Vietnamese Society
A short description of the societies and social structures of Vietnamese history.
Traditional Social Structures of Vietnam
Prior to French colonization and the Vietnam War, Vietnamese society for the most part followed Confucian and Buddhist principles. At the heart of its civilization was the family, both living and deceased. Rural families lived together in larger villages, often walled in by bamboo hedges. Houses maintained ancestral altars along their north walls, where families made prayers and offerings to their passed relatives. Each household was headed by a man, typically the oldest male member of the family. Elders are still highly respected in Vietnamese society and given preferential treatment.
Outside the home, society was divided into four broad social classes. At the top of the hierarchy sat the king and his royal family. Civil servants, or mandarins, qualified for their posts through state exams. These exams tested their knowledge of subjects like Chinese literature and history. While anyone could take these exams, education was typically limited to mandarin families. The majority of Vietnamese people lived as farmers, a respected class in Confucian society. Limited arable land in the fertile river valleys meant that resources were carefully divided between villages. This encouraged collaboration over competition and discouraged wealth disparity. Artisans and merchants, no matter their wealth, occupied a lower social status.
Women in Vietnamese Society
Vietnamese women generally held greater autonomy than their counterparts in China. Confucian philosophy emphasized feminine obedience and gentleness, but Vietnamese women never forgot the example of the Trung sisters, who led an early rebellion against Chinese occupation. During the Vietnam War, thousands of Vietnamese women contributed to the war effort on both sides. Vietnamese women cleared supply trails, served as nurses, raised food crops, gathered intelligence, and participated in active combat. Since the war, women have been encouraged to enter the workforce and leadership positions in Vietnam, though older Confucian influences persist.
Modern Vietnamese Society
Modern Vietnamese society now blends elements of Confucian, Buddhist and socialist ideology. After the war, the Communist Party of Vietnam worked to both modernize its economy and resettle congested city populations to rural areas. Farming villages continue to operate on a traditional basis and tend to be more conservative. Education remains a high national priority, emphasizing the creation of a young, industrial workforce. An elected National Assembly chooses the nation’s president, who in turn appoints various administrative posts. Sixty-four smaller provinces govern local affairs. These reforms have pushed Vietnam from devastation just a few decades ago to a young and booming economy.
References
Crawford, Ann Caddell. Customs and Culture of Vietnam. Tuttle Publishing. 2012.
FitzGerald Frances. Fire in the Lake. Little, Brown, May. 2009.
Goscha, Christopher. Vietnam: A New History. Basic Books. 2016.
McLeod, Mark W and Thi Dieu Nguyen. Culture and Customs of Vietnam. Greenwood Publishing. 2001.
Taylor, K.W. A History of the Vietnamese. Cambridge University Press. 2013.
“The World Factbook: Vietnam.” Central Intelligence Agency, Central Intelligence Agency, 12 July 2018, www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/vm.html.
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