Monday, October 22, 2012

The Difference in Culture between Vietnam and the United States


Khanh Dao          

            Have you ever thought about the difference in behavior between your country and others countries? As we know, each country has their own culture as well as behavior. Specifically, Vietnam and the US have a lot of disparities in ways that people get in line, hold the door, and clean up after a meal.
            Firstly, the behavior of getting in line between Vietnam and the US is not the same. In Vietnam, when people go to the theater, the stadium, or even the shop, they usually cut in line. For example, when they go to buy tickets, they push others and want to be the fastest person who has a ticket. The reason are their ambition which want the ticket and they don’t want to wait for a long time. Meanwhile in the US, when people go to buy tickets in the movie theaters as well as the stadium, they always get in line and stand in the polite way. They do this because they can always keep calm and respect each other.
            Secondly, the behavior about holding the door between Vietnam and the US is also different. On the one hand, students in Vietnam don’t hold the door for each other unless they know each other. They don’t care about other students and they just want to hurry to go to class or the cafeteria. On the other hand, in schools of the US, students usually hold the door for the next person who come after. They even say “thank you” for the person who holds that door. That’s so polite.
            Finally, the behavior of cleaning the meal between Vietnam and the US is opposite. In Vietnam, when people eat in the restaurant as well as the cafeteria, after they finish their meal, they don’t have to clean or throw away their dish. This is because it is part of the service, the restaurant cleans for customers. However, in the cafeteria of the US, after students finish their dish, they have to bring it to the dish washers to clean (Vietnam’s schools don’t have this). That’s called self-service, because the service is not part of the meal they pay for.
            As we have seen, there is a variety of different behavior between the US and Vietnam. It has disparities in the way people hold the door for each other, the way they clean their meal and the way they get in line. For me, I’m studying in the US and I really like the US culture, and I will try to adapt their culture.

15 comments:

  1. I just know hold the door until I come here.. Jimmy

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  2. Khanh,

    I think it's so fascinating to experience the different behaviors of people from another culture. I remember when I went to Japan for the first time, everyone stood in line so politely -- more politely than in the U.S. I was shocked! And on the escalator, Japanese people were more likely to stand on the right side if they weren't walking down the escalator so the people who were walking could have the space to move. Not all American do this, actually!

    Also, Vietnamese cafeterias are more like restaurants?

    Interesting essay!

    Sarah

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    Replies
    1. my high school cafeteria is really small, we even don't have enough space to take a seat. that's boring.

      -Khanh-

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    2. So you stand while you eat or you just have to wait until there is a free seat?

      Sarah

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  3. Some behavior same to my country. When I buy the ticket is also the people cut the line or push others.This is a bad behavior(:
    -Lia

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  4. You pay attention to many special ditails! Some behavors are same in China! I agree with your points on cuting line and holding door. -Lee

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  5. In some cases, Chinese behavior are same from your country. When we wait on line, the people will cut the line always.
    -Dandan

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  6. I am interested in the Vietnam,after reading your essay, I think the behavior in most of Asian countries are similar~~~
    -------Xuanwei

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  7. vietnam and America are very different! I was surprised that peopl e in vietnam cut in the line because they don't want to wait for a long time. In Japan, people who cut in the line were regarded as rude. probably, we are Asian but Vietnam and Japan are very different! If i visit Vietnam, I want to compare with my country and your country! very interesting essay!
    what point do you like in your country?

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  8. In Taiwan we usually clean our dishes by ourselves like the U.S. And i had worked in a restaurant before so I think it's better that we clean the dishes by ourselves. And the clearner's wage is very low so if we just do a little thing that can help them, I think it is helpful:)


    Winnie

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  9. Khanh
    The first behavior is different from China.I remember in our country if you want to use computer at home.You should pay for money every month.It is equal for everyone family.

    Na

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  10. me too Khanh i like here in U.S when people hold the door for me its really such a polite thing we have to learn it :)

    Raja

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  11. Im agree with you I really like the American behavior, well in New Paltz the people is so nice!!

    -Carmina

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  12. Regarding to clean dishes and self service, that's what we called "American system" ,,,, personally, I've learned more from American system,,,
    Husam

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