Confucian principles have a significant influence on traditional Vietnamese values. Vietnamese culture was influenced by Chinese culture for thousands of years while it was under Chinese rule, including its Confucian philosophy. According to this theory, "in order to achieve human perfection, a person must adhere to established moral standards, including respect for elders and for one's ancestors... Success and personal merits are not as important as a person's obligations to his family and community.
Most Vietnamese place a higher priority on their responsibilities, privileges, and roles within this community than on their own desires. Traditional Vietnamese homes have been extended multigenerational households. Vietnamese households frequently consist of parents, sons and their wives, sons and their children, and unmarried siblings. Respect for the elderly is the top requirement in this large family. Therefore, parents and grandparents make decisions for the family.
Vietnamese traditional family values have been upheld for millennia by men and women acting in their customary parental responsibilities. Because a guy or father holds the greatest status in Vietnamese households, he or she has complete control over the household. He never has to cook or labor in the kitchen because he is the main provider of revenue. He returns home after work and unwinds. He gets the last word in all decisions as the head of the family. To earn his revered position, the father must, nevertheless, manage the family with moderation and wisdom.
The eldest son will assume the role of the father when he passes away, therefore having a son in the family is a "must do." Without a son to carry on this tradition, a family is seen to be a superstition that will vanish forever.
Vietnamese women have few rights and a subordinate role in the household in a patriarchal society. Women were typically less educated than men and were raised in severe discipline.
The woman becomes a housewife and mother after being married. She is supposed to be reliant on her husband, caring for the kids and possibly even the grandkids in addition to managing the domestic duties. But even if a wife is unhappy in her marriage and would like to get a divorce, her family pushed her to put up with the challenges of her union for the benefit of her kids.
Family meals are very significant in Vietnam. It is a part of a joyful family, especially when everyone's enterprises become busier. Parents are constantly occupied in several large cities, such as Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh City. Prior to leaving for work, they have to get up early to drop off their kids at school. The wife used to provide breakfast for the entire family in the past, but due to time constraints, this custom or habit was sometimes broken.
The value of family dinners is still highly regarded today since dinner gives them a chance to talk and eat together after a long day. Because of this, many individuals and families in Vietnam are still unfamiliar with the restaurant. Family meals are frequently used as a way to maintain the warmth of the home. Meals can be thought of as sharing, caring, and sympathy as well as lunch or dinner. In a lot of Vietnamese homes, the wife is aware of her husband's and kids' preferences. Then, they make an effort to prepare certain foods frequently, if not exclusively, on special occasions.
resuming one's position as a parent in a Vietnamese household. Vietnamese youngsters are encouraged to uphold the traditional characteristics of respect and obedience in their households. Physical punishment and discipline are legitimate responses to noncompliance. In order to make up for their birth and upbringing, children must care for their elderly parents.
It is not possible for boys and females to do what they choose. The girls are, nonetheless, being attentively watched. For unmarried children, Western-style flirtation and courtship are viewed as inappropriate. Pregnancy outside of marriage is a grave embarrassment to the family in cultures where virginity is prized. Parents frequently decide on their children's marriages because they are better judges.
