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The domestic life of the Vietnamese closely resembles
that of traditional China even with the distinguishing characteristics
of the village, town and city. Close family life, respect for elders and
the dignified politeness of children are all apparent. Some elements of
traditional animism, Taoism and Buddhism show in family celebrations and
festivities and even in everyday affairs. Few Vietnamese homes fail to
give at least cursory homage to several personal gods.
Despite the modernization of the cities, the presence of
French and later the Americans, despite even education abroad, old
traditions hold dear. A child is considered one year old at birth and
counts birthdays not on the day of birth but on each New Year's;
scholars still lead in the traditional hierarchy of society followed by
agriculturalists, salaried workers, and finally merchants; belief in
herbal teas and the medicinal qualities of certain foods persist and
remain important.
Similarly, Vietnamese kitchens and tables reflect much of
China's influence. Facilities and utensils vary according to means: many
small electrical appliances find a useful place in city kitchens while
the age-old methods of food storage and meal preparation hold sway in
traditional village kitchen. Women enjoy preparing their foods for meals
in the separate kitchen that is often also a separate building from the
main living quarters. This is not only practical from the standpoint of
fire hazards, but also provides the women a special place to talk
together. Three-stoned stands set in clay or stone hearths hold charcoal
embers and efficiently heat steamers, iron kettles, or woks. Sharp
knives and cleavers make quick work of slicing, slivering, chopping,
mincing, while quick and artful fingers carefully arrange platters of
foods to be placed attractively on the meal table. Among the wealthy,
the cuisine of the household may be very continental and varied, with
dishes from local and western cultures. For all Vietnamese, the dishes
of Chinese origin (but given a special Vietnamese fillip) appear for all
special occasions.
Tradition persists not only in the home and kitchen, but
even in the diets of expectant mothers. Vietnamese women are fearful of
eating too much food lest their babies become too heavy, and many fear
that certain foods may be harmful to the fetus. Rice, soy sauce, some
vegetables, and nuoc mam (the fish-sauce condiment) are taken as
required, but many believe the fish and meats may generate poisons in
the child and refuse to eat them as part of the daily diet during
pregnancy. These are typical of food beliefs in the countryside and are
not commonly found among women in Saigon.
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