Welcome
This blog is created for the purpose of an in-depth study on Vietnam for the subject: Tourism, Culture and Society
Temasek Polytechinic 2010
Temasek Polytechinic 2010
Monthly archive
Credits
Other sources
Books used:
Vietnam on the move by Lady Borton
Vietnam Today: A Guide to a Nation at a Crossroads by Mark A. Ashwill
National Geographic Traveller: Vietnam by James Sullivan
Vietnam on the move by Lady Borton
Vietnam Today: A Guide to a Nation at a Crossroads by Mark A. Ashwill
National Geographic Traveller: Vietnam by James Sullivan
Wednesday, December 8, 2010
, 9:27 PM
⇨Introduction to Vietnam
Vietnam is also known as IndoChina due to its on the eastern part of the Indochinese peninsula.
Here is the official tourism video.
Vietnam is an "S" shaped strip of land, spanning 329,560 sq km in total size. Below are some facts on the country:
Religion- Buddhism, Cao Dai, Christianity, Hao Hao, Daoism
Government- Ruled by Communist Party of Vietnam
Life expectancy rate- male 68yrs, female 73 yrs
Terrain- Deltas and rivers in South,Central Highlands, hilly mountains in far North
Ethnic groups- 54 ethnic groups according to official documents
National floral emblem- the red lotus
Having undergone domination by China and colonization by the French, Vietnam started the "doi moi"(renovation) policy with modernization of the economy in mind. Vietnam also joined WTO in year 2007 so as to diversify it's economic sectors.
Labels: Introduction
Tuesday, December 7, 2010
, 10:27 PM
⇨What is Vietnam known for?
The first thing that that comes to mind when we talk about Vietnamese women are definitely the signature conical hats. The short clip below shoes how integrated this humble hat is in the lives of the Vietnamese.
Legend has it that a long time ago,a giant women wore four, huge round leaves stitched together by bamboo sticks in order to get shelter from the rain. The leaves protected mankind, then still naked, from the heavy rain. The women, who was a giant messenger from the sky, twirled the leaves on her head to dispel clouds and rains. Soon, many mankind followed her example and went into the forests to fetch broad and round leaves(palms) which they stitched together on a bamboo frame. And thus, this indispensable headwear was created.
There is an old Chinese saying: "民以食为天"which means that cuisine is the most important thing in people's lives. For the Vietnamese, this saying is incredibly true. Plain rice( com trang) is at the center of the Vietnamese diet. Rice is also used to make noodles in the famous Beef Noodle Soup( Pho Bo). This home-cooked meal is often eaten for breakfast but can be consumed any time of the day. It is usually purchased from street vendors in the form of a tasty beef broth.
Being termed as the "rising dragon of Asia" sometime back, Vietnam is famous for certain landmarks such as the Hue- the ancient royal and the town of Hoi An. Hue is recognised by the UNESCO as a cultural heritage site and is home to the famous Forbidden Purple City. Hue was the imperial City of Vietnam in 1945. Many relics of the former glorious days have survived both the French war and the Vietnam war. Below is a picture of the purple city:
Hoi An, being the old Southeast Asia's trading port, is renowned for its merchant houses, riverfront streets and Chinese assembly halls. It was ranked as the best preserved post of a bygone era, prompting UNESCO to list the site in its World Heritage List. About80% of the residential structures of the town still remain intact, Infact, the roads, lanes, bridges still exist till today.
Last but not least, the story behind the boat people of Vietnam.
After the fall of Saigon in 1975, an exodus of more than 1 million refugees took to the seas in tiny, overcrowded boats. These people then came to be known as the "boat people". When Saigon fell due to the defeat of the US military, many Vietnamese tried to escape the clutches of the reigning communists. These people faced typhoons, hunger and attack by Thai pirates while in the open sea. Now, these families who live on permanently on floating houses, earn their livelihood by selling handicrafts and products fished from the sea(shells, star fish etc) to tourists who visit Ha Long Bay. They also earn from operating boat rides.
Labels: Known for
Monday, December 6, 2010
, 9:21 PM
⇨Their Languages
Vietnamese language is the main language spoken, followed by English. Some elderly or educated people are able to speak French and Chinese( due to the result of the French Colonization and Chinese domination.)The Vietnamese language
five diacritical marks differentiate these tones:
flat tone no mark
high rising ' (sac)
low falling ` (huyen)
falling-rising, constricted ? (hoi)
high-rising broken ~ (nga)
low-falling, short constricted . (nang)
27 consonants:
b, c, ch, d (equivalent to the English Z), Ç, g, gh, gi, h, k, kh, l, m, n, ng, ngh, nh, ph (equivalent to F), q, r, s, t, th, tr, v and x
12 vowels:
a, e, i, o, u, y and these derivatives a(, a^, e^, o^, o+, u+
Labels: Languages
Sunday, December 5, 2010
, 9:45 PM
⇨Their mode of education
4 types of schools at all levels:
- Public
- People founded under management of non governmental organizations (NGOs)
- Private under individual management
- Semi-public under state and individual management
Primary
Public education at the primary and secondary level is free. In Vietnam, kids will attend primary school starting at the age of 5. Unlike Singapore, Vietnam's primary school education extends for 5 years instead of 6. The first year will be called Grade 1, and so on as each year passes (grade 1 to 5). Their school days are from Monday to Friday with classes starting around 7 and ending round 12.
Lower Secondary
Having passed primary school, children will move onto lower secondary level. Here they will study for 4 years(grade 6 to 9). Here, education is not compulsory. Also, school days are extended from Monday to Saturday.
Upper seondary/Junior College
Students now have to study from grade 10 to 12, typically finishing at the age of 18. Here, they are given a choice to take up additional language classes such as French or Japanese.
Higher Education
Students who wish to pursue higher education will now have to take a universal graduation examination. Successful completion of this examination is the general admission requirement for admission into universities, polytechnics, teacher training institutes, and colleges.
Labels: Education
Saturday, December 4, 2010
, 8:35 PM
⇨Vietnamese leisure and recreation
- Eating out
- Sports
- Music and theater According to researchers, Vietnamese theater originated from 1000 years ago. Forms of traditional theater include cheo, tuong, cai luong and water puppetry.
- Literature Vietnam's age old literary tradition can be classified into two forms, namely oral literature and written literature.
- Fine arts With Chinese domination in tis history, Vietnamese arts do have a lot of Chinese influence. Similarly, after the French colonization, French art was also introduced. This came in the form of pottery, silk, lacquer and ceramics. Modern fine art was born in the 1920s with artists that accquired the values of Western Fine art. For folk paintings, each woodblock print has its own symbolic meaning and is presented in a certain manner.
- Traditional festivals and games In Vietnam, a festiavl(le hoi) has two parts: le(ritual) and hoi(rejoicing). Le is connected with beliefs, legends and history while hoi involves games and recreational activities.
In Vietnam, eating out is considered an important social activity as these busy people take the chance to unwind. There is also social intermingling taken place over meals.
Sports has become increasingly popular among the Vietnamese, especially soccer which caters to both sexes. In recent years, various martial art forms such as Aikido is taken up by many young people to stay fit as well as the purpose of self defense . Other sports like volleyball, badminton and basketball is also offered in schools. For more "leisure sports" would include the playing of chess, which is very common among the commonfolk and also the practice of "Chi Kong".
Cheo: The players are seated on a mat spread on the courtyard of the village's communal house. A sheet of cloth is hung as the backdrop. Performers and musicians sat on two sides of the mat, while spectators gathered around. The only prop was a box placed on the mat.
Tuong: Tuong is based on the Chinese opera. It spread rapidly during the 17th century, using a bse of folk songs and dnaces. It is characterized by its strict rules for speaking, singing, dancing and gesturing.
Cai luong: Cai luong, which means renovated opera came into being after the world war 1 and is similar to European comic opera. It is therefore lighter and more romantic than tuong or cheo.
Water puppetry: It is a unique Vietnamese art that is closely connected to wet rice civilization, which dates back to the 11th century. It originated in the red River Delta.
Oral literature: This includes songs and dances which are performed at festivals like weddings and funerals. There are also poems composed to express the Vietnamese's innermost feelings, depicting the closeness of Vietnamese life to the nature.. Oral epics are also performed by artists
Written literature: Vietnam's literature has developed into several genres such as poems, essays, reportage, commentary, short stories and novels.
Folk games such as con(ball) throwing comes from the Thai ethnic group, buffalo and cock fighting comes from the Kinh ethnic group and elephant races and gong festivals are celebrated by minorities in the Central Highlands
Friday, December 3, 2010
, 8:32 AM
⇨Vietnamese culture and traditions
CULTURE
1.Family
Every person has his or her place within the family, the village and the larger society. One's place determines his or her responsibilities, duties and privileges. Traditionally,the emphasis for men is strength, good behaviour and bread-winning capabilities while women were expected to show respect to men and elderly family memebers. The female did not have the right to join in any discussion and decision making. However, when Ho Chi Minh issued the Declaration of Independence in 1945, it brought about a drastic change to Vietnamese families. Women now have the right to work and housework responsibilities are shared equally among men and women. Children are of course taught to respect their parents and for siblings, it is the eldest son that is deemed as most important due to his role in passing down the family line
2.Values
The concept of face: "face" refers to how others think or say about you. In Vietnam, saving face is highly valued as a way of maintaining respect and harmony in interpersonal relationships.
The concept of suffering and misfortune: Vietnamese people are accustomed to hardship for both historical and geographical reasons. Many Vietnamese believe that they do not control their lives as their lives are dictated by fate and the action of others. However, this concept is starting to change as more and more young people try to study hard and improve their lives.
Attitude toward age: Age is highly valued in the society. Their view is that the older people deserve respect due to their experience, knowledge and wisdom. This attitude is changing as well as young people are seen as more dynamic and have an ability to learn faster, which are key factors in work life.
Filial Piety: Children are taught to be thankful to their parents for the debt of birth, their upbringing and education. This means that children are to put their family and parents first, above themselves. They are to make sacrifices for their parents and care for them in their old age. A Vietnamese person who neglects this responsibility is ostracised by the family and the society.
TRADITIONS
1. Marriage
In the olden days, marriage was often settled by family elders. Young people had no say over their choice of mates. However, now, young people meet and fall in love easily, and the parental role is reduced to offering advice. In rural areas, girls still marry in their late teens and boys in their early twenties but in the cities, the marriage age is becoming later as these city youths seek a good education and career first.
Traditionally, the groom's family will bring many gifts wrapped in red paper to the bride's house. The bride, normally dressed in a red ao dai( Vietnamese national dress) and the groom will kneel before the family altar to seek permission for the marriage from the ancestors. After various speeches, rings will be exchanged and parents will bless the newlywed with gifts of gold and jewellery.
Today, many Vietnamese couples exchange vows in churches or temples, but is still preceded by the traditional ceremony in the bride's home. A wedding banquet for those who can afford will be held to thank guests.
2. Funerals
In the past, caskets were often bought ahead of time and even sued as a bench at home. In towns and cities, this practice has been abandoned. The body also used to be kept in the home for as long as 6 months, but now it is kept for less than a week
The family will go through a mourning period of 100 days. During this period, Vietnamese try to abstain from entertainment as well as colourful clothing. They also gather befoire a specially erected altar and make offerings to the deceased. Musicians will also be hired to facilitate the funeral ritual. After the funeral, the altar that is already set up will be kept lighted with candles and incense sticks that are burned for a 100 days.
3. Festivals
1.Family
Every person has his or her place within the family, the village and the larger society. One's place determines his or her responsibilities, duties and privileges. Traditionally,the emphasis for men is strength, good behaviour and bread-winning capabilities while women were expected to show respect to men and elderly family memebers. The female did not have the right to join in any discussion and decision making. However, when Ho Chi Minh issued the Declaration of Independence in 1945, it brought about a drastic change to Vietnamese families. Women now have the right to work and housework responsibilities are shared equally among men and women. Children are of course taught to respect their parents and for siblings, it is the eldest son that is deemed as most important due to his role in passing down the family line
2.Values
The concept of face: "face" refers to how others think or say about you. In Vietnam, saving face is highly valued as a way of maintaining respect and harmony in interpersonal relationships.
The concept of suffering and misfortune: Vietnamese people are accustomed to hardship for both historical and geographical reasons. Many Vietnamese believe that they do not control their lives as their lives are dictated by fate and the action of others. However, this concept is starting to change as more and more young people try to study hard and improve their lives.
Attitude toward age: Age is highly valued in the society. Their view is that the older people deserve respect due to their experience, knowledge and wisdom. This attitude is changing as well as young people are seen as more dynamic and have an ability to learn faster, which are key factors in work life.
Filial Piety: Children are taught to be thankful to their parents for the debt of birth, their upbringing and education. This means that children are to put their family and parents first, above themselves. They are to make sacrifices for their parents and care for them in their old age. A Vietnamese person who neglects this responsibility is ostracised by the family and the society.
TRADITIONS
1. Marriage
In the olden days, marriage was often settled by family elders. Young people had no say over their choice of mates. However, now, young people meet and fall in love easily, and the parental role is reduced to offering advice. In rural areas, girls still marry in their late teens and boys in their early twenties but in the cities, the marriage age is becoming later as these city youths seek a good education and career first.
Traditionally, the groom's family will bring many gifts wrapped in red paper to the bride's house. The bride, normally dressed in a red ao dai( Vietnamese national dress) and the groom will kneel before the family altar to seek permission for the marriage from the ancestors. After various speeches, rings will be exchanged and parents will bless the newlywed with gifts of gold and jewellery.
Today, many Vietnamese couples exchange vows in churches or temples, but is still preceded by the traditional ceremony in the bride's home. A wedding banquet for those who can afford will be held to thank guests.
2. Funerals
In the past, caskets were often bought ahead of time and even sued as a bench at home. In towns and cities, this practice has been abandoned. The body also used to be kept in the home for as long as 6 months, but now it is kept for less than a week
The family will go through a mourning period of 100 days. During this period, Vietnamese try to abstain from entertainment as well as colourful clothing. They also gather befoire a specially erected altar and make offerings to the deceased. Musicians will also be hired to facilitate the funeral ritual. After the funeral, the altar that is already set up will be kept lighted with candles and incense sticks that are burned for a 100 days.
3. Festivals
Vietnamese Lunar New year:
Otherwise known as Tet, the Lunar New Year is a family oriented celebration. It is an occasion for each household to light up incense in remembrance of late relatives and also to welcome the first New Year visitors to their home. Some families set up a Tet tree in the week before New Year's eve. The tree, which is a bamboo pole stripped of most of its leaves except for a bunch at the top, is said to attract good spirits and repel bad ones. Traditionally, the Vietnamese celebrate Tet from the 15th of the twelth month to the 15th of the first month.
Trung Nguyen Festival: Celebrated by every family and pagoda, this festival's main objective is to "forgive the lost souls". Plain guel, votive papers and poopcorns are offered to "criminals released from hell"on the day itself.
Ooc-Om-Bok Festival: This festival is a religious service that worships the Moon Diety of the Khmer people. It is usually held when the dry seasons begin where the people pray for good weather, good luck, happiness and bumper crops. The adults will make sticky rice while children sing, dance and play around.
Mid- Autum Festival: Every year on the 15th day of the 8th month, children throughout vietnam march in a procession, carrying their lanterns. They also get to eat mooncakes and perform the dragon dance. The adults will gather in small groups to sing songs and recite poetry. It is also a time of gift exchange and blessings.
Labels: Culture and traditions
Thursday, December 2, 2010
, 7:08 PM
⇨The indigenous groups
Vietnam is home to 54 ethnic groups found all over the country. The video below gives an overview of all 54 ethnic groups.
However, as Dictionary Reference defines it, indigenous means originating in and characteristic of a particular region or country, in other words, native. Out of all the groups mentioned above, only 9 of them are indigenous to Vietnam. The rest of them immigrated to Vietnam throughout the years.
However, as Dictionary Reference defines it, indigenous means originating in and characteristic of a particular region or country, in other words, native. Out of all the groups mentioned above, only 9 of them are indigenous to Vietnam. The rest of them immigrated to Vietnam throughout the years.
- The Kinh (viet)
- Muong
- Tay
- Nung
- Ba Na
- Xo Dang
- Gie Trieng
- Hre
- Van Kieu
Population: About 65 million
Locality: Densely clustered in delta areas as well as urban centres
Customs and Habits: Live near bamboo groves and in mud houses. Enjoy chewing betel, smoking water pipes and cigarettes as well as drinking tea.
the husband is considered the head of the family and each family lineage has a temple on its own for their forefathers and the head of the family lineage usually handles all common affairs.
Costumes: Traditionally in the North, men wear a brown pajama set while women wear a four-paneled robe, bra and trousers which are also in brown. In the South, both men and women wear black pajamas.
Livelihood: The Kinh mainly focus on rice cultivation although some of them do raise cattle and poultry. They also specialise in pottery production.
Population: More than 914,600 people
Locality: Concentrated in the Ho Binh province as well as mountainous districts of Thanh Hoa province
Customs and Habits: The Muong hold many ceremonies throughout the year including praying for rain, washing rice leaves and going to the fields. Music is played through instruments like the gong, two-stringed violin, drums, flutes and pan-pipes.
Costumes:Men dress in indigo pajamas while women are clad in a white rectangular scarf with bra, short vest that is without buttons in the front and a long skirt. The skirt is held in place by a large silk belt embroidered with various motifs like flowers, dragons, phoenix or birds.
Livelihood: They practice farming and wet rice cultivation. The women are generally involved in weaving, basketry and silk spinning.
Population: about 1.2 million people
Locality: Live in valleys and mountain slopes of the Cao Bang and Ha Bac province
Customs and Habits: Ancestor worship is important in the culture of the Tay. Tay villages are often built in front a mountain and named after a mountain, field or river. A village consists of 15-20 households.
Costumes: Tay women wear knee-length dresses, which are split at the right side with five buttons and short sleeves.
Livelihood: Cultivate plants such as rice,maize and sweet potato.
Population: about 706,000 people
Locality: Located in various provinces such as Bac Thai, Ha Bac and Cao Bang.
Customs and Habits: Nung houses are always built on stilts with a submerged field in front of the house and a garden at the back. They mainly worship ancestors, spirits, Kuan Yin and saints. They have a written culture called the Nom Nung and songs called sli.
Costumes: Mainly sport indigo attire.
Livelihood: They cultivate rice, corn, and fruit trees.
Population: more than 136,000 people
Locality: Found in Kon Tum and Phu Yen province
Customs and Habits: In each village, there is a communal house called the rong. According to customs, a young man and womean can take the initiative to get maried, and parents are only involved to ensure the respect of traditions.
Costumes: Men waer loinclothes while women wear sarongs.
Livelihood: Slash and burn agriculture and rearing of lifestock. However, they are also famous for their woodcravings and decorative crafts.
Population: about 97,000 people
Locality: Concentrated in Kon Tum province but some are scattered in mountainous regions
Customs and Habits: The Xo Dang believe in animism and the worship of spirits. The vilage chief is the most respected person. They do not have family names as the proper name consist of only one prefix indicating their sex- "A" for men and "Y" for women. Also, buffalo slaughtering ritual is held annually.
Costumes: Women wear black sleeveless tops with long skirts with black and red stripes.
Livelihood: Farming is their main source of income. They also engage in blacksmithing, fishing, weaving, basketry and hunting.
Population: about 27,000 people
Locality: Concentrated in Kon Tum province and mountainous ares in Quam Nam Da-Nang
Customs and Habits: the Gie Trieng live in long houses built on stilts. Houses in the village are built around the communal house. The people also believe that all beings have a soul and a spirit. Similarly to the Xo Dang, buffalo slaughtering is a common ritual.
Costumes: Men usually wear loin clothes while women waer skirts long enought o cover their chest.
Livelihood: Live on mainly cultivation of land, hunting and fishing.
Population: about 95,000 people
Locality: Live in the western parts of Quang Ngai and Binh Dinh province
Customs and Habits: The village is made up of small sized family unit. The village chief enjoys the most privilege and respect. They like to play songs using traversal and longitudinal flutes.
Costumes: Men wear loin clothes and waist-deep vests. They may also wear turbans.
Livelihood: farming and wet rice cultivation is their main source of income.
Population: more than 60,000 people
Locality: Live in mountain regions in Quang Binh, Quang Tri and Thua Thien Hue province
Customs and Habits: Villages are built near rivers and streams and are always arragned in accordance to the water flow. The maternal uncle has decision power in house construction as well as holding an important place in ceremonies. They worship their ancestors, fire as well as kitchen deities.
Costumes: Women wear traditional clothes like short vests, long black skirts, scareves and ornaments.
Livelihood: Live on rice cultivation as well as hunting and rearing of cattle. They also engage in basketry and palm mat-making.
Labels: indigenous groups
Wednesday, December 1, 2010
, 10:20 PM
⇨Disneyization of Society
- Dam Sen Park and Zoo
Vietnam's answer to DisneyLand, Dam Sen Park is packed with both children and adult attractions. It consists of not only a land park but water parks as well where aquatic games and activities are offered. The zoo features elephants, which double as amusement rides for tourists. There is also a monorail inside the park, which goes round a central lake from which recreational fishers catch fish for on-site consumption. This is a good example of theming as well as hybrid consumption. Not only can visitors go there for amusement rides, there is also dining in the Stone Park cafe and water puppetry shows to entertain visitors.
- Saigon Square
This shopping center includes a supermarket encircle by 20 other retail outlets selling name-brand stuff like Hugo Boss, Nokia, Motorola and Longines. There are also shops which sells designer clothes, luggage, and accessories. This is an example of merchandising.
- The Time Hotel
According to TripAdvisor, 11 of out 15 reviews said that they had a great time in the Time Hotel due to the warm and friendly staff there.
"You will be greeted by smiling staff whose main objective is to make you comfortable."
"From the first time I walked in, I was greeted so warmly. They took amazing care of me and I though I was at home."
"The front desk staff is good as well. each time when we go to the lobby for rest or wait for our taxi to come, they will surely offer us some drink during waiting."
"Everyone from the front lobby to service were nice and friendly."
"The staff is incredibly friendly and helpful, they go beyond their duties to make sure you are having a comfortable stay."
Therefore, this is an example of performative labour whereby companies recognise that this will help differentiate themselves from their competitors.
Labels: Spot the Disney
, 9:11 PM
⇨Changes brought about by the growth of tourism
- Social-cultural
-Strengthened communities through revitalization of cultural resources. As seen in the article Don Village Festival to feature various activities, the festival, which aims to attract both domestic as well as foreign tourists, will showcase activities like the traditional buffalo slaughtering, elephant race, and dug-out canoe race. These activites is siad to help visitors learn more about the culture of the Don Village.
-Facilties developed for tourism have benefited residents. According to TravelDailyNews, a 11.1 million USD project was started to promote sustainable tourism in 5 targeted provinces. The project will help to improve tourism related infrastructure as well as support pro-poor community-based tourism projects. The 5 targeted provinces that have potential for tourism development are Cao Bang, Bac Kan, Thua Thien Hue, Quang Binh and Quang Tri.
-Encouraged civiv involvement and pride. As mentiooned in a report by The Netherlands Development Organization- Vietnam, a community-based tourism development in Sapa aimed to support the active participation of the community in tourism desicion making and implementation and also reduce the negative impacts in the field of culture and environment. the Hmong people are involved as guides for tourists which stimulates feelings of pride in their local heritage.
-Here comes the negative part, resource use conflict. According to Viet Nam News, thousands of peasants in Kim No, fought with the Public Security and the army in order to preserve their rice fields. This all started when the Hanoi Government decided to sell the food planing fields to Korean developers to build a luxury golf course to accommodate foreign vacationers.
-Also, in some areas of Vietnam, there was a change or loss of indigenous identity and values. Some communities have seen their customs and traditions changed to suit visitors rather than their own needs. As Tourism Development In Vietnam puts it, it is called staged authenticity. One example is the village of Klong, which is marketed to English speaking visitors as the "Chicken Village". The tribes-people do not even live in the village and the textiles supposedly woven, were made in a factory.
- Economic
-Increased standrard of living among locals. As tourism growth continue to rise, many tourism-related job opportunities have surfaced and this benefits the locals, as tourism is a very versatile and divere industry which supports a range of income-earning opportunities. Also, those who undergo vocational skills training to prepare themselves for their jobs can get to earn higher wages, which in turns increase their standard of living.
-For the Governemnt, tourism has proved to be a significant source of investment and tax earnings. This is because tourism has benefited the hotel, construction, service sectors as well as service-oriented industries.
- Environmental
-Increased awarenss of the environment. The authorities in Vietnam have decided to develop environmentally agro-forestry activities, encourage community based ecotourism. Ecotourism parks have also been developed to protect the environment
-However, despite the government's efforts, there is still environemental changes. For exmple, deforestation has occured to make way for the building of large-scale resorts. Residual chemicals and waste water disposal from hotels and golf-courses have also lead to the damage in the susrrounding environment.
- Political/ Legal
- Decentralization of government. Provincial and district-level authorities have been given greater responsibilities to manage tourism planning and development. This decentralized and more integrated approach was said to enhance opportunities for tourism development.
- In 2003, the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism (VNAT) drafted a Tourim Lawto ensure that people engaged in tourism are paid fairly and received adequate social protection in the form of benefits from tourism development. Also, a "narrator", one who delivers on-site interpreting services to tourists no longer need to hold a degree as the government feel that the rural poor are the most appropriate interpreters of their own culture.
Labels: Changes
Tuesday, November 30, 2010
, 9:12 PM
⇨Is tourism a culprit in commodifying cultures and traditions?
My answer is YES
First we got to understand what is commodification. According to the dictionary, commodifying basically means to make commercial. And commercial means putting emphasis on saleability, profitability or success.
First we got to understand what is commodification. According to the dictionary, commodifying basically means to make commercial. And commercial means putting emphasis on saleability, profitability or success.Mentioned in Robert Sheperd's Commodification, Culture and Tourism paper, symptoms of commodification of culture and traditions include diluting of culture, Disneyfication and alienation of producers from objects produced.
Diluting of culture: According to Vietnam Crafts Association, almost all the craft villages in Vietnam are located near major transportation routes, making them accessible for tourists who want to visit the village. The Ha Tay province for example, has been involved heavily in the tourism trade. A Ha Tay official said that many export contracts worth billions of VND were signed right at the craft festivals. Therefore, traditional arts and crafts are most likely massed produced for the sake of sale and not preservation of culture and traditions.
Alienation of producers from objects produced: Once a commodity assumes a monetary form, the social character of the labour behind it is concealed and the actual value of the commodity is now relative to other commodities. For example, when one buys a conical hat or a wooden figurine of a Vietnamese girl, one appreciates only what is made and not what goes into the making of the object.
Also, many tourists choose to buy small souvenirs like key chains and fridge magnets that are easily transportable to bring back home. Once there are home, the country (they've visited)is nothing more than the product they've brought home. However, we know that it is impossible to have all the beliefs, traditions, and culture encapsulated in a tiny souvenir bought from a specially erected tourist shop.
Many provinces and local communities have cultural richness and uniqueness that have been frequently marketed in various tourism product offerings. Coupled with increasing demand of authentic cultural experience, tourism is definitely a culprit in commodifying cultures and traditions in Vietnam.