Question

Why do people hate it, when Vietnamese are grouped with East Asians?

Answer 1

We all know that Vietnam is the only country in Chinese culture located in Southeast Asia. So people always think Vietnamese belongs to the Northeast Asia group. East Asian cultural sphere - Wikipedia

This is one of Vietnam's historical movies: Đường tới thành Thăng Long.

Answer 2

In my opinion, some Vietnamese are pro- East Asia while others are pro- Southeast Asia. Sometimes the pro-East Asia crowd can be slightly annoying with their somewhat supremacist attitude. This annoys both East Asians and Southeast Asians as well as other foreigners.

Another reason is that foreigners are insensitive to Vietnamese cultural position. The fact is that Vietnamese culture is really heavily influenced by China, making it share similarities with other countries in East Asia. As a result Vietnamese do not feel much affinity for other Southeast Asians. This is wrongly misinterpreted by foreigners as a form of arrogance or wannabe attitude. The truth is that people lean more towards other cultures that are similar to them. To most Vietnamese, the Chinese influenced cultures feel much more familiar and close than those of other Southeast Asian countries.

Answer 3

I personally don’t hate it, why would someone hate it? Not agreeing is more understandable since Vietnam is not an East Asian country. People should understand that “sinosphere culture” is not synonym for “East Asia”. The core regions of sinosphere are China+Taiwan,Japan, Korea and Vietnam.

Answer 4

China, Japan, and Korea kind of know each other well through trading, war, music, movie, ect.

Vietnam is almost a stranger to them. Nobody likes it when you force a stranger to a club, neither the club members nor the stranger.

Granted, Vietnam is culturally closer to China than to Southeast Asian countries but Sinosphere is the term for it and that’s all.

I’m quite surprised to see this question because I don’t think Vietnamese are grouped with East Asian that frequently, unless someone is talking about Chinese culture, and we don’t really care enough to “hate it”.

Answer 5

It's only a label that has no negative meaning such as fascist or terrorist. Why should people hate a meaningless label. Ask yourself if you believe your own proposition.

Answer 6

Vietnam is located in Southeast Asia,but the culture of the Vietnamese people is in the influence of East Asians’ culture.This is geographical and historical fact. It is foolish to hate it and incomprehensible.

Answer 7

You are mistaking to Sinosphere and East Asian meaning!

East Asia means the countries located in the Eastern part of Asian continent. That’s include China, Korea, Japan and Taiwan. Sometimes, the Far East Russia and Mongolia are added to it.

Here is East Asia. Vietnam is not part of East Asia. It is Southeast Asian nation.

Meanwhile, Sinosphere includes those countries which had been under Chinese influence for a long time. Vietnam is exactly that version.

Sinosphere nations have close relations with China.

In that case, people you are mentioning, had mistaken East Asia and Sinosphere’s meaning. They thought East Asia means those countries within Chinese influence. That explains a bit.

Answer 8

Okay, so I get attacked with this alot, so I can answer this.

“East Asia” is a geographical term, not a cultural term. Therefore, Vietnam isn't part of East Asia, but is part of Southeast Asia, another geographical term.

If you mention East Asian culture, people will include Mongolian culture because that country is part of East Asia. However, its culture isn't related (mostly) to majority of East Asia, but is closer to Central Asian culture.

The proper term has to be Sinosphere: cultures within Chinese influence. Because that's what it is: Japan, Korea, Vietnam, and China are Sinosphere countries.

Why people hate it when Vietnamese are referred as East Asian? Simply because Vietnamese aren't East Asians (unless you count Jing ethnic group in China), but Southeast Asians within Sinospheric cultural sphere.

Also, they hate it because they're racist. Tons of them think Vietnamese are beneath them because they have darker skins and are underdeveloped countries. And they think that's okay, which is quite problematic.

So if you're going to group Vietnamese culture with China, Japan, and Korea, use the correct term so they won't have anything to grab you with. Use Sinosphere.

Answer 9

Vietnamese Dont Care No matter Vietnam is “East Asia “ or not , Simply Vietnam is unique & We Vietnamese have “a long History” over thousand years & a big population to gain Our Sky , So As a Vietnamese, I will give some my opinions

“Their Countries” will see :

Envy : In Southeast Asia country only Vietnam have “ East Asian cultural sphere ”

=> It is easy for Vietnam : Economics Connection , Trade, Cultural Exchange , Politics, Investment,=> it is easy compete to “their country” to attract “ economics relation”

=> 2017, Vietnam top 5th China Trade partner, Top 3th South Korea Trade partner, Top 10th Japan Trade Partner , Top 7th Taiwan Trade partner , you can search World's Top Exports 2017 to clarify

Political geography : Look at world map, Only Vietnam & North Korea have Sea & Land Border with China PRC, From Vietnam’s capitals City Hanoi to Seoul , Tokyo, Hongkong , Taiwan, ShangHai these world Economics Hub Cities - will be closer than others Cities in region : Bangkok , Kuala Lumpur, Jakarta,Singapore => They Envy why “Their Countries” dont have this “ geographical advantage” ?

Vietnam Economics Growth & Vietnam’s Military gain a strong power in region

=> Vietnam Economics growth 6,7% in 2017 and gain total 632 billion $ GDP PPP ranked 33th in the world total GDP World Bank Group - International Development, Poverty, & Sustainability , Vietnam ranked 16th world Power Ranking in Military 2017 Military Strength Ranking , Vietnam gained ton of Victories through His History to many “Giant powers”

=> “They” see this is a “threat” to their countries, They scare to lost something when Vietnam achieve Rising power in region

=> “They” Scare , Envy & Hate

Answer 10

No, they have a very different culture from East Asian cultures. They are considered as Southeast Asians — It’s like the relationship between North America and Central America/South America, or more precisely, the relationship between Spain and Mexico. Again, Vietnamese culture and East Asian cultures are related yet very different. You should have done some research before you posted this question. It is very ignorant and disrespectful of you thinking that all Asian countries are the same without even considering the basic geographical difference — Vietnam is literally in the South.