese words fail us . And they tend to be words like proud or love

Many American-born Vietnamese have complained to me that their parents don 't love them "They never say 'I love you ' to me " they 'd say . But they don 't understand : it 's not the standard practice in Vietnam . You have to read affection through gestures and actions

When I first came to the United States , I also failed to look at teachers in the eyes . In Vietnam it 's a sign of disrespect when you look at someone in the eyes . In the United States you are shifty if you don 't look at people in the eyes . Even now I tend to shift my focus when I look at someone too long in the eyes . I feel as if I am invading their privacy . Strange but true

What cultural differences have caused the most difficulty for Vietnamese immigrants to the U .S

Vietnamese culture puts a strong emphasis on being part of the We Your individualism is below the need of the many . This is how families survived traditionally . Children are duty-bound to take care of their families . When I went to school at Berkeley , more than half of the Vietnamese student population majored in computer science and electrical engineering . Many told me they didn 't want to . It was competitive and difficult . A few wanted to be artists or architects and so on , but their parents were poor or were still in Vietnam . They needed to find a solid footing in America in to help out the rest of the family

America , on the other hand , tells you to look out for number 1 . It tells you to follow your dream , to have individual ambition . Take care of yourself first . Go on a quest...