Taiwan’s culture and customs are similar to Vietnam’s and other Chinese speaking countries. The Vietnamese have lived with the Chinese people for years, so they know the customs and lifestyle of the Chinese and Taiwanese people well. At present, many Taiwanese people live and work in Vietnam and they say that they are happy to live with Vietnamese people.
The first reason is that Taiwanese people are impacted by oriental culture and traditions, in particular Confucianism, so their lifestyle, thought and behaviour are similar to the Vietnamese people. Even Taiwanese and Vietnamese have many words of similar pronunciation despite the difference between their characters. Many Vietnamese officials, despite not learning Taiwanese, can communicate with Taiwanese partners when they are on working visits to Taiwan. Also, there is a similarity in the family and society model of Taiwan and Vietnam. Therefore, it is not very difficult for Taiwanese to learn how to speak Vietnamese.
The Vietnamese people have similar qualities to Taiwanese, such as their hardworking and industriousness nature. As a result, apart from low costs, Taiwanese investors highly appreciate the good qualities of Vietnamese workers and staff members. However, Vietnamese people should make further efforts to get rid of the weaknesses of people in an agricultural country, as it may lead to disputes and even conflicts between Vietnamese staff members and their Taiwanese employers.
What has helped Taiwanese people find it easier to live and work in Vietnam is Chinese traditional cuisine and similar Vietnamese food. As Vietnamese and Taiwanese have lunar calendars, festivals and holidays in Vietnam are similar to those in Taiwan, including the Lunar New Year, Mid-January festival, May 5 festival and the Mid-autumn festival.
The Taiwanese organise many activities to celebrate the Lunar New Year, as the Vietnamese people do. On this special occasion, both Vietnamese and Taiwanese prepare traditional food and cakes. Just as Vietnamese people light lanterns during the Mid-Autumn festival, the Taiwanese light lanterns during the Mid-January festival. On this occasion, the Taiwanese people make large lanterns in the shape of the animal symbolising the year in the hope that people will be lucky and happy for the whole year. The Taiwanese have other special festivals including the Mazu Cultural Festival, which is organised to celebrate the birthday of Mazu - Goddess of the Sea in March, according to the lunar calendar. During the festival, there is a procession from the main temple to other temples in the region. The festival has become an attractive tourist activity. Like the Vietnamese people, the Taiwanese celebrate the Ghost Festival on July 15, lunar calendar to pray for the dead to fly to the heaven. Also, on this occasion, a makeshift platform for worship is made from solid bamboo pillars. People hold a competition, climbing the pillars, and the winner is considered to be lucky for the whole year.
Like the Vietnamese people, the Taiwanese attach importance to affection. Apart from family affection, the Taiwanese show their respect to their friends and partners. The Taiwanese people are willing to help each other for their joint interest.
There are many other similarities in Vietnamese and Taiwanese cultures and lifestyle. These similarities have helped strengthen economic co-operation between Vietnam and Taiwan and the two countries’ entrepreneurs, which is of great benefit to the two sides.
Thuy Tien
Vietnamese
