Multi-generational Living in Northern Vietnam

The majority of families in Vietnam participate in multi-generational living and work towards being able to provide a home for their children so that they can continue multi-generational living, which refers to households that include two or more adult generations. The root of Vietnamese culture is the connection between family members across generations. Often, families work together, eat meals together, and live together to support one another. I wanted to understand how important interacting with family members from other generations is to people and why families participate in multi-generational living.

This project was driven by personal experiences since I was born in Hanoi, Vietnam, and adopted when I was six months old by a single mother who is white. I grew up in a very non-traditional household but everyone in my town knew my mom and knew my background. I still got used to explaining my identity because I would get many questions about my heritage and adoption. But once I came to college I had a reckoning with my Asian identity. I realized how little I knew about my Vietnamese heritage. I always wondered as a kid, what would it have been like if I had grown up in Vietnam? If I had been a part of the majority? If I had a traditional family setting? My adoptive mom’s parents died before I was born or when I was quite young so I didn’t interact with any grandparent figures in my life.

I conducted a case study on Northern Vietnam, specifically Hanoi, SaPa, Ninh Binh, and Cat Ba Island. Hanoi is a metropolitan city that is home to nearly five million people and is the capital of Vietnam, it is a condensed and crowded city. Conversely, SaPa is a smaller village in the north of Vietnam near the border of China. SaPa is home to around 50,000 people and the population is primarily minority ethnic groups. Ninh Binh is a smaller city about 2 hours south of Hanoi with a population of just over 100,000 residents. Cat Ba Island is near the famous Ha Long Bay and only has a little over 10,000 residents. In each of these locations, I took observations and conducted semi-constructed interviews. 

Nearly everyone I met and talked to from Vietnam had grown up with many generations in their household. Many noted that they grew up with their grandparents in the house or aunts, uncles, and cousins. Family, not just immediate, was one of the core values of many people I met in Vietnam. While I was in Hanoi I met many young people studying tourism and had moved away from their families to study and work. Everyone I asked said they missed their family or tried to return home whenever they could.

I noticed that multi-generational living was more prevalent in rural areas, like Sa Pa and Cat Ba Island, in comparison to cities, like Hanoi. Many people noted that their families lived in small villages all together and ran family businesses (shops, restaurants, salons, etc). They noted that there weren't reasons for any of them to leave and that there was an expectation that they would remain where they were raised because they had to contribute to their family business. When I asked if they were happy or enjoyed where they lived, they all said they enjoyed it and liked the quiet calmness of where they lived.

Tết is a 10-day celebration in Vietnam for the new year. It's very similar to the Lunar New Year celebrations in China and all shops and businesses close. The purpose of this time is to celebrate and spend time with family. Everyone returns to their hometown or village if they have moved. Those living outside of the country typically come home and spend time with their families. I was in Hanoi during Tết and met many people there visiting family. Many of them stated that they enjoyed their new homes but that it was bittersweet. They said they missed their country and their families.

Family is still a core value to many Vietnamese people. They enjoy spending time with their families and want to stay near their families when they grow up. Family helps support with caretaking, business, and just being in community with one another. But in recent years, many younger people are moving away from their families to find better work or attend university.

Thank you so much to the Keller family for providing the Venture Grant funding. The funding I received made this experience possible for me and I am so grateful! And thank you to Dr. Tabares for his guidance on this project.