The Vietnamese Perception of Individual Contribution

To me the Vietnamese people are a wonderful people. We are patriotic, funny, and smart. We all want the society to be "perfect", but when it comes to individual contribution, we just dont get the point of it. Is it just me? Why do we Vietnamese have this weird way of thinking? We always think that "someone else will do it, so why bother?".

We complain about the corruption in Viet Nam but we bride the officers even when it is unnecessary. For example, my friend went back to Viet Nam and bought some pirated DVD. At the airport he BRIDED the officer so that he can let him pass. Then when he is back, he complained that Viet Nam is corrupted?
My uncle went back to Viet Nam and decided to ride a motorbike when he doesnt have a Vietnamese Motor License. When he got pull over he BRIDED the police officers in broad daylight and continue like nothing has happened, then when is back he complaint about the corruption in Viet Nam and blame the Vietnamese government of the chaos that is happening in Viet Nam right now. It is disgraceful. If you are complaining about Viet Nam being corrupted and you are contributing to sustain the corruption, what does that make you? How are you any different from the Vietnamese government? You are basically helping them and encouraging them to be corrupted and then when you back overseas you complain about the corruption in Viet Nam.

We complain about the amount of rubbish on the street in Viet Nam and overseas. However, very few of us bother to put our rubbish in the bin even when we are standing right next to one. We always have this perception of “one piece of rubbish is nothing". Right! One piece is nothing. But if you everyone thinks that way then we will have not 1 piece but a few millions pieces of rubbish, then we have a problem. My Vietnamese friends, both overseas born and Vietnamese born think I am a weirdo when they see me putting my rubbish in the bin. Why is that?

We complain how people always late when we rarely arrive on time. I went to more than a dozen of Vietnamese music shows and community events and they never start on time. A classic example is wedding. On the invitation it says clearly that the wedding will start at 6:30pm but people start arriving at 7pm.

This is what I hate most about Vietnamese businesses. During public holiday or normal holiday, Western stores have something that call "SALE" which they have discounts on stocks. Vietnamese however are completely opposite. Instead of using public holidays like TET to have discount so that people can enjoy life even more, we extra-charge everything. This habit not only happens in Viet Nam but overseas as well. Go to Vietnamese Town in a normal day and comeback in public holidays like TET and you will understand what I mean.

When there are natural hazards like storm or hurricane, the Western business give donation and extra-discount on their goods to help the people in need. Vietnamese businesses however are opposite. They use these kind of event to extra-charge their goods to get more money from people. Like "Storm Number 9" last year. A candle cost 20 000 Dong ($2), normally it cost 1000 Dong (10 cent). The prices of goods rised ridiculously. You people make me sick, seriously, you people make me sick. That is just disgusting, disgusting!!!!!!! Dont they, or dont we feel guilty exploiting the people when they are in need?

There are more.............

I know I am generalising. If I offended anyone or incorrectly mentioned something, I am sorry. It is just how I feel.

We Vietnamese have a lot of pride, or we claim to have a lot of pride. If anyone come to us say bad thing about Viet Nam or Vietnamese, we give them a hard time. But when it comes to individual contribution, we just dont get the point of it, we always use "someone else will do it, why should I bother?". Why is that?

With this sort of thinking, even if Viet Nam is democratic or have the best government, nothing will change. Viet Nam will always be a poor country because we are just THAT, THAT!.
We need to look at ourselve more!!.................

NTN:

Thank you for opening my eyes to look within my hearts

to find my own seflish faults and weaknesses as a Viet.

You are truly one of the Viet prophets who brings wisdom

and understanding on this matter.

If I can only change 10% of what you have stated in

the article, I can improve myself and Viet society

significantly. Your words are like diamonds among dirts.

Not offended, thanks.

heres another one, HONESTY.
When a Vietnamese living in Viet Nam or overseas see money on the street, he/she will immediately pick it up and use it on herself and dont care about HONESTY. I found $50 on the street and ran after this lady to give it back and my friends call me an idiot.....................
It might seems fun but how will we feel if we lost our money on the street? Dont we then wish for people to be honest? Or honesty is just a big joke now?
Those who are poor and HAVE TO steal to live, i dont blame them. But i find it digusting seeign Vietnamese livign oversea, drving nice car, wearing nice clothes and yet they see HONESTY AS A BIG JOKE.
Vietnamese, wake up to yourself. This is one of the contribution to corruption. We just have no shame being dishonest, its amazing!

i couldnt have said better

its very natural to be less than 100% honest...

Bribe!

everyone is a hypocrite to a certain extent