Compare and Contrast Essay between Vietnam and America

America and Vietnam are two distinctive countries with many differences. The two countries are on different continents, and there is a wide difference between the two countries. The culture, beliefs and practices of the people are different. However, as the world becomes more global, and as people become more exposed to different cultures, the differences between them seem to be narrowing. This is because of the willingness of the people to adopt different cultures, while at the same time maintain some of the elements of their own culture. There are several similarities and differences between America and Vietnam, specifically, in wedding ceremonies, food and the education system.

Wedding ceremonies

Wedding ceremonies are significant for couples in both countries. The weddings in both countries are organized, and there are certain rituals that the couple intending to get married has to observe, before and during the wedding ceremony. In both countries, couples have engagement ceremonies before holding a wedding ceremony. In both countries, the couples exchange rings during the wedding. In both countries, the couple often holds a reception after the end of the wedding ceremony. The wedding reception is a time for the couple to share one of the most important days in their lives with their families and friends. In both countries, the couple often receives gifts from friends and family. The wedding ceremonies in America and Vietnam are different in several ways.

The engagement ceremony in America involves the couple only and is often an intimate affair. The couple’s decision to get married does not depend on the parents’ opinion. In Vietnam, the engagement ceremony involves the couple and their families, since the couple has to ask for permission to get married. The couple’s decision to get married depends of their parents’ opinion. If the parents disapprove of the future spouse and does not approve of the marriage, then the couple does not get married. Many American brides prefer a white wedding dress. This is different in Vietnam, where red is the preferred color for the wedding dress, since it represents good luck and fortune. American wedding ceremonies can take place almost anywhere, depending on what the couple decides. This ranges from the church, government offices, beaches, gardens, among other areas. This is different from Vietnamese weddings, since the ceremony has to begin in front of an altar.

In America, the groom waits for the bride at the wedding venue. In Vietnam, the groom’s family has to go to the bride’s house on the day of the wedding, and the bride’s parents have to give their consent for the wedding to take place. In America, people such as religious and government leaders have the authority of marrying the couple. In Vietnam, the couple’s parents can wed their children legally. In America, the couple is free to choose the wedding reception of their choice. Some couples choose to hold a simple wedding reception with very few friends and relatives. This is different in Vietnam. The wedding reception is a grand affair, where the couple invites many people. In America, the guests invited to the wedding can give their gifts at any time, including before the wedding. In Vietnam, the couples receive gifts from the guests at the wedding reception. In America, the couple decides which day their wedding will take place. In Vietnam, many couples seek the counsel of a fortuneteller, to tell them the most appropriate day for their wedding.

Food

Americans and Vietnamese enjoy having a wide variety of food options. People have the freedom to eat what they please. Both cultures eat cooked foods and vegetables, and they add fruits to their diets. They both use a variety of meat sources in their diet. In both countries, people eat three main meals of breakfast, lunch, and dinner during the day. Americans and Vietnamese use some culinary items when eating. The food and food cultures in the two countries differ in different ways. Food in the two countries differs by region. In America, southern foods are different from the foods cooked in the other regions. This is the case in Vietnam, where the food in the northern parts differs from the food in the southern regions, in the country. Several differences exist between the food and food culture in Vietnam and America.

Food preparation in America can take remarkably little time, or no time at all in case people choose to order. Some people buy precooked food, which takes little time to prepare. In Vietnam, the food culture is different, as Vietnamese will spend a lot of time in food preparation. Americans enjoy eating out at restaurants and ordering ready-made meals. Vietnamese prefer cooking their food and eating in the home. Many Americans choose to buy their groceries once a week. This is different in Vietnam, where many people buy groceries daily. Americans do not have a defined staple food. Vietnamese consider rice their main staple food. They have different varieties of rice, which they combine with other foods. Vietnamese consider a meal as incomplete with the absence of rice. Many Americans use a lot of oil when cooking, because they eat many deep fried foods. Vietnamese use oil sparingly when cooking. American food does not have many spices. This is unlike Vietnamese food, which contains a wide variety of spices and herbs. Forks, spoons, and knives are the main culinary items that Americans use when eating food. Vietnamese use forks, spoons, and knives sparingly, and they prefer using chopsticks.

Desserts are one of the favorite options at meal times in American culture. Desserts are not included in Vietnamese cooking, and one often takes a fruit at the end of the meal. Most American food consists of artificial flavoring and other taste enhancers. Vietnamese food rarely adds any artificial ingredient, as it consists mostly of fresh vegetables and herbs. Americans prefer having a light and simple breakfast of cereals, pancakes, or bread and jam, accompanied by a drink such as milk or juice. Breakfast is a serious affair in Vietnam. People take the time to prepare breakfast, and they will often cook a variety of dishes. Americans like fast foods and packaged snacks, and they take them at different times of day. Vietnamese rarely eat fast foods, and they often prepare their own snacks.

Americans rarely use sauces as accompaniments with their meals. Vietnamese use sauces a lot, especially fish sauce, and a meal is never complete without the sauces. Noodles are not a main part of American diet. Noodles are a major part of Vietnamese diet. Vietnamese make and eat noodles from wheat, rice, or beans. People eat noodles at any time of day. They are a crucial inclusion in many breakfast menus. Some people eat noodles for the three main meals of the day. Americans idea of eating out is by going to restaurants, where they are served different types of meals. Vietnamese idea of eating out is not at restaurants, rather than at street shops and stalls, where they are served noodle soup and rice dishes. Americans consume a lot of meat, especially beef, in their diets, and they often use meat as a main dish. Vietnamese do not consume little beef in their diet. They usually add it as a condiment, rather than as the main part of their diet.

Education

America and Vietnam place education highly, as they recognize its importance in shaping the children’s future. In both countries, the students go through twelve years of basic education, beginning at the kindergarten level. Both countries have put in place policies intended to improve the education system, and to improve the students’ performance. Schools in both countries have set regulations and rules which they expect the teachers and students to follow. In both countries, the parents and the government invest a lot of money and other resources on education, and the literacy rates are high. Both countries experience school dropouts at different levels. Both systems have public and private education sectors. The education system in America and Vietnam differs in different ways.

American education system places the students central, and it gears all efforts towards ensuring that the students’ needs are met. In Vietnam, the teachers, rather than the students, have a central role. In America, the level of interaction between the teachers and students is high. The students feel free in the classroom, and they can air their opinion concerning different matters. In Vietnam, the level of interaction between the teachers and students is low. Teachers rarely interact with the students. The students do not feel free to question the teachers, and they do not air their opinions freely. In America, teachers encourage students to apply critical thinking in different disciplines and conduct their own research on different issues.

In Vietnam, teachers do not encourage critical thinking. The students do not conduct research, since they do not have the means of doing so. Teachers usually apply lecture method when teaching. The students go the classrooms and take notes. In America, students engage in other activities outside the classroom. These include field trips and social activities. They engage in different games and sports, journalism, music, and other activities. In Vietnam, the students do not engage in other social activities outside the classroom, other than the normal play that children engage in during their learning breaks. In America, there are many opportunities for students to get financial assistance with their education, in the form of loans, grants, scholarships, and sponsorships. In Vietnam, there are few opportunities for students to get financial assistance from the government.

Conclusion

In conclusion, there are several similarities and differences between America and Vietnam, specifically, in wedding ceremonies, food and the education system. The engagement ceremony in America involves the couple only and is often an intimate affair. The couple’s decision to get married does not depend on the parents’ opinion. In Vietnam, the engagement ceremony involves the couple and their families, since the couple has to ask for permission to get married. Food preparation in America can take remarkably little time, or no time at all in case people choose to order. Some people buy precooked food, which takes little time to prepare. In Vietnam, the food culture is different, as Vietnamese will spend a lot of time in food preparation. Americans enjoy eating out at restaurants and ordering ready-made meals. American education system places the students central, and it gears all efforts towards ensuring that the students’ needs are met. In Vietnam, the teachers, rather than the students, have a central role. The culture, beliefs and practices of the people are different. However, as the world becomes more global, and as people become more exposed to different cultures, the differences between them seem to be narrowing.