Jas and I recently returned from a trip to Vietnam and Japan, and we were struck by how happy and healthy Vietnam’s “older generations” seem to be. Every morning, thousands of older Vietnamese (50s to 80s) are outside, having tea together, doing tai chi, cycling, and walking.
At 5 am, parks in Hanoi were as populated with people exercising and socializing as Central Park at noon. Temples were surrounded by large groups of Vietnamese, meditating, praying, stretching, dancing, and laughing. It was a beautiful, communal sight to take in, and in stark contrast to what I’ve observed of the same age group in the U.S.
That’s not to say there aren’t countless happy, healthy older Americans. But American culture tends to be more individualistic and private, and it’s well documented that this level of individualism can take a toll on our happiness and health, especially as we age.
We also spent a few days in Tokyo, a city that operates with unmatched cleanliness, precision, and efficiency. Trains run on time, streets are litter-free, and everything is incredibly organized and...well...perfect. However, after the warmth and social culture of Vietnam, Tokyo felt a bit sterile and detached. Of course, Japanese culture extends far beyond Tokyo. Jas traveled the country several years ago and observed a “softening” outside the city. Even so, the stark contrast between these cultures, and our own, has me pondering why such differences exist and what we can learn about ourselves by exploring them.
After our trip, I did some research into the how’s and why’s of Vietnamese and Japanese culture. It seems that people tend to take care of each other in Vietnam, regardless of whether they know each other or not. This sense of collectivism fosters a strong sense of community, social responsibility, and trust. Communal cultures, such as Vietnam's, tend to stress the concept of "we" rather than "I."
In contrast, American culture stresses individualism, and people here focus more on their personal responsibilities and duties. This focus on the individual leads to greater productivity and efficiency, but can also result in a sense of disconnection from the community and a lack of warmth. Japan also seems to lean more toward individualism, but differs from American culture with an even greater focus on efficiency, and a stronger tendency toward tradition and conformity.
These differences matter because they reflect the different ways in which we can live our lives. Vietnam illustrates how community and social warmth can exist even in a challenging economic environment, while Japan demonstrates how efficiency and precision can lead to an exceptionally high standard of living. Both countries have unique strengths and weaknesses, and we can learn from both.
By studying these cultural differences, we can gain a deeper appreciation for the diverse ways in which humans live and interact with one another. We can find meaning and satisfaction in our lives in so many ways. Whether we prioritize community, efficiency, diversity, or tradition, there is no right or wrong answer. The most important thing is to find a way of life that resonates with us and brings us happiness.
Despite everything I just said, there is no denying that Vietnam seems to be rocking it in the quality-of-life category, especially for a country with serious economic challenges and its fair share of political issues. I will admit, after noticing what appeared to be an exceptionally low rate of homelessness and extreme poverty in Vietnam, I wondered if there was any correlation between these impressive achievements and its communist government.
While it is true that Vietnam's government plays an active role in providing social services and housing as part of its socialist ideology, there are several other factors that likely contribute more to the country's success in addressing homelessness. For starters, the cost of living in Vietnam is very low. The country also has an exceptionally tight-knit community ethos where neighbors help each other in times of need, and a strong cultural value placed on hospitality and generosity. It's also worth noting that while Vietnam operates under a one-party communist system, the country has undergone significant economic liberalization in recent years and has increasingly embraced capitalism.
Despite what I witnessed with my untrained eyes, the Heritage Foundation's Index of Economic Freedom still ranks Vietnam as a "mostly unfree" economy due to its ongoing struggles with corruption, regulatory obstacles, and government control over certain sectors of the economy. Therefore, it seems that Vietnam's approach to homelessness and social welfare may be less about Communist ideology and more about a pragmatic approach that prioritizes meeting the needs of its citizens while balancing economic growth with social services.
Government-discussions aside, the people of Vietnam certainly seem to know what they’re doing. Older Americans do not rank well when it comes to social connection, healthy eating, and exercise. In fact, the U.S. Surgeon General just declared loneliness and isolation a public health crisis. According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, a lack of social connection increases the risk of premature death by over 60%.
There can also be a kind of all-or-nothing attitude to exercise in the U.S. With the overwhelming stream of life hacks and longevity data, it’s easy to set ourselves up for failure when we can’t keep up with the daily 5-mile run, cold plunge, sauna, green smoothie, meditation, and high-protein (yet mostly plant-based) diet routine. But the people in Vietnam (who nearly all were within the ideal B.M.I. range) didn’t seem to be “optimizing” for anything. Many tai chi movements barely look like movements at all, and hundreds of people appeared to just be standing in groups with their eyes closed for long periods of time. But they were off the couch. They were outside. They were up early, moving their bodies, drinking water, breathing fresh air.
And they were together.
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