Hanoi – Vietnam has diverse cultural traditions across its vast geography. With this kind of landscape, it is home to various ethnic communities. One of the largest is that of the ethnic Vietnamese, also known as the Kinh people. Their homes are mainly in the highlands, while the rest of the ethnic minorities occupy the southern regions.
The Kinh people are still further divided into the northern ethnic group and the southern highland peoples based on their other ethnic affinities. The northern groups have associations with people who speak the Tai language, primarily found in southern China. The southern highland population has similarities with Cambodia’s peoples (Mon-Khmer languages speakers), Indonesia, and other Southeast Asian groups.
Language
The ethnic Vietnamese speak a distinct language from the rest of the smaller ethnic groups in the country. The Vietnamese language is from the Viet-Muong branch of the Mon-Khmer language family. With the language’s linguistic affiliations, it is easy to notice that many words are similar or have originated from the Chinese language. Another reason for this similarity is that of the country’s history of being a part of the Chinese Empire. Upon further observation, the Vietnamese language may be closer to Cantonese than to Mandarin, as Vietnamese has six tones like the former and not four like the latter.
Even with the said similarities, it is vital to note the ethnic Vietnamese people’s move to gradually deviate from Chinese influences throughout history. In the various and rich literature collections of ethnic Vietnamese poetry, proverbs, books, and other written materials, using the Chinese language to a more different Vietnamese language is evident. Even in ancient times, there is already the creation of the Chữ Nôm (writing system) and Chữ Quốc ngữ (Vietnamese alphabet) to replace the dominant kanji characters in the people’s writings. This action shows how the people tried to find and establish their own ethnic identity within the region.
Culture and Tradition
As observed throughout history, ethnic Vietnamese lived in villages where they practiced specific rules and traditions. One may find a court where children can play or for a small gathering, even a garden, plus an altar for worshiping their ancestors in most traditional houses.
The communal dwellings were used for various meetings and even common ritual ceremonies. In one practice, people gather to worship the village’s deity, also considered the community’s guardian. However, nowadays, the ethnic Vietnamese have settled across the country and may be seen in big cities such as Ho Chi Minh. Here, the people have combined the traditional practices with a more modern lifestyle and other evident cultural influences.
In time, there may still be new changes to the lifestyle of the ethnic Vietnamese. Still, it is no surprise that they continue to observe their traditions amidst all modern practices adopted into their more modern way of living. It is a move that keeps the ethnic Vietnamese connected to their communities while opening themselves to neighboring countries and even ethnic minorities. Nonetheless, the people’s language will keep their records intact and present a distinct ethnic history for people to hear.
Image from Hưng Nguyễn Việt, https://unsplash.com/@united_2208
