A transnational and multi-locational research into the traditional culture of the overseas Vietnamese: the Hung Kings worship ritual in San Jose, the United States

Abstract

The article is part of the author’s research work into the traditional culture of the Vietnamese people in Silicon Valley, California, the United States (US). Research on traditional culture of a migrant community abroad would be incomplete if only focus on just one location; therefore, it is necessary to explore the issues about the community in both the country of residence and the native country where they have left, and then return to the transnational relationships [1]. By the transnational and multi-locational methods in the context of globalization, the author found that, in the process of formation, maintenance and development, there were elements of traditional culture that had been defected, altered during the integration process overseas. In the context of globalization, the Vietnamese abroad have become more aware of the cultural identity of the nation, and they are always complementing, enriching to ensure the cultural identity to be maintained and developed. Through a specific case study on the Hung Kings worship ritual in San Jose city, the article refers to the preservation of the national culture of the Vietnamese community in the context of transnation and globalization, and also refers to the efforts to seek the supports from all sources to ensure the transmission and promotion of cultural heritages for future generations.