Geographically yes it is in Southeast Asia but culturally not Southeast Asians. Why? It’s not like other southeast Asian who have strong Indian influences. Vietnamese culture is close to Chinese and other East Asians furthermore they have just ruled their southeast asia’s territory in the past 200 years after defeated Cham. Meanwhile others (Southeast Asians) have been settled for thousands year and create distinct culture in this region apart from South Asia and East Asia.
Burmese (Myanmar), Indonesians, Malaysians, Bruneians, Thais, Cambodians, Laotians are Indianized countries who shared similarities. Take a look on their traditional clothes and lets compare to this Vietnamese
Vietnam
Burmese (Myanmar)
2. Indonesians
3. Malaysians
4. Bruneians
5. Thais
6. Cambodians
7. Laotians
Did you see the differences? This is only comparison of traditional dress, yet if we discuss other similarities among these nations we will find out that Vietnam is not in the same plate. Thai, Khmer, Myanmar, Laos may have similar faith (Buddhism) as Vietnamese but believe me, their culture is close to Indonesian Muslim than Vietnam.
*Note (Other similarities) – Traditional house – Food/Traditional food – Physical Features (Natives are relatively brown skinned) – Traditional Music – Traditional Epics; Mahabrata, Enau/Panji, Ramayana – Style of Temples – Alphabet/capital
I am an attorney in the Washington DC area, with a Doctor of Law in the US, attended the master program at the National School of Administration of Việt Nam, and graduated from Sài Gòn University Law School. I aso studied philosophy at the School of Letters in Sài Gòn.
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I have worked as an anti-trust attorney for Federal Trade Commission and a litigator for a fortune-100 telecom company in Washington DC.
I have taught law courses for legal professionals in Việt Nam and still counsel VN government agencies on legal matters.
I have founded and managed businesses for me and my family, both law and non-law.
I have published many articles on national newspapers and radio stations in Việt Nam.
In 1989 I was one of the founding members of US-VN Trade Council, working to re-establish US-VN relationship.
Since the early 90's, I have established and managed VNFORUM and VNBIZ forum on VN-related matters; these forums are the subject of a PhD thesis by Dr. Caroline Valverde at UC-Berkeley and her book Transnationalizing Viet Nam.
I translate poetry and my translation of "A Request at Đồng Lộc Cemetery" is now engraved on a stone memorial at Đồng Lộc National Shrine in VN.
I study and teach the Bible and Buddhism. In 2009 I founded and still manage dotchuoinon.com on positive thinking and two other blogs on Buddhism.
In 2015 a group of friends and I founded website CVD - Conversations on Vietnam Development (cvdvn.net).
I study the art of leadership with many friends who are religious, business and government leaders from many countries.
I have written these books, published by Phu Nu Publishing House in Hanoi:
"Positive Thinking to Change Your Life", in Vietnamese (TƯ DUY TÍCH CỰC Thay Đổi Cuộc Sống) (Oct. 2011)
"10 Core Values for Success" (10 Giá trị cốt lõi của thành công) (Dec. 2013)
"Live a Life Worth Living" (Sống Một Cuộc Đời Đáng Sống) (Oct. 2023)
I practice Jiu Jitsu and Tai Chi for health, and play guitar as a hobby, usually accompanying my wife Trần Lê Túy Phượng, aka singer Linh Phượng.
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CVD 