nam has for most of historical time "defined itself as China's enemy, a fact memorialized in folk song and legend" (301).
             The customs and belief systems prevalent in Vietnam reflect its people's reverence for the spiritual world. "Sometime women feel called to worship a particular spirit or deity and illness is the penalty for failure to make offerings" (Levison 287). Talismans, amulets and ritual support for protector spirit along with specialists in the supernatural, most of which rely on herbal treatments, all reflect not just a belief in the supernatural world but as well as determination to ward off illness.
             "Ritual support for the deceased is most crucial" (287), for it is believed that a spirit not honored by a cult becomes and remains unhappy and harmful to others. There is actually a long series of rituals for the deceased, who must be followed, all designed to elevate the dead one to the rank of his/her ancestors. It is believed that the spirits of these ancestors are always present and that they visit the family on death-anniversary celebrations as well as special family occasions. "All major life events are reported verbally to these ancestors" (287). Most households have altars for their ancestors and "small shrines built in honor of various spirits (the earth god, Shakyamuni, the goddess of mercy, the god of wealth, etc.)" (287). Offerings are made to these spirits at least once a month. The most widely observed festival is the Midyear (otherwise known as wandering souls). Christians, of whom there are very few in Vietnam, celebrate Christmas and Easter. "Roman Catholicism was widespread in South Vietnam before the communists' 1975 victory" (Castagno 295); it was at this time that many Christians fled to other lands. Religion is tolerated but not encouraged by the country's Socialist, Communist government.
             In 1994 the population of Vietnam was roughly 69 millions. " Ethnic Vietnamese constitute 85-90 percen...