HO CHI MINH NATIONAL ACADEMY OF POLITICS AND
PUBLIC ADMISTRATION
NGUYEN THI THANH HA
THE VALUE OF TRADITIONAL MORALITY iN THE
BUILDING OF NEW LIFESTYLE FOR VIETNAMESE
STUDENTS IN THE CONTEXT OF GLOBALIZATION
Major : Dialectical Materialism and Historical Materialism
Student Code : 62 22 80 05
Summary of the philosophic thesis
Hµ Néi - 2014
The research was accomplished at Ho Chi Minh National
Academy of Politics and Public Administration
Instructors: Assoc. Professor, Dr. Nguyen The Kiet
Assoc. Professor, Dr. Hoang Anh
Critic 1:
Critic 2:
Critic 3:
The thesis will be proven at Academy level by board of examiners at
Ho Chi Minh National Academy Politics and Public Administration
Time:
The thesis is availble at: The National Library and the Library of Ho Chi
Minh Academy of Politics and Public Administration
1
INTRODUCTION
I. Setting
1.1 The necessity of the research.
Every member of the society needs to know their past and each nation
has to know its history. One country will lose if it does not know its origin.
The traditional ethics is prominent among many valuable traditions of
Vietnam. It has been existing along with different stages of development of
the country from building, keeping and developing. It is the transference

emotion, right attitudes and solid belief to build their own way of life. It is
2
the traditional value which has an important role in creating particular
lifestyle of the Vietnamese. The degradation of ethnic value and lifestyle has
been occurring complicatedly. Its manifestation cannot be ignored anymore.
Egoistical and pragmatic way of life has become common, which is a
serious problem for our society. In the tenth Meeting of the Communist
Party, we judged that: ‘The statement of degradation in people’s ethnics,
lifestyle and the increase in social evils and crimes have become a worrying
problem, especially in the young.’
Therefore, we can recognize the vital role of career of ‘human.
Promoting the nation’s tradition value is vital, which is to build new
lifestyle for students. Hence, the study on the role of nation’s tradition
value for Vietnamese learners is an urgent issue. For these reasons, we
chose this topic ‘The nation’s traditional values and their roles on
building new lifestyle for Vietnamese students in the context of
globalization’ as our thesis essay topic in the field of Philosophy.
1.2. The aims of the research
1.2.1. The general aims
Bring out the importance, real statements of the promotion of the
nation’s tradition value for building new lifestyle for students; propose
methods and some major solutions in order to promote the nation’s tradition
value in building new lifestyle for Vietnamese students in the context of
globalization.
1.2.2. The specific aims
- Bring out the importance, real statements of the promotion of the
nation’s tradition value for building new lifestyle for students in the context
of globalization.
- Analyze, evaluate real statements of the promotion of the nation’s
tradition value for building new lifestyle for students in the context of

- It also proposes lines of actions and some solutions in order to
promote the value of nation’s tradition in building new lifestyle for
Vietnamese college students in the context of globalization.
4. Theoretical and practical significations of the study
- The thesis plays an important role in regconizing the importance of
the value of nation’s tradition in building new lifestyle for Vietnamese
college students in the context of globalization.
- The thesis can be used as a reference for organizations, individuals
who work with students and take part in activities with students.
- The thesis can be used as reference in later researches and to teach in
colleges and institudes.
5. Outline of the research
The research consists of the introductions, conclusion, lists of
references, appendices, contents (which has 4 chapters and 12 parts)
4
Chapter 1
OVERVIEW OF THE REFERENCES
1.1. REVIOUS RESEARCHES ON LIFESTYLES; LIFESTYLES OF THE
STUDENTS AND CHARACTERISTICS OF NEW LIFESTYLES OF
VIETNAMESE STUDENTS
Vietnam in 80s of the previous century, there were researches which
provided theoretical problems about life, such as ‘Discuss the socialist
lifestyle’ written by a group of writers: Tran Do (chief author), published in
1985. Writer Tuong Lai mentioned the relationship between ethnics and
lifestyle in ‘Building new ethnic values positively and actively’, (1983). The
author emphasized that ‘our new ethnics should be expressed in lifestyles of
workers’.
During 90s of the 19th century, in the renewal period, there witnessed
great changes in economy, society…, which initially described the vivid
picture of real lifestyle of the north, students and recommended educational

was written in her book named ‘The national character in modern lifestyle’
(published by Cultural Institute and Culture-Information Publishing house,
Hanoi, 2003). Researcher Nguyen Thi Hang has a thesis named ‘Finding out
about lifestyle of students in Ho Chi Minh city through their leisure
activities’ (2004).
A recent research by a group of authors (Nguyen Ngoc Ha- chief author)
studied ‘The characteristics of thinking and lifestyle of Vietnamese people
nowadays: Some theoretical and practical problems’ (2011). The research
reveals that the thinking and lifestyle can importantly affect on people’s
activities and the socioeconomic development. Another work is ‘Building
ethic culture and cultural lifestyle in the context of economic market and
integration’. (Political argument – number 7/2013)
1.2. RESEARCHES ON VALUE, TRADITIONAL ETHIC VALUES,
VIETNAM TRADITONAL ETHIC VALUES. THE IMPACT OF
GLOBALIZATION ON PROMOTING THE VALUE OF VIETNAM’S
TRADITONAL ETHICS
Many scientists have a lot of studies in order to recognized traditional
moral value, which is taken into consideration when building cultural life
and Vietnamese people in the career of socialist revolution. Some of
outstanding work are ‘Finding out about the nation’s character’ by
professor Nguyen Hong Phong (published by Science Publishing house,
Hanoi, 1963) ; ‘New ethics’ by professor Vu Khieu (chief author) (Science
and social publishing house, Hanoi, 1974) ; ‘Positively and actively building
new ethics’ by Tuong Lai, (Truth publishing house, Hanoi, 1983) ; ‘The
value of nation’s tradition’ by professor Tran Van Giau (Science and social
publishing house, Hanoi, 1980).
Apart from these, there are also lots of works on ethics, such as:
‘Communist moral principles’ by A.Sixkin, (Truth publishing house,
Hanoi, 1961). In this book, the author confirmed the opinion based on
Marxism about the root of ethics; that ethics is a social form; ethics relates

this book, authors mentioned new terms on ethics, interpret changes in ethic
standard in the market economy. Thence, they recommend methods and
solutions for new ethic value, build new ethic for managing officers in the
socialist-oriented market economy.
Professor, doctor Nguyen Trong Chuan and Associate Professor, doctor
Nguyen Van Huyen (co-chief author) of the work named ‘The traditional
value faces the challenge of the globalization’ (2002), consisting of pieces of
writing about Vietnam tradition values and current problems in the context
of globalization. There are also some other work like ‘Vietnam traditional
values to face the challenge of globalization’ (2002) by Professor, Doctor
7
Do Huy, and ‘International integration: opportunities and challenges for
traditional value in globalization’ by Professor, Doctor Nguyen Trong
Chuan (2004); work of Professor Tran Dinh Huou with ‘To modern from
tradition’ published by KZ-07.
To discuss ethics, ethic value, there are some works like ‘Vietnam
traditional ethic values and global popularity of ethics in the market economy’
by Tran Nguyen Viet (Philosogy magazine, Number 5, 2002); ‘From
traditional ‘goodness’’ to ‘goodness’ in the market economy in Vietnam today’
by Professor Nguyen Hung Hau (Philosogy magazine, Number 8, 2002);
‘Ethic norm of a political leader nowadays’ by Associate Professor, Doctor
Tran Van Phong (Philosogy magazine, Number 5, 2003); ‘Promoting Vietnam
traditional love in the current period’ by Nguyen Thi Nga (Communist
magazine, number 1, 2006); author Mai Thi Quy with ‘The Effect of
globalization on industriousness and saving practice of Vietnamese people’
(Philosophy, number 5/2007)
Associate Professor, Doctor Nguyen The Kiet (2006) discussed some
traditional ethic values through ‘Some ethic value of Vietnam: From
tradition to Ho Chi Minh’ (Theoretical politics magazine, number 7, 2006).
The author of ‘The issue of ethic Maxism and building ethics in the current

(Philosophy magazine)
1.4. RESEARCH WORKS ON RECOMMENDED METHODS AND
SOLUTIONS, INHERITANCE AND PROMOTION OF THE NATION’S
TRADITIONAL VALUES IN BUILDING LIFESTYLE FOR VIETNAMESE
PEOPLE: IN BUILDING STUDENTS’ LIFESTYLE IN GENERAL AND IN
THE GLOBALIZATION IN PARTICULAR
Luu Thu Thuy (2000), in her summary record of a national conference,
discussed ‘Real situation and solutions for educating ethics, political ideas,
lifestyle for the youth and students in Vietnam’. Basing on the real situation
of students’ ethics, ideal, lifestyle, she recommended some practical
solutions in order to educate, inherit and promote ethic value, nation’s
tradition value for students.
In August, 2004, the Institute of Vietnam social science published the
results of the thesis ‘Social ethics in Vietnam nowadays – Problems and
solutions’ by Professor, Academician Nguyen Duy Qui (chief author) and
other noble authors like: Professor Nguyen Duc Binh, Professor Vu Khieu,
Professor Nguyen Trong Chuan, Professor Hoang Chi Bao, Associate
Professor, Doctor Nguyen Van Phuc. In their thesis, they pointed out the
reasons for the degradation of ethics and proposed methods and solutions for
building social ethics.
In the book named ‘About educating revolution ethics in cadres, party
members nowadays- Real situation and solutions’, National politics
publishing house, Hanoi, 2004, authors considered the term ‘lifestyle’ as an
ethic category; Vo Van Thang suggested some solutions in building ways of
life by raising awareness of students on the role of traditional culture in his
writing ‘Raising students’ awareness of the role of traditional culture in
people’s lifestyle nowadays’, (Education Magazine, number 234, 2010)
9
1.5. SUGGESTIONS FOR FURTHER THESIS
Firstly, all works on ethics, traditional ethic values and students’

this thesis namely: ‘The Nation’s traditional values with building new
lifestyle for Vietnamese students in the context of globalization’ will focus
on the problem philosophically.
10
Chapter 2
LIFESTYLE AND THE IMPORTANCE OF THE NATION’S
TRADITIONAL VALUES IN BUILDING NEW LIFESTYLE FOR
VIETNAMESE STUDENTS IN THE CONTEXT OF
GLOBALIZATION
2.1. LIFESTYLE AND THE IMPORTANCE AND THE CONTENT OF
BUILIDNG NEW LIFESTYLE FOR VIETNAMESE STUDENTS
2.1.1. Lifestyle, the importance and content of building new
lifestyle for Vietnamese students nowadays.
2.1.1.1. Definitions of lifestyle
For a long time ‘lifestyle’ has become a subject matter for many
sciences, such as psychology, education, ethics, philosophy, culture… The
word ‘loi song’ in French means ‘mode de vie’, in English ‘mode of life’ or
‘way of life’, and in Germany ‘Lebensweise’. Although there are plenty of
researchers, thesis mentioning this, up to now there has not been any fix
definition on this.
In ‘German Thinking System’, Marx-Engles wrote: We should not
study the mode of production by just considering it as a re-production of the
body of an individual. It should be considered as ways of activity of each
individual, an alive mode of living.
From this, Marx showed us that producing is the decisive factor of the
existence of every person; mode of production is the basic activity and the
mode of living of the people; the basic side of lifestyle.
Analyzing lifestyle based on the mode of activity and the total of
relationships in economy, politics, culture and society of each person in a
socioeconomic pattern, Rukevik stated that ‘Lifestyle is a complete system-

basic thinking system, which is about the activities of all minorities, classes,
groups, and individuals relating to conditions of a certain socioeconomic
pattern’. Doctor Nguyen Viet Chuc thought: ‘Lifestyle is the harmonization
and generalization of stably typical living patterns of the people, which work
in the conditions of certain socioeconomic pattern.’
To sum up, basing on different opinions of different researchers about
lifestyle, we can conclude that:
- Lifestyle is the harmonization and generalization of the people’s
activities in connection with the conditions of certain socioeconomic
patterns.
- Lifestyle is adjusted by mode of production and living conditions of a
society.
- Lifestyle is the harmonization and generalization between material
and spirit relationships, between an individual and a society, a nation and the
whole world.
- Lifestyle generally has cultural characteristics.
Therefore, lifestyle is ways of living of people in a certain regime
expressed in different fields of life, such as production, politic activities,
spiritually cultural activities and daily activities.
12
Considering the term lifestyle, it is clear that lifestyle has a stick
relationship with other concepts like reason for living, way of living and
living standard, etc
2.1.1.2. New ways of life – communist lifestyle, building new lifestyle
in Vietnam nowadays.
The appearance of socialist production relations resulted in the
socialist way of life. The communist lifestyle satisfies the tasks of building
socialist; solves have-to-do assignments and evaluates the people’s typical
behaviors.
According to Professor Thanh Le: ‘The socialist way of life is one

25 and their life experiences are limited; they are under different pressures
and they are easily agitated by the globalization.
Students in the society are the representatives of a special group. In
personal, students are maturing their physical strength and social knowledge;
forming their personalities; absorbing qualifications and skills in a certain
career. This is the time when students develop their critical thinking, especially
their world view, outlook in life, ambition and their job favorite.
Although students have fundamental scientific knowledge and thinking
ability, they are young, lack of life experiences and are under lots of
pressures and easily affected by the globalization. Some students do not
cope up with changing environment. Due to unstable psychology, some
desire to new things and are affected by imitating lifestyle, pragmatic and
changing lifestyle.
If students’ dreams are not correctly oriented, they will be affected by
negative behaviors especially people who lack of life experiences and have
unstable psychology like students.
Most students are hard-working. They are improving their
qualifications and promoting good traditional values of the former
generations. Students study different majors, and they will do different jobs
in the future which have high science levels. They are dynamic, creative,
clear-headed and quickly adopt new things. A majority number of students
have ideals, dreams and great ambitions. They are ready to overcome
difficulties, challenges to make their dreams come true.
2.1.2.2. The importance of the value of traditional morality in
building new life style for students in the context of globalization
The term ‘lifestyle’ is necessarily understood belongs to the
connotation of buildinways of life of Vietnamese people in general.
However, we should focus on the characteristics of the students because of
their physiology and psychology as well as their living conditions.
Therefore, new way of life of the students is their specific activities, which

and good things.
Fourthly, building correct attitude in students’ friendship and love;
building good habit and ethic and cultural behavior for them.
2.2. THE NATION’S TRADITIONAL ETHICAL VALUES AND THEIR
ROLES IN BUILDING NEW WAYS OF LIFE FOR VIETNAMESE STUDENTS
IN THE CONTEXT OF GLOBALIZATION
2.2.1. Values and the nation’s traditional ethical values of the
Vietnamese
Value is the achievements people contribute in the development of the
social history, and which is for the sake of profit and happiness of the
community. Value appears in the relationships between the subject and
object, from the realities and strugglings.
Therefore, ‘when mentioning the term ‘value’, we want to confirm the
positive side of it, i.e considering ‘value’ as the right, goodness, beauty; and
as something encouraging people to act and try their best.’
15
Ethic value is a basic factor which contributes to value system of social
life. Ethic value is standards, ideal models, chosen rules in order to adjust
and evaluate behavior between people and people, people and the society.
Tradition, in term of specific trait, is somehow stable. It is recognized
by the community and deeply goes into people’s psychology and custom
from one to another generation.
Promoting traditional ethic values is making the standardized value,
the goodness, beauty which are defined in society.
The nation’s traditional ethic values
The Vietnamese nation’s traditional ethic values are good
characteristics which was formed, transferred, chosen and inherited from
one to other generations. This humanized value is recognized in the
community, is relatively stable and expressed in popular standard, which is
to adjust people’s behavior.

ways of life for students in the context of globalization
The traditional ethic values play a vital role in building new ways of
life (a communist lifestyle) for Vietnamese people in general and for
Vietnamese learners in particular.
Firstly, the traditional ethic values play a basic role in building new
ways of life for Vietnamese students nowadays.
Secondly, the traditional ethic values are inherited and upheld to
become new characteristic for positive lifestyle for students.
Thirdly, the traditional ethic values are motivation as well as reasons
for developing country, which create the spiritual strength and stuff for the
young- therefore, they are able to overcome difficulties in the context of
globalization.
Fourthly, building traditional ethic values contributes to the balance
between material and spiritual life, helping the students overcome bad
effects of the market economy and globalization.
Therefore, for students, the future intellectual force, building new ways
of life is oriented and vanguard. In the context of globalization, building new
ways of life for students is very important and has strategic meaning.
Chapter 3
THE NATION’S TRADITIONAL ETHIC VALUES AND BUILDING
NEW WAYS OF LIFE FOR VIETNAMESE STUDENTS IN THE
CONTEXT OF GLOBALIZATION - REAL SITUATION AND
PROBLEMS
3.1. GLOBALIZATION AND ITS EFFECTS TO UPHOLDING
TRADITIONAL ETHIC VALUES IN BUILDING NEW WAYS OF LIFE FOR
STUDENTS
3.1.1. The nature of globalization
In the eye of philosophy, globalization is the indispensible movement
of the mankind; it happens during the development and is reaching its high
17

VIETNAMESE STUDENTS IN THE CONTEXT OF GLOBALIZATION
3.2.1. The real situation of upholding the value of ‘patriotism’, the
nation’s ‘self-strengthening’ to build new ways of life for students in the
context of globalization
Promoting the traditional ethic values in building new lifestyle is an
important subject matter. When the war ended, our communist party took
care of all fields of life for the community, including building new culture,
ethics and lifestyle for the young and students are important subjects.
18
When mentioning ‘patriotism’ of Vietnam, president Ho Chi Minh
stressed: ‘Our citizens have great love for the country. It is the noble
tradition of the Vietnamese. Since the old days, every time we were
invaded, this tradition has become a powerful wave which can sweep all
the enemies’.
In the work named ‘Developing culture and the people in the period of
industrialization and modernization’ (the country-level scientific work-
number 4), which investigated 1, 585 students in 13 universities in Hanoi,
Da Nang, Ho Chi Minh city on patriotism, and pride of the nation’s
tradition showed that: From 89.7% to 94.9% students think that ‘Patriotism
and pride of the country are important ethic value’; from 75% to 85%
students are desired to contribute to the building of the country.
In the current conditions, the students’ noble lifestyle should connect closely
with the period of industrialization and modernization, contributing to the
socialism and should have ideal as well as belief in building Vietnam- a country
of ‘rich citizens, strength, equality and civilization’
Hence, it is important to uphold the patriotism, self-strength in
cultivating ideal and belief in building for students. This encourages
students to study to support the country, the citizens and building a
citizen-owned Vietnam- a country for peace, freedom and richness as in
Uncle Ho’s wishes.

lifestyle. Youth and students have contributed to a lot of meaningful
movements, expressing love, sharing and tolerance between people and
among communities. The Vietnamese Youth Union, which is continuously
innovative, has carried out many activities like ‘Volunteering for the
community’; ‘The youth follow Uncle Ho’s advice : live beautifully, live
helpfully’ ; ‘Actions for the peace of the country’ ; ‘Actions for younger
generations’ ; strenghthen voluntary groups ; promote ‘Humane blood’
activities ; cooperate and effectively act the activity ‘Gratitude is the sign of
noble souls’ …
However, these values have been declined and deformed in stylestyle of
many people, including students. The instances are selfishness, pragmatism
and ego etc. Many people have a high opinion of materials and disregard the
spiritual value. This creates ‘live fast’ attitude in some people. This
expresses in many different fields of life, especially in choosing jobs and in
studying of the students.
3.2.4. Real situation of promoting ‘Industriousness, creativity in
working’ and ‘optimistic spirit’ in building new ways of life for students
The values of industriousness and creativity have been inherited and
promoted positively. This is illustrated in personal lifestyle in the
community. With the tradition of industriousness and creativity, the
Vietnamese young generation, including the students have inherited and
made it become an important base to form necessary personalities of new
age workers. A study result (table 3.7) showed that, the necessary qualities
for workers whichs the youth and students put in top priority was
‘accomplishment’ and the second top priority was ‘professional ethics’.
When being asked what the fundamental personalities that Vietnamese
20
young people need to have, ‘creative spirit’ (77.27%) and ‘industriousness’
(47.11%) are their most choices.
Due to negative impacts of globalization, a number of students are lazy

This is called a ‘disturbance’ lifestyle. A study of Nguyen Canh Khanh from
Hanoi University of Education showed ‘shadows’ in studying style of
students. According to this study, 50% of students found no motivation in
studying; 36.1% is passive in studying- They rarely ask questions and reveal
their ideas in in-class discussions; 22.9% preferred listening to teacher to
21
asking teacher questions; more than 50% of them did not believe in their
own ability; 40% thought they did not have self study ability and nearly 70%
said they did not have researching ability. Lazy thinking is a serious disease
of many students. In class, teachers speak most of the time and most
questions put by teachers received no answers. This is a common situation in
most classes.
3.2.6. Forms and methods used to promote the nation traditional
ethic values in building new ways of life for students in the context of
globalization
Under the impacts of the economic market and globalization,
Vietnamese traditional ethic values have certain movements. The promoting
situation of these values in building new ways of life for students has both
positive and negative impacts ; both strengths to upgrade and weaknesses to
overcome. Therefore, we need to learn forms and methods to adjust people’s
behaviour in order to promote the nation’s traditional ethic values in
building new lifestyle for students.
The thesis focuses on analyzing forms and methods to promote the
nation’s traditional ethic values to build new ways of life for students. They
are also practical activities for students.
Firstly, actively connect organizations, social political unions in
promoting the nation’s traditional ethic values for building students’ new
ways of life.
Secondly, upgrading the nation’s traditional ethic values in building
students’ new ways of life through a variety of activities in schools.

THE NATION’S TRADITIONAL ETHIC VALUES IN BUILDING
NEW WAYS OF LIFE FOR VIETNAMESE STUDENTS IN THE
CONTEXT OF GLOBALIZATION
4.1. ORIENTATION TO PROMOTE THE NATION’S TRADITIONAL
ETHIC VALUES IN BUILDING NEW WAYS OF LIFE FOR VIETNAMESE
STUDENTS IN THE CONTEXT OF GLOBALIZATION
4.1.1. Combining tradition with modern ; inheriting and innovating the
nation’s traditional ethic values to build new ways of life in the context of
globalization.
4.1.2. Promoting the traditional ethic values in building new ways of life
as well as building modern and perfect students.
4.1.3. Promoting the traditional ethic values in building new ways of life for
students in connection with setting positive educative atmospheres in the
context of globalization.
4.2. SOME MAIN SOLUTIONS TO PROMOTE THE NATION’S
TRADITIONAL ETHIC VALUES IN BUILDING NEW WAYS OF LIFE FOR
VIETNAMESE STUDENTS IN THE CONTEXT OF GLOBALIZATION
4.2.1. Strengthening the roles of social political organizations in schools
in order to promote the nation’s traditional ethnic values in the context of
globalization.
23
4.2.2. Innovating educational contents and methods in educating the
traditional ethic values in building new ways of life for students in the
context of globalization.
4.2.3. Strengthening the roles of law in the traditional ethic values in
building new ways of life for students.
4.2.4. Combining both educating the nation’s traditional ethnic values
and the culture of mankind
in building new ways of life for students.
4.2.5. Enhancing self-awareness, training and studying the traditional