In recent years, cities and provinces nationwide have attached great attention to building prosperous and happy families. The number of families receiving the ‘cultural family’ status have kept increasing in localities, particularly in rural, mountainous and remote areas.
For example, only 74.7% of families in Bac Giang were recognised as cultural families in 2006, and this figure has now increased in 89.4%. The figures have also increased to 88.5% and 84.7% from 72.5% and 59% in Phu Tho and Cao Bang province, respectively.
Emulation movements and models have also positively implemented, such as the happy family clubs in Dong Nai and Hoa Binh provinces, contributing to preventing domestic violence and developing good practices amongst family members.
In early 2020, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism piloted the implementation of a set of criteria for good behaviour within the family in 12 cities and provinces, encouraging households and family members to follow them.
Facts have shown that, in many circumstances, the family’s traditional culture always serves as the foundation and the bond connecting family members while summoning up strength among them to overcome any difficulty. During the recent time when the country implemented social distancing to prevent and control the COVID-19 pandemic as requested by the Government, many family’s cultural values were encouraged, consolidated and strongly promoted.
A slow pace of life provided an opportunity for everyone in the family to gather and spend more time with each other than usual. Grandparents, parents, and children developed closer contact, talked more and and connected with each other through family meals while joining hands to share the housework and various problems in life.
At the same time, parents spent more time in teaching their children to study, listened to their thoughts and feelings and joined their children in physical exercise. Family indeed become a fulcrum of love.
During social distancing, it could be seen that the core values of life formed a civilized and sympathetic family lifestyle; thereby increasing the responsibility of each member in overcoming the epidemic.
In addition to the positive outcomes, several issues of concern also arose amongst Vietnamese families, such as domestic violence, inequality in marriage, child abuse, and child marriage. Notably, violence against women and children has not been eased, having a negative impact on the physical development and personality formation of children.
Therefore, together with building a strong and happy family, functional levels, sectors, organisations and people should put more focus on raising awareness and understanding of domestic violence prevention and control while strictly punishing people who commit violent acts; strength child protection, care and education; and prevent and combat child abuse within families and communities.
Modern society is ever changing, bringing about a direct impact on relationships between members of the Vietnamese family. However, no matter how much change there is, family is always a place to preserve positive and ever-lasting cultural values. The fundamental strength of a family’s culture will always be promoted toward the building of a prosperous, happy and developed family and society in general.
Therefore, in addition to the progresses of the integrational and globalisation process, it is necessary to continue preserving, honouring and promoting the positive traditional values of Vietnamese families; strengthening educational ethics and lifestyles among family members while upholding their role in and responsibility for the sustainable development of the family in the context of industrialisation and modernisation.
