Focus: Explore your parent’s birthplace, childhood, family tree, and ancestral roots.
Questions
CHANGING HOMETOWN
How has your hometown in Vietnam changed from your childhood to the present day?
What are the most significant changes you've observed?
How do these changes reflect wider transformations in Vietnamese society?
How do you feel about these changes?
CHERISHED MEMORY
Can you share a cherished memory that captures the essence of growing up in Vietnam?
What makes this memory so special to you?
How does this memory reflect Vietnamese culture or traditions?
How often do you revisit this memory?
CUISINE
How has Vietnamese cuisine played a role in your life and family traditions?
What dishes are most significant to your family?
How do you preserve and pass on cooking traditions?
How does Vietnamese cuisine connect you to your heritage?
HISTORICAL EVENTS
Discuss the impact of historical events in Vietnam on your family and community.
Which events have had the most profound impact, and why?
How did your family and community respond or adapt to these events?
What lessons have you learned from these experiences?
CULTURE
What aspects of Vietnamese culture are most important to you, and how do you maintain them?
Which cultural practices or values do you prioritise?
How do you incorporate these into your daily life?
Why is it important to preserve these cultural elements?
FAMILY
Reflect on the role of family in Vietnamese society and how it has influenced your life.
How does the concept of family in Vietnam differ from other cultures?
How have family dynamics shaped your perspectives and decisions?
What family traditions are you keen to uphold?
ECONOMIC CHALLENGE
How have economic changes in Vietnam affected your lifestyle and outlook?
What were the economic conditions like during your youth compared to now?
How have these changes influenced your career or financial decisions?
What are your hopes for Vietnam's economic future?
EDUCATION
Discuss the significance of education in your life and the broader Vietnamese context.
How has education shaped your opportunities and worldview?
How do you view the changes in the education system over the years?
What advice do you give younger generations about education?
FESTIVALS
Can you talk about a Vietnamese festival or tradition that holds special meaning for you?
What is the festival, and how do you celebrate it?
Why is this tradition meaningful to you?
How do you share or teach this tradition to others?
COMMUNITIES
Reflect on the importance of community and neighbourly relations in Vietnamese culture.
How has the sense of community influenced your upbringing and values?
Can you share an example of community support during a time of need?
How do you contribute to fostering community spirit today?
ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT
What changes have you observed in Vietnamese arts and entertainment over the years?
How have traditional arts evolved or been preserved?
What are your thoughts on modern Vietnamese music, cinema, and literature?
How do these cultural products reflect changes in Vietnamese society?
URBANISATION
Discuss the impact of urbanisation and development on your local environment and lifestyle.
How has urbanisation changed the landscape of your hometown?
What are the positive and negative impacts of these changes?
How do you adapt to the evolving urban environment?
INTERNATIONAL RELATIONSHIPS
How has Vietnam’s international relationships or status affected your sense of national identity?
How do you perceive Vietnam’s role on the global stage?
How have international perceptions of Vietnam changed during your lifetime?
What are your hopes for Vietnam’s future international relations?
TRADITIONAL PRACTICES
Can you share experiences of traditional Vietnamese practices, such as medicine or spirituality, that you uphold?
What traditional practices are important to you?
How have these practices benefited your life?
Why is it important to continue these practices?
GENERATIONAL CHANGE
Reflect on the generational changes within your family regarding cultural and social values.
How have values and beliefs evolved from your parents’ generation to yours and then to your children's?
What values do you hope to pass on to future generations?
How do you bridge any generational gaps within your family?
VIETNAMESE LANGUAGE
Discuss the significance of the Vietnamese language in maintaining cultural identity.
How has the Vietnamese language enriched your life and connections?
What efforts do you make to preserve the language within your family?
Why is it important for younger generations to learn Vietnamese?
TRADITION VS MODERNITY
How do you view the balance between tradition and modernity in Vietnam today?
Where do you see the most significant tensions or harmonies between the old and the new?
How do you personally navigate the balance between tradition and modernity?
What advice do you have for younger generations navigating this balance?
ENVIRONMENTAL
Share your thoughts on Vietnam’s role in environmental conservation and sustainability.
What environmental issues concern you the most in Vietnam?
How do you contribute to sustainability in your daily life?
What are your hopes for Vietnam’s environmental future?
GENDER ROLES
Reflect on the evolution of gender roles and equality in Vietnamese society.
How have gender roles and expectations changed during your lifetime?
What changes do you view as positive, and which areas need further progress?
How do you support gender equality and empowerment?
OVERSEAS VIETNAMESE COMMUNITIES
Discuss how Vietnamese expatriate communities abroad have influenced your perception of Vietnam and its culture.
How do you stay connected with Vietnamese communities abroad?
What aspects of Vietnamese culture are most strongly preserved or adapted by expatriates?
How do these communities impact your sense of identity?
PERSONAL TRADITION
Can you talk about a personal tradition or custom you’ve created that merges Vietnamese culture with other influences?
What is the tradition, and how did it come about?
How does it reflect a blend of cultures?
Why is this hybrid tradition meaningful to you?
SOCIAL MOVEMENTS
What role do social movements within Vietnam play in your life or worldview?
How have you engaged with or been affected by social movements?
What movements have had the most significant impact on you or your community?
How do you hope these movements shape Vietnam's future?
HEALTHCARE
Share your experiences with Vietnam’s healthcare system and your thoughts on its evolution.
How has healthcare in Vietnam changed over your lifetime?
What are the strengths and weaknesses of the current system?
What improvements do you hope to see in healthcare?
LITERATURE
Discuss the influence of Vietnamese literature and poetry on your life and thoughts.
What Vietnamese authors or poets have impacted you?
How do literature and poetry reflect Vietnamese society and culture?
Why do you think literature and poetry are important for cultural expression?
SOCIAL ILLS
How have social ills in Vietnam impacted your community or personal life, and what solutions do you see or propose?
Can you identify a specific social ill that has directly affected you or your community?
How have you or your community responded to or coped with this issue?
What changes or initiatives do you believe could effectively address this social ill in Vietnam?
VIETNAMESE CRAFTS
Share how traditional Vietnamese crafts or industries have impacted your family or community.
Are there any traditional crafts or industries prevalent in your region?
How have these traditions influenced your community's identity or economy?
Why is it important to preserve these crafts or industries?
WATER
Discuss the significance of waterways and the sea in Vietnamese culture and your personal life.
How have waterways or the sea shaped your experiences or those of your community?
What cultural or economic importance do they hold?
How do you hope Vietnam manages and protects its waterways in the future?
TẾT
Reflect on the celebration of Vietnamese New Year (Tết) and its significance in your life.
How do you and your family celebrate Tết?
What traditions are most important to you during this festival?
Why is Tết significant for Vietnamese people, in your view?
EDUCATION
Share your thoughts on the Vietnamese education system and its impact on youth and society.
How has the education system shaped opportunities for younger generations?
What strengths and challenges do you see in the current system?
What changes or improvements do you hope for in education?
ARCHITECTURE
Discuss the impact of Vietnamese architecture and urban planning on your sense of space and community.
How do traditional and modern architecture coexist in your area?
What impact does urban planning have on community life?
What hopes do you have for the development of Vietnamese cities and towns?
MYTHS AND LEGENDS
Reflect on the role of Vietnamese myths, legends, and folklore in cultural identity.
What stories are most significant to you, and why?
How do these tales reflect broader Vietnamese values or beliefs?
How do you keep these stories alive for future generations?
AGEING
Share insights on the Vietnamese approach to ageing and elder care within families and communities.
How is ageing viewed and managed in Vietnamese culture?
What traditions or practices support elder care?
How do you hope future generations approach ageing and care?
FESTIVALS
Discuss the importance of Vietnamese festivals and public holidays beyond Tết.
What other festivals or holidays do you celebrate, and how?
Why are these celebrations important for community and culture?
How do you see these traditions evolving or being preserved?
TRADITIONAL MEDICINE
Reflect on your experiences with Vietnamese traditional medicine and healing practices.
How have traditional healing practices been part of your life?
What is your perspective on the balance between traditional and modern medicine?
Why is it important to preserve these traditional healing methods?
WOMEN
Share your thoughts on the evolving role of women in Vietnamese society.
How have you seen the role of women change in Vietnam?
What advancements or challenges do you observe?
What hopes do you have for gender equality in Vietnam?
DIVORCE
In the context of Vietnamese society, how do you perceive the impact of divorce on families and individuals?
Have you witnessed a change in societal attitudes towards divorce over the years?
How do you think the process of divorce affects children and extended family members in Vietnam?
What support systems or resources do you believe are important for those going through a divorce?
VETERANS
Reflect on the role of Vietnamese veterans and their contributions to society.
How have veterans influenced your community or family?
What recognition or support do you think veterans need?
Why is it important to remember and honour their contributions?
REGIONAL DIFFERENCES
How have regional differences within Vietnam influenced your sense of identity or perspectives?
Can you describe a specific regional tradition or practice that is important to you?
How do you think regional differences contribute to the diversity and richness of Vietnamese culture?
Have you experienced any challenges or misunderstandings arising from regional differences, and how were they resolved?
GLOBAL COMMUNICATIONS
Discuss the impact of global connectivity and social media on Vietnamese culture and identity.
How has increased global connectivity affected cultural practices or values?
What role does social media play in shaping contemporary Vietnamese identity?
How do you navigate the challenges and opportunities of a more connected world?
CONSERVATION
Reflect on conservation efforts in preserving Vietnamese culture and heritage.
How do you see Vietnam balancing the need to preserve its heritage with modernisation?
What examples of successful balance or tension have you observed?
What advice do you have for ensuring cultural preservation amidst modern challenges?