Many know Vietnam as a “must see” tourist destination due to its stunning, varied landscape. However, those who went from being travellers to expats in Vietnam often notice something more than physical beauty on their travels: they see community spirit.

Kosmo Tay Ho asked four foreigners what they learned about family and community during their travels in Vietnam, and why these things make it such a popular destination for expats.

Quality Time

Ibrahim Bossan has lived in Hanoi for four years. Originally from Nigeria, he came here to finish his IT studies and ended up staying. He works for an international school as an IT/Database manager.

Kosmo Tay Ho: What’s your overarching impression of families and communities in Vietnam?

Ibrahim: Based on my time in Hanoi, I see that there is a lot of interaction between Vietnamese families. I can safely say that they love to live in unity and harmony. The community here is very safe.

Kosmo Tay Ho: Is the North any different from the South, or the more rural/isolated areas?

Ibrahim: The North is different in many ways, for example, food, language, manners, and lifestyle. The South is more exposed to Western culture and more open-minded. And of course, there are slight differences in the accents and vocabulary.

Kosmo Tay Ho: How different is Vietnam from your home country, in terms of family and community?

Ibrahim: The Vietnamese are more open compared to Nigerians. Nigeria is a very religious country and we tend to hold each other accountable. The mode of dress is different; in Nigeria, modesty is a big deal and people are expected to dress appropriately in public. Parenting here seems milder; in Nigeria parents are stricter.

Kosmo Tay Ho: What similarities does Vietnam have to your home country?

Ibrahim: Both Vietnam and Nigeria have a welcoming attitude towards foreigners!

Kosmo Tay Ho: What experience from your travels best sums up family and community in Vietnam?

Ibrahim: I have many Vietnamese friends who are always happy to show foreigners around “their” Vietnam. Through organisations like Internations, I have met Vietnamese [people] who are always organising events to travel to visit historical places — they do not get paid and do it out of kindness toward people who are living in their country.

The Kindness Of Strangers

Prabu Mohan has lived in Hanoi for five years, arriving from India in early 2012. He is a senior lecturer in mathematics at one of Hanoi’s leading universities.

Kosmo Tay Ho: What’s your overarching impression of Vietnam in terms of family and community?

Prabu: From what I have seen, there is an emotional bonding in the family, and the community is very friendly.

Kosmo Tay Ho: What are families and communities like in Vietnam in comparison to your home country?

Prabu: After living here for five years and interacting with local people, I have realised that India and Vietnam are culturally similar in terms of family and community. Like India, family in Vietnam is closely connected and the roles of men and women in family are similar, with parents taking care of and being responsible for their children until they get married.

Kosmo Tay Ho: What experiences have you had with families and communities on your travels in Vietnam?

Prabu: I have had a lot of good experiences in my travels so far in Vietnam. Vietnamese people are kind and generous. On one of my recent trips, it was raining heavily; I was looking for shelter and a Vietnamese family invited me into their house. I experienced friendliness, kindness, and hospitality at its best, and they even went to the extent of cooking dinner for me! I have always felt like I am a part of this community while I’ve lived here.

Family Ties

Justin Mott is an American commercial photographer and reality TV host who has lived in Vietnam for over a decade. His latest photography project is As Above, So Below which is a celebration of his love for Vietnam.

Kosmo Tay Ho: How do you feel about the Vietnamese family unit?

Justin: I have a very positive impression of the family dynamic of Vietnam. I love the respect people have here for their elders and how each generation looks after each other. Family is such a core part of society here and I respect that.

Kosmo Tay Ho: Are there any big difference between families and communities in Vietnam and your home country?

Justin: I could go on and on here because there are so many differences. The most obvious are multiple generations living in one household — that rarely happens where I am from. Families are separate [in the US] and there is more focus on what is better for the individual rather than what is best for the family. What I do like about the US is that my parents did not put a lot of pressure on me to go down a certain career path. My mother was wonderful in giving me freedom to choose what I wanted to do with my life.

Kosmo Tay Ho: What did you like most about the families and communities you met on your travels in Vietnam?

Justin: I love how Vietnam is not so jaded about strangers. Perhaps part of it is being a foreigner, but I have also travelled with Vietnamese friends to the countryside and within minutes of meeting people, we were invited into their homes, drinking tea, and talking about life. That is so beautiful, and I have met so many interesting people travelling throughout this entire country. I cannot imagine that happening too much in the US.

Same Same But Different

Eunjoo Park is a Korean who has lived in Hanoi for almost 12 months, arriving in December 2016, after relocating for work. He is vice president of one of the largest electronics company in the world.

Kosmo Tay Ho: What impression do you have of communities in Vietnam?

Eunjoo: I am relatively familiar with Vietnamese culture since there are similarities between Korea and Vietnam as we are in the same region of Asia. Vietnam is a very family-oriented country, and [respect for] seniority is one of most important factors influencing the community.

Kosmo Tay Ho: What’s the one example from your travels that best sums up family and community in Vietnam?

Eunjoo: I was in Sapa on a short trip with my wife and we enjoyed the cool weather, mountainous landscape, the minority people and their culture, cuisine and diversity. It was something different from general people in Vietnam but it was an unforgettable experience.