The Secret to Vietnamese Success

A secret Western study sought to understand why Vietnamese people are so intelligent. It turned out that the key lies in the tradition of teaching children respect from a young age.

On a late afternoon, cicadas hummed beneath the phoenix trees covering the courtyard of a prestigious university in California. Hundreds of Vietnamese students were immersed in the library, their eyes thoughtful behind thick pages. In a corner of the room, an American research team observed and took meticulous notes. For three years, they had wondered: why do Vietnamese students consistently achieve outstanding results?

"It is hard to believe," Professor Miller said, repeating himself. "They are not only good at math and physics; their creative thinking is also extraordinary. Is there something special about their education?"

The research team began analyzing everything: nutrition (many guessed it was due to fish sauce), family structure, and study methods in Vietnam. But the real answer lay hidden in a very ordinary gesture they encountered in every Vietnamese family they interviewed.

That day, the team visited the home of Mr. Tuan, a successful software engineer in Silicon Valley. Seeing them arrive, his four-year-old daughter rushed out from playing in the garden, clasped her hands together, and bowed her head.

"Hello, grandpa and grandma!" she said.

Professor Miller froze. Looking at the little girl, he briefly saw an image of himself as a child in a small town in Ohio, where he never had to greet anyone with such formality. His mother had not taught him to bow when meeting adults.

"I understand now," he whispered to his assistant.

That evening, in a confidential report sent to the research committee, Professor Miller wrote: "The secret lies in the tradition of teaching children courtesy from infancy. When a Vietnamese child learns to respect others before they can even speak, their brain is programmed for observation, listening, and understanding. This is the foundation of creative thinking."

He shared a small memory with the team: "I remember when I was five, my mother told me, 'Miller, Mr. Tipenny just came by, please greet him.' I replied, 'Why should I greet him? He hasn’t done anything for me.' My mother just smiled and did not force me. Now, looking at Vietnamese families, I see that I missed a precious lesson."

Interestingly, in Vietnam, teaching children to greet and be polite is not some high-level educational method. It is simply part of the national culture, a habit passed down from generation to generation. Vietnamese mothers often say to their children every day:

"My dear, you must greet grandparents politely."

"You must be grateful to those who help you."

But behind these simple teachings lies a profound educational philosophy. When a child knows how to place themselves in a humble position and respects others, their brain begins to work more actively. They learn to observe, analyze, and understand the emotions of others—skills essential for creativity and success in life.

The team’s report was submitted to the US government and became one of the most important secret studies on education. Yet for the Vietnamese people, this secret has always been there, simple and warm like a mother’s smile whenever her children respectfully greet their elders.

The Meaning of the Story

This story shows that teaching children courtesy is not merely a custom, but a key to developing thought and intelligence. When children are taught to respect others from a young age, they develop the ability to observe, understand, and create—the foundation for future success. This is a significant contribution of the Vietnamese people to global education.

Compiled from the dharma talk by Venerable Thich Chan Quang