Vietnam culture and traditions. Daily life of the Vietnamese: work, life, entertainment

Customs and traditions

Despite long military conflicts and difficult times, Vietnam has preserved its ancient traditions and unique culture. The locals love their country very much and are friendly to guests.

The way of life and customs have evolved over many centuries. The Vietnamese have a leisurely and measured way of life, they are not in a particular hurry, rarely swear, do not raise their voices, maintaining inner calm.

The population of Vietnam takes good care of their health, eats right, and plays various sports. It is almost impossible to find a Vietnamese who is overweight.

Despite democratic relations in the family, the last word always remains with the man, as in many eastern countries.

Due to the fact that the art of Vietnam is popular and in demand, many local residents work in a creative environment - this is wood carving, tableware painting, and silk painting preserved in ancient times. Traditionally, the Vietnamese are very fond of theater, carnival processions and festivals, creating an atmosphere of general celebration and fun.

Modern Vietnamese are not particularly religious, but traditions with ancient origins are still present today in the form of various customs and superstitions. For example, the Vietnamese attach great importance to the name. A name spoken out loud, even with good intentions in the opinion of believers, can attract evil spirits and evil forces. Therefore, families have two names and one of them is known only to relatives. It is not customary to praise children, and they are often called in order of birth “first”, “second”.

Superstitious Vietnamese people maintain personal space, so they do not come close to their interlocutor, and in order not to disturb the patron spirit and soul of a person, it is not customary to touch the shoulders and especially the head. This is precisely what is associated with the greeting in the form of a slight bow with a prayer gesture at the chest; handshakes are not common.

A manifestation of politeness and good manners here is not to look into the eyes during a conversation, as well as the absence of sharp denials; instead, the Vietnamese select soft and evasive formulations.

To protect against evil spirits, mirrors are hung on the door from the street side.

It is also not customary to touch another person’s cutlery with chopsticks, use relatives’ towels, overturn musical instruments, and much more.

Despite the intertwining with Western ones, the country's traditions preserve the rich heritage of Vietnamese culture.

Travelers coming to another country should, of course, familiarize themselves with local customs and customs and treat them with respect.

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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.

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.

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Posted on http://allbest.ru

Moscow State University of Economics, Statistics and Informatics

Faculty: "Management"

Culture Vietnam

Completed by: Do Thi Thu Chang

Group DMM-101

Scientific supervisor: Davydova Yu.A.

Moscow 2013

Introduction

1. Culture Vietnam

2. Family connections

3. Wedding

4. Funeral

5. Religion and Faith

6. Art

9. Holidays and memorable dates

Conclusion

Bibliography

Introduction

Vietnam is an exotic country on the Indochina Peninsula, located next to Cambodia, Laos and China. Vietnam is able to amaze all the senses: picturesque landscapes and landscapes, the sounds of national chants and instruments, the smells and taste of national cuisine will not leave you indifferent.

The capital of Vietnam, Hanoi, is located in the north of the country, in the center of the Red River Delta and has seven districts. Since its founding, Hanoi has been considered a sacred land. Many temples, beautiful oriental pagodas and quiet lakes.

Ho Chi Minh City is the capital of the southern part of the country, a stronghold and “hotbed” of capitalism, bearing the imprint of the colonial past and French culture. A city of contrasts - neon lights, nightclubs, vices and freedom.

Vietnam is the most long-suffering country in Southeast Asia, having been under the rule of conquerors for most of its history.

Between 1860-1880, Vietnam was colonized by the French, who built industrial enterprises in the cities and began to grow rubber plantations.

French rule came to an end in 1945, when communist guerrilla forces captured the north of the country, and it split into North and South Vietnam. In 1956, the United States military sided with the South Vietnamese against the communists of North Vietnam.

The armed conflict escalated into a fierce war. The South Vietnamese government was overthrown in 1975. American troops left the country, and in 1976, South Vietnam and North Vietnam were united.

The country's economy suffered greatly as a result of the war and the political isolation caused by the war. However, in the post-war years, much was done to restore the destroyed economy.

culture vietnamese wedding art

1. Culture Vietnam

Vietnam is a country with ancient history and culture, has a huge number of valuable historical monuments, a diverse landscape and more than three thousand km of coastline along the rich South China Sea. The country amazes, first of all, with its natural beauty. A strip of wonderful beaches stretches along the coast, and in the center of the country there are mountains covered with dense forests.

Vietnam's rice culture is one of the oldest in East Asia. After China gained independence in the 10th century, Vietnam began to invade the southern lands of the Champa civilization (today central Vietnam) as well as the Khmer civilization (today southern Vietnam).

In the ancient world and in the Middle Ages, India had a great influence on the culture of Vietnam, in modern and modern times - France, then the Soviet Union.

During the French colonial period, European civilization left its mark on Vietnamese culture. In particular, Catholicism and the Latin alphabet became widespread in Vietnam, which is still the basis of Vietnamese writing. Today Vietnam is the only Asian country with a Latin alphabet.

The main values ​​of Vietnamese culture are veneration of ancestors, respect for society, as well as family values, craft work, the desire to learn and loyalty. And the main symbols of Vietnam include images of dragons, turtles, lotus and bamboo.

Many major religious festivals in Vietnam are celebrated according to the lunar calendar. There are a large number of holidays associated with events in history and with the traditions of the local population.

The way of life of a Vietnamese, his thinking is closely connected with his place of birth, his village, which often leads a separate lifestyle and places strict demands on the behavior of its inhabitants.

Vietnamese traditions touch all aspects of the lives of its citizens from birth to death.

2. Family connections

Family ties play an important role in Vietnam. Unlike European culture, which focuses on individualism, in Vietnam the clan community dominates the family. This also distinguishes Vietnam from China, since there the family comes first. Each clan has an altar and a patriarch.

Most of the inhabitants of small villages are blood relatives. This can be seen in the names of such places: Dangsa (the place where the Dangs live), Tyausa (the place where the Tau live), and so on. In most rural areas, three or four generations live in a communal house.

Due to the importance that family ties have for the Vietnamese, society has a complex hierarchical system of relationships. It is believed that there must be nine generations in a clan, from great-grandparents to great-great-grandchildren. In this case, the place in the hierarchy is not determined by age: the late, younger children of the older brother will be considered “elder” in relation to the early children of the younger brother. This model of family relationships led to the emergence of a complex system of pronouns.

3. Wedding

A traditional Vietnamese wedding is one of the most significant events in Vietnam. Despite Westernization, many ancient traditions are observed by both the people of Vietnam and the Viet Kieu.

Getting married is an important event in the life of the Vietnamese. The procedure of the ancient wedding ceremony was very complex. Current wedding ceremony procedures include the following stages: looking for a husband or wife, proposal, registration, and finally the wedding.

Until the 20th century, Vietnamese married early, weddings were organized by parents and family members, but the newlyweds themselves had almost no voting rights. In modern Vietnam, this tradition is a thing of the past, and the Vietnamese choose their partners themselves. Depending on the habits of specific ethnic groups, marriage includes various stages and procedures involved, but in general there are two main rites:

· Le ankhoi (L? An H?i) - betrothal ceremony:

Some time before the wedding, the groom and his family visit the bride's family with round lacquered boxes containing wedding gifts. The number of boxes must be odd. Common gifts are areca nuts, tea leaves, cakes, fruits, wine, other delicacies and money. Gifts are covered with red cloth and carried by unmarried family members of both sexes. Families set a wedding date.

· Lekyoy (L? Se?i)-wedding ceremony:

On the wedding day, the groom and his family again come to the bride to ask her relatives to give their daughter to their house. Guests are invited to the wedding celebration. The bride and groom pray in front of the altar, asking their ancestors for permission to marry, and also express gratitude to the couple's parents.

4. Funeral

When someone dies in Vietnam, their family holds a five- or six-day wake, which can be extended if someone needs time to arrive. The body of the deceased is washed and dressed. A stick is placed between the teeth, a pinch of rice and three coins are placed in the mouth. The body is laid on a grass bed on the ground, according to the proverb “one born of the earth must return to it.” The body is wrapped in white cloth and placed in a coffin, after which it is buried.

The family, dressed in simple tunics and fine mesh turbans, perform either traditional or modern funeral rituals.

The deceased person's family members wear a white turban or black stripes in the morning.

· Traditional funeral: The date and time of burial are carefully chosen. Friends and relatives accompany the deceased to the cemetery, throwing sacrificial objects along the way. The coffin is buried in the cemetery. After three days of mourning, the family revisits the cemetery for graveside veneration. After 49 days, they stop placing rice on the family altar for the deceased. After 100 days, the day of the “end of tears” is celebrated. A year later marks the anniversary of the death, and two years later the end of mourning.

· Modern funerals: Vietnamese modern funerals only involve covering the body with cloth, coffin position, funeral procession, coffin burial and grave visits.

The family of the deceased performs a vigil ritual after a hundred days, all family members sit in pairs in a line. The invited monk places a small piece of cotton on the head of each family member, rings a bell and chants while rotating the bell over the head of the deceased.

It is believed that this opens the way back to life. A bamboo branch with leaves on the top and pieces of paper attached with the name of the deceased begins to sway when the deceased returns. It is believed that on this day the soul of the deceased can move into one of the relatives and talk to the others.

Preparation for this ritual takes the whole day, prayers and chants, before moving in last 6 hours. After the ritual, relatives burn the paper house and things made from paper that may be useful to the deceased in the next life.

5. Religion and Faith

The main religious movements in Vietnam are Buddhism (which is divided into Taoism and Confucianism), Christianity (Catholicism and Protestantism), Islam, Caodaism and the Hoa Hao sect.

Buddhism Buddhism emerged in Vietnam around the 2nd century and reached its peak in the Ly dynasty (11th century). Then Buddhism was recognized as the main - official religion of Vietnam. Buddhism was preached widely among the population, and it deeply influenced people's daily lives. His influence also left marks in various areas of traditional literature and architecture, corresponding to the large number of pagodas and temples built during this time. At the end of the 14th century, Buddhism began to lose its position among the mass of the population. The ideological influence of Buddhism, however, remained very strong in social and cultural life. Today, more than 70 percent of Vietnam's population is either Buddhist or strongly influenced by Buddhist morals.0

Catholicism appeared in Vietnam in the 17th century.

The largest branch of Christianity in terms of the number of adherents, Catholicism, was introduced by Portuguese missionaries in the 16th century and strengthened during French colonial rule. The first visits met with moderate success, but later Jesuit missions allowed Catholicism to gain a foothold among the local population.

Islamic followers in Vietnam come from the Cham ethnic minority group living in the central central coast. The number of Islamic followers in Vietnam is estimated at approximately 50,000.

The first Jews came to Vietnam, most likely during French colonization, in the second half of the 19th century.

Caodaism first appeared in the country in 1926.

The Hoa Hao sect appeared in Vietnam in 1939. More than 1 million Vietnamese are followers of this sect. Most of them live in the southwestern part of Vietnam.

In Vietnam, as in Japan, there are difficulties in determining the religious status of the population: many cannot accurately indicate what religion they profess.

In addition to the above, ancestor cult, as well as animism, is widespread in Vietnam: most Vietnamese, regardless of religious affiliation, practice ancestor cult rituals and have an altar at home or at work.

In addition to obligations to family and clan, education played an important role in Vietnam. Scientists in ancient times were at the top of society, and people of humble origin could increase their social status solely through study and passing imperial exams, similar to mandarins. Passing the exams could open doors to careers and lead to power and prestige.

6. Art

The art of Vietnam is art created by residents of Vietnam, as well as emigrants and their descendants. The art of Vietnam also includes ancient works that appeared before Vietnam gained statehood, for example, Dong Son drums.

Throughout its history, Vietnamese art has been influenced by Chinese Buddhist art, Cham Hindu art, and, in the 19th and 20th centuries, the art of France.

The Chinese influence on Vietnamese art was the most significant. Areas of influence include ceramics and pottery, calligraphy and architecture.

Many Vietnamese work in creative environments, as Vietnamese art is of interest and demand.

Vietnamese literature consists of two unrelated parts: folk and author.

Written literature that appeared around the 10th century. At first, Chinese characters and the ancient Indian language Sanskrit were used for writing in Vietnam, but later they switched to the Latin alphabet, creating their own alphabet.

Ancient folk literature includes Vietnamese myths about the dragon and the origins of people, folk tales, the lamprey epic tales "The Birth of Water and the Birth of Earth" and court poetry. The works of writers reflected the struggle against the Chinese and Mongol conquerors, everyday problems and emotional experiences. The Vietnamese literary language reached its highest degree of development in classical poetry.

The pillars of Vietnamese literature of the New Age are Nguyen Chai (15th century), Nguyen Binh Khiem (16th century), Nguyen Du (18th-19th centuries). And famous Vietnamese poetesses: Ba Huyen Thanh Quan, Doan Thi Diem and Ho Xuan Huong.

In the last decades of the 20th century, the genres of literature in Vietnam gradually converged with the genres of literature in Europe and America. At this time, the most famous were the prose writers Nguyen Hong (1918-1982), To Hoai, Le Luu, Nguyen Manh Tuan, poets Xuan Gieu (1916-1985), Te Lan Vien, Te Hanh, poet and playwright Nguyen Dinh Thi.

Modern Vietnamese literature has gone through periods of romanticism, realism, and military heroism.

Until the 10th century, the Vietnamese used wood to build houses to protect themselves from tigers and wolves. There were two types of houses, one shaped like a boat and the other shaped like a turtle shell.

Due to the large number of lakes, swamps, and rivers, as well as the influence of the humid tropical climate, the main building materials were bamboo and wood, which were used to build houses on low stilts. At the end of the 19th century, houses on stilts remained in mountainous areas and plains throughout the country.

During the 11th century, a new stage in architectural terms began in a single feudal state under the influence of the Li dynasty.

Typically, the architecture of the Li Dynasty, 11th and 12th centuries, was reflected in five main directions: fortresses, palaces, castles, pagodas and ordinary houses.

In the mid-15th century, under the influence of the "Le" dynasty, orthodox architecture had two dominant styles: the palatial palace and the royal tomb. From the 16th to 17th centuries, religious architecture gained great popularity in architectural construction.

At the end of the 19th century, new architectural trends came to Vietnam, which, under the influence of Europe, brought interaction between French and Eastern culture into urban planning. Since reunification in 1975, Vietnam's architecture has developed by leaps and bounds.

Many new towns and residential areas, industrial zones, and new villages with major architectural works have brought high artistic value to regional development. Although the main modernity occurs in the megacities: Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, cities of regional significance also do not remain aside. Currently, the architectural complex is intertwined in 5 main areas: interior design, architectural design, exterior design, urban planning and regional planning. Along with this, questions arise about the spontaneous development of urban areas, the protection of architectural monuments and housing construction strategies. All these issues require immediate resolution.

Sculpture in Vietnam is closely related to architecture; it was used as a decorative decoration for buildings to create an accent in the overall composition. In their works, sculptors created figures of people, dancers and musicians, figures of deities and animals. They tried to make people’s faces as realistic as possible, depicting thick lips, wide noses, thick eyebrows and mustaches. Among the animals, the most common are sculptures of elephants, lions and monkeys, as well as sculptures of decorative animals in the form of dragons with the body of a snake, decorated with ornamental designs. Sculptors usually depicted animals in motion and in various poses.

Calligraphy in Vietnam has an ancient history. Until the 20th century, Vietnamese calligraphers used Chinese and Vietnamese characters, but after the transition to Latinized writing, most calligraphers switched to the national script.

Even at a time when knowledge of hieroglyphic writing was the lot of a few educated scientists and officials, calligraphy played an important role in the life of the Vietnamese. On holidays, such as New Year's, people would go to their local teacher or scholar to get a calligraphic inscription, which they would hang on the wall of their house.

The Sin Village paintings, which originated from the Sin Village town, a suburb of Hau City (the capital of Vietnam in 1802-1945), are well known in central Vietnam. Most of the Sin Village paintings are used for worship, and they express a mystical character based on the beliefs of the ancient Vietnamese.

Among these beliefs is the “Statue of a Woman”, the guardian angel of women. "Shin" paintings are made using only one printed circuit board. With its help, all the drawn lines and black figures of the picture are created. After this, the whole picture is filled with black tones, sometimes the pictures are decorated with colorful lines, but this is already a departure from the classical style. Some paintings are still printed on plain (“primitive”) paper.

Dong Ho, full name "Dong Ho Folk Colored Woodcuts" is a colored woodblock print that originated in a village located in Bac Ninh Province during the Le Dynasty.

Dongho is made on a special shiny paper containing glutinous rice and crushed scallop shells and therefore called zay diep, and painted with natural dyes. Common themes of dongho are good wishes, historical figures, daily activities and folklore.

In the past, donghos were a mandatory part of Vietnamese New Year celebrations, but this tradition is gradually disappearing due to the spread of fake donghos and the popularization of Western New Year celebrations. Dong Ho is a cultural heritage of Vietnam.

The music of Vietnam differs in three regions of the country: northern, central and southern.

Vietnamese music has had quite a long and rich history. Since ancient times, the Vietnamese have had a strong penchant for musical expressions.

For the Vietnamese, music is an essential need, therefore, numerous musical instruments and genres have developed rapidly throughout the history of the Vietnamese people. Vietnamese people use music to express their deepest feelings, to encourage themselves - working and fighting for life, teaching children traditions and national patriotism, and to raise the desire for a happy life.

Simple and primitive instruments, as well as more complex ones, have been preserved over the centuries to form a rich musical treasure. Numerous forms of songs and music have been preserved through transmission from generation to generation. These include lullabies, children's songs, ritual songs, songs of celebration, various work songs, courtship songs, riddle songs, melodies and narration of poems. There are also songs and music for groups of people and traditional water puppet theater.

Vietnamese traditional music is diverse due to the different genres that were formed during different periods in Vietnam's history. Songs of the same genre often differ from each other depending on ethnicity. As a result, the lullaby song "Kinh" is different from the lullaby "Muong".

Traditional music has always played an important role in the life of the Vietnamese. Currently, music also occupies a significant position in the spiritual life of the Vietnamese. Some unique genres of music still exist in rural areas, while other genres have been popularized and have mass distribution.

As in other forms of art, Vietnamese theater developed both its own genres and those borrowed from China and later from Europe:

· Teo - satirical North Vietnamese peasant theater, performances are often accompanied by dance. Performances by semi-professional troupes traditionally take place in the village square, but with increasing interest in the genre, professional troupes have appeared on stage.

Theo Theater absorbed folk melodies and dances. The orchestra accompanying the performances uses folk musical instruments. Theo's performances are based on folklore stories and popular narrative poems. Theo theater still occupies an important place in the cultural life of the Vietnamese village.

· Tuong is a Vietnamese version of Chinese opera, originally performed at court, but later passed on to the people.

· Tuong is based on a combination of music, pantomime, dance, poetry, acrobatics and fencing. At the center of the play, the tuonga is a heroic character who performs a feat in the name of the Motherland and the emperor. Tuonga performances are based on the principles of grotesque, convention and symbolism, which can be seen in the poses, gestures, makeup, and stage movement of the actors. There are no scenery or curtains on the stage, the time and place of action are not determined - the actor must indicate all this with his performance.

· Water puppet theater - original Vietnamese art, water puppets.

· Vongko is a semi-amateur theater based on folk theatre, the predecessor of the Cailhuong Theatre.

· Cay Luong - a “renewed” theater, a modern folk opera that appeared in the south of the country.

At the beginning of the 20th century, Cailhuong musical theater emerged. The musical part and orchestra were modernized in Cay Luong, scenery, a curtain, a stage were added, and the acting became more natural. The repertoire was formed not only due to traditional plots, but also performances on modern themes.

· Kitnoy - a modern “conversation” theater, or a theater of classical Vietnamese drama.

Water puppet theater is a native Vietnamese art that appeared in the 10th century.

Water puppet theater is found only in Vietnam. It originated in Vietnamese villages in the Red River Delta.

In ancient times, dolls were made from wooden blocks and then covered with several layers of waterproof paint. And to control the puppets, threads were used to weave nets and bamboo poles. The action takes place on water, along the surface of which dolls move.

The actors control the puppets with their hands, standing chest-deep in water behind a screen. The lower part of the screen is made of bamboo sticks and allows the actors to observe the puppets.

The Vietnamese government saved this art from extinction, recognizing it as part of the country's cultural heritage. In addition, water puppets are very popular among tourists. Puppet artists are trained in rural areas of the country.

Vietnam is home to 54 officially recognized nations, and each has its own national dance. Some of them are performed (performed) at court or on holidays, such as the dance of kings.

Martial art in Vietnam, which has a long history and developed for a long time under the influence of the Chinese Empire, existed on the Indochina Peninsula until the colonial takeover by France at the end of the 19th century, until the Vietnamese state itself was divided into North, South and Central Vietnam.

The term “to Vietnam”, in which the particle “into” carries a collective meaning, means nothing more than a complex of traditional martial arts, including wrestling, fist fighting, fighting with weapons, as well as special breathing exercises.

In the 20th century, following Western civilization, various new arts appeared in Vietnam: photography, cinema and television. At the beginning of 1997, there were 191 professional arts organizations and 26 film studios in Vietnam.

Vietnamese cuisine is famous for its unusualness and refined taste. It is not like Chinese, Korean, or Japanese, although it has borrowed a lot from them. Mint leaves, coriander, lemongrass (schisandra), shrimp, nuoc mam fish sauce, ginger, black pepper, garlic and basil give Vietnamese dishes a unique, distinctive aroma. Not scalding, but gentle and piquant spices, minimal use of fats, an emphasis on fresh ingredients, a variety of dishes from rice, vegetables and seafood make Vietnamese cuisine not only tasty, but also healthy, and in addition very popular among both the most sophisticated gourmets and for adherents of healthy eating.

Traditionally, fish, chicken and pork dishes are a favorite among locals in Vietnamese cuisine, along with cooked vegetables and rice or noodles. In addition, in Vietnam they eat young bamboo shoots - a very healthy and tasty product, although they do not have a pleasant smell. Even the Vietnamese themselves consider “a repulsive smell with excellent taste” to be a characteristic feature of their cuisine.

The French influence in Vietnamese cuisine is evident in the abundance of fresh baguettes, pates and cheeses that can be purchased from street vendors everywhere. The country also inherited the French love for coffee. Vietnamese coffee usually has a very strong chocolate and mocha flavor and is served in a small glass or cup with condensed milk.

The national cuisine is quite different in different regions of Vietnam: North, Central and South. Each of them has its own unique recipes of Vietnamese cuisine and cooking traditions. The north is mostly known for its famous noodle soup, fried meats and seafood.

In the Center, especially in the area of ​​​​the ancient capital of Hue, perhaps the most complex dishes of Vietnamese cuisine are prepared.

In the South there is a great abundance of spices, and accordingly, all dishes are much more spicy.

One of the most famous Vietnamese dishes is pho soup.

In the Middle Ages, clothing was a very important social marker; there were strict rules regulating costume. Commoners were prohibited from wearing bright colors; in some periods, only black, brown and white were allowed.

Aotytkhan, a “four-piece dress,” was worn by ordinary women along with a yem apron-shirt. The peasants dressed in pajama-like silk suits, called aokan in the north, and aobaba in the south.

The usual headdresses of peasants are a strip of khandong brocade wrapped around the head and a nonla hat. Ordinary Vietnamese did not wear shoes.

Monarchs could wear gold clothes that were prohibited to the rest of the population, and nobles could wear red and crimson clothes. The styles and colors of the robes depended on the current date and position of the wearer.

The most famous Vietnamese costume in the world and popular among the population is called ao dai. 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.

In everyday life, traditional clothing in Vietnam has been replaced by Western clothing, the only exception being Ao Dai.

In recent years, the echo of modern foreign fashion has reached Vietnam, especially clearly in large cities, but women in urban and rural areas prefer traditional Ao Dai dresses. In general, Vietnamese clothing is very diverse. Each ethnic group in Vietnam has its own style of clothing. For more than thousands of years, the traditional clothing of all ethnic groups in Vietnam has undergone changes, but each ethnic group has maintained its own traditions in national clothing.

Nowadays, in several schools, female students wear a plain white ao dai as their uniform.

9. Holidays and memorable dates

There are many festivals and traditional celebrations in Vietnam, many of which date back over a thousand years of history. The most important among them are Tet and the Mid-Autumn Festival. National holidays are listed below.

End of January - beginning of February (The last day of the last month of the lunar calendar is the third day of the first month of the lunar calendar) - Tet - Vietnamese New Year, the largest holiday in Vietnam.

April (tenth day of the third month according to the lunar calendar, lasts 7 days) - Remembrance Day of the Hung Kings.

Hungah - rulers of the first Vietnamese state of Van Lang.

Conclusion

Despite the fact that the country of Vietnam is small, the culture of Vietnam is truly unique and original, because it was formed over 3 millennia and was formed as a result of the fusion of cultures, traditions, customs and beliefs of several peoples. Throughout its development, there were periods of rise and fall, brutal wars stood in the way of its development, it connected with alien cultures and found independent paths of development. All this has made the culture of Vietnam so extraordinary, arousing interest on the part of not only specialists, but also ordinary people seeking to discover something new for themselves.

Vietnam is a country stunning with its ancient culture, exotic, enchanting and alluring...

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    The influence of geographical features on the culture and mentality of the Japanese. Japanese language as an important component of Japanese culture. Genres and styles of painting. The art of calligraphy. History of the development of Japanese theater. Traditional clothing and residential buildings of the Japanese.

    presentation, added 10/09/2014

    Culture as one of the most ancient phenomena of human life. Stages of formation of ancient culture, characteristic features of art at the earliest stages of human civilization. Material culture of primitive people, analysis of archaic culture.

    test, added 06/18/2010

    The essence of basic concepts and terms, pre-theatrical forms of dramatic creativity. Folk puppet theater, its types, forms and characters. Development of folk dramatic art in modern forms of professional and amateur theater.

    test, added 03/09/2009

    Carnival in Venice. Holidays on the water, court performances. Societies, holidays of fools. Professional theater in Italy, comedy Dell'arte. Festive square theater of Russia. Buffoons in Rus', the Parsley Theater, nativity scene, farce performances.

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.”