CULTURAL CHARACTERISTICS OF PEOPLE IN ETHNIC MINORITY AREAS OF VIETNAM WITH THE FORMATION OF PUBLIC OPINION

Cultural characteristics have a significant influence on the formation of public opinion in ethnic minority areas in Vietnam. This is reflected in issues that people are interested in, how people access/ exchange information, people's participation in known issues, and people's response. They can inherit, amplify the old and/ or create new ones in their public opinion-related practices, but all are choices that they consider meaningful for oneself in particular and the community in general. This fact brings some policy implications for dealing with public opinion in ethnic minority areas in Vietnam today.