Everyday life of the Vietnamese: work, life, entertainment. How everything works: family traditions of Vietnam Family traditions of the Vietnamese

Historical multiculturalism

The culture of Vietnam was formed at the junction of Chinese and Indian cultures. It may seem typical of Southeast Asia, but that's not entirely true. Throughout its history, Vietnam has been heavily influenced by China. After the war with the French, Vietnam became part of a colony and only gained independence half a century later. During this time, a lot has changed in the country, for example, the alphabet with hieroglyphs was translated into Latin. There were also changes in the clothing of the local population. Christian churches and architectural structures appeared.

In the second half of the last century, during the war with the United States, Vietnam received significant support from the USSR, after which communist ideas strengthened and settled in the country. From then until now, Vietnam has had all the features of a socialist society.

Most Vietnamese speak kinkh- national language. However, it acquires different dialects in many provinces of Vietnam, and in some places it is not at all similar to it. However, the local population speaks other foreign languages, and some even speak Russian, so you should not have problems communicating.

Religion of Vietnam

Religion in Vietnam is also complicated due to its historical past. Three religions had the greatest impact: Buddhism, Confucianism and Taoism. As a result of colonial life, Christianity appeared in the country. Now 8% of the local population are Catholics and Protestants. The majority of Vietnamese people worship spirits and the mother goddess.

However, the majority of Vietnamese can be called atheists. The cult of ancestors is thriving in the country - which is the main thing for every resident of this country. Therefore, you can see in homes, offices, shops, cafes small altars of ancestors, on which incense sticks are always smoking. This is how the Vietnamese honor deceased family members and ask them for support.

Traditions

The people of Vietnam are different from Europeans in many ways and may seem strange to us. The Vietnamese are more open and live wide open. It is not even customary for them to close the door of the house if someone is there. Locals never eat at home in the morning, so during breakfast the cafes are crowded with visitors. Respect for elders is very strong in this country. Elderly people here never live alone. And only recently, under the Western influence, young people began to move away from their parents. Couples in Vietnam almost never get divorced - this is very rare.

If we talk about the lot of women in Vietnam, it is not an enviable one. The woman is responsible for all housework, raising children, caring for livestock and working in the fields. At the same time, a man can easily watch TV at this time, lying on the sofa - such are the customs.

Raising children here also has its own nuances. Until one year, a child must eat a lot, so when we meet, everyone asks: “How much does your child weigh?” You can often see the scene of mothers following their children with a plate and spoon, trying to shove food into their babies. Another feature is that children in Vietnamese families were usually called not by name, but by the order of their birth. Only the parents knew the child's secret name, which was considered protection. Now this tradition has been preserved only in remote settlements of Vietnam. Also, the Vietnamese do not have middle names because it is not customary to pronounce the names of ancestors in everyday life. All this led to the emergence of honorifics and a complex system of pronouns. There are eight pronouns in the Vietnamese language, which for Russians sound like “I”.

Predictions rule the lives of the Vietnamese. They go to a fortuneteller before making any decision. Even the time of the funeral procession is determined by prediction, and if it is six in the morning or eight in the evening, so be it. The same applies to determining the date of a wedding or the opening of a new institution and even receiving guests.

A wedding in Vietnam is a whole ritual. Even a modest celebration should have at least 200 people. During the wedding, the bride changes several outfits, which indicates the wealth of the family. Guests should give the newlyweds more than one gift - there should be several of them and always an odd number.

Funerals in the country are also unusual for us. Firstly, the deceased is always given a new name. The funeral continues for a week. During funerals, relatives wear white clothes, since white is the color of mourning here. The hearse is similar to a gilded carriage. Moreover, the deceased is often buried right in the courtyard of the house where he lived.

One of the national traditions of Vietnam is that local residents constantly chew something like gum. This tradition dates back to ancient times. Betel leaf was used as chewing gum - it is an aromatic plant that has an intoxicating effect. Nowadays, many establishments in the country have signs prohibiting chewing betel nut.

Superstitions and etiquette

These two concepts are closely related in Vietnam, since the population here is quite superstitious. Once in this country, you should remember that it is customary to greet men here with a regular handshake. Under no circumstances should you pat on the shoulder - this is considered aggression. The folding of hands in prayer when greeting is accepted only on holidays and official events. Women generally avoid all touching. You should not stroke a child’s head - by this action you take away his protection from evil spirits.

During a conversation, Vietnamese people never make eye contact with a person of higher rank. They always smile welcomingly, but this grimace can conceal sadness or even hostility.

In Vietnam, it is not customary to split the bill for food in cafes and restaurants. The one who always pays is the one who is higher in social status.

When entering a house, temple, or even some shops, take off your shoes when outside. Don't think that she will disappear - that won't happen. The Vietnamese love cleanliness so much that they wash the floors of their houses and shops several times a day.

For the most part, the Vietnamese are warm and friendly people. .

National cuisine

The cuisine in Vietnam has traditional Asian features - many rice dishes and seafood. Nuoc fish sauce is especially famous, which locals add to almost all dishes. The strange mixture is prepared using the rotting method, so it is not very popular among tourists.

But many travelers do not deny themselves the opportunity to try local dishes made from insects and amphibians. For example, eggs of earth ants. Also, if you find yourself in a Vietnamese village, you shouldn’t be surprised if they eat dogs or field mice.

Art

Theatrical art with its rich history is an integral part of the country's culture. The advantage of Vietnam is the puppet theater on the water. The dolls are made of wood and covered with several layers of waterproof paint. The breathtaking spectacle will not leave you indifferent. Tourists really enjoy watching the dolls reflected in the water to the sounds of national music.

Opera theaters are very popular in Vietnam. The popular opera, Cheo, appeared in villages and always features a clown. Opera Tuong - awakens patriotic feelings and is accompanied by luxurious scenery, and Cai Luong - opera in the modern style.

The music of Vietnam is also interesting and unusual. Vietnamese people love to sing and create beautiful melodies. National instruments are gongs, bamboo flutes, plucked string instruments and xylophones. It happens that they perform music on the DanBau instrument with the aim of filling them with love.

Holidays

Officially, there are 13 holidays in Vietnam. Of these, non-working days are September 2 - Independence Day, Tet - four days of rest and May 1 - International Workers' Day. The main holiday of the country of Tet is the Lunar New Year. It is accompanied by carnival processions and mass celebrations.

There are also many colorful and enchanting festivals in Vietnam - here in different parts of the country they celebrate something of their own, individual. Most often they are dedicated to Buddhism, temples, fishing, and village celebrations. For example, the autumn festival of Chang Fu is interesting. During the festival, the whole country is decorated with paper lanterns, all kinds of sweets are prepared, and costume performances and traditional Lion dances are performed on the streets.

There are still a lot of interesting things in Vietnam that are difficult to fit into one material. Therefore, hurry up to visit this unusual country to get acquainted with the unique culture and discover the unique characteristics of Vietnam.

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.

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!

Thanks to ancient traditions and a high level of culture, Vietnam managed to survive all the difficult times and maintain its uniqueness. Despite the military conflicts that have lasted throughout history, the local population has not forgotten how to rejoice, is very welcoming to guests and sincerely loves their country. Thanks to this, Vietnam is more popular today than ever.

Vietnamese lifestyle for many centuries it was formed under the influence of religious rites, and many traditions and customs of Vietnam have been preserved since ancient times. The Vietnamese have a very relaxed lifestyle. They are in no hurry, almost never quarrel, do not raise their voices, and always maintain Buddhist calm (unless they are trading in the market). The bustle happens only on the Vietnamese streets - in the opinion of a European, there are no traffic rules here and the huge flow of cars and motorcycles is not regulated in any way. But for many Europeans (especially for our tourists) it will be a big surprise that as soon as they step on the roadway, the flow will stop and let the pedestrian pass. The Vietnamese protect themselves from the exhaust fumes of thousands of cars with gauze bandages, which they wear if they need to walk along large highways. The population is generally very concerned about their health, and tennis and ping-pong are considered one of the most popular sports here. Large enterprises have courts for employees, and simpler offices have ping-pong tables. It becomes almost impossible to meet a Vietnamese who is overweight.

After restaurants, many, especially young, Vietnamese go to “dance halls” - dance clubs. Single girls are not allowed to enter here - only with a young man with whom she is going to dance. Men can easily come alone - partners will be selected for them from the girls working here. The music at these discos is usually European, from waltzes to pop tunes. By the way, the Vietnamese have a weakness for the song “Moscow Nights”...

Relations between men and women here are generally built in an oriental manner. Flip-flops have won many rights from men, but the last word will always be with the husband (brother, father) and he will always be in charge. And this suits the girls quite well, even the most emancipated ones, riding a motorcycle through the streets and occupying some not very large management post. Men are unlikely to let them into a major leadership position. Many Vietnamese women do heavy physical labor while their husbands rest at home. Flip-flops work on construction sites, building roads, cultivating rice fields and boiling salt. In addition, women also have household responsibilities. As in many eastern countries, women at the table first serve men, and then only sit down to eat themselves. True, this applies to large feasts; in ordinary life everything is more democratic. Democracy is here in relations with children - parents do not control their grown children, and the children themselves try not to give cause for concern. Quiet and petite local girls are very popular among European men, while the Vietnamese leave tourists indifferent.

Many Vietnamese work in creative environments, as Vietnamese art is of interest and demand. Silk painting, tableware painting, wood carving are the main traditional arts of Vietnam, which have hardly changed since ancient times. As many centuries ago, drawings in the form of geometric shapes, stylized images of animals and birds, or, less commonly, scenes from the life of the Vietnamese are applied to objects with thin brushes. Vietnamese religious sculpture and doll making are also traditional and ancient art forms. The Vietnamese's favorite place of cultural leisure is the theater. Traditional Vietnamese theater is musical and is represented by two main genres: tuong and teo. Tuong has always been considered a "high" theater genre and is based on a combination of music, mime, dance, acrobatics and fencing. Theo is a folk theater that grew out of peasant harvest festivals. Theo Theater absorbed folk melodies and dances. The performance is accompanied by the music of folk instruments. Theo's performances are based on folklore stories. Vietnamese puppet theaters are known throughout the world and are as distinctive a feature of the country as shadow theaters are for Japan. In Vietnam, as in other Asian countries, they love to hold various festivals with carnival processions through the streets and an atmosphere of general celebration.

Etiquette and superstitions

But it is good for any traveler coming to a foreign country to know not only about the culture of the local residents, but also about their etiquette and superstitions, most of which have been preserved from ancient times, when the influence of religion was very great. Modern Vietnamese, by the way, are not very religious, despite the abundance of religions in their country.

1. Many city dwellers prefer a regular handshake, and the old custom of greeting with hands joined in a prayerful gesture at the chest and a slight bow is used only at formal events. Women avoid shaking hands.

2. In Vietnam, names are given great importance. They are in no hurry to communicate when meeting them, preferring to be addressed as “Mr.” or “Mrs.,” the transition to addressing people by name is quite difficult for them, and children in public places are called by birth order (First, Second, etc.). Vietnamese names consist of a family name, a middle name, and an individual name. When addressed by name, only the latter is used. But adding “Mr” or “Madam” to it is mandatory. When talking, you should not come close to your interlocutor.

3. Vietnamese people regard it as aggression and an attack on their spirit if someone touches their head or shoulder. When talking, they do not look the interlocutor in the eyes, especially if the interlocutor is respected or has a higher rank and status in society.

4. Vietnamese people almost always smile, but this does not always mean that they are having fun. This can be misunderstanding, lack of recognition and even grief.

5. The speech of the Vietnamese is quiet and they do not approve of the loud conversations of Europeans, although they will never show it. In a conversation, the Vietnamese start from afar and if they have some kind of goal, then the speech can last for hours, but only get a little closer to specifics. Directness is not held in high esteem here, and to immediately say what is needed from the interlocutor means to show tactlessness and disrespect. Vietnamese people hate saying “no”, using various evasive formulations for refusal. Sometimes they are so evasive that you cannot immediately guess that this is a refusal.

6. In restaurants, it is not customary for the Vietnamese to split the bill in half: the person whose status is higher puts in the money.

7. Mirrors from the street side are often hung on the entrance doors of houses. This is considered protection against dragons, who will not be able to enter the house if they see their reflection.

8. It is considered taboo to praise newborns, pass toothpicks to each other, touch your chopsticks to another person’s chopsticks and leave them in the food, use a relative’s towel, turn over musical instruments, place one eating utensil on the table (two are required, even if at the table there is no one else).

9. It is considered a bad omen to see a woman earlier than a man in the morning and to give the bride one gift. Grooms always give their beloved two items, even if one gift is very expensive. In this case, by the way, the second one should not be cheaper.