What customs and traditions exist in Vietnam. How everything works: Vietnamese family traditions

The national culture of Vietnam is considered quite typical for the peoples inhabiting Southeast Asia, but has its own unique characteristics. Throughout its history, the country was heavily influenced by neighboring China, which can still be observed today. At the end of the 19th century, after the war with the French, the state became part of the Indochina Union and gained independence only in the second half of the 20th century. As a result, Vietnamese culture was heavily influenced by Europeans. In particular, they transferred the alphabet from traditional hieroglyphic writing to Latin.

External influence was felt in the country in the second half of the 20th century during the war, first with the French and then with the United States. Active support of the USSR led to the fact that communist ideas firmly settled in the state. Today, the national culture of Vietnam has all the features of a socialist society.

Religion in Vietnam

There is a misconception that the religious national culture of Vietnam is predominantly characterized by features of Buddhism, but this is not the case. The cult of ancestors, which is also characteristic of India, Japan, Korea and China, flourishes in the country. The main feature of this belief is the veneration of deceased family members who continue to support the living and listen to their prayers. Therefore, the main place in the home of most Vietnamese people is the ancestral altar.

Clothing in Vietnam

If we talk about traditional Vietnamese clothing, it is a straight-cut jacket and trousers. The colors differ by region: in the north it is customary to wear dark brown, in the south - black. Among Vietnamese women, a fitted dress with a stand-up Ao Dai collar is popular. It is a robe and wraps on the right side. Wide trousers are usually worn with it. Flip-flops love bright colors. Nonla hats are an indestructible symbol of the country.

Art in Vietnam

As for folklore, the country uses many motifs from ancient legends. They often feature the dragon ruler Lac Long Quan, which gives the culture of Vietnam typical features of the Asian region.

National music uses plucked and bowed instruments. In addition, traditional compositions in which the bamboo flute sounds are popular in the country. follows modern trends with a focus on China.

Popular arts in Vietnam include painting (including batik), theater, music, dance, religious sculpture, ceramics and various types of crafts.

Cuisine in Vietnam

Both Asian and European traditions are intertwined in the country. Thus, the French culinary culture is observed here in the habit of creating sauces from several ingredients directly on the plate. Traditionally Asian features - a large selection of rice and seafood dishes. On the streets of big cities you can find food markets, where you can not only buy cheap and tasty fruits and vegetables, but also try traditional treats.

Vietnam's gastronomic culture is famous for nuoc mam fish sauce, rice noodles and cakes, and various seafood dishes. Once in a village, you should not be surprised that its inhabitants eat dogs and field mice - the food problem in the country is acute.

Main holidays of Vietnam

• January 1 - International New Year
• January 22 (in 2004) - Vietnamese Lunar New Year "Tet"
• March 8 - Women's Day
• March 26 - Youth Day
• April 30 - Victory Day
• May 19 - Vietnam's Birthday
• May 1 - International Labor Day
• June 1 - Children's Day
• July 27 - Memorial Day
• August 19 - Revolution 1945
• September 2 - Independence Day
• September 3 - Death Day of Ho Chi Minh City
• November 20 - Teacher's Day
• December 22 - Defender of the Fatherland Day

National characteristics of Vietnam

When arriving in a country, tourists pay attention to the importunity and persistence of the local population. It’s not a matter of any threats, but a basic desire to help: to give something, to suggest. In addition to the fact that such pressure irritates many, in some cases it may be associated with an attempt to deceive.

The country is in the top ten safest places in Eurasia; in general, the Vietnamese are friendly and very friendly people.

Family relationships in Vietnam represent mutual affection between all numerous family members: parents, children, brothers, sisters, grandparents.

An ordinary Vietnamese family consists not only of a husband, wife and their unmarried children, but also includes the husband's parents, children's sons and daughters-in-law, and often also all immediate relatives.

According to statistics, men get married at the age of 27, women at 23-24, but civil marriages are not common in Vietnam.

Society in Vietnam is also experiencing modern trends; marriages with foreign citizens are now not uncommon. Such families most often leave Vietnam, but the attachment to relatives and to their home village or city remains very strong.

Mutual sympathy and trust are fundamental concepts when creating a family, and therefore children are born and grow up in an atmosphere of love and care. It is customary to have more than two children, and, according to tradition, the desired first child is a boy. It is interesting that the birth rate surges, among other factors, are influenced by the lunar calendar, or more precisely, by the Vietnamese’s belief in it.

The attitude towards children in Vietnam is special; they are cared for and cherished, both their own and those of others. It seems that there is no division between insiders and outsiders here; any child - be it a little Vietnamese or a child of a tourist - will be hugged, caressed and given all sorts of attention with equal joy.

If you come to Vietnam with a child, you will immediately notice how everyone smiles at you on the street, in the market they give you some fruit in addition to your purchase, give up their seats and try to entertain your baby.

Family relationships are distinguished by strong emotional attachments and oblige a person to love and respect his parents and the older generation. That is why the Vietnamese have been practicing the cult of their ancestors for many centuries. Most residents of the country, regardless of religious affiliation, have an altar for worship at home or at work.

The sense of heredity is very developed here, and the wonderful custom of commemorating ancestors has not only original cultural features, but also a deep sacred meaning. In those rare cases when a person has died and there is no one to honor his memory, he is called a man without descendants.

The most striking feature of the entire Vietnamese people can probably be called patriotism. Even poorly educated citizens confidently name dates, names of scientists, emperors, and in cities and even small villages you can see state flags hanging everywhere. This is probably due to the fact that for the people of Vietnam, collective interests have always been above personal interests.

The main religious movements in Vietnam are Buddhism, Confucianism and Taoism; under the influence of French rule in the 19th century, Catholicism became widespread. However, most of the population still practices traditional religions, worshiping spirits, gods and the mother goddess.

Also in Vietnam at the beginning of the 20th century, a mysterious cult arose - a new religion called Cao Dai.

According to legend, the Supreme Being appeared to its founder and ordered the founding of a new religion that would unite all others: Buddhism, Taoism, Confucianism, Christianity and Islam.

Cao Dai followers recite prayers, worship ancestors, practice non-violence and vegetarianism, one of the goals is to reunite with God in heaven.

Vietnam is imbued with Confucian morality: all people must observe certain standards of behavior and strictly conform to their social status, guided by the five virtues - humanity, justice, nobility, knowledge and sincerity.

The attitude towards foreigners in Vietnam is friendly, the local population is hospitable to travelers and, to the best of their ability, will try to make your stay in the country comfortable and interesting.

In clothing, the place of traditional attire is gradually being taken by Western models, with the exception of the most famous Vietnamese costume in the world and popular among the population - ao dai (áo dài). There are both female and male types of ao dai, but in the 20th century it began to be worn mainly by women. Ao Dai consists of a long dress with slits on the sides and loose trousers.

Currently, when choosing clothes, the Vietnamese are increasingly guided by the principle of simplicity and convenience; so-called suits, consisting of a loose shirt and pants of the same color, reminiscent of a pajama set, are very common among women. They sleep in them, cook in them, go shopping, and work in them.

And if adults can sometimes be careless in their clothes, then they try to dress up children in bright, beautiful things, make sure that the child is combed, washed and tidy, and if the financial situation of the family allows, he wears gold and silver jewelry.

The daily routine in the country is highly dependent on the sun; the Vietnamese are accustomed to starting the day before dawn and going to bed shortly after sunset. This light regime significantly shifts daytime life towards the morning. School classes begin at 6:30-7:00, banks and other official institutions are open from 8:00 to 17:00, lunch break from 11:30 to 13:30. Local residents prefer to dine on the street, especially since for most it is much more convenient, and sometimes even more profitable, than cooking at home.

Small and private businesses are very developed in Vietnam, many work where they live, hence a huge variety of cafes, drinking establishments, hairdressers, repair shops, sewing studios on the ground floors of residential buildings. And the Vietnamese generally go to bed early - it is difficult to see working establishments and walking groups after 10 pm. But this, of course, does not apply to tourist places!

In this article we will try to reveal some features of Vietnamese culture. The habits of the Vietnamese, their attitude towards children and mentality.

The Vietnamese are a very freedom-loving and even proud people. Despite their apparent good nature and smiling nature, it is better not to hurt their pride. At the same time, they are very simple in communication and their worldview, and in some cases even simple-minded. Money and profit are not always a priority for the Vietnamese; intimate gatherings are common here, where you will be treated and welcomed as a member of the family.

Having absorbed the traditions of centuries-old history and the trends of modernity, the culture of Vietnam demonstrates an excellent example of synthesis, allowing the country to take its rightful place in the current dynamic world, while remaining original, not absorbed by globalization processes. The features of this culture will be very interesting for inquisitive travelers.

Original culture of Vietnam

With your roots Vietnamese culture goes into the very depths of its long history. The La Viet traditions were closely fused with elements of Han culture, and in the south there was a very significant Khmer influence. In modern and recent historical times, European culture and Marxist ideology.

Religion of Vietnam

In this socialist state, most of the population adheres to atheistic views. Religion of Vietnam- is a mixture of Buddhists (about 10%) and Catholic Christians (almost 7%). There are other beliefs, but they are very few in number.

Economy of Vietnam

Modern times are strongly influenced by the state. Despite the reforms forcedly carried out by the communists after the crisis of the 80s and the disappearance of most of the socialist countries, market relations are not present in all spheres of life; there are noticeable imbalances in the development of certain sectors of the national economy. Nevertheless, Vietnam is experiencing some economic growth, facilitated by changes in international trade conditions.

Science of Vietnam

The modern one is quite well known in the world scientific community. This includes medicine, where Vietnamese scientists firmly occupy leading positions in the field of studying the effects of dioxin on humans, and state-supported research and development in the field of nanotechnology, and applied areas of knowledge.

Art of Vietnam

The most attractive for travelers is. Majestic temples, wonderful examples of folk crafts, national music and choreography coexist with modern architecture, theater, and literature.

Vietnamese cuisine

It is best known for its huge number of seasonings, the most famous of which is Phu Quoc fish sauce. Geography of Vietnam seriously affected the nutrition of its inhabitants. There are as many as three national cuisines in the country!

Customs and traditions of Vietnam

Their richness and diversity can give a head start to many more populated countries.

Sports of Vietnam

Modern can be safely called folk. Almost every resident of this interesting country is interested in some type of athletic activity. In 2007, Vietnam was one of the countries that hosted the Asian Football Championship.

The culture of Vietnam is unique and original, the process of its development has been going on for the third millennium. The Vietnamese nation was born among the lagoons and swamps of the Red River Delta approximately 4,000 years ago. For most of its independent existence, it was governed from Hanoi, Vietnam's small, elegant capital in the heart of the northern delta. Four greatest philosophies and religions have shaped the spiritual life of the Vietnamese people: Confucianism, Taoism, Buddhism and Christianity. The Vietnamese became acquainted with Confucianism and Taoism thanks to the Chinese. Along with Buddhism and Hinduism, which were brought here by Indian traders, these religious and philosophical teachings also largely determined the cultural development of Vietnam.

Over the centuries, Confucianism, Taoism, and Buddhism have been intertwined with Chinese folk beliefs and ancient Vietnamese animist views to form what is called Tam Giao (Triple Religion). The official language in the country is Vietnamese (Kinh). Different regions also have dialects spoken by different ethnic minorities. In some parts of the country, Khmer and Laotian languages ​​are spoken. Developed forms of art include: traditional silk painting; an eclectic form of theater including drama, puppetry, music and dance; religious sculpture; lacquer miniatures and ceramics

The territory of Vietnam has always been under the influence of three religious movements - Confucianism, Hinduism and Buddhism. Therefore, the Vietnamese mentality is prone to religious syncretism. Village temples feature local patron spirits, as well as the obligatory Buddha, Bodhisattva, Confucius and other religious and historical figures. Such an eclectic neighborhood does not seem strange to the Vietnamese. Village houses usually have at least two altars. The first is dedicated to ancestors - patrons, the second - to some deity.

The desire of the Vietnamese for a syncretic understanding of different religious movements led to the emergence of two sects that combine elements of European and Eastern religious philosophy. The first of them was called “Caodai” (Caodaism), which translated means “supreme palace”. The second sect, called Hohao (“Harmony and Nobility”), placed its main emphasis on the ideas of Taoism and Buddhism.

A feature of local religious consciousness is the cult of ancestors and the belief that the spirits of ancestors live in the same world with the living and are capable of influencing events. Most Vietnamese believe that ancestors are directly involved in all the affairs of their descendants - first of all, protecting them and warning them of impending danger. Preserving the memory of one’s ancestors and honoring them in every possible way is considered the moral duty of every person in this country.

Vietnam celebrates many religious and national holidays. The largest religious holiday is the Vietnamese New Year, Tet Nguyen Dan. Also, the Giong Festival, Marble Mountain Festival and folk song festivals are especially revered by local residents. At this time, various festivals and puppet theater performances take place in the country. Also important holidays for all Vietnamese are the Day of Wandering Souls and the Festival of Remembrance of the Dead. These holidays are celebrated according to the lunar calendar.

National holidays directly reflect the most significant events in the annals of Vietnam. This is the founding day of the Communist Party of Vietnam, Liberation Day, Ho Chi Minh's Birthday, International Labor Day, Nation Day, Youth Day and Defender of the Fatherland Day. Among the sporting events, it is worth highlighting the Singh wrestling festival, elephant racing, traditional bullfights, the Doi wrestling festival, ox racing and cockfighting.

Kitchen

Vietnamese cuisine is very diverse and has more than 500 national dishes. Traditional dishes include exotic meats and delicious vegetarian options. The basis of Vietnamese cuisine is white rice, generously seasoned with vegetables, fish, meat, spices and sauce. Spices in Vietnamese cuisine are soft and piquant: mint leaves, coriander, basil, ginger. Each region of the country has its own culinary pride. The North is famous for its unique noodle soup, seafood and fried meat dishes. In the south they prepare delicious seafood dishes - crabs, lobsters, squids and a wide variety of fish. The central part of the country is famous for its complex dishes, which are prepared according to extremely complex and ancient recipes.

The most popular dishes are noodles with sliced ​​pork, eggs, chicken and shrimp, clams with sea crabs, fried with salt. For preparing dishes we use: duck, pork, fish, spices, vegetables and fruits, crab meat, lobster and oysters. Buns, pasta, and boiled rice dumplings are very popular. Among the first courses, you should try eel soup, vermicelli soup, with chopped chicken and bitter soup. There are a lot of different original fruits: dragon fruit, jajabe, khaki, longan, pomela, three-stone cherry and water apple. Among the drinks, rice wine and numerous apricot, orange and lemon wines are very popular. Vietnamese coffee (ca fe phin) is very tasty; it is usually prepared very strong and very sweet.

Vietnamese home

A traditional Vietnamese home should fit into the overall picture of village life: it is separate from others, but at the same time it is part of the whole; it does not depend on anyone and at the same time is part of the village community. The walls separating the passages between the houses create a kind of closed world for the family living in this house, but at the same time they are “open” to the attitude of the entire village.

There are many different types of structure for a traditional Vietnamese home, but the two most common types are: T-shaped architecture (hình thước thợ) (main room and outbuildings) - this type is common in the lowland areas of northern Vietnam; architecture in the form of the hieroglyph "Môn" (the main room is located in the middle, and there are two outbuildings on the sides).

wedding ceremony

The Vietnamese have quite a few relatives, so most often the wedding lasts for a week, first congratulations from the bride’s relatives, then congratulations from the groom’s relatives. Matchmaking is a fairly common ritual and Vietnam is no exception. The groom and his matchmakers spend money on gifts for the bride and her relatives. Vietnamese brides accept all kinds of sweets as gifts; a mandatory gift is a coconut palm branch - a symbol of love in this country. After matchmaking, the groom must move into the bride's house and live there for approximately 3 years, but increasingly, under the influence of European views on life, this rule is becoming a thing of the past.

Since a Vietnamese wedding lasts for a week, and the country has a hot climate, much attention is paid to the choice of outfits for the bride. Since a wedding consists of several stages (registration at the city administration, temple, wedding walk, meeting guests), the bride has to change her outfit quite often.

After a half-hour wedding ceremony in the temple, the young couple invites guests to a festive dinner. If the wedding takes place in a Vietnamese village, then the feast is organized in a specially decorated tent. If the conditions are urban, then more often young people opt for small restaurants.

Recently, the wedding transport in Vietnam has been the rickshaw; even the rich part of the Vietnamese do not skimp on using the services of “cabs”.

The Vietnamese wedding menu is quite varied, starting with traditional rice, ending with seafood - food, drinks - vodka, beer. Pepsi is very popular. People who visited Vietnamese weddings claim that some dishes of the wedding dinner are prepared by the guests themselves, due to the fact that, there are a lot of invitees, sometimes several “streams”, the bride and groom do not have time to pay due attention to everyone. But only those dishes that do not require special preparation are prepared this way. Large containers with boiling oil are placed on the wedding table and the guests themselves put in some “delicious food”, most often it is sea food.

A few words about gifts... Most often it is souvenirs, gold jewelry, paintings depicting a dragon and a phoenix are symbols of happiness and prosperity. But according to tradition, in addition to gifts and flowers, it is customary to present watermelon seeds - a symbol of fertility.

The most important tradition Vietnam can be considered a sacred attitude towards ancestors and one’s culture, therefore, if European views on life have an influence on the rules and laws of Vietnam, then this influence is not significant. Attitudes towards family in this country have remained unchanged for a long time.

New Year

Vietnamese Tet (New Year) takes place on the 1st of the lunar calendar, not the solar calendar. Tet is a very multifaceted concept: it is preparation for welcoming the new year and seeing off the old year, full of joyful bustle, shopping and preparations; these include traditional rituals and ceremonies, games and competitions, musical and costume performances held before and after the start of the new year according to the lunar calendar; This is a very special state of people when it seems that everything bad and sad remains in the old year, and the new one will bring only everything good and kind.

Depending on the phases of the moon, this holiday falls at the end of January - beginning of February. Each year of the 12-year lunar cycle corresponds to a mythical creature, animal, reptile or bird, symbolizing the stages of the closed ring of life.

Vietnamese New Year - Tet - has centuries-old traditions. At the stroke of midnight, festive fireworks explode the skies of Hanoi and Haiphong, Da Nang and Ho Chi Minh City. In temples and pagodas the sounds of copper bells and the clatter of wooden chairs sound. Young people carry painted paper and cardboard dragons through the streets and squares. Red and yellow colors predominate in the festive decorations. Tet lasts four days.

Firstly, it is considered honorable to spend New Year's Eve in the company of a gray-haired man who is over 70 years old. The next morning you should go in search of a flower with dew drops on its petals, pick a branch of a peach tree, and give gifts to the children. By following these rituals, evil will never enter your home. But the most important thing on New Year's days is not to wish misfortune on another: following good rules will give peace and happiness to you and your loved ones. Even in the most difficult years, flatbreads and pies are always put on the festive table - banting and banzei, which are shaped like a circle and a square. They mean heaven and earth, and together - peace under a common roof.

On the second day of Tet, the most fun and fierce cockfights flare up on the territory of the most ancient temple in Indochina, Van Mieu. On the Lake of the Returned Sword in Hanoi, the water puppet theater gives performances - a unique folklore troupe, the only one in the world. In the historical center of Hanoi, on Hangluoc Street, elderly people kindly offer long bamboo poles. They need to be “planted” in front of the entrance to the house - they will block the way for evil spirits.

Tet is also a festival of flowers. The most festive flower is considered to be matcha - a sunny flower, or eastern “aster”. And these flowers, says the folk wisdom of the East, should be as many as there are people on Earth.

Tet has an ancient history, like the country of Vietnam itself. In Tet, people return to their origins, their ancestors. Everyone is trying to return home, even from a distance of thousands of kilometers, to be sure to be at home with their family.

There are many customs during Tet celebrations, especially on the first of January of the lunar year. As soon as twelve o'clock in the morning has arrived - this time is called "Giao Thya" (meaning "meeting of times") - children and grandchildren congratulate their grandparents and parents on the New Year, wishing them longevity and good health and prosperity. Then the adults congratulate the children and give them money for good luck. How much money doesn't matter. The most important thing: the money must be new (new bills or new coins). They must be packed in new red bags (either paper or fabric) with a red bow. On subsequent holidays, adult relatives, friends, and family acquaintances come to visit and can also give money for the well-being of children. The custom of giving money to children for the New Year is obligatory these days, and not a single New Year in Vietnam passes without observing this custom. Traditionally, the Vietnamese believe that giving children a little money is like the beginning of “prasadam” in the New Year, so that this beginning will be multiplied many times over.

During Tet in Buddhist temples, monks give money to parishioners, which is also placed in small red bags. It is like a gift of well-being from Buddha, from God. This is a gift for luck. A Vietnamese aphorism says: “A little prosperity from the Buddha is equal to a whole large basket of earthly prosperity.”