Minority Ethnic Communities in Northern Ireland
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PEOPLE OF VIETNAMESE ORIGIN
BACKGROUND
Most Vietnamese people living in Northern Ireland originally came here as refugees in the late 1970's and may have come via refugee camps via Hong Kong. The majority of the Vietnamese Community will have originated from North Vietnam and most are ethnic Chinese. A small minority may be ethnic Vietnamese.
The pressure and tension leading up to and during the Chinese invasion of February 1979 forced many to flee Vietnam. The ethnic Vietnamese left in protest of unethical governmental controls and decisions to move some of the urban population to war-torn rural areas in need of development.
LANGUAGE
Cantonese
All the Vietnamese people of Chinese origin will speak Cantonese.Vietnamese
Vietnamese may be the only language spoken by ethnic Vietnamese. Ethnic Chinese can often speak Vietnamese too.RELIGION
There is no official religion in Vietnam. However, Pruddhism, Taoism and Confucianism are three philosophical traditions (not necessarily mutually exclusive) which influence the lives of Vietnamese people.
DIET
Rice is the staple food. Clear soups are usually taken with each meal. There are no dietary restrictions except for personal reasons. It is not unusual for individuals to be suspicious of lamb because it is not widely available in Vietnam; milk and dairy products are not used very much in the traditional diet. There are no particular times set aside for fasting.
LIFESTYLE, CUSTOMS AND SIGNIFICANT RELIGIOUS PRACTICES
Health and Medicine
Chinese and traditional medicine may play an important role in health care and families may express a preference for traditional herbal remedies rather than western drugs. Most ethnic Vietnamese prefer Western medicines.
Birth and Childcare
Strong ginger soups are prepared for the mother by other members of the family. These are consumed by the mother twice a day for at least a fortnight, commencing twenty-four hours after the birth of the baby. The soups are believed to purge the mother of any infection. Foods like ice-cream, salads and cold drinks are traditionally unacceptable at this time.
One month after birth, a special meal is prepared to celebrate the successful birth and the baby's arrival in the community.
It is the norm to bottle-feed Vietnamese babies. Weaning on to a cup before the first birth day is uncommon. Drinks are often given via a bottle until the child is three or even older, with disastrous effects on dental health when sweetened drinks are given.
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