Between Past and Future: Being Vietnamese Differently in 2025

Introduction

In 2025, the question of Vietnamese identity feels more urgent and complex than ever. Shaped by the Vietnam War, migration, global influence and digital connection, being Vietnamese is no longer defined solely by geography or citizenship. It’s a way of living, remembering, loving and transmitting values.

Whether born in Viet Nam, Southern Vietnam, or abroad, raised in a traditional family or adopted in the West, more and more Vietnamese people are redefining what it means to belong. This identity is hybrid, evolving, and anchored in both memory and imagination—from Ho Chi Minh City to Laos, and throughout Southeast Asia.

Living Memory: Bearing History Forward

Reunification, War and Family Legacy

The Reunification of 1975, the fall of the Republic of Vietnam, the resistance of the Viet Minh, and the legacy of the Vietnam War, American War, and the Democratic Republic still echo in 2025. These events are remembered not just through textbooks but through family stories, digital archives, podcasts, and visits to war sites.

Many younger locals, foreigners, and travellers explore this past by interviewing elders, researching family ties to the Viet Cong and Communist Party, or revisiting figures like Emperor Bao Dai. For some, it's about healing; for others, it's about asking new questions for Vietnam.

Mausoleums, Temples and Urban Memory

Sites like the Notre Dame Cathedral, the Ben Thanh Market, pagodas across Central Vietnam, and riverside walks along the Saigon River offer cultural and historical context. Nearby embassy buildings, consulates, consulate-general offices, and restored French colonial architecture add texture to the cityscape.

Some sights, like the Central Hotel near the city-centre, now offer cultural walking tours that include the Cathedral, war remnants, and pho tastings as part of heritage routes. Museums such as the Fine Arts Museum, the Arts Museum, and even the Central Post Office showcase how memory is preserved in public space, including exhibitions about the Fall of Saigon, Indochina, and resistance to the Communists.

Identity in Motion: Between Nations and Narratives

Diaspora, Return and Hybrid Belonging

Millions of Vietnamese now live outside the country. Children of immigrants, adoptees, or Viet Kieus return to Vietnam either for travel or to reconnect with their roots. Many land at an international airport, city airport, or fly Vietnam Airlines, including destinations like Minh City, Ho Chi Minh, Dalat, or Halong, often arriving via visa-on-arrival.

They rediscover markets, sacred pagodas, street-food like banh-mi, grilled pork, and pho, and engage with daily life: negotiating with taxis, riding a motorbike or cyclo, chatting with locals, or exploring hotel spa rituals. Staying in hostels, budget hotels, luxury hotels, or city hotels, many discover their cultural roots while enjoying breakfast options, rooftop bars, or even a private tour.

Digital Communities and Cultural Access

Platforms like the Wayback Machine, interviews from former consular archives, and contributions from international researchers help reclaim the narratives of Vietnamese identity post-Socialist Republic of Vietnam. Podcasts link diaspora stories to landmarks like Ben Thanh, wards, temples, and modern schools. International schools in Hanoi, Hue, and Da Nang offer bilingual immersion, bridging the past and future.

Language, Food and Cultural Expression

Learning the Language and Living the Culture

In 2025, learning Vietnamese is more accessible than ever. Language apps, immersion schools, and online lessons are offered globally. For many, learning the language is a step toward understanding family, reclaiming stories, and feeling part of the nation.

Participating in a food tour, exploring the Mekong River, or attending a traditional meal in Central Vietnam brings language and culture together. Whether ordering pho in a street-food stall or asking directions to a pagoda, the act itself becomes cultural preservation.

Food as a Connector of Time and Space

From the heart of Ho Chi Minh City to the rivers of the Mekong River, Vietnamese cuisine—especially pho, noodle dishes, banh-mi, and soups—serves as a bridge across generations. Travellers and tourists gather at Ben Thanh Market, savoring flavors once reserved for royal tables or wartime rations. Even luxury hotels, boutique hotels, and rooftop restaurants offer curated menus echoing influences from Khmer, French, and regional traditions. Vietnamese food is now also a symbol of rising GDP per capita.

Conclusion

Being Vietnamese in 2025 is not about fixed definitions. It’s about curiosity, courage, and cultural continuity. From the Saigon River to the backstreets of Minh City, from the Presidential Palace to puppet theatres near Halong Bay, this journey is shaped by memory, choice, and community.

Whether you arrive via visa-on-arrival, explore on a motorbike, watch a puppet show in Ha Long, enjoy bargain meals at stalls, or fly with Vietnam Airlines to reconnect with family, the rhythm of time in Vietnam is yours to experience.

FAQ – Vietnamese Identity in 2025

Can I be Vietnamese if I wasn’t born in Viet Nam?
Absolutely. Identity is shaped by connection, culture, and effort—not only birthplace.

What are the best things to see to understand Vietnamese culture?
Visit the Cu Chi Tunnels, Presidential Palace, Notre Dame Cathedral, Ben Thanh Market, Opera-House, Halong Bay, Central Post Office, and modern galleries like the Fine-Arts Museum.

What role does food play in reconnecting with identity?
Food is central. Join a food tour, try banh-mi, enjoy pho at a stall, sample breakfast options, and explore Vietnamese food across budget hotels and luxury hotels.

How can I travel in a culturally respectful way?
Ride a motorbike or cyclo, use local visas, stay at city hotels, walk wards, and engage with locals and their daily life.

Where can I experience traditional Vietnamese arts?
Attend a water puppet or puppet show, visit the Opera-House, or enjoy cultural events hosted by consulate-general institutions in Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi.