Incredible customs of the Vietnamese and other tourist notes. How everything works: family traditions of Vietnam Vietnam morals customs traditions and rituals
Vietnam is a country in Southeast Asia that boasts a rich history and distinctive culture. Vietnam is currently on the rise, namely, the government pays great attention to healthcare and preserving the cultural characteristics of the country, the infrastructure of cities is being improved, and the tourism industry has also flourished. We will consider all this and much more in more detail in our article.
Vietnamese way of life
Traditionally, the culture and life of Vietnam are associated with agriculture, namely rice growing. To a lesser extent, local residents are engaged in fishing, breeding pigs and poultry.
Until the second half of the 19th century, all Vietnamese lived according to the rules of a rural community, the basis of which were men over eighteen years of age. The Vietnamese lived in groups connected by numerous family ties. The head of the family was a man, the eldest in age, after whose death this privilege passed to the eldest son.
The Vietnamese marriage system was based on a ransom for a wife, which was often replaced by labor. Currently, the country's government is actively trying to abolish this custom.
Vietnamese houses are built mainly from wood, woven bamboo and clay with straw. Various outbuildings are built around the home, such as a chicken coop, barn and others. The furniture in such a hut is usually also carved from wood and consists of the most necessary interior items, such as a chest, bed and hammock. Housewares are made from scrap materials - chopsticks carved from bamboo, bowls made from coconut shells, wicker jugs and much more.
Vietnamese clothing consists of a loose jacket with pockets and wide pants. The festive clothing of the local population is a dress with a stand-up collar and a right-hand wrap, under which straight pants are worn.
Main types of crafts
In the culture of Vietnam, the first mention of which goes back to ancient times, about a hundred crafts are known. Particular attention is paid to blacksmithing, pottery, weaving, wood carving, weaving, embroidery and jewelry making.
Vietnamese silverware, boxes, and lacquer wickerwork are known all over the world, including not only household items, but also junk sails.
During archaeological excavations, ceramics and pottery, weapons and scraps of silk fabric were found, which were distinguished by artistic skill and high taste.
National cuisine
The national cuisine of Vietnam is diverse, based on vegetable dishes, cereals (mainly rice), fish, soy milk and a variety of sauces and spices.
The Vietnamese meal goes as follows: a large dish with rice and vegetable soup, fish and a variety of sauces and seasonings is placed in the center of the makeshift table. The whole family gathers and each participant is given a bowl and chopsticks.
Green tea is considered the main drink of the local population. Although coffee is becoming increasingly popular these days. The Vietnamese cook it very strong and sweet, and at the very end, before serving, they add ice to it.
and culture
Among the religious movements popular in Vietnam, the cult of ancestors is widespread, as well as a mix of Buddhism, Taoism and Confucianism.
The Vietnamese believe that their ancestors guard their home after their death. Therefore, almost everywhere the tourist’s eye comes across the altar of the ancestors, which is a miniature table with an incense burner with lit incense sticks, fruits and flowers located on it.
Holidays
The culture and traditions of Vietnam, among which folk festivals occupy a special place, go back centuries. Among the most revered holiday events among the local population are Tet and the Mid-Autumn Festival, which usually falls in September.
The Vietnamese associate Tet with the beginning of spring, so various flowers and trees are planted throughout the area. Women also bake traditional pies and sew outfits for the whole family. On the day of the holiday, all family members try to get together. At midnight, bells begin to ring, fireworks and firecrackers explode, and incense sticks are lit in houses.
During these days, a competition program is organized for adults and carousels and swings are built for children. For two days everyone has fun, participating in competitions in archery, wrestling, ball throwing, horse racing, stilt running and kite flying. The third day of the festival is characterized by a custom introduced by Ho Chi Minh in the second half of the 20th century. On this day, the Vietnamese plant trees to decorate their native land.
The second widely known holiday event is the Mid-Autumn Festival. In honor of this day, children prepare paper and clay figurines of fish, dragons, crabs and many lanterns that decorate houses and streets. The day of celebration is characterized by festive processions to the beat of drums.
Sculpture and architecture
The main materials used by Vietnamese sculptors were bronze and wood. Already at the beginning of our era, sculptures by Vietnamese masters amazed the imagination with their artistic taste and high technical data. It is worth noting the fact that to give strength to wooden sculptures, the Vietnamese covered them with several layers of varnish.
The skill of Vietnamese sculptors reached its peak in the period from the 11th to the 17th centuries, when the capital of the ancient state (modern Hanoi) was built up. At this time, a huge palace complex and many pagodas were built. Some of the sculptures from that time have survived to this day. All of them are included in the world art treasury. These are carved columns with dragons, stone statues of dancers, lotuses, sculptures of elephants, heads of deities and others.
It is worth noting the fact that the main feature of the culture of Vietnam, in contrast to its Asian neighbors, is the lack of rich decorations and the miniature structures of temple complexes and pagodas.
Vietnam is famous for its abundance of temples and pagodas, so it is quite difficult to select the most interesting ones. For example, Tay Phuong Temple, which is located near the capital and is screened from tourist eyes by tropical vegetation. The temple is built of wood, three hundred and eighty steps lead to it. The interior decoration of the temple consists of intricate wooden carved dragons, various plants and a Buddha statue.
Particularly popular among the local population is the One Pillar Pagoda, which was built in the 11th century. It is located in the central area of the capital. According to the architects of that time, the pagoda stands on one stone column, which rests on the bottom of the lake. Inside the structure there is a wooden statue of the revered goddess of mercy Quan Am.
Painting and graphics
Vietnam's artistic culture is of great value as a world heritage. Particularly noteworthy are the wall paintings in temples and pagodas, illustrations of folk tales, poems and legends. Also famous are paintings from the everyday life of peasants, which often had satirical or humorous overtones. It is worth noting the many images of temples and ritual ceremonies of the local population. Also worthy of special mention are pictures of ancient battles and images calling residents to patriotism.
Folk epic
Vietnamese culture is famous for its folklore, which includes various fairy tales, ballads, myths and legends. Chroniclers recorded these folk art items in their chronicles.
Since the 14th century, Vietnamese poets have collected all works of folklore into volumes. The poet Nguyen Dong Thi deserves special mention, who did a great job of creating a multi-volume edition of works of folk art.
Literature
The first collection of Vietnamese poems that has survived to this day belongs to the pen of Nguyen Chai, who lived in the 14th-15th centuries. ad. This man glorified himself not only as a poet, but also as a great military and political figure.
Masterpieces of classical literature appeared at the beginning of the 18th century. These include the works of the poet Nguyen Du. Later, culture in Vietnam went through a stage of romanization of writing. Following this, a collection of Ho Chi Minh was released. In the 20th century, novels and stories on the theme of the life of ordinary people became widespread.
Further in the history of Vietnam, a war began against the French invaders. Therefore, poems about the heroism and patriotism of Vietnamese soldiers, as well as satirical works that ridiculed the enemy, gained popularity.
In the second half of the 20th century, the Writers' Union was created at the initiative of the state. Thanks to this, many masterpieces of world literature have been translated into Vietnamese. Publishing houses that publish local newspapers and magazines are also starting to operate.
music and dancing
The music and dance culture of Vietnam has its roots in ancient times. It represents labor, choleric and satirical songs of working people. The most common musical instruments were five-string and three-string guitar, drum, two-string violin, gong, castanets and flute. The entire local population, due to the peculiarities of Vietnamese culture, is very musical.
Theater
There are about twelve different types of theater culture in Vietnam. Let's briefly talk about one of them in our article. This is a puppet theater on the water. This art form is a performance in which all the roles are played by large painted puppets. The dolls are controlled using a clever system of threads and bamboo sticks. The Vietnamese who control these dolls are located at a considerable distance from the performance site. All the action takes place on the smooth surface of a pond or rice field.
This ancient and colorful theatrical art of Vietnam is beloved by local residents and is very popular among tourists.
The website continues to talk about the strangest and most unusual traditions of different countries. We have already talked about:
The culture and customs of another country often seem to us, if not wild, then strange. And when we wrote about Japanese traditions, it seemed that there was and could not be anything more amazing. But as it turned out, Southeast Asia is even more full of exoticism and traditions incomprehensible to us than Japan. Those interested in traveling to Vietnam will experience these exotic oddities to the fullest. Which of course will make your impressions travel in Vietnam unforgettable.
1. Road traffic
To get to know the country, it is of course best to travel as a “savage”, and many guidebooks advise planning travel around Vietnam consider renting a moped and travel around Vietnam"on your own." However, you should know that the main reason for spoiled holidays for tourists in Vietnam is not food, tropical diseases or snakes - it is road accidents.
There are few cars in Vietnam, but there are plenty of mopeds. Major intersections are regulated by police or traffic lights, but compliance with the rules does not seem mandatory - those in a hurry can easily drive onto the sidewalk. Most intersections are not regulated at all. However, this doesn’t bother the Vietnamese much - pedestrians, in order to cross the street, simply continue to move at their normal speed, giving mopeds the opportunity to go around them at their convenience. Shopping can also be done without leaving the moped - you just need to drive up to the store, ask, for example, for shampoo and the seller will bring it. And it should be noted that many tourists quickly got used to it and traveling around Vietnam They've been doing the same for several days now.
2. Betel and tobacco
Traveling around Vietnam You will find people everywhere smoking local strong tobacco (thuoc lao) or chewing betel nut. For example, male peasants always carry a pipe with them, which they smoke while planting rice to brighten up this monotonous task.
The habit of chewing betel nuts, a chewable plant mixture, or betel nuts, has been known to the Vietnamese since ancient times. Old medical books claim that chewing betel nut and betel nut makes the breath aromatic, relieves negative emotions and promotes the digestion of food. Betel makes people become friendly and open.
Betel also plays an important role in rituals - in particular, any wedding ceremony should include dishes with betel and betel nuts.
3. Vietnamese wedding
Before the wedding, the groom's mother brings pink chalk and betel nuts to the bride's house. Pink chalk symbolizes a bright future. Betel nut is a way of showing respect to the groom and his family. Only after this ceremony can the groom and his family go to the bride's house.
The last night before the wedding is very important. The mother of the bride combs her daughter's hair with numerous combs. Each ridge has its own meaning. The third one is the most important. When using it, the mother asks for a happy future for her daughter.
Beauty is sometimes a truly terrible force!
4. Beauty is a terrible force
All over the world, women, and indeed many men, try to whiten their teeth, since white teeth are the standard of beauty. What can you say about radically black teeth? Women of one Vietnamese tribe apply black varnish to their teeth to look attractive. The varnish consists of the ashes of burnt coconut shells and resin. But this is done not only for beauty - white teeth here are considered a sign of demons, wild animals and savages, and a cultured and educated woman should not resemble any of the above. It's hard to argue with that.
5. Names
Children in Vietnam are often named by their birth order. The eldest is called Big, then comes the Second, Third and so on.
When one of the family members is dying, the whole family comes to him and the elder invites him to take a new name, since it is believed that a person should not go into another world with the name that he bore during life. The most commonly used names (in translation) for men are Loyalty, Honesty, for women - Devotion, Harmony.
6. All Vietnamese are brothers
According to legend, the ancestors of the Vietnamese people were a dragon lord and an immortal princess. Therefore, all Vietnamese are related to each other.
Vietnamese wedding
7. The Bird of Happiness
On the streets you can often see sellers with birds in cages. However, they are not sold as pets, but for religious purposes. Followers of Buddhism buy birds to release them as another good deed. So, traveling around Vietnam, you will also have the opportunity to do a good deed.
8. Who gets up early...
Most Vietnamese wake up at 5:30, many do gymnastics or go to the market. They start work at 7-7:30. The lunch break can rather be called a siesta. It starts at 11, the Vietnamese go home to have lunch with their families, rest until half past one during the hottest time of the day. The working day ends at half past five.
9. Nuok mom is the head of everything
Used in almost every Vietnamese dish, nuoc mam is a sauce derived from salted fish.
10. Ant eggs
The cuisine of Southeast Asia deserves its own book, and more than one. Traveling through Vietnam and Cambodia, you will come across a huge variety of delicacies such as scorpions, beetles, grasshoppers, frogs... But even in this series, white ant eggs seem to be a particularly strange food. However, they taste surprisingly good in soups, for example. The eggs are soft, burst gently on the teeth and have a sour taste.
If after reading these strange Vietnamese traditions you have the impression that Vietnam is a wild country, then this is a mistake. Vietnam is developing rapidly, and the Vietnamese are well aware of Western culture and tolerant of tourists. So if you are going to travel around Vietnam, you will find a mixture of modern and traditional here, and you will surely enjoy it.
The strangest traditions of Vietnam TOP 10!
Let's start with the fact that in Vietnamese families it is customary to call children not by names, but by the order of their birth.
For example, the oldest will be called “big”, and the next ones will be called by serial numbers. Today this tradition has been lost, but remnants of it still remain in small, abandoned settlements. But what will be written below is still valid.
Traditions of national cuisine of Vietnam
The first thing that comes to mind for tourists upon arrival in Vietnam is visiting local restaurants. This country is very fond of spices and seasonings. Moreover, hot spices are considered the most favorite, and they begin to be consumed from a very young age. That is why what is hot and spicy for us is ordinary everyday food for the Vietnamese.
For example, locals add nuoc sauce to almost every dish., which is produced at a local fish factory. This is a strange substance prepared from salted fish using a technology that involves rotting. Not very pleasant for tourists, but the population really loves this sauce.
Also in Vietnam, tourists will definitely try insects and amphibians. This tradition also exists in Africa. But only in Vietnam you can taste the eggs of forest ants. It doesn’t look very appetizing in appearance, but some tourists claim that the eggs taste pleasant, and their juice has an astringent effect.
Beauty in Vietnamese
Many local traditions are associated with religious movements. Some Vietnamese to this day firmly believe that demons and spirits live next door to them, but no one can see them.
Also in Vietnam there is one interesting tribe that considers a person with white teeth to be a manifestation of demonic power. That is why all women are required to paint their teeth black. This is done not only for religious reasons, but is also considered a sign of charm.
When visiting Vietnam, tourists are used to seeing a lot of people chewing gum. The tradition of chewing something appeared many years ago, long before the creation of chewing candies.
The betel leaf, an aromatic plant that has a narcotic effect on humans, was used as chewing gum.
Since then, chewing betel nut has become a national tradition, but in recent years they are starting to get rid of it. Many establishments post signs banning betel nut. But if you are interested, you can ask any local resident for this piece of paper; no one will refuse, but they will consider the request a sign of friendliness.
Etiquette and superstitions
Every vacationer should know about local superstitions and ethics, otherwise you may find yourself in an awkward position.
- Most Vietnamese people prefer a regular handshake, rather than the folding of hands in prayer, which is used only during holidays. Women generally avoid all touching.
- Locals attach great importance to names, but new acquaintances are called "Mr."
- You cannot touch a Vietnamese person on the head or shoulder. They consider this a sign of aggression. Also, during a conversation, they never look into the eyes of a person of high rank.
- The entire Vietnamese population is always smiling. But you should not regard a smile as a sign of a good mood. Sometimes this facial expression can indicate sadness or even hostility.
- In Vietnamese restaurants you cannot split the bill in half. The one with the higher status pays.
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!
