về môi trường văn hóa và môi trường văn hóa ở việt nam

7/27/2019 V mi trng vn ha v mi trng vn ha Vit Nam

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VNH3.TB4.574

V MI TRNG VN HAV MI TRNG VN HA VIT NAM

PGS.TS. H SQy

Vin Thng tin Khoa hc X hi

1. ngha ca vic t vn v mi trng vn ha

1.1. Nhng nm gn y, ngha l nhng nm con ngi c sng trong s va chmthng xuyn vi cc dng vn ha ngoi lai ca thi i ton cu ha, mi trng vn hadng nht nhin trthnh ci c vai tr ng k hn trong i sng cc cng ng. Tchu n phng Ty, t gia nh n quc gia, t cc v tn sng o n nhng ngitheo tro lu v thn cc oan... u u ngi ta cng thy nh hng tng dn ca nhng thvn ha khng a thch, trong khi , vic gn gi nhng dng vn ha c coi l cn nuidng li t ra l ngy mt kh khn hn. Trit l khoan dung ca UNESCO vang ln ngthi vi trit l bn sc. Mt mt, khuyn khch cc nn vn ha c b dy truyn thng bov mnh m bn sc ring, UNESCO, mt khc, li ng thi ku gi cc nn vn ha hy cao khoan dung, mca, chp nhn cng sinh vi cc type vn ho khc. Khng my aidnh th gi m x thi nh nguyn (dualism) ny. Phn ng t bng lng vi lplun cuc sng l th, cao khoan dungl cn thit v cao bn sc cng l cn thit. Thmch, ngi ta cn ch nho l thin cn hoc my mc nu ai kh chu v thy s mu thunvi nhau gia t tng cao bn sc v t tng cao khoan dung.

Thnh th khng t ngi bn khon t hi: Ngy nay, phi chng hon cnh trnn qu khng l i vi con ngi, lm cho con ngi, nht l con ngi c nhn,mi ngy s mt nh b hn v yu ui hn, b rng buc cht hn v b quy nh nhiu

hn... trong mt x hi khng ngng pht trin theo hng a chiu, a dng vi ci logicp t ca n? Vi mi trng vn ha, phi chng phn m con ngi khng c quyn lachn (buc phi thch nghi) s ngy cng ln hn phn m mi c nhn, mi cng ng cth v cn phi gp cng tu sa, xy dng v to ra? Ni c th hn, vn ho duy l v duynhn (anthropological) Chu u liu c phi qu cin v gi ci (secular) n nicn phi c thay bng mt th vn ha fastfood, vn ha ni hm nh (ast-foodculture, stewing-pot culture) hay ch l s la chn thin cn1ca thi ton cu ha?

1 Xem: Loek Halman, Veerle Draulans (2006), How secular is Europe? The British Journal of Sociology, June 2006,

Vol. 57, No: 2. pp. 263-288(26).// Graham E. Fuller (2003), Chu u gi nua hay Mgi nua. Din n Thng tin quc


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Ni mt cch khc, trit hc hin thi liu c qu yu ui khi ph mc cho x hi i theonhng logic khng my sng sut ca i sng, m trong mi trng no, con ngiy ch l mt trong nhiu logic ng x cha phi l qu t ca cc quan h x hi hin i?Hay chnh v th ca trit hc i thay - trit hc trong th gii phng2khng cn trchnhim phi chi phi, iu tit v khi cn th quytnh hon cnh nh trc kia na?

Vn t ra khng qu phc tp v phng din hc thut. Nhng trong thc tin,a s nhng phn tch l lun kin gii vn li thng thin lch v khng r rngnn khng my thuyt phc. Hng chc nm nay, nu k t Alvin Toffler vi l thuyt vtm quyn v x quyn (Sociosphere v Psychosphere3), hay gn mt trm nm nay nuk t Max Weber vi l thuyt v vai tr ca o c tin Lnh (Protestant Ethic on Spiritof Capitalism4), ngi ta vn thy y ry nhng hin tng x hi, k c khng t t tngca nhng b c vi vn b dn dt bi ci tt yu m qung5 . Con ngi hin i cv nh ngy cng lm chc hon cnh, nhng nu ni ngc li th cng cha chc

sai: thc ra con ngi l thuc vo mi trng ngy mt nhiu hn.

1.2. D dng thy rng, ni n mi trng, vn mi trng, hay bo v mitrng, ngy nay, ngi ta thng hiu l mi trng tnhin. Hu ht cc nh ngha vmi trngu l nh ngha khi nim mi trung tnhin.

Nhng khi dng khi nim mi trngtrong lnh vc hot ng x hi v pht trincon ngi, ngha l khi phn tch nh hng ca mi trng n i sng ca cc ch thnh c nhn, nhm hoc cng ng, c bit khi gn vi cc c trng x hi v nhn cch,ngi ta li thy thiu ht nu khng coi ton bi sng x hi phong ph v phc tp bnngoi (cc ch th) cng chnh l mi trng c nh hng v thng quy nh, thm chquyt nh din mo, bn cht v xu hng bin i ca mi ch th. C nhn no cng tnhiu l sn phm ca mt x hi, ngha l c to ra t mt h thng, mt cch x hinht nh. X hi no cng du n ca mnh ln i sng c nhn, d l du n tch cchay du n tiu cc.

Trong nhng trng hp nh vy, khi nim mi trng x hi v mi trng vnha xut hin. So vi mi trng x hi 6, khi nim mi trng vn ha thng c dngvi ngha km xc nh hn, vi ngoi din l ton bi sng con ngi v ni hm lmt vn ha, hay kha cnh vn ha; ngha l gn nh trng vi khi nim mi trng x

t 12-2-2003.// . (2006). ? . . 11-12, 22-28/3/2006.2 Plat World thut ng ca Thomas L. Friedman ch x hi trong thi ton cu ho. Xem: Thomas L. Friedman

(2006). The World is plat. A brief history of the twenty-first century.Nxb Tr. tp HCM.3 Xem: Alvin Toffler.t sng thba.Nxb KHXH. H Ni, 1996.4 Xem: Max Weber (2002), The Protestant Ethic and the Spirit of Capitalism, Routledge Classic Pub., London and New

York.5 Khi nim ca F. Engels. Xem: Mc v nghen (1994). Ton tp , t.20. Nxb CTQG. H Ni.6 Xem: Alfred Russel Wallace (1913). Social Environment and Moral Progress. http://www.wku.

edu/~smithch/wallace/S733.htm.


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hi v mt phm vi, ch khc kha cnh xem xt l vn ha, ch khng phi l cc mtkhc. Rt t khi mi trng vn ha chc hiu l gm cc hot ng thun ty vn ha.Trong khi , cc khi nim khc thuc mi trng x hi li c s dng theo ngha hphn v c phn cht ch hn, chng hn, mi trng php l, mi trung kinh t, mitrng gio dc, mi trng o c (cch hiu ny c nhiu ngn ng).

y l im cn lu khi s dng khi nim mi trng vn ha. Thc t nghincu tm l hc, x hi hc, nhn hc (anthropologycal)... cho thy, mi trung vn ha lcng c l thuyt kh hu hiu xem xt iu kin bn ngoi lm nn s hnh thnh haytha ha nhn cch, s pht trin hay tht li ca c nhn, s tin b hay lc hu ca nhm xhi hoc cng ng.

Theo chng ti, khi i sng con ngi vi cc mt nh phong tc, tp qun, li sng,xu hng o c, thc php quyn, mt bng dn tr, tnh nng ng hay mc bo th

ca mt x hi c xem nh l iu kin, l cs, l hon cnh cho s hnh thnh nhncch, pht trin c nhn, pht trin nhm hoc cng ng th chnh l mi trng vnha. C ngha l, nhng ni dung cn phi quan tm khi t vn vmi trng vn ha(nh va k trn), hu ht u l nhng ni dung quen thuc (vi cc l thuyt x hi - nhnvn). Bi l, ci ng vai tr l iu kin, l cs, l mi trung cho s hnh thnh nhn cch,

pht trin c nhn, pht trin nhm hoc cng ng chc chn l ci m mi x hi t lu u phi quan tm gii quyt. Tuy vy, vic t vn v mi trng vn ha nh mt cng cl thuyt c ngha ca n. Nu mi trng tnhin l tp hp cc yu t bn ngoi h thng

x hi - con ngi lm thnh iu kin cn cho h thng tn ti v pht trin, th mi

trng vn ha l tp hp cc yu t bn trong h thng x hi - con ngi lm thnh iukin cho mi tiu h thng ca h thng nh hnh v tin b.

im ct li ca vic t vn v mi trng vn ha l ch, trong s pht trinnng ng v phong ph ca i sng con ngi, mi trng vn ha c nh hng nhthno, quy nh nhng g v quytnh n u i vi hnh vi, thi , thc v bn chtca mi ngi v cng ng: Ti sao mt s cng ng c tha nhn l c phm chtthng minh, c k nng giao tip khn kho, c tim nng sng to di do v c c chithun li na... vy m li vn rt him xut hin nhng pht minh, pht kin v sng to,

c bit l nhng pht kin, sng to c gi tr ln? Cch no ca hon cnh c th lmbin dng mi yu t du nhp ngoi lai: khng t ci hay, ci tt tip thu t bn ngoi ti saoli tr thnh ci v dng hoc mo m khi ng dng vo nhng cng ng vn ha khc,c bit nhng cng ng vn ha c b dy truyn thng? Ti sao kh nhiu c nhn chtr thnh ngi ng gi khi sng v lm vic bn ngoi cng ng xut thn ca h?...

Nhng cu hi ny l t ma v ca l thuyt mi trng vn ha.

t vn v mi trng vn ha cn mt chiu khc na: Nu nh mi trng vnha c nh hng ln n mi ngi v cng ng, th ngc li, mi ngi v cng ng

c vai tr g v c trch nhim n u trong vic to ra mi trng vn ha bnh thng(hay l tng) cho s pht trin ca x hi ni chung v s pht trin t do ca mi c nhn


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ni ring? nh rng, h thng no, cch no th c nhn y, nhng c nhn chng bao githun ty ch l sn phm thng ca cch. Ngy nay, vai tr c nhn cn c ngha lnnh trc kia i vi vic ci to hoc thay i mi trng vn ha hay khng? Kh nnglm thay i h thng v cch, lm thay i mi trng vn ha bn ngoi (ch th) trongiu kin ton cu ho cng l iu m l thuyt v mi trng vn ha cn phi hng ti.

Nh vy, tuy nhng ni dung chi tit ca vn mi trng vn ha th khng hn mi, nhng vic s dng l thuyt mi trng vn ha r rng l mt cch kin gii mi,mt phng n t duy mi v nhng vn quen thuc. V, ngha ca vic t vn vmi trng vn ha chnh l y.

2. V mi trng vn ha Vit Nam

Cho n nay, trong khoa hc x hi Vit Nam, gn nh cha c mt nghin cu notht ton din v su sc xc nh v nh gi thc trng ton b mi trng vn ha

Vit Nam giai on hin nay. Nhng tc phm, bi vit cng b thng khng c trchnhim phi i ti mt kt lun bi bn v h thng mi trng vn ha hin c, nn nhngg ni thng khng trnh khi nhng phn tch cm nhn, nhng nh gi cc b, hocnhng phc tho c phn ch quan khi nhn tin bn n nhng vn vn ha - x hi.Trn csnghin cu v chng kin s pht trin kh nhanh ca i sng x hi Vit Namvi thp nin gn y, bi vit ny xin c gng gi mmt ci nhn tng th v mi trngvn ha Vit Nam - mt t nc cn ngho nhng c ch s tui th, ch s gio dc khcao ny 7.

bnh din chung nht, chng ti cho rng, vi qu trnh hn 20 nm chng chpnhn ton cu ha, tch cc gia nhp cc th ch kinh t th trng v sn sng hi nhp voi sng quc t, cha bao gimi trng vn ha Vit Nam phong ph, phc tp v cnhiu tim n nhhin nay. l h thng nhng hin tng v quan h vn ha - x hia dng, a chiu v nngng, nui dng mi tng ttp, khch l mi li thtrong pht kin, sng to, nhng cng thch thc v cm dkhin cho bt cc nhn,

gia nh, cngng no cng cng phi cnh gic trc nguy clc li hoc sai lm. Cth l gii chi tit hn v nhn nh ny nh sau:

2.1. Vphng din t tng - l lun: Trong khi khng nh gi tr ca ch nghaMc, cao t tng H Ch Minh, Vit Nam, lun thuyt ca M. Weber vvn hang vai tr l nhn tquytnh tbsu cu trc x hi, l lun ca Alvin Toffler vcc ln sng vn minh, quan im ca ca Teilhard de Chardin v anthropology v caUNDP vcon ngi l trung tm ca spht trin kinh t - x hi, quan im ca CarlPopper vx hi m, quan im ca Samuel Huntington vsng ca cc nn vnminh, quan nim ca Mahathir Mohamad cng cc nh t tng chu khc v vai tr ca

7 UNDP. Human Developmant Report 2006: Vietnam: GDP per capita (PPP US$) 2475; GDP Index 0,55; Lifeexpectancy at birth (years) 70,8; Life expectancy Index 0,76; Education Index 0,89; HD Index 0,709; HDI Rank

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cc gi tr chu trong spht trin x hi hin i, quan nim ca T. Friedman v thgii phngv ton cu ha, v.v ngy nay, u l nhng quan im, nhng lun thuytkhng h xa li vi gii nghin cu, ni ring v tr thc Vit Nam, ni chung. Mt vil thuyt trc kia b e ngi, thm ch i khi b c tnh lng qun, nay c th tm c vtr ca mnh trong i sng tinh thn x hi. Nhng hin tng mi trong l lun th gii

nh quan im vkinh ttri thc, vx hi thng tin, cc quan nim vton cu ha, quanim vpht trin con ngi v b cng c HDI, vmi trng v pht trin bn vng, vvn con ngi v vn x hi nhanh chng c ph bin, tip thu v c nghin cung dng Vit Nam. Mt s tc phm c coi l hin tng i vi th gii nh cunHi k Nhn li qu kh: tn thm kch v bi hc v Vit Nam ca Robert McNamara(1995), Th gii phng ca Thomas Friedman (2006), hay mt sn phm c gi tr ca

Ngn hng th gii, ca UNDP, ca UNESCO c xut bn ting Vit gn nhngthi (trong cng mt nm) vi bn gc. Chng ti mun ni rng, y l mt hin tngmi ca i sng tinh thn x hi Vit Nam, m trc y cha bao gicp nht cnh th. Bn cnh vic ph cp cc chng trnh truyn hnh quc t, cc thng tin trnmng Internet, cc sn phm nghe nhn t cc phng tin truyn thng i chng, vic adng ha, cp nht ha cc thng tin trnh t tng, l lun c ngha c bit i vimi trng vn ha ni chung.

Dnhin, vn c nhng vng cm v dng thng tin khng phi lc no cng thngsut nh n phi th. iu ny, a phn xy ra l do ngu nhin hoc do nhng tnh hung

bt kh khng - nc no cng th, nhng thng tin c nh hng n an ninh quc gia,nhng l lun cc oan hoc nhy cm v tm l dn tc v tn gio, nhng quan im gy

phng hi n li ch dn tc u phi c kim sot mc c th. Vit Nam, iung ngi hn nm ch khc: Mi trng vn ha v lnh vc t tng - l lun tuy phong

ph, da dng, a chiu nhng mi ch dng trnh hn ch. Tt c cc l thuyt k trnu cha c x hi bit n mt cch su sc. Ngay cc trng i hc v cc vinnghin cu cng rt him nhng trung tm c uy tn hay nhng chuyn gia thc s tm cv cc l thuyt, quan im ni trn. y l iu cn non yu, bt cp ca khu vc l lun,lm nh hng n trnh ca i sng tinh thn x hi v trnh ca mi trng vnha ni chung.

2.2. Vphng din kinh t- x hi:Nn kinh t Vit Nam ngy nay tuy ang vnhnh theo cch th trng vi nhng i hi kht khe ca ton cu ha, buc phi p ngyu cu ca nhng nh ch xuyn quc gia, v gia nhp WTO, nhng vn b coi l chakt thc giai on chuyn i. Mt thc th kinh t nh vy to ra trong lng n nhnghin tng, nhng hot ng phc tp an xen nhau m cc nn kinh t thun nht khngc. iu ny l mi trng va tch cc va tiu cc v phng din vn ha i vi cchot ng kinh t - x hi, tc nhng hot ng khng ch lin quan trc tip n kinh t.Hin nay, Vit Nam, nhiu dng hot ng ca kinh t th trng nh hnh v pht

trin, song cng cn mt s hnh thc ch mi ang hnh thnh hoc cn rt skhai. Thtrng thc s vn minh th ang rt thiu, nhng nhng hin tng khng lnh mnh, tiucc, thm ch mafia tn ti y trong cc nn kinh t bn ngoi th thy c mt Vit


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Nam. Kinh t nh nc c coi l ng vai tr cho, song thc lc cn cha mnhv vn km hiu qu. Cng ty a quc gia nhng vn hng li t chnh sch u i qucgia. Lm thu n gin tn ti song song vi sn xut ln, vi kinh t tri thc. Di chng baocp vn cn tc dng trong mt s hot ng kinh t. Ngho i gim mnh, thm ch cth gii nh gi rt cao nhng phn cc giu ngho li tng ln gh gm8 . Hin tng xa

x, lng ph, tham nhng xut hin nhiu ni. Bo ch thi gian gn y ni kh nhiuv nhng hin tng xu trong nn kinh t. Vn l ch, mi trng vn ha nh vytrong hot ng kinh t ch cho mi kiu t duy kinh t lnh mnh bn r v pht trin,nhng cng k hnui dng gn nh mi dng khng lnh mnh trong hot ng trcli. Lm n chn chnh, da vo ch tn sinh li tn ti bn cnh cc hnh vi la bp, giandi. Trong khi c nhng doanh nhn ngy m b thi thc bi trch nhim c nhn trcthc trng yu km ca kinh t Vit Nam trn thng trng quc t, th vn c nhngngi, thm ch nhng ngi c trch nhim cao trong khu vc kinh t nh nc v t nhnch bit v li v bt chp li ch quc gia 9. Trong lc ngi Vit Nam nc ngoi chtchiu mt cch kh nhc tng ng gi v T quc th c cng chc li c hng triuUSD gi ra nc ngoi10. Tham nhng, bun bn ph n xuyn quc gia, bin th c tincu tr, la o c ngi lao ng ln quan chc chnh ph ngang nhin tn ti bn cnhnhng hin tng lnh mnh, lm li cho ngi lao ng v cho x hi.

Cch kinh t nh va ni l u mi ca mt mi trng vn ha a dng v phctp m cc nh nghin cu trong v ngoi nc ang dy cng m x.

2.3. Vphng din i sng tinh thn x hi: Chng ti mun cp n trng thi

tinh thn cho ca x hi khi nhn nhn v nh gi spht trin ca t nc giai onhin nay, xin tm s dng khi nim ca Alvin Toffler, khi nim Tm quyn(Psychosphere), dngchtrng thi tm l - tinh thn chung ca x hi, trng thi phbin nht, thuc v sng, c sc chi phi, cun ht ton b svn ng ca i sngtinh thn x hi, ng vi mi giai on lch snhtnh. Vi ni hm quy c nh th, tmquyn x hi Vit Nam hin nay, c th ni l mt dng tm quyn hon ton mi, chnh thnh v xut hin t cui nhng nm 90 (th k XX), khi t nc li xa khichin tranh, ra khi giai on khng hong, t c nhng thnh tu kinh t - x hi toln v c ngha sau hn 20 nm i mi, ang ng trc nhng vn hi mi, m nhiu

ngi thng gi l thi cvng 11. ca s pht trin, khin mi thnh vin x hi t nhiuu buc phi by t thi . Theo chng ti, tm quyn x hi Vit Nam hin nay ch

8 T l ngho ngho lng thc, thc phm gim t 55% nm 1990 xung cn 7,8% nm 2004, ngho chung gim t70% nm 1990 xung cn 24,1% nm 2004, nhng chnh lch giu ngho li tng t 4,1 ln nm 1990 ln 7 ln nm

1995 tng, v 8,1 ln nm 2002 v nm 2004. Xem: Nguy c tt hu xa hn vn l thch thcln. http://www.mof.gov.vn. 31/05/2005.9 Lng Bch Ngc - H Yn. Tho lun ti K hp th10 Quc hi kho XI: C nhng ngi ln chc chlo kim

tin?. www.vnn.vn 18/10/2006.10 Li L ng Doanh. Xem: Nguyn Xun, ODA: chuyn th gii, chuyn Vit Nam v PMU 18, www.mofa.gov.vn6/5/2006.11 Xem: Nhiu tc gi, Tranh lun ng thun, Nxb. Tri thc, H Ni, 2006.


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yu l tch cc, lc quan, nhng trong x hi vn c lung kin tri ngc vi n, tc lvn c nhng tm trng hoi nghi, lo lng v i khi l bi quan v s pht trin. Trc htxin c ni v lung kin tri chiu ny.

D khng chim a s, nhng vn c mt ci nhn hoi nghi, bi quan mt s ngi,

ng ch l trong c nhng chuyn gia, nhng nh hot ng x hi lo ngi Vit Nams tt hu xa hn so vi th gii v cc nc trong khu vc. mc nh nhng hn, mtvi tc gi nghi nglp lun ca nhng ngi khng nh Vit Nam ang ng trc thicvng ca s pht trin 12.

Chng hn, theo tnh ton ca mt s chuyn gia IMF, GDP/u ngi ca Vit Namnm 2005 l 552 USD. Nu t gi thit, cc nc thu nhp cao hn ASEAN ngng phttrin v Vit Nam vn c tng trng nh hin nay, th cng phi mt 5 nm Vit Nam miui kp Indonesia v Philippines, 20 nm ui kp Thi Lan, 24 nm ui kp

Malaysia, 38 nm ui kp Brunei v 40 nm ui kp Singapore. Cn nu cc ncASEAN ch cn vn c tng trng vi t l nh 10 nm qua, Vit Nam s mt 18 nm ui kp Indonesia, 34 nm ui kp Thi Lan v 197 nm ui kp Singapore13. Mcd y l con s so snh thun tu chc v x hi pht trin dnhin khng my mcnh th, nhng s so snh ny du sao vn c ngha cnh bo, lm git mnh nhng quannim qu lc quan.

C kin khc li cho rng, vi khon u t nc ngoi vo Vit Nam nh hinnay, ng ra nn kinh t Vit Nam phi tng trng cao hn 7-8%/nm. S tng trng hinc ch l tng trngo ch cha phi lpht trin. l o gic tng trng14. Nu ogic ny khng phi ch l sn phm ca s tng tng, th r rng n s dn dn trthnhro cn i s pht trin, v kh trnh khi l mt trong nhng nguyn nhn dn n nguyctt hu ngy cng xa hn.

Ti phin hp ngy 21/10/2006, k hp th 10, Quc hi kha XI, ng Nguyn BThanh, bng con s c th, ch ra bc tranh ng ngi ca nn kinh t Vit Nam: Nm2006, tng sn phm trong nc c t 8,2%, tng ng 60 t USD. Tng thu ngnsch c nc xp x 16 t USD, trong khi ngn sch bi chi 3 t USD (tng chi khong19 t USD), gn 5% GDP (ngng an ton). Trong khi nh nc ndn qua bn tri

phiu v mt s hnh thc khc khong 22 t USD, nnc ngoi gn 20 t USD. ngNguyn B Thanh hi hc bnh lun: "Mt bc tranh kinh t nh th m ni rng n nm2025 Vit Nam sng th 16 trn th gii th ti rt nghi ng, gng sng thm 19 nm nacoi ta ng th bao nhiu?".

12 Chng hn, Trn Thanh m. Xem: ng Trn Thanh m bnh lun cun Thi c vng ca chng ta,

http://www.vnn.vn 3/8/2006., 2006.13 Il Houng Lee. Vit Nam ui kp Singapore:cn 197 nm. www2.dantri.com.vn 16/3/2006.14i RFA 4/7//2006. Xem: TTXVN. Bn tin 126/TKNB-QT 5/7/2006.


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Dnhin, ng Nguyn B Thanh khng bi quan, song tham lun ca ng ch rim bt cp, cch nhn nhn gin n, khi phn ng ch thy s pht trin ca t nc vca nn kinh t theo chiu hng lc quan15.

Ci nhn bi quan cn xut pht t thc trng ca nn gio dc m gn y bo ch

ln n mt cch gay gt. Mc d thnh tu gio dc ca Vit Nam c khng t chuyn gianc ngoi nh gi kh cao, song vi tr thc trong nc, c bit cc tr thc u ngnh,thc trng gio dc Vit Nam li l mt bc tranh qu t: cch thi c bt cp, tnh trngdy thm, hc thm v nguyn tc, nn tiu cc trn lan t cp tiu hc n sau i hc; rt kh kim sot c cht lng thc ca sn phm gio dc - con ngi, nhng conngi ang v s lm ch tng lai. Bn cnh gio dc l y t; khng bng lng vi nhngli khen ngi ca WHO v thnh tch chm sc sc khe cng ng, v vic nng cao ctui th ton dn, v cc gii php kim sot c hiu qu dch cm g, v kh nng khngchc cn bnh SARS, rt nhiu ngi vn lo lng cho mi trng vn ha trong h

thng y tVit Nam: csh tng y t yu km, gi thuc cha bnh khng kim sotc, tnh trng xung cp o c ph vquan h bnh thng gia thy thuc, bc sv con bnh. C nhng tiu cc nm ngoi tng tng ca nhiu ngi. Cng vi gio dcv y t l cc hot ng vn ha, khoa hc, ngh thut, xut bn, du lch, giao thng, mitrng, cc hot ng an sinh x hi Xin khng nu thm nhng hin tng tri chiu,cc t nn x hi cc hot ng ny v bo ch ni gn nh hng ngy (ring trong lnhvc an ton giao thng, nm 2006 c nc c ti 12.300 ngi l nn nhn ca cc v tainn; tu 2007 n nay, bnh qun mi ngy c 33 trng hp t vong v tai nn giaothng. Mt s chuyn gia WHO gi y l i dch quc gia ca Vit Nam 16).

Tm trng lo ngi l c tht: kh nng gp tiu cc, xc sut ri vo ci xu rnh rphng ngy. Ni lo con ci h hng, gp phi ngi xu, gp khng may ngoi ng lni lo thng trc ca nhiu bc cha m. Mt b phn thanh nin cng th hin ra l mtlp ngi mang cc gi tr vn ha thp hn so vi th h trc. n mc c ngi cmthy lp tr ngy nay coi ng x mt cch tiu cc l l dnhin, l iu bnh thng cami giao tip x hi17. Nu sng lp tr ngy nay thc s suy nghv ng x nh vy,th qu thc y l iu nguy him.

Khng th ni thi bi quan hoc lo lng cho mi trng vn ha nh va nu lthiu cs. Nu ch nhn vo nhng hin tng ngi ta buc phi nghi ngliu tnglai c chc chn tt p hn.

Tuy nhin, nhn t mt pha khc, tm th pht trin cho ca x hi ngy nay ling l tm th tch cc, lc quan. V y l mi trung vn ha c bit quan trng. Khngth ph nhn tm quyn Vit Nam, hn lc no ht, hin ang c bit tch cc v nng

15 Hng Khnh. Tng dnquc gia ang vt ngng an ton. www.vnn.vn 21/10/2006.16 Xem: WHO: Tai nn giao thngVit Nam tr thnh i dch.http://www.voanews.com /vietnamese/ 2007-04-18-voa9.cfm.17Khi ngi tr nhn i tiu cc, www2.dantri.com.vn 6/10/2006.


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ng. Nm 2006 vi nhng thnh tu pht trin n tng, cng mt lot s kin quc gia c ngha, v th ca Vit Nam c hu ht cc nc, cc t chc quc tnh gi tchcc. Khng kh h hi, tin tng lai l khng kh cho a s cc tng lp c dn.

Rt nhiu ngi nhn thi im hin nay nh l chi c mt khng hai, l chi

vng cho s ct cnh ca t nc v s thnh t ca mi gia nh, cng ng18

. Tm thny ng nhin l h qu ny sinh t s pht trin hin thc ca t nc, nhng hn th,tm th ny li nhn c c v bi ci nhn thin cm v tch cc t bn ngoi 19. Xin ctrch vi nhn xt ca nhng ngi nc ngoi tng sng v lm vic ti Vit Nam.

Chng hn, Klaus Rohland, i din WB ti Vit Nam cho rng: Vit Nam l cuchuyn v mt thnh cng ln. C th khng nh, ngoi Trung Quc, Vit Nam l nn kinht pht trin thnh cng nht th gii. ng ch hn l Vit Nam t c kt qu ny khicha trthnh thnh vin WTO 20.

Joanathan Wagh, Ch tch mt cng ty c, ngi sng Vit Nam hn 10 nmnhn xt: Nhn chung, ngi Vit Nam rt ci mv mun hiu bit nhiu hn v cc nnvn ha khc. Ngoi ra hc o to tt v rt thng minh. Trong trng, hc dy l

phi theo mt k lut rt cht ch, v vy t duy gii quyt vn ca h b b hp. Nhngnhiu ngi Vit Nam c kh nng nhanh chng khc phc c nhc im ny, nu hc hng dn. V ai m lm c iu ny th kh m nh bi c do h c s phihp gia hiu bit v kin thc chuyn mn21.

Mac Lachlan, ph i s Anh, sau nhiu nm lm vic ti H Ni coi iu m

ng n tng nht l: Ngi Vit Nam c tinh thn hc hi gh gm. Theo ng, nhiunc chu u v chu mun hp tc vi Vit Nam l v im ny 22.

ch Cn, nh nghin cu thuc Vin Quan h quc t Trung Quc cho rng, VitNam trthnh cng quc ng Nam ch cn l vn thi gian. Nguyn nhn, theoch Cn, Vit Nam hin nay c ba u th. Th nht, c m hnh pht trin ph hp. Thhai, c chnh tr v x hi n nh. Th ba, dn tc Vit Nam c ch tin th mnh m vi82 triu dn m kt cu dn s li c n 2/3 l nhng con h non - nhng ngi tr tui.Do vy, ng nhn xt: C th thng, c th trm, nhng vi lng t tn mnh, Vit Nam s

khng chu thp km23.

18Thi cvng ca chng ta, Nxb Tr v Vietnamnet xut bn, 2006. Xem bi Nguyn Trung: Ln u tin trong haith k nay Vit Nam khng c k th chin lc, c cng nhn y v c quan h, l i tc chnh thc vi tt ccc cng quc, trthnh mt quc gia xut khu v c quan h kinh t, thng mi vi hu ht cc quc gia.19 Xem: Good morning at lats, Economist.com. Aug 3, 2006.// Thanyathip Seriphama, Vit Nam sm bt kp Thi Lan.

VietNamNet 10/02/2006.// Klaus Rohland, Vit Nam cu chuyn ln v thnh cng, VietNamNet 30/12/2005.//Richard Quest, Vit Nam c thtrthnh con rng chu , VietNamNet 23/8/2005.20An Interview with Klaus Rohland. 15 Feb., 2007. http://go.worldbank.org/ZHWTi23WB0.21 TTXVN. Bn tin s 001/TKNB-QT, 3/1/2006.22 TTXVN. Bn tin s 250/TKNB-QT, 18/12/2005.23 TTXVN. Bn tin s 126/TKNB-QT, 5/7/2006.


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Khng chch Cn, Richard Quest, v kh nhiu hc gi nc ngoi khc, m ngayc Tng thng G. Bush cng s dng hnh nh Con hchu ni v Vit Nam. Khitham d Hi ngh APEC H Ni 11/2006 Tng thng G. Bush nhn nh, Vit Nam l mtcon h tr (young tiger) v ti rt n tng v s pht trin ny 24. iu chng ti munlu l, ngay c sau s kin tiu cc PMU18, ci nhn thin cm i vi s pht trin ca

Vit Nam cng khng h v th m suy gim nh d bo ca mt s chuyn gia. HilaryBenn, B trng B Pht trin quc t Vng quc Anh, ngi c quan im cng rntrong vic gn vin trvi chng tham nhng cng phi tha nhn, Vit Nam lm cnhiu vic ng ngc nhin, nht l xa i gim ngho, ci thin cuc sng cho ngi dn.Chnh iu khin ng quyt nh k mt Vin trhp tc vi Vit Nam vo trungtun thng 9/2006 25. R rng, khng phi tt c mi li khen ca cc hc gi nc ngoiu l ngoi giao, u l km cn c.

Thm mt ch bo na c thc chn lm cn cnh gi mi trng vn ha

Vit Nam: Gia nm 2006, NEF (New Economics Foundation), mt t chc nghin cu xhi c uy tn Anh, nh gi ch s hnh phc (HPI) ca 178 nc trn th gii tnh nthi im . iu th v l, NEF o c v xp Vit Nam ng th 12 trong s 178nc vi ch s hnh phc tng hp l 61,2, trn c Trung Quc (31/178), Thi Lan(33/178), Italia (66/178), Nht Bn (95/178), M (108/178) v hn 160 nc khc. Theo chs ny, hnh phc ca mi cngngc o bng s nm trong vn tui th m conngi cm thy hi lng vi cuc sng ca mnh trn cstnh ton iu ny c ph hpvi iu kin ti nguyn t nhin c php tiu dng hay khng. Ngha l, hnh phckhng nht thit i lin vi trnh giu - ngho, hay mc pht trin - km pht trin,hnh phc trc ht l mc con ngi hi lng vi cuc sng ca mnh 26.

Dng nh c v thiu thuyt phc khi Vit Nam li c coi l hnh phc hn cM v Nht Bn, iu ny c th phi bn lun thm. Nhng y, trn bnh din mitrng vn ha, chng ti mun khai thc kt qu nghin cu ca NEF v mc hi lngca ngi Vit Nam vi cuc sng hin ti ca mnh. 61,2 % c dn Vit Nam tha nhn lhnh phc, ngha l hi lng vi cuc sng hin ti, theo chng ti, l con s c th tinc. Con s ny cng trnn qu gi hn nu lu , mc l tng trong iu kin hinnay l quc gia no c 83,5% ch khng phi 100% c dn c dn hi lng vi cuc

sng ca mnh (nc xp th 1/178 v ch s hnh phc l quc o Vanuatu, nhng ch scng mi ch l 68,2, cn xa mi t ti 83,5).

24 Xem: Bush chng kin s phn khi Vit Nam.BBC Vietnamese.com 17/11/2006.25 Hilary Benn k tha thun, theo Anh vin trkhng hon li cho Vit Nam 450 triu USD trong 5 nm: Thi

gian qua Vit Nam tin b rt nhiu, vi nhng kt qung kinh ngc trong lnh vc xa i gim ngho trongvng 20 nm trli y. Hin chnh ph Vit Nam cng khai vi vn tham nhng. y thc s l bc i quantrng, mt bc tin tch cc. Xem: http://diendan.edu.net.vn/forums 22/9/2006.26 Ch s HPI (Happy Planet index) c chia t 0 100. Theo NEF, thang l tng trong iu kin hin nay l 83,5.

Theo tnh ton v cng b ca NEF, nm 2006, HPI cao nht l Vanuatu, mt qun o Thi Bnh Dng, HPI=68,2.Thp nht l Zimbabwe HPi=16,6. HPI ca Vit Nam nm 2006 l 61,2 vi ch s hi lng vi cuc sng l 6,1, ch stui th l 70,5 v ch s mi sinh l 0,8. Xem: WWW.Happyplanetindex.org.


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V cui cng, mt ch bo khc, tuy phm vi v thi gian khi qut c hp hn so viquy trnh nghin cu ch s hnh phc ca NEF, nhng cng hon ton xng ng cchn lm cn cnh gi mi trng vn ha Vit Nam: Cui nm 2006, Vin GallupInternational (GIA, mt t chc nghin cu x hi hc ni ting) kho st mc lcquan v bi quan ca dn chng ti 53 nc trn th gii. Kt qu l ngi Vit Nam ho ra

dn u th gii v mc tin tng vo tng lai. Trong gn 49.000 ngi ti 53 ncc hi, ch c 43% tin rng tng lai s tt p hn, trong , Vit Nam: 94% tin tngvo tng lai, Hong Kong: 74%, Trung Quc: 73%, Ghana 68%, Nigeria 66%, Thi Lan:53%, Singapore: 52%. Nhng nc c s ngi bi quan nhiu nht khi nhn v tng lai ln : 32%, Indonesia: 33%, Philippines: 34%, Iraq: 43%, v Hi Lp: 44% 27.

Dnhin, nhng nghin cu ni trn khng phi tuyt i thuyt phc v khi nghengi bn ngoi ca ngi Vit Nam hnh phc hay lc quan nht th gii, th cng khng aiqun Vit Nam vn mi ch l nc c GDP rt thp v nhiu mt cn cch cc nc trong

khu vc kh xa. Nhng, chnh iu li cng lm cho vic nh gi tm th pht trin Vit Nam trnn c ngha hn.

3. Kt lun

Cha bao gimi trng vn ha Vit Nam li phong ph v a dng, li nngng v tch cc, li khch l v cm d, li c nhiu chi v thch thc nh hin nay.C th ni c nh th vi thi hon ton nghim tc v khch quan. Mc phong

ph v a dng, nhp iu nng ng v tch cc ca mi trng vn ha Vit Nam hin nui dng mi tng tt p, khch l mi li th trong pht kin, sng to. Nhngmt khc, mt tri ca n, cng thch thc v cm d khin cho bt c c nhn, gia nh,cng ng no cng phi cnh gic trc nguy clc li hoc sai lm.

Nu nhn x hi Vit Nam qua n tng ca nhng hin tng tiu cc v bt cptrong i sng kinh t - x hi, qua d bo lnh lng ca quan im bi quan v s pht trintip theo Vit Nam, hay qua so snh vi cc nc i trc v mt s hin tng c thtrong hot ng khoa hc, gio dc v cng ngh th c th c cm gic l mi trngvn ha Vit Nam ang tch t nhng iu ng phi lo ngi. a dng v a chiu nhngc tnh trng cn trnhau, mu thun vi nhau, thm ch trit tiu ln nhau trong s phttrin. C nhiu nhn t tt p v lnh mnh, nhng cng li nui dng trong mnh nhiunhn t khng bnh thng, xu xa, thm ch t hi, lm thui cht nhiu tim nng, n chanhiu thch thc nguy him cho s pht trin ca c nhn v cng ng.

Bi vy, s l cc k nguy him nu ch nhn s pht trin ca x hi Vit Nam ngynay vi con mt lc quan n mc mt cnh gic cho rng, khng nhn t tiu cc no cth cn trhoc lm hng s pht trin x hi. Trong iu kin ton cu ha, ngi ta buc

phi tnh n tnh trng mt ung nht, i khi c th tiu hy c mt cth. Th gii ngy

27 Minh Huy.Ngi Vit Nam lc quan nht thgii. Xem: www.tuoitre.com.vn 2/01/2007.


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nay rt d b thng tn, v, hoc bng n v nhng nguyn nhn c th ch l bt nghoc khng tt yu 28. Vit Nam, dnhin, khng nm ngoi trt t chung .

Nhng, cng s l thin cn hoc khng sng sut nu ch nhn s pht trin ca xhi Vit Nam ngy nay vi con mt thun ty bi quan. Mi trng vn ha Vit Nam hin

c khng t nhn t tiu cc v khng bnh thng, thm ch rt khng bnh thng. Songnu bit khng ch mt cch sng sut, th phn ln nhng iu bt bnh thng v nhngnhn t tiu cc , nhiu lm cng chn mc l cn bnh tt nhin hay kh trnh camt cthang pht trin.

Khi nhn mi trng vn ha Vit Nam qua lng knh tm thpht trin ca i as c dn, qua nh gi tch cc v c thin cm ca nhng chuyn gia nc ngoi, qua sliu v mc lc quan, hay qua ch s hnh phc ca Vit Nam m th gii o c vcng b, th phi tha nhn, nt cho ca mi trng vn ha Vit Nam hin nay l tt

p v lnh mnh, ch khng phi ngc li.

TI LIU THAM KHO

1. An Interview with Klaus Rohland. 15 Feb., 2007. http://go.worldbank.org/ZHWTI23WB0 .

2. Bush chng kin s phn khi Vit Nam. http://www.BBC Vietnamese.com

17/11/2006.

3. Good morning at lats, http://www.economist.com. Aug 3, 2006.

4. Friedman, T. L. (2006). Thgii phng: Tm lc lch sthgii thk XXI.Nxb Tr.tp HCM.

5. Fuller, Graham E. (2003), Graham E. Fuller (2003), Is Europe or U.S secular?International forum of Information 12 Feb.

6. Halman, Loek - Draulans, Veerle (2006),How secular is Europe? The British Journal ofSociology, June 2006, Vol. 57, No: 2. pp. 263-288 (26).

7. Hi tho quc gia v pht trin bn vng. H Ni, 12/2004.http://www.va21.org/hoithao/ quocgia/vietnam

28 Chng hn, hai nm nay, th gii chng kin nhng rc ri chnh tr, nhng xung t x hi, thm ch ce da

trng pht kinh t v tin hnh chin tranh do nguyn cch l suy din hay kch ng t mt hnh vi thiu tnh ton

ca Th tng Italia Silvio Beclusconi, mt li ni bt cn ca Th tng Anh Tony Blair, mt trch dn nhy cm caGio Hong Benedict XVI, mt thi thi qu ca Tng thng Grudia Mikhail Saakashivili, hay mt bc tranh bimha v Hi gio...


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8. Huntington, S. P. The Clash of Civilizations. Foreign Affairs. Summer 1993, Vol.72,no.3, p. 22-28. www.alamut.com/subj/economics/misc/clash.html.

9. Huntington, S.P. (2003). Sva chm ca cc nn vn minh.Nxb Lao ng. H Ni.

10. Thu Hng.Nn kinh ttri thc: thc hay o? http://www.irv.moi.gov.vn 15/10/2003.

11. Khi ngi tr nhn i tiu cc, http://www. dantri.com.vn 6/10/2006.

12. Hng Khnh. Tng dnquc gia ang vt ngng an ton. www.vnn.vn 21/10/2006.

13. Lee, il Houng. Vit Nam ui kp Singapore: cn 197 nm. http://www.dantri.com.vn16/3/2006.

14. C. Mc v Ph. nghen (1994). Ton tp, t.20. Nxb CTQG H Ni.

15. Mahathir, Mohamad. The asian values debate. Politics, Democracy and the New asia.Vol. 2, Selected Speeches, Pelanduk Publication, Kuala Lumpur, 2000.

16. Hi tho khoa hc: Vn x hi trong pht trin. 24/6/2006. http://www.rced.com.vn25/07/ 2006.

17. Minh Huy. Ngi Vit Nam lc quan nht th gii. http://www.tuoitre.com.vn2/01/2007.

18. Lng Bch Ngc - H Yn, Tho lun ti k hp th10 QH kha X. C nhng ngi

ln chc chlo kim tin. http://www.vnn.vn 18/10/2006.19. Nhn din nn kinh ttri thc. http//www.chungta.com 10/2/2003.

20. Nguy ctt hu xa hn vn l thch thc ln. http://www.mof.gov.vn. 31/05/2005.

21. Nguyn Xun, ODA: Chuyn thgii chuyn Vit Nam v PMU18, www.mofa.gov.vn6/5/2006.

22. Nhiu tc gi (2006), Tranh lun ng thun.Nxb. Tri thc, H Ni.

23. ng Trn Thanhm bnh lun cun Thi cvng ca chng ta, http://www.vnn.vn3/8/2006.

24. Quest, Richard. Vit Nam c th tr thnh con rng chu , http://www.VietNamNet23/8/2005.

25. Ho Si Quy (2005), The value and asian Values,Nxb. CTQG, Hanoi.

26. Seriphama, Thanyathip (2006), Vit Nam sm bt kp Thi Lan. http://www.VietNamNet10/02/2006.


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27. The Proceeding of The XXi World Congress of Philosophy (2006). Volume iXPhilosophical anthropology. Editor: Stephen Voss. Philossophical Society of Turkey.Ankara.

28. Tofler, Alvin (1996),t sng thba,Nxb KHXH, H Ni.

29. Thi cvng ca chng ta (2006), Nxb. Tr & Vietnamnet, H Ni.

30. TTXVN. Bn tin 250/TKNB-QT, 18/12/2005; 001/TKNB-QT, 3/1/2006; 126/TKNB-QT, 5/7/2006.

31. UNDP (2006),Human Developmant Report 2006.

32. Max Weber (2002), The Protestant ethic and the Spirit of Capitalism, Routledge ClassicPub., London and New york.

33. Wallace, alfred Russel (1913), Social environment and Moral Progress.http://www.wku. edu/~smithch/wallace/S733.htm

34. WHO: Tai nn giao thngVit Nam trthnh i dch. http://www.voanews.com/vietnamese/2007-04-18-voa9.cfm .

35. . (2006). ? . . 11-12, 22-28/3/2006.


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ON CULTURAL ENVIRONMENTAND CULTURAL ENVIRONMENT IN VIETNAM

Ho Si Quy*

I. Meaning of raising the problem of cultural environment.

1. In these recent years of globalization, during which man has been living in apermanent clash with alien cultural types, the cultural environment seems to have suddenlygained a more considerable role in community life. From the East to the West, from familyto nation, from religious devotees to followers of extremist atheistic currents everywhereis seen the increasing influence of exogenous cultural motifs, while the preservation of

cultural aspects which seemingly need to be nourished proves to be more and more difficult.UNESCOs philosophy of tolerance echoes out simultaneously with their philosophy ofidentity. On the one hand, encouraging cultures with long standing tradition to preservetheir identities, UNESCO, on the other hand, calls for tolerance, opening, allowing forsymbiosis with other cultural motifs.

Almost nobody spends the time in doing operation on this dualism. The majority issatisfied with the argument that such is life, praising tolerance is necessary and praisingidentity is, too. Those who are irked by the contradiction between the two ideas are labeled

as short-sighted or mechanistic.More than a few people worriedly ask themselves: Is it true that the context has

become such that man, as an individual, is becoming increasingly smaller, weaker, moretightly defined and restrained, in a society which is steadily developing in the direction of

becoming multi-dimensional and ambiguous with its logic of imposition? As for thecultural environment, is it true that the part in it where man has no right to choose, the partwhich he is compelled to adapt to, will grow bigger and bigger than the part each individual,each community can create, build, and amend? More concretely, is it true that the European

rationalist and anthropological culture has become too classical and secular, nowgetting replaced by a fast-food culture or stewing-pot culture? Or is it only asuperficial choice [See: 6, 5, 35] of globalization times?

Is the present philosophy too weak, leaving society to the mercy of less-than-clairvoyant logics of life, in which such environment, such man is only one of many

behavioral logics which are not too bad in modern social relation? Or has the role of

* Associate Prof., Doctor of Philosophy, Director of the Institute of Social Sciences Information, Vietnamese Academyof Social Sciences. Hanoi. www.hosiquy.com;[email protected]


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conditions for the formation or alienation of personality, the development or diminution ofthe individual, and the progress or regress of social groups or communities.

When individual/community life, with all its diverse aspects (customs and habits,ethical tendencies, jurisdiction consciousness, intellectual standards, dynamism or degree of

conservatism of a society) is considered as the condition, basis, or background for theformation of personality, the development of individuals, groups or communities, then weare talking about cultural environment. That means nearly all matters worthy of interest,once the problem of cultural environment is raised (as above-mentioned) are familiar tosocial-humanistic theories. Because that which serve as the conditions and the environmentfor the formation of personality and the development of individuals, groups, or communitiesare certainly matters that society has tried to deal with for a long time. However, raising the

problem of cultural environment as a theoretical instrument has its own meaning.If naturalenvironment is the regrouping of factors outside the social-human system making conditions

necessary for this system to exist and develop, then cultural environment is regrouping offactors inside the social-human system making sufficient conditions for each subsystem ofthis system to identify itself and progress.

In the abundant and dynamic development of human life, what influence does thecultural environment have? What does it define, and to what extent does it determine the

behaviors, attitudes, and the nature of each person and each community? Why, in somecommunities, whose intelligence, skillfulness in communication, and rich creative potentialare apparent, arent there more inventions, discoveries, and creations of considerable value?

What mechanism of the context is able to deform every factor introduced from abroad?Why accept what is good from outside, only to see it become useless or deformed onceapplied to other cultural communities, especially those with long-standing traditions? Whycall individuals valuable only when they live and work outside their original community?These questions make a wide field of action for the theory of cultural environment.

Another dimension to the problem of cultural environment is this: If the culturalenvironment influences each person and each community, then, vice versa, what role doesthe later assume, and to what extent are they responsible in the creation of their ideal

cultural environment (for the development of society in general and of individual inparticular)? The individual is never simply a pure and passive product of the mechanism.Today, does the individual part still carry as great a responsibility as before, for rebuildingor changing the cultural environment? Changing the system and the mechanism, andchanging the outside cultural environment (subject) under conditions of globalization is alsoa matter that the theory on cultural environment should address.

The detailed contents of the problem ofcultural environment is probably not new,but the use of the theory on cultural environment is clearly a new approach to the

consideration of familiar questions. And that is just the meaning of raising the problem ofcultural environment.


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II. On the cultural environment in Vietnam

In Vietnamese social sciences, there has not been any comprehensive research thathas identified and evaluated the real state of Vietnams current cultural environment.Published works and articles have rarely offered a methodical conclusion on it, and that is

why, when socio-cultural problems are discussed, what is stated does not avoid analysesbased on sensibilities, partial evaluations, or somewhat subjective drafts. On the basis ofstudy and observation of the rapid development of Vietnamese societal life in recentdecades, this text tries to suggest a global view on the cultural environment in Vietnam - acountry which is still poor, but which nonetheless has got rather high indexes of lifeexpectancy and education 30.

On the most general plane, we think that, in over twenty years of actively acceptingglobalization, establishing a market economy, and readily integrating into the international

community, the cultural environment in Vietnam is now unprecedentedly rich, complicated,and fraught with plenty of implicit problems. Its a system of phenomena and socio -cultural relations which are many-sided, many-dimensioned, and dynamic enough towelcome every new idea and stimulate every opportunity for discovery and creation. But italso comes with challenges and temptations enough to make any individual, family, orcommunity become necessarily vigilant before the risk of losing his way or making amistake. This estimation can be explained in more details as follows:

1.Ideological - theoretical aspect:

In Vietnam, while Marxisms value is affirmed, Ho Chi Minhs thought is praised.M. Webers thesis on cultures role as decisive factor in the depth of social structure, AlvinTofflers theory on waves of civilizations, Teilhard de Chardins view on anthropology,UNDPs view on man as the center of socio-economic development, Carl Poppers view onopen society, Samuel Huntingtons view on the clash of civilizations, the conception ofMahathir Mahamad and other Asian thinkers on the role ofAsian values in the developmentof modern society, the conception of Thomas Friedman on Flat Worldand globalization,etc. - all are now by no means strange to the research world in particular and to theintelligentsia in general.

Some theories that were at one time a cause for worry, and that were pushed out ofthe mind, now have found their position in the societys spiritual life. New phenomena inglobal theory - including views on economy of knowledge, society of information,

globalization, human development and the set of HD Indexes, environment and sustainabledevelopment, human capital, and social capital - are quickly popularized, received, andstudied for application in Vietnam. Some works considered as phenomena for the world,such as Robert McNamaras memoir, In Retrospect: the Tragedy and Lessons of Vietnam

30 Vietnam: GDP per capita (PPP US$) 2475; GDP Index 0.55; Life expectancy at birth (years) 70.8; Life expectancyIndex 0.76; Education Index 0.89; HD Index 0.709; HDI Rank 109/177. See: 31.


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(1996), Thomas Friedmans The World is Flat: A Brief History of the 21st Century (2006),or various publications of the World Bank, the UNDP, and UNESCO, are printed inVietnam nearly simultaneously (in the same year) with the original text. It is a new

phenomenon of spiritual social life in Vietnam, where formerly there have been never suchupdated facts. Together with the popularization of international television programs, of

information on the Internet, and of audiovisual works from media, the diversification andthe updating of information on the ideological - theoretical level now carries a specialmeaning for cultural environment in general.

Of course, there are still prohibited zones, and flows of information are not alwaystransmitted smoothly as they should be. This, in most cases, occurs at random or byunavoidable situations. In any country, information that would influence national security,extremist, or sensitive theories regarding national and religious psychologies that would bedetrimental to national interest must be controlled as much as possible. The cultural

environment, seen through the ideological-theoretical domain, although rich, many-sided,and many-dimensioned, remain on a limited level. All the above mentioned theories arentyet deeply known by the society. Even in universities and research institutes, there are rarelycenters with great prestige and experts with great stature apprehending these theories andviews. That is the weakness, the insufficiency of the theoretical area, influencing the level ofthe spiritual social life and that of the cultural environment in general.

2. Socio-economic aspect:

Now the Vietnamese economy is functioning in a market mechanism with strictrequirements of globalization and has to meet the demand of determined transnationalregimes. And even more recently, Vietnam has joined the WTO. But this hasnt yet endedthe state of conservation. Such an economic entity has created within itself complicated,interwoven phenomena, activities never seen in homogeneous economies. This makes a

both culturally positive and negative environment for socio-economic activities which aredirectly related to not only the economy. At present in Vietnam, many forms of marketeconomy have been defined and are developing. But several others are only beginning totake shape.

It falls short of being a really civilized market; unhealthy, negative, even mafia-likeconduct, which has also existed abroad, now exists in Vietnam. The State economy isconsidered to play the leading role, but its effectiveness remains insufficient. Companiescalled multinational still benefit from national favor policy. Simple hired labor exists

parallel with great production, with the economy of knowledge. After-effects of the subsidy-administrative system still impact some economic activities. Poverty diminishesconsiderably (even this is highly estimated by the world), but the gap between the poor and


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the rich continues to increase 31. Phenomena of luxury, waste, and corruption emerge inmany parts.

Recently the press has said much about these troubles in the economy. The problemconsists in that, such a cultural environment in economic activity gives enough room for

healthy economic thought to take root, but also leaves enough crevices to foster almostevery unhealthy form of self-interested activity. Doing business with honesty, based on theconfidence to make profits, exists side by side with swindling and cheating actions. Morethan a few businessmen are ceaselessly incited by the responsibility that falls on them forthe real weakness of the Vietnamese economy in the international market. Even those whoare in high positions in state and private economic sectors are interested only in their own

benefits, without regard for national interest [18]. While Vietnamese residents in foreigncountries are economizing hardly note by note to send back to the fatherland, there areofficials in Vietnam who gamble, sending millions of dollars abroad [Le Dang Doanhs

words. See: 21]. Corruption, transnational women trade, embezzling money, swindling bothworkmen and governments officials - all exist blatantly side by side with healthy

phenomena profitable to the working people and to the society.

This is an indication of the many-sided and complicated cultural environment thatdomestic and foreign researchers are toiling away to repair.

3. The aspect of spiritual social life:

We would like to touch upon the leading spiritual state of society when considering

and evaluating the development of the country at its present stage. Lets use Alvin Toffersnotion, that of the Psychosphere, to indicate societys general spiritual-psychological, themost universal, belonging to the majority, with the force controlling the whole movement ofthe spiritual social life, corresponding to each given historical stage. With such conventionalintension, the psychosphere in todays Vietnamese society is likely of a new form, shapedand emerging since the late 1990s, when war and crisis were of the past, when the countryhad attained great socio-economic achievements after over twenty years of renewal. In theface of new opportunities [See: 22] for development, each individual more or lessunavoidably expressed his attitude. We see the psychosphere in Vietnamese societynowadays as mainly positive and optimistic, but in society, there remains a contraryopinion. There are still skeptical minds, anxious and sometimes pessimistic about thedevelopment. Lets firstly speak about this contrary flow of opinion.

The skeptical, pessimistic view in some people, is not the majority, but among themare experts and social activists worried that Vietnam will lag behind in comparison withother countries in the region. At a lighter degree, some authors doubt the arguments of those

31 The rate of poor with food grains and food stuffs shortage decreased from 55 % in 1990 to 7.8% in 2004, that of poorin general from 705 in 1990 to 24.1% in 2004, but the gap between rich and poor increased from 4.1 times in 1990 up to7 times in 1995, to 8.1 times in 2002 and 2004. See: 20.


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who affirm that Vietnam is before the gold opportunity of development [For example,Tran Thanh Dam. See: 23].

For example, according to the calculation of some IMF experts, the GDP per capitaof Vietnam in 2005 reached $552 USD. Supporting that, countries with higher incomes in

ASEAN stopped developing, while Vietnam remained on the same growth rate as present. Ifthis pattern continues? then Vietnam would take five years to catch up with Indonesia andPhilippines, 20 years with Thailand, 24 years with Malaysia, 38 years with Brunei and 40years with Singapore. And if ASEAN countries remain at the same growth rate as in recentyears, Vietnam will take 18 years to catch up with Indonesia, 34 years with Thailand and197 years with Singapore [See: 13]. Although these are figures of a purely mechanicalcomparison and naturally the society doesnt develop so mechanically, this comparison doescarry alarming meaning, startling optimists.

Another opinion considers that, with so much investment in Vietnam nowadays,Vietnams economy will likely attain a growth rate higher than 7-8%/year. The presentgrowth is only an illusory growth, which isnt development. That is the illusion ofgrowth [See: 30]. If this illusion is not only a product of the imagination, it will gradually

become a barrier to development, perpetuating the lagging behind.

In the conference of October 21st 2006, at the 10th meeting of the National Assembly,XIth session, Mr. Nguyen Ba Thanh used concrete figures to show the cause for worry overthe Vietnamese economy: In 2006, the gross domestic production is estimated at exceedingthe plan by 8.2% and equivalent to 60 billion USD. The total national receipts for budgetreach approximately 16 billion USD, while the budget over-expenditure is 3 billion USD,total expenditure: about 19 billion USD, nearly 5% of the GDP (security threshold).Meanwhile, the State owes the population through selling bonds and other forms at about 22

billion USD. The State owes foreign countries nearly 20 billion USD. And Mr. Nguyen BaThanh quipped: With this economic picture, I am very doubtful that Vietnam will occupythe 16th rank in the world before 2025; Ill try to live 19 years more to see what happens

[See: 12].

Mr. Nguyen Ba Thanh isnt pessimistic, but his speech has shown the insufficiencythat most people miss when they see the development of our country and of our economyonly through optimist eyes.

The optimistic view also arises from the real state of education, a sector that hasrecently been sharply condemned by the Vietnamese press. Although Vietnams educationalachievements are commended by many foreign experts, for domestic intellectuals,especially leading ones, the real state of Vietnamese education is less than exceptional. Aninsufficient mechanism of examinations, unprincipled extra-curricular teaching spreadingevils from primary schools to undergraduate institutions; difficulty in controlling the qualityof educational products (students who will be masters of the future) - these are some of the

problems in the system.


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Side by side with education is the Health system. In spite of praise from the WorldHealth Organization (for achievements in the care of communitys health, for raising the lifeexpectancy, and for effectively controlling the bird flu epidemic and SARS), many peopleare worried about the cultural environment in the Health system in Vietnam. A shakyinfrastructure and degrading morality breaking the relations between physicians, doctors,

and patients are causing the system to deteriorate beyond some peoples imagination.

Together with Education and the Health systems are activities of culture, science, art,publication, tourism, communication and transport, the environment, and social welfare. Wewouldnt like to mention more contrary phenomena, social evils in these activities becausewe can see it in the press almost every day. (As for the traffic safety domain, in 2006, therewere 12.300 victims of accidents in Vietnam, and since early 2007, each day there is anaverage of 33 traffic deaths. WHO experts call this Vietnams largest national epidemic[See: 34].

The concern is legitimate: the possibility for regression is lurking every day. A worryengrained in many parents is that their children will be depraved, meet wicked people, faceunfortunate risks outside home, and so on. Cultural values that are clearly lower than in

previous generations are already apparent. Some people feel that the present youth considermisbehavior as something natural and normal in social communication [See: 11]. If this isthe case, this will without doubt be a very real danger.

We cannot say that the optimistic outlook or worried about the cultural environmentas just mentioned doesnt find its basis. If only looking at the phenomena, we have toquestion whether the future will be surely beautiful.

However, the leading state of mind for development in our society is a positive,optimistic one. And here is the remarkably important cultural environment. Nobody candeny that today, more than ever, the psychosphere in Vietnam is looking remarkably

positive and dynamic. In 2006, with impressive achievements of development and a mass ofmeaningful national events, Vietnams position has been positively estimated by nearly allcountries and international organizations. Enthusiasm and belief in the future make theleading atmosphere in the majority of populations.

Many people see the present moment as a golden opportunity [See 29: NguyenTrungs text] for the taking-off of each family, each community. Moreover, this state ofmind is encouraged by positive and sympathetic regards from abroad [See:23,26,1,24].Allow me to cite here some remarks of foreigners who have lived and worked in Vietnam.

Klaus Rohland, WBs representative in Vietnam, calls Vietnam the story of a greatsuccess. It is possible to affirm that, besides China, Vietnam is the economy which isdeveloping the most successfully in the world. He said this before Vietnam was even a

WTO member [1].


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Jonathan Wagh, chairman of a German company who has lived in Vietnam for overten years, remarks: In general, the Vietnamese are very open and willing to learn a lotabout other cultures. In addition, they are well trained and very clever. In schools, they aretaught to observe a very strict discipline, so their thinking for settling problems is restricted.But many Vietnamese are able to overcome this weakness if they are well guided. And

those who can do this become successful, since they combine in themselves knowledge andqualified specialty [See:30].

Mac Lachlan, British Deputy Ambassador, after years of working in Hanoi, says thatwhat has most impressed him is that The Vietnamese prove a terrible love of learning. He

believes this is why many European and Asian countries want to cooperate with Vietnam[See:30].

Dich Con, researcher at Chinas Institute of International Relations, says, The fact

that Vietnam will be a power in ASEAN is only the problem of time. According to DichCon, Vietnam has three main advantages: Firstly, a suitable model of development;secondly, political and social stability; and thirdly, a nationwide strong will for progress,with 82 millions inhabitants, among whom 2/3 are young people. Therefore, he remarks:Whether ascending or descending, with its pride and self-respect, Vietnam will not acceptto be in an inferior position [See:30].

Not only Dich Con, Richard Quest, and a large number of foreign scholars, but evenPresident G. Bush has used the image ofAsian Dragon to describe Vietnam. When

participating in APEC Conference in Hanoi, November 2006, President Bush has mentionedthat Vietnam is a young tiger and that he was very impressed by this [See:2].

What I would like to call attention to is that even after the negative event of PMU18,synthetic regards to Vietnams development have not diminished, as forecasted by someexperts. Hilary Benn, United Kingdoms Minister of International Development, who has arigid view concerning the attachment of aids to the struggle against corruption, has had toadmit that Vietnam has accomplished many surprising works, especially in eliminatinghunger and alleviating poverty, improving peoples living conditions. He signed acooperative aid agreement with Vietnam in mid-September 2006 32. Clearly, it is not truethat all compliments from foreign scholars are diplomatic and unfounded.

It is possible to choose another indicator as a basis for evaluating the culturalenvironment in Vietnam: In mid-2006, NEF (New Economics Foundation), a prestigioussociety, research organization in England, estimated the happiness index (HPI) of 178countries. NEF measured and ranked Vietnam at 12th, with a global happiness index of 61.2,

32 Hilary Benn has signed an Agreement by this England agrees to assist Vietnam without return with 450 milliions USD

within 5 years: For the past time, Vietnam has shown its progress, with amaging results in eliminating hunger andelleviating poverty during last twenty years. Now Vietnamese government has shown its public attitude toward thecorruption problem. That is really an important stride, a positive progress. See: http://diendan.edu.net.vn/forums22/9/2006.


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above even China (ranking 31), Thailand (33), and Italy (66), among other countries. Thehappiness of each community was measured by the years included in the life expectancycapital, during which the person feels satisfied with his life (Well-being) on the basis ofconsidering whether or not this corresponded with the conditions allowing naturalresources to be consumed. That means, happiness is not necessarily associated with the

level of richness-poverty, or the degree of development; happiness, first of all, is the degreeof the humans satisfaction with his life 33.

It may seem a surprise, when Vietnam is considered happier than even United Statesand Japan; perhaps it requires further discussion. But here, on the plane of culturalenvironment, we want to extract NEFs research results on Vietnams degree of satisfactionwith life at present. 61.2 % of the Vietnamese population admits that they are satisfied withthe present life; that is, we think, a reliable figure. It should be noted that under presentconditions the ideal degree of any nation is 83.5% and not 100% of its population being

satisfied with their life (the country ranking first was Vanuatu whose index reached only68.2).

At last, another indicator, although its sphere is smaller and its time shorter forgeneralization in comparison with the research process of NEF happiness index, is quiteworthy to be chosen as the basis for estimating the cultural environment in Vietnam: In thelate-2006 Gallup International Association (GIA, a well-known sociological researchorganization) explored the degree of optimism and pessimism in 53 countries. The resultsshow that Vietnamese people occupy the first rank in the world regarding the degree of

confidence in the future. Of approximately 49,000 people questioned in 53 countries, only43% believe that the future will be better, among them, Vietnam: 94%, Hong Kong: 74%,China: 73%, Ghana: 68%, Nigeria: 66%, Thailand: 53%, and Singapore: 52%. Thecountries where there are most people optimistic in thinking about the future, are: India:32%, Indonesia: 33%, Philippines: 34%, Iraq: 43%, and Greece: 44% [17].

Of course, these researches we mention are not entirely convincing, and whenhearing outsiders praise Vietnam for being happiest and most optimistic in the world,nobody ignores that Vietnam has a very low GDP and in many domains it is still distantly

found behind other countries in the world. But that is just something which makes theestimation of the state of the mind for development become more meaningful.

III. Conclusion

1. Never in the past has the cultural environment in Vietnam been so rich and varied,so dynamic and positive, so encouraging and attractive, with so many opportunities and

33 Index called HPI (Happy Planet Index) is divided from 0 to 100. According to NEF, the ideal scale under present

conditions is 83.5. By NEFs calculation made public, in 2006, the highest HPI is of Vanuatu, an archipelago in PacificOcean, reaching 68.2, the lowest if of Zimbawwe, equal to 16.6. Vietnams HPI in 2006 is 61.2, with the index ofLifesatisfation 6.1, the index of life expectancy 70.5 and the index of Ecologycal Footprint 0.8. See:www.Happyplanetindex.org.


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challenges as is now the case. We say this quite seriously and objectively. The degree ofrichness and diversity, the dynamic and active rhythm of Vietnams cultural environmentare now enough to foster good ideas and stimulate discovery and creation.

But on the flip side, there are still many challenges and attractions, so hopefully

every individual, family, and community will become vigilant before the risk of losing theway or making a mistake.

2. If seeing Vietnamese society through impressions left by negative phenomena andsocio-economic insufficiencies; through pessimistic predictions for the continueddevelopment in Vietnam; or through comparison with advanced countries and theirscientific, educational, and technological activities, we may find cause for worry about thecultural environment in Vietnam. Many-sided, many-dimensioned, but proving the state ofmutually hindering, mutually contradicting, even mutually annulling in the development.

There are many anomalous, bad, even evil ones which dont allow potentialities to berealized, and which contain numerous challenges dangerous to the development ofindividuals and communities.

Therefore, it is vital that we not see the development of Vietnamese society only withoptimistic eyes, to the point where we lose vigilance and live as if nothing could hinderdevelopment. In these times of globalization we must remember that even the smallesttumor can eventually destroy an entire body. The present world is very vulnerable, andunexpected things can happen at any time 34. Vietnam, of course, is not outside this generalorder.

3. But it is also shortsighted and not clairvoyant if the development of todaysVietnamese society is viewed only with optimistic eyes. The cultural environment inVietnam nowadays contains more than a few negative and anomalous factors. But if wemanage to dominate them wisely, most such anomalous and negative factors in the worldare only necessary or unavoidable diseases of a growing body.

Looking at Vietnams cultural environment through the psychosphere fordevelopment of the majority of population, through the positive and sympathetic estimation

of foreign experts, through data on the degree of optimism, or through Vietnams happinessindex measured and made public to the world, we must admit that, for the most part, thecultural environment in Vietnam nowadays is fine, fair, and healthy, and not the contrary./.

34 For example, during the last two years, the world has witnessed political troubles, social conflicts, even threats to

economic sanction and to wage wars for which the initial reasons are only the deduction or excitement from anuncalculated behavior of Italian Prime Minister Silvio Beclusconi, a careless word of British Prime Minister Tony Blair,a sensitive quotation of Pope Benedict XVI, an excessive attitude of Gruzias President Mikhail Saakashivili, acaricature related to Islam.


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về môi trường văn hóa và môi trường văn hóa ở việt nam

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