Vietnamese culture grew from wet-rice farming in the Red River Delta and was shaped by a thousand years of Chinese rule, Cham and Khmer influence in the south, and French colonial history. That history still shows today in the ancestor altars found in almost every home, the Tet holiday, the ao dai, and a cuisine built on rice, fresh herbs and fish sauce. This guide explains what travellers should know about family, religion, festivals, dress and the arts, food, daily life and etiquette before a trip to Vietnam.

The key facts about culture in Vietnam are:

Fact	Detail
Population	About 102.3 million (2025)
Ethnic groups	54 officially recognised; the Kinh (Viet) make up 85.3%
Language	Vietnamese, written in a Latin-based script (chữ Quốc ngữ)
Religion	About 27% belong to an official religion; Buddhism and Catholicism are the largest
Biggest festival	Tet (Lunar New Year), 6 February 2027
Traditional dress	Ao dai (long tunic worn over trousers)
UNESCO	17 intangible heritage elements; 9 World Heritage Sites

Each of these is explained in the sections that follow, from the family altar to the rules of etiquette.

Table of Contents

Family Values and Ancestor Worship

Family is the centre of Vietnamese life: children are raised to respect and care for their parents, several generations often live under 1 roof, and most homes keep an altar to honour the family’s ancestors. The main values are:

Filial piety (hiếu thảo): Children are expected to respect and look after their parents and grandparents, a value rooted in Confucian teaching.
Multigenerational homes: Grandparents, parents and children often live together in the same house.
Ancestor altar: The altar holds an incense bowl in the centre, candlesticks on either side, flowers, fruit and photos of the family’s departed. Families burn incense on the 1st and 15th days of each lunar month, and the death anniversary (giỗ) is the most important family ritual of the year, when the whole family cooks a feast and shares it “with the ancestors”.
Saving face: Vietnamese people avoid embarrassing others in public and rarely criticise someone directly.

The altar usually sits in the main room, often on the highest shelf of the house.

Elderly man in a red tunic placing offerings on an ancestor altar in a Vietnamese home — *Most Vietnamese homes keep an ancestor altar, where families burn incense on the 1st and 15th days of each lunar month*

Travellers invited into a Vietnamese home should not touch the altar or turn their back or point their feet towards it. A small gift of fruit or tea is welcome, while white flowers are best avoided, and the eldest person in the room is greeted first.

Religion and Beliefs in Vietnam

About 27% of Vietnamese, or 26.5 million people, belong to an official religion, mainly Buddhism (over 14 million followers) and Catholicism (over 7 million), while most others follow folk beliefs and ancestor worship. The main faiths compare as follows:

Religion	Followers	Note
Buddhism	Over 14 million	Largest religion; pagodas in every town
Catholicism	Over 7 million	First missionaries in the 16th century; first community in Hoi An in 1615
Protestantism	Third-largest	—
Cao Dai	Fourth-largest	Vietnamese religion founded in 1926 in Tay Ninh, north-west of Ho Chi Minh City
Folk beliefs	Most of the population	Ancestor worship, village guardian spirits, Mother Goddess worship (UNESCO, 2016)

Vietnam officially recognises 16 religions and 36 religious organisations, so a single town can hold a pagoda, a church and a village communal house within a few streets of each other.

Golden Buddha statues on the main altar of a Buddhist pagoda in Vietnam — *Buddhism is Vietnam’s largest religion, and most towns have at least 1 pagoda*

Visitors to pagodas and temples should cover their shoulders and knees, take off their shoes before entering the main hall, and ask before photographing an altar or people at prayer.

Festivals and Traditions

Tet, the Lunar New Year, is Vietnam’s biggest festival and falls on 6 February in 2027, and like many Hindu festivals, it follows a lunisolar calendar, so its date moves every year. The main festivals are:

Festival	When	What happens
Tet (Lunar New Year)	1st day of the 1st lunar month; 6 February 2027	Family reunions, ancestor offerings, lucky money (lì xì) in red envelopes, pagoda visits; a 5-day public holiday
Hung Kings Commemoration	10th day of the 3rd lunar month	National holiday honouring the legendary founders; worship of the Hung Kings is on UNESCO’s list (2012)
Buddha’s Birthday (Phật đản)	4th lunar month, usually in May	Lanterns and ceremonies at pagodas
Mid-Autumn Festival (Tết Trung thu)	15th day of the 8th lunar month	Lanterns, mooncakes and lion dances, mainly for children

During Tet, many shops and restaurants close for several days, while hotel rates and train and bus fares usually rise, so trips over the holiday are best booked well ahead.

Children in red ao dai watching a calligrapher write Tet greetings in Vietnam — *Children watch a calligrapher write New Year greetings, a Tet tradition in Vietnam*

Each of these festivals has its own best places to visit, and the dates for the year ahead are set out in the guide to Vietnam’s traditional festivals. Travellers whose trip falls in late January or February can see how families prepare, cook and celebrate the holiday in the guide to New Year in Vietnam.

Traditional Dress, Arts and Heritage

Vietnam’s best-known cultural symbols are the ao dai, the non la conical hat and water puppetry, and 17 Vietnamese traditions are on UNESCO’s intangible heritage lists, from Nha Nhac court music to Quan Ho folk songs. The main ones are:

Ao dai: A long, fitted tunic worn over trousers, used for formal occasions and Tet and as a uniform at some schools and workplaces. Travellers can have 1 tailored in Hoi An.
Non la: The conical leaf hat shields farmers from sun and rain and is 1 of the most popular souvenirs in the country.
Ethnic dress: The Hmong and Dao communities of the northern mountains, around Sapa, wear brightly embroidered clothing that differs from village to village.
Water puppetry: Born in the Red River Delta and recorded since the Ly dynasty (1009–1225), the art uses a pool of water as the stage, with puppeteers hidden behind a screen.
Traditional music on the UNESCO list: Nha Nhac court music of Hue (2008), Ca Tru (2009), Quan Ho folk songs of Bac Ninh (2009) and Don Ca Tai Tu of southern Vietnam (2013).

The ao dai is most visible at Tet, weddings and school ceremonies.

Vietnamese women in colourful ao dai carrying non la conical hats on a city street — *The ao dai and the non la conical hat are the 2 best-known symbols of Vietnamese dress*

Each of Vietnam’s 54 ethnic groups has its own dress, and the regional styles, fabrics and where to see them are covered in the guide to traditional costumes in Vietnam. Hanoi is the best place to see water puppetry performed on its home ground, and the guide to the Thang Long Water Puppet Theatre covers show times and tickets.

La Hu ethnic minority women in embroidered dress and beaded headwear in northern Vietnam — *La Hu women in traditional dress, 1 of the 54 ethnic groups of Vietnam*

Vietnam also has 9 World Heritage Sites, among them Hoi An Ancient Town, the My Son Sanctuary and the Trang An Landscape Complex, so many of these traditions can be seen in the places where they took shape.

River winding through rice fields between limestone mountains at Trang An, Ninh Binh — *The Trang An Landscape Complex in Ninh Binh, 1 of Vietnam’s 9 World Heritage Sites*

Vietnamese Food Culture

Vietnamese food is built on rice, fresh herbs and fish sauce and aims to balance 5 tastes, spicy, sour, bitter, salty and sweet, with chilli usually served on the side, so each diner adds their own heat. The main traditions are:

Shared meals: Dishes are placed in the middle of the table, and each person has a small bowl of rice and a pair of chopsticks.
Regional styles: Northern food is light, with little chilli or sugar. Central food is bold and spicy and famous for the dishes of Hue. Southern food is sweeter and uses more coconut milk.
Vegetarian food (chay): Many Buddhists eat vegetarian food on the 1st and 15th days of each lunar month, and vegetarian restaurants are usually found near the larger pagodas. Vegetarian travellers can order with the word “chay” and ask for “không nước mắm” (no fish sauce). Green papaya salad, vegetarian bánh mì and vegetarian sticky rice are easy dishes to start with.

A typical family meal has rice, a soup, a vegetable dish and 1 or 2 shared mains.

Vietnamese dishes shared on a table, including pho, spring rolls and fresh herbs — *A Vietnamese meal is shared from dishes in the middle of the table, with fresh herbs on the side*

Every region has its own signature dishes, and the guide to the best Vietnamese food lists which ones are worth ordering in each part of the country.

Daily Life and Lifestyle in Vietnam

Daily life in Vietnam starts early and happens outdoors: people exercise in parks and shop at markets around dawn, meet over coffee on low plastic stools, and get around mostly by motorbike. The main routines are:

Morning routines: Parks and lake shores fill with people exercising at dawn, and fresh food is bought at the morning market.
Coffee culture: Iced coffee with condensed milk (cà phê sữa đá) is the everyday drink, egg coffee is a Hanoi speciality, and pavement cafés with low plastic stools line most streets.
Motorbikes: The motorbike is the main family vehicle. Pedestrians crossing the street should walk slowly and steadily, without running or stopping suddenly, so riders can steer around them.
Family meals and lunch breaks: The evening meal is the main family meal, and many people take a midday rest, so some offices and small shops close around lunchtime.

Pagodas are part of daily life too, and travellers who want to visit them can find the most rewarding sites, and the best times to see them, in the guide to famous temples and pagodas in Vietnam. For a first trip, the flights, visa and costs that come before any of this daily life are set out in the guide to planning a trip to Vietnam from India.

Vietnamese Etiquette for Visitors

Vietnamese etiquette comes down to respect and saving face: visitors should dress modestly at temples, give and receive things with both hands, greet the eldest person first, and avoid raising their voice in public.

Do

Good manners in Vietnam centre on modest dress, both-handed gestures and respect for elders. The habits to follow are:

Remove shoes before entering a home or the main hall of a pagoda.
Cover shoulders and knees at pagodas and in the countryside.
Give and receive things with both hands, or with the right hand.
Greet the eldest person first, with “xin chào” (hello) and “cảm ơn” (thank you).
When drinking, raise glasses together and call “một, hai, ba, dô”.
Ask before taking photos of people.
Bring a small gift, such as fruit, cakes or tea, when invited to a home.

Toasts are frequent at family meals and celebrations, and each new round starts with a shout together.

Friends raising small glasses together for a toast over a Vietnamese meal — *Raising glasses together with “một, hai, ba, dô”, a toast at every Vietnamese gathering*

Don’t

The main things to avoid in Vietnam are public displays of anger or affection and gestures that single people out. The habits to avoid are:

Kiss or hug in public beyond what is usual locally.
Point at people or touch anyone’s head, especially an older person’s.
Cross fingers for luck, which is seen as rude.
Lose your temper, raise your voice, or criticise someone in front of others.
Stand in front of an altar or step over 1 placed on the floor.
Give gifts wrapped in black.

Most Vietnamese hosts forgive a visitor’s slips, and a smile and a “xin lỗi” (sorry) go a long way.

FAQs about Vietnamese Culture

Visitors asking about culture in Vietnam most often want to know what it is known for, the main religion, how it compares with Chinese culture, and whether to tip.

What is Vietnamese culture known for?

Vietnamese culture is known for strong family ties and ancestor worship, the Tet festival, the ao dai, water puppetry, and a fresh, herb-filled cuisine led by pho. Many of these traditions are still part of everyday life, from the altar in the living room to the coffee stool on the pavement.

What religion are most Vietnamese?

Most Vietnamese follow folk beliefs and ancestor worship, and among official religions, Buddhism is the largest with over 14 million followers, followed by Catholicism. About 27% of the population belongs to 1 of the 16 officially recognised religions.

Is Vietnamese culture similar to Chinese culture?

Yes, partly: Vietnamese culture shares Confucian values, the lunisolar calendar and many festivals with China after a thousand years of Chinese rule, but it has its own Latin-based script, water puppetry, and a lighter, herb-based cuisine. The script, chữ Quốc ngữ, was devised by Jesuit missionaries in the first half of the 17th century and became the official writing system after 1945.

Do you tip in Vietnam?

No, tipping is not expected in Vietnam, but it is common for tour guides, drivers and spa staff. Restaurants and shops do not usually expect a tip, though rounding up the bill is always appreciated.

Experiencing Vietnamese Culture on a Trip

Vietnam’s culture is easiest to understand through its families, its festivals and its food, and most of what visitors notice, from incense at a shop altar to chilli on the side of the plate, traces back to the same values of respect and togetherness.

Vietnamtour.in, a Vietnam travel agency that has served 428,000+ Indian travellers since 2015, builds trips around these traditions, from pagoda visits and a water puppet show to vegetarian or Jain meals on request. Travellers can browse every Vietnam tours package, start with the classic Vietnam tours that link Hanoi, Hue and Hoi An, or finish on the beach with Phu Quoc packages.