A strong, unified family is deemed necessary for mutual protection in a competitive and alien society. It also is of great advantage in helping a new immigrant family member integrate into life in Vietnam. Many attempts have been made by the government to force the Chinese Nung to assimilate as Vietnamese citizens, but thus far, they have resisted. The Chinese Nung family ranges from a small nuclear family to a larger group including several small families under one roof. Each generation may have its own apartment within the house.
Elders generally exert great influence, and parents decide the marriages of their children.
The choice of husband or wife is often determined by business considerations and the strong desire to have a family with equal social standing. Festivals are an important part of life for the Chinese Nung. Theatrical ensembles often perform at festivals and ceremonies, with displays of Chinese martial arts and dragon dances. Ancestor worship is perhaps the most pervasive belief system. It is the duty of the eldest son to conduct the ancestral rites, which perpetuate the memory of the deceased family members and provide for their needs after death.