Abstract

Diplomacy has always been an important issue during the history of building and protecting Vietnam nation. Through the history, diplomatic activities have well reflected cultural identities of the people. Within the context of Vietnam’s foreign relationship, diplomacy has importantly contributed to not only the preservation but also the enrichment of cultural identities through the process of contact and integration with proper selections from other cultures. Among those, relationship with China has been being a long traditional relationship and the most important relationship throughout the history of Vietnam. As the position of a small country locating next to a powerful one, Vietnamese behavioural culture toward China has been actively implemented and well reflected the Vietnamese national identity. With the deepest understanding and respecting the China Celestial Empire, Vietnam wanted to build up a peaceful and stable relationship with China. The highest standard of behavioural culture of Vietnam toward China was, in fact, independence. Hence, even Vietnam has accepted a nominal submission to China through the issues of tributary and honous policy, the Vietnamese royal dynasties have always toughly reacted whenever China abused the justification of suppressing rebels to invade or interfere to internal affairs of Vietnam. The paper will state some main points of behavioural culture of Vietnam toward China during the Medieval Age through the analyzing of Tributary and Honous issues in the context of Vietnam-China relationship.