Vietnamese Culture

Vietnam is a beautiful south Asian country, actually one of the oldest countries in the Southeastern side of Asia that has a striking culture. The Vietnam festival, Vietnam etiquette, food in Vietnam and the Vietnamese fashion are some of the things that bring out this ancient culture. Though most of the countries have been westernized and influenced, the lovely country of Vietnam has been able to grasp the roots of their culture and maintain it through the years. While most of the countries forget their ancient traditional practices, the people of Vietnam have been able to maintain their traditions. Let us have a look at some of these cultural practices.

vietnam culture tour

Vietnam etiquette
First, the Vietnamese have a code of conduct, more like Vietnam etiquette or simply how to carry yourself as a Vietnamese. These behaviors carry forward in business, social and the family set up. In meeting and greeting people, one is expected to shake hands. This is important in greeting and saying goodbye. You have to use both your hands, not only one hand. Vietnamese bow to their elders as a sign of respect. Now you know how to meet and greet a Vietnamese. Public display of affection between loves is a no no no, but you can hold hands as a show of affection. Beckoning people with your finger is not considered polite so it’s better to refrain from that practice.

In the business culture, the Vietnamese are very punctual to meetings, but at the same time they can be quite accommodating when need arises, for instance in situations one could not control. Not many citizens of Vietnam speak English, so in a business setup, a translator may be necessary. Vietnamese are very friendly people, who like pleasing others, this result to them being misunderstood at times. When a Vietnamese agrees to something, actually, they may be meaning to say no, so make sure you countercheck to fully understand if it is a genuine yes or a lopsided yes. Surprisingly, in social set ups gifts are only given by men to women. Make sure your gift is colorfully wrapped and always bring a gift when visiting a family. It is considered polite. Apparently, handkerchiefs are gifts which symbolize a sad farewell, so don’t give that as a gift in a happy occasion. So much about Vietnam etiquette, let’s have a look at food.

culture of Vietnam

Food in Vietnam
The food in Vietnam is amazing. Their cuisines are quite delicious, cooked to perfection. Their food is classified according to their origin, either north, south or food from the central. Their food is very simple to make, but that does not mean it is plain. The ingredients used are very fresh and all natural. Most of them vary in taste depending on the region where you get the food. Their staple food consists of noodles; rice which they grow themselves, herbs, chicken and beef. Sea food is also available in the Vietnamese cuisine. You can get the food from an expensive restaurant or the road side food stalls, all of them are wonderfully made.

The food in Vietnam is cooked with minimal use of oil and dairy products. A number of spices are used as a substitute, to bring out the wonderful taste of veggies and meat. The food is considered to be very healthy and safe. It has a distinct spicy taste, with a bit of pepper. The food is also classified in three categories; taste, fragrance and color. Each taste has an important significance. For example, the sweet taste represents the earth while the spicy taste is associated with metal. If the dish is black, it is associated with water, while green relates to wood. The food is also served according to the seasons. These provide contrasts, for instance, food which is considered cool will be served in summer to provide that difference.

food in vietnam

Festivals in Vietnam
Entertainment is a major part of the Vietnamese culture. This is shown through music, poems, dances, theatricals and Vietnam festivals. The Vietnam festivals are categorized according to the different regions. There are national festivals which involve the whole country like the Tet Nguyen Tieu. This is the New Year festival, in celebration of the lunar New Year. Another national festival is Vu Lan festival which is held in celebration of the parents and the ancestors, and their importance in the community. The northern Vietnamese hold the communal house festivals and the temple worship festivals. The central people of Vietnam hold festivals after the harvest to celebrate the blessings of the gods for the harvest; they also hold a praying ceremony to honor the God. the people of the south have a festival in honor of the authorities.

These festivals are accompanied by singing and dancing and traditional instruments. It is a fun time to be in Vietnam during these times. These festivals are very colorful with plenty of food and a celebratory mood. These festivals hold significant meaning hence they are taken seriously among the Vietnamese. The music is usually played from their traditional instruments. Their music is very diverse from one region to another. They have ritual music, court music, folk music among many other categories. Some of their music has a bit of western influence while most of it is purely Vietnamese music.

Part of the Vietnamese culture is their dressing or fashion. Each of their fifty four ethnic groups has a mode of traditional clothing. The Vietnam people have a common hat, the conical hat which is commonly worn around Vietnam. Their dresses are marked by splendid vivid colors which speak a lot about the people. The traditional outfits, the Ao Dai are mostly worn during celebratory events. Most of the dresses are long and well covered. dresses for girls are a bit modernized shoeing a bit of skin but still very decent. The clothes are mostly made from silk material. The material is diverse in color, in weave and ranges in quality depending on the price of the material. Vietnamese culture is very interesting to observe. Make sure you get a chance to witness and be part of this beautiful setup and the best chance is to arrange your visa to Vietnam now and book your Vietnam vacation with Holidaytoindochina.

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