Life and customs of the Vietnamese. Features of modern culture of Vietnam Vietnam traditions and customs
Vietnam is a country in Southeast Asia that has been compared to a “balcony overlooking the Pacific Ocean.” It is famous for its beaches, rivers, Buddhist temples and vibrant cities.
Thanks to ancient traditions and developed culture, Vietnam has overcome difficulties and managed to maintain its uniqueness. Despite the long wars, the indigenous people never cease to rejoice, love their homeland and treat tourists kindly.
Lifestyle
The way of life of the Vietnamese for centuries was created under the influence of ancestor cults and religions (Confucianism, Buddhism and Taoism). The indigenous people lead a measured Lifestyle. Usually they are not in a hurry, do not quarrel, and do not speak in a raised voice. The streets of Vietnam are bustling: there are no traffic rules and the flow of cars is not controlled by anyone. What will surprise the traveler here is that as soon as he is on the roadway, the driver will stop and let him pass. When it comes to walking along the highway, the Vietnamese wear gauze bandages to avoid breathing in harmful fumes.
Vietnamese people get up at 5 o'clock in the morning, and at 6 o'clock in the capital of Vietnam, Hanoi, you can see how the city becomes like a sports ground. Residents perform tai chi breathing exercises, play badminton, and go to “dance halls” - dance clubs.
Family relationships
Until recently, the husband or older man was the undisputed authority in the family, but today men and women are equal in rights and freedoms. Most Vietnamese women do manual labor while their husbands relax at home: they pave roads, build houses, cultivate rice fields and boil salts. Women also perform most household responsibilities. During the festivities at the table, they first serve food to their husband and sons, and then only sit down to eat themselves. After lunch, the Vietnamese take a “siesta”: they set up hammocks and sleep.
A tourist in Vietnam needs to know not only the culture of the local people, but their etiquette and superstitions. Many of them have been preserved for a long time, when the significance of religion was great. However, the Vietnamese are not very religious, despite the diversity of religions.
Culture of welcome and communication
When meeting, townspeople shake hands, and the old custom of greeting with joining hands in a prayer position at the chest and a slight bow is used only at official business meetings and ceremonies. Women avoid shaking hands.
When expressing politeness, Vietnamese people do not look their interlocutor in the eyes. Refusal or disagreement is expressed in delicately evasive language. They don’t like straightforwardness here; you need to be tactful. During a dialogue, you should not come close to your interlocutor or touch his head and shoulders with your hands; this can disturb the person’s soul and bring him trouble.
Names
In Vietnam, they play a significant role names. The Vietnamese are rarely introduced first. You should call them “Mr” and “Mrs” until they suggest switching to first names. The Vietnamese believe that a person's name reflects an essence that protects him from evil spirits. Careless pronunciation of a name can jinx a person, bring disaster and failure.
Vietnam is a small eastern country with an interesting ancient history and unique culture that attracts a lot of attention. And not only from the point of view of tourism, everything is interesting in it: traditions, way of life, national religions, art and morals.
Before going to a new country, many people want to know more about its local residents, their way of life and traditions. And if you're traveling to Vietnam anytime soon, you might want to read about what normal daily life is like for the Vietnamese.
Vietnamese family life
Family is the most important thing for every Vietnamese resident. Vietnamese people try to maintain warm relations between all family members. You will immediately notice that in Vietnam they treat the older generation with respect. Deceased relatives are revered: in every house there is a special altar where rituals of worshiping the spirits of ancestors are held. Such altars always contain fresh fruits and clean water.
And all the Vietnamese are very fond of small children. Here they are cared for and cherished. And if you decide to go on vacation with your child, be prepared for the fact that your baby will attract attention from the locals. Often it's not just smiles, many will want to cuddle the child, especially if he is fair-haired and fair-skinned.
According to statistics, Vietnamese women get married at the age of 24, and men get married a little later - at about 27. Marriages between Vietnamese and representatives of other nationalities are now common. In such cases, many families go abroad, but some remain in Vietnam.
Religious life of the Vietnamese
Among the residents of Vietnam there are many atheists who do not consider themselves followers of any religion. But almost all Vietnamese revere the spirits of their ancestors. Therefore, in every home, in cafes, hotels and shops, altars are installed, which we described above.
A fairly large percentage of Catholics live in the country. The French colonialists brought Catholicism with them. Along with faith in Vietnam, beautiful Catholic churches appeared in which services are held.
Some Vietnamese consider themselves Buddhists. The country has many colorful and atmospheric pagodas that are worth visiting while in Vietnam. Large statues of Buddha or the Vietnamese goddess of mercy, Quan Am, are often installed on their territories.
Also, while vacationing in Vietnam, you will definitely see the Cham Towers - these are the temples of the now small Cham people. Their colorful tower-temples are dedicated to various gods, including Hindu ones.
Daily life of the Vietnamese
The life of the Vietnamese is directly related to the sun. In a country where it is summer almost all year round (especially in the southern part of Vietnam), there are many hot sunny days. Vietnamese people wake up very early to get a lot done before the sun sets in. First of all, city residents go to the parks closest to their homes to do exercises. And only then they start working.
Small businesses are very developed in the country; many families open cafes, workshops, beauty salons, and shops right on the ground floor of their houses. Therefore, it turns out that many Vietnamese work in the same place where they live. At the same time, the whole family, young and old, can be involved in the business.
The Vietnamese dine both at home and in street cafes. Typically, such establishments serve traditional Vietnamese dishes - rice with chicken, pho soup with noodles. Baguettes that came from the French and were loved by the Vietnamese are also common. They are cut and filled with eggs, vegetables and meat. After having a snack, many take a siesta to wait out the hottest time of the day.
In the evenings, Vietnamese life continues in numerous cafes, men go to beer bars, and young people walk in parks and along embankments or go to sing karaoke. This type of entertainment is very much loved by the nation. There are special establishments where you can come with your company and rent a separate room with equipment. But many people also have karaoke at home. Karaoke is a must-have attribute of any wedding.
The Vietnamese go to bed quite early; after ten in the evening there are practically no people on the street. Of course, this does not apply to tourist areas; nightclubs and drinking establishments continue to operate.
But in general, the Vietnamese are friendly and smiling people who are always ready to help a stranger. And if you treat them well, they will definitely repay you in kind!
Each country has its own customs and traditions. And what, in the opinion of a European, seems like an insignificant trifle, somewhere in an eastern country can become strange or even offensive. Today's Vietnam is diligently integrating into modern world society, but for the majority of the population, its internal traditions and values are of great importance. Here they try to observe centuries-old customs, and the way of life often remains unchanged. Foreigners should know about Vietnamese etiquette. After all, even if we visit close people, we always try to maintain the rules adopted by hospitable hosts.
What are they like, the Vietnamese
To put it in a few words, they are calm, good-natured and smiling. At first, the inhabitants of the Indochina Peninsula may seem somewhat indifferent and indifferent. The reason lies in upbringing and traditional mentality. Just look at the conversation when the Vietnamese tries not to look you in the eye. The point here is both a certain shyness and instilling respect for elders in position or age.
The difference in cultures is already felt in speech. Europeans are more emotional and open. And often joy or sadness manifests itself on our face. Vietnamese will smile and nod, even when refusing someone's request. And also kindly agree, but at the same time, without doing anything if they made a promise under some pressure. The word “no” is not a favorite word here. And if the question needs to be answered in the negative, and the European will do this without a shadow of embarrassment, then the Vietnamese, out of a sense of tact and delicacy, may offer to return to this question next time.
The words of Comrade Sukhov “The East is a delicate matter!” in Vietnam appear in all their glory. Residents of the Indochina Peninsula show miracles of discipline and restraint even in disputes. Heated discussions between Vietnamese are not accepted, and hot foreign guys engaged in a showdown or argument are looked at with disapproval. A smile on the face of an Eastern person can appear not only out of politeness. But as a sign of awkwardness or anxiety. And even as a result of misunderstanding or skepticism.
However, these rules do not apply to trade. Local market entrepreneurs raise the price several times, often smiling affectionately. They do not like to bargain and can afford unflattering treatment. The attitude towards tourists is often consumerist. What can you do, the country is just entering normal market relations and trade is somewhat reminiscent of the Russian market of the 90s. Therefore, before shopping, it is advisable to find out the average prices for the goods you need. If the seller offers to pay twice as much, you can negotiate, but if it’s 3-4 times as much, then you shouldn’t even start a conversation.
Greetings
Vietnamese are friendly people, but any touching of oneself is intolerable for them and is akin to an insult. According to local beliefs, the human soul lives in the head, so you shouldn’t disturb it again. Shoulders are the resting place of the patron spirit, so it is difficult for locals to understand the traditional Russian hugs and pats on the shoulder when meeting. If you don’t want to be branded a barbarian in this Asian country, maintain the personal space of its residents. And having inadvertently touched your shoulder, now deliberately perform the same action with the other, so as not to frighten away fleeting luck.
But European influence also penetrates this ancient land. And today the Vietnamese no longer consider it superfluous to shake hands with friends and partners. At the same time, a phrase is used, something like our “How are you?” As for greeting women, the etiquette here is similar to that of Europe. The lady should be the first to extend her hand. If such action is not followed, this does not mean that you are being ignored. Many Vietnamese women avoid manual contact. They are more accustomed to a small bow with palms joined at chest level.
Call me quietly by name...
But don't forget to insert the word "Mr" and "Mrs" before that. The Vietnamese are extremely scrupulous about their manner of address. Even a good friend should first be asked if you can address him by name. If the answer is positive, you don’t need to do this in front of strangers, and even in a personal conversation, don’t forget about courtesy and “Mr. Otherwise, such familiarity will be regarded as disrespect or a certain degree of intimacy between you.
Residents of Vietnam usually prefer to give the palm of honor when dating to their foreign counterpart. And only then, at your request, the person can give his name and position. Vietnamese speak quietly and may not make eye contact when introducing themselves.
Representative people in power in the country are called in the Western manner by their specialty or position, for example, “Mr. Doctor” or “Mr. Teacher.”
The address “comrade” is still alive. After all, the Communist Party of Vietnam is still considered the leading and guiding force in the country, although socialism here has a certain capitalist and glamorous touch.
Ivanov, Petrov, Sidorov in Vietnamese
These are one of the most common surnames in Russia. Vietnam can also boast of this. Here, 90 percent of the population bears the 14 most common surnames. They have Nguyen alone, almost a third of all residents, 11% Chan and 9% Li.
A Vietnamese name can consist of 3–4 parts:
- Father's surnames. They are often similar to imperial surnames. Today in the country, the majority of residents bear the surname of the last ruling dynasty, Nguyen. The General Secretary of the Communist Party is also named Nguyen Phu Trong.
- Middle name. Nowadays, it shows that these people belong to the same generation (for example, brothers and sisters). Previously, the middle name indicated a person's gender. For women it was the same for everyone - Thi. Men had much more choice.
- Personal name. It is the word that is often used to call a specific person. Personal names traditionally stand for something. Parents, when choosing a name for a child, express their desire to see the girl skillful, beautiful, polite, and their son strong, smart, and so on.
Vietnamese surnames are not as common and significant as ours. And even in a business environment, residents of the country address each other by name. And what to do if almost half of the country has the same surname. Imagine that only the Ivanovs work in your company?
In the old days, and even today, somewhere in the outback, children are given secret names that only those closest to them know.
This was done in the hope of protecting their child from evil spirits who could harm the child by learning such a secret code to the essence of a person. For everyone else, without further ado, the children were called in order: First Son, Second, and so on.
Signs and superstitions
All the life of the Vietnamese people are accompanied by a lot of different superstitions and signs. And at the same time, almost 80 percent of the population considers themselves atheists, but successfully combines this with the performance of various rituals. For example, many are sure that if a black cat jumps over the deceased, he will rise. Before you smile at such superstitions, remember if you didn’t secretly spit when you met the same unfortunate cat and didn’t knock on a piece of wood, afraid of jinxing the good news.
Among such prohibitions and superstitions in Vietnam are the following:
- Taking pictures together is unlucky.
- Whistle at night - a snake will crawl.
- To crawl between someone's legs is to make him stupid.
- Meet the funeral - you will be happy.
- Presenting one gift to the newlyweds means a quick divorce. The path would be better cheaper, but two pieces.
In Vietnam you are not allowed to pat children on the head. It is believed that this way the child will be deprived of protection from evil entities. There is no point in praising children. If somewhere in another country the child’s relatives would only be happy with such attention, then in Vietnam this is unacceptable. Suddenly the same dark forces find out about such a valuable child again and want to kidnap him.
Some subtleties
A few more rules that must be followed in this country. Here you cannot leave chopsticks in the plate and touch your neighbor with them. Well, this is something like the fact that we don’t fight with spoons during a feast. It is customary to pay for food in restaurants and cafes to those with higher status. And a Vietnamese guy will never ask his girlfriend to pay half of the bill; someone else pays.
When entering the house, shoes are left at the doorstep. The houses are very clean, and no one will steal your sandals. They enter temples and some shops barefoot. Additionally, visiting the pagoda requires women to cover their shoulders and knees, and men must wear trousers rather than shorts. You can often see mirrors on the front doors of houses on the street side. This is not for women to touch up the makeup they barely wear. The mirrors are here for the local dragons. If such a monster wants to climb into the house, it will approach the door and see its reflection. He will understand with his dragon head that there is already someone like him in the house and will go away. I wonder, do such mirrors save you from uninvited guests?
During their trips, some tourists like to show off their erudition and learn several common phrases. But in Vietnam it is undesirable to do this.
The Vietnamese language is quite difficult. There are six tones of spoken language here, and mispronouncing an innocuous word can turn it into an obscenity or insult. Also, here you shouldn’t make loud noise and show your emotions in public in every possible way, so as not to be branded as a rude foreigner. Be careful with your gestures. Any gestures aimed at attracting attention to oneself are considered uncivilized. It is correct to extend your hand with your palm down. If the palm faces up, according to local etiquette, such a person clearly demonstrates his disdain and superiority over others.
The unique culture of Vietnam has developed as a result of the fusion of traditions and beliefs of many peoples. Despite the difficulties and hardships experienced by the Vietnamese people, the culture of Vietnam continues to develop, and the people of this country continue to enjoy life. These are friendly, spiritually rich people who immediately put you at ease, and the culture of Vietnam arouses genuine interest among everyone who comes to this country.
Vietnamese culture
The culture of Vietnam is both a traditional way of life and, at the same time, modern technologies that harmoniously fit into the traditions of the local people.
Vietnamese culture: photos
Vietnamese culture: lifestyle, religion, traditions, art, cuisine
Despite the fact that the Vietnamese lifestyle may seem quite measured, they are hardworking people. Many people work almost seven days a week from early morning until late evening. The streets of Vietnam are bustling. The movement of motorbikes, cars and public transport in Vietnam seems chaotic and chaotic to Europeans. Local residents protect themselves from exhaust fumes and the hot sun with masks.
In terms of religion, more than half of Vietnam's population practices Buddhism. Here you can find beautiful Buddhist pagodas and Buddha statues. They can be made from a variety of materials, and many reach impressive sizes. Under the influence of the French, some residents of the country converted to Catholicism. Therefore, the Catholic Church is not uncommon in Vietnam. In general, colonial Vietnam felt a strong French influence. This is evidenced by the European-style villas and palaces that appeared in the country at that time.
Walking into any Vietnamese home, local restaurant, store or even office, you will find an ancestral altar. Vietnamese people honor the memory of their deceased relatives and regularly bring fresh fruits and flowers to the altar. Money, clean drinking water and incense sticks can also be seen at the altars. Particular attention is paid to the altar of the ancestors before the new year (Tet), which also symbolizes the onset of spring.
During Tet celebrations, Vietnamese streets and houses bloom with bright colors. Fresh flowers can be seen everywhere. Residents of Vietnam prefer to spend this most significant holiday of the year with their family. A popular Tet gift is a small red envelope with money. Representatives of the older generation give such envelopes to children. Another New Year's tradition is the lion dance. Dancers dressed in colorful costumes (usually two people control the lion) perform various rhythmic movements to the music.
Speaking about the culture of Vietnam, one cannot fail to mention the theater on the water. This art appeared in the 11th century and continues to live to this day. The performance takes place to live folk music right on the water. The actors in this unusual theater are not people, but puppets made of wood and other natural materials. The water theater is popular both among local residents and among tourists who come to get acquainted with the culture of Vietnam.
In Vietnam, a popular type of creativity is silk embroidery. There is a silk factory in Dalat where craftswomen create stunning paintings. These can be natural landscapes or portraits that amaze viewers with their complexity and beauty.
As for Vietnamese architecture, in addition to the most beautiful Buddhist temples, Cham architecture is of particular interest. The religious buildings built by these people fascinate with their antiquity and resistance to the passage of time. In large cities you can also see modern achievements in the field of architecture. For example, in the center of Ho Chi Minh City there is the Saigon Sky Dec skyscraper. This new tall tower attracts tourists thanks to its observation deck located on the 49th floor of the building. On the floor above there is a panoramic restaurant where you can have lunch or dinner, watching the life of a huge metropolis from above. Unusual from an architectural point of view is the unique Crayzy house hotel, located in Dalat. You can stay in it like a hotel, or you can come to it like a museum to be surprised by the unusual solutions of the talented architect Mrs. Dang Hang Nga.
Cuisine is also an element of the culture of any country. In Vietnam, the main components of dishes are rice and noodles. Seafood, as well as dishes made from pork, beef and chicken, are popular in the country. One of the most popular dishes is pho noodle soup. Vietnam is a country where you can taste exotic dishes - ostrich and crocodile meat, shark dishes, venison and snake. There is a stereotype that food in Vietnam is spicy. This is not entirely true. Almost all Vietnamese food is suitable for Europeans. The Vietnamese love to season their food with soy and fish sauces.
Vietnam is a socialist country and many of the orders and foundations here are very similar to those in the USSR: pioneers, councils, certificates and badges, as well as rather puritanical views in decent society (couples do not hug in public, many bathe exclusively in clothes or very closed swimsuits, women absolutely rarely drink and do not even always sit at the same table with the formal head of the family, despite complete management of the family budget). All this, of course, occurs in contrast to the ubiquitous small businesses, the presence of girls of easy virtue and soft drugs, which are quite openly offered to tourists on the streets of Saigon and resorts.
We see that the culture of Vietnam is a unique way of life, developing over millennia, currently built on the contrast of business and religion, socialism and capitalism, traditional way of life and modern achievements.
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Do not drink tap water, and do not ask the Vietnamese to get water for you: there is a chance that they will bring you untreated water.
When you order food in a cafe, immediately check the price of the dishes, otherwise there will be unpleasant surprises with the bill at the end of the meal. Pay attention to how many visitors there are in the cafe: if there are many locals, then the cafe is popular, which means it is affordable and has high-quality preparation. The mopeds standing near the establishment can also indicate a budget option for food.
As for food, local delicacies made from animals, which are considered our best four-legged friends, are quite specific dishes. You can culturally refuse such foods without offending the local cuisine.
A 5% surcharge is added to your bill in hotels and restaurants, so you don’t have to tip.
Restrictions when visiting attractions
When visiting the pagoda, remember important rules: take off your shoes before entering, and do not turn your back to the shrines when leaving. If you want to walk around the temple, do it clockwise.
Do not photograph or videotape Vietnamese military installations. Photographing attractions and Vietnamese people is only necessary with permission.
We take care of personal belongings
In Vietnam, take care of your personal belongings: documents, jewelry, money, etc. Firstly, we carry copies of documents and small amounts of money with us. Secondly, keep it all in a safe bag and firmly in your hands during the trip.
Cases of theft on the streets are not a regular occurrence in Vietnam, but there have been cases. Avoid evening rickshaw rides and suspicious unofficial taxis.
