Of course they do.
Young comics draw on Japanese tradition:
Comics and cartoons aren’t just for kids. [AAUGH! Does that have to appear in every single article, even over there? - Ed.] In Viet Nam, Japanese comics, or manga, have become extremely popular among teenagers and adults. Grown-ups trade comic books at their jobs, privately write and draw their own work and get into heated discussions on Vietnamese web sites. They call themselves otakus, or comic fansManga, with its simple colourful style and fantastic narratives, may seem a contemporary art form, but it actually has its roots in 13th century Japan. Temple walls would be decorated with crude, exaggerated images of the afterlife, which look remarkably similar to today’s cartoon drawing. Manga is widely-read throughout the world, and it rivals the American and French comics industries.
Aspiring Vietnamese cartoonists see manga books as their "textbooks", while otakus see them as their bible. Their on-line names are often based on manga characters, and they speak of the books, which they began reading when they were children, with a religious devotion.
Imadoki writes on www.accvn.net, the country’s most popular manga site.
"Manga is still new in Viet Nam. People still lump comic books with kiddie entertainment." But for the true fans, "manga is an everlasting inspiration."
The site’s motto carries an even stronger resonance. "Focusing on manga and anime (Japanese cartoons), we embrace the whole world."
From Viet Nam News (and can a brotha get a definite answer on if it's one word or two? Or should it just depend on my mood?). Which link is to the front page; the one up top goes to the article. Never sure how to handle these things. . .
There's an article today on Viet Nam prepared for ParaGames, about the ASEAN ParaGames in Ha Noi (again, one word or two? I feel so ignint. . .), the local equivalent of the Paralympics, looks like.
Readers are reminded that the fastest way to get your ass waxed by somebody in a wheelchair is to confuse the Paralympics with the Special Olympics. That shit pisses mother fuckers off something fierce.
Want to know more?
ACC Vietnam (Anime Comics Club Vietnam) là một câu lạc bộ phi chính trị, phi lợi nhuận, tập hợp các thành viên Việt Nam yêu thích truyện tranh và hoạt h́nh, không phân biệt giới tính, tôn giáo, tầng lớp hay tuổi tác.
ACC Vietnam do một số thành viên cũ của box Truyện tranh - Trí tuệ Việt Nam online thành lập vào tháng 9 năm 2002 với tiêu chí: Xây dựng 1 sân chơi lành mạnh cho giới trẻ VN nói chung và các Otaku VN nói riêng. Từ đó tạo được sự hiểu biết, tinh thần đoàn kết và mối giao hữu trong lực lượng Otaku VN, cùng với khẩu hiệu Lấy anime và manga làm tâm, quay một ṿng, ta có cả thế giới
Yeah, so would I. . .
Yeahhh!