Rich Culture in Vietnam: Essential Insights You Must Embrace

Discovering the culture in Vietnam is one of the interesting experiences during your journey to our country. It is a great chance for you to learn more about Vietnamese unique customs and vibrant festivals from different regions. That’s also why we bring our reviews about traditions in Vietnam to this blog.

In our blog, we will introduce to you 8 things you should know about ancient Vietnamese culture before starting your holiday in Vietnam. Let’s find out more with us below!

Vietnamese Ethnic Groups 

The culture in Vietnam is especially diverse with 54 ethnic groups, each with its own lifestyle, practices, and language. While most of them reside in flat areas, called the Kinh, the others live in mountain ranges, such as “Muong”, “Hmong”, “Hoa” and so on. If you have a trip to Vietnam, you will surely have a chance to meet many of them and learn more about their cultures.

In the Northern highlands, most ethnic minorities are usually colorfully attired on a daily basis, even when at home or on the farm. By contrast, ethnic groups in southern parts of Vietnam tend to wear traditional customs on special celebrations like festivals or the Lunar New Year.  That’s considered a remarkable difference, affecting the Vietnamese lifestyle of people in both regions.

Ancestor Worship – A Beautiful Aspect of Culture in Vietnam

While Indian culture is famous for respecting God’s worship, ancestor worship holds a significant value in Vietnamese spiritual life. This culture is a practice that originated from the belief that ancestors stand by their descendants, always guiding and protecting them from challenges. Vietnamese often pay their respects to their ancestors with offerings or rituals, especially on important holidays.

Lunar New Year 

Unlike the Indians, Vietnamese people welcome a new year according to the Lunar Calendar. It is the most important culture in Vietnam and originated thousands of years ago. During this time, family members can come together, join various customs, and prepare some traditional specialties.

One of the most anticipated activities is  “Li Xi”, in which the elderly give red envelopes to the young with lucky money, together with good wishes. In certain regions in Vietnam, visitors can take part in interesting festivals like the Huong Pagoda or Hung Temple. This can bring memorable experiences to you during your journey to Vietnam.

Cuisine and Culinary

The cuisine is integral to the tradition and culture of Vietnam, with a broad range of special dishes. Our food is all about fresh ingredients, prepared with different cooking methods and rich flavors, which can bring you a delightful feeling. Seafood is also a good option for you to try, as Vietnam is considered home to big bays and a long coastline.

In each land in Vietnam, there are distinctive and unique delicacies, reflecting the tradition and diverse regional variations. Similar to Indians, Vietnamese people prefer spicy tastes, for main courses or sauces.  Thus, you can easily find this flavor in some dishes like “Bo Kho”, “Bun Cha”, “Banh Bot Loc”, “Banh My” and especially “Chili oil”. If you are a vegan lover, you can try “chay” (meaning vegan/vegetarian) meals in our country, such as “Nom Du Du”, “Banh Mi Chay” and “Xoi Chay”.

Traditional customs

In Vietnam, each ethnic group will have its own traditional customs, showcasing its cultures and beliefs. Some examples can be considered such as Ao Tu Than, Ao Dai, Ao Ba Ba, Ao Giao Linh, and so on. However, Ao dai is known as the iconic custom of Vietnam, with its graceful and elegant beauty.

During your journey to Vietnam, you can easily catch sight of images of Non La Vietnam, especially in the countryside or rural regions. Non La is recognized as a national symbol of Vietnam, not only a daily headgear of Vietnamese but also a unique souvenir for international visitors.

Religions

Vietnam is also home to various religions, including Buddhism, Cao Dai, Confucianism, and Catholicism. However, Vietnamese folk beliefs are one of the oldest religious practices and have gained the most popularity in Vietnam. Regardless of religion, Vietnamese always honor worship of nature and ancestor worship, which are strong folk beliefs in their spiritual life.

Buddhism is the leading religion in Vietnam, with over 55% of the Vietnamese identifying as Buddhist. Thus, Buddha-honoring festivals are considered important occasions in Vietnam, organized in a grave way in most regions in Vietnam. If you have a chance to visit Vietnam, don’t miss Buddha’s Birthday celebration, occurring on the 9th day of the fourth Lunar month.

Architecture and Heritage Sites

Vietnam is beloved for its stunning sightseeing, delectable cuisine, and especially architecture. With each heritage site, you will have a chance to get a well-rounded experience, ranging from the history stories to the picturesque landscapes. It is also a great chance for you to discover more about the culture in Vietnam.

We will suggest you experience famous sites, such as Hoi An Ancient Town, My Son Sanctuary, Trang An Landscape Complex, and so on. For a unique and traditional beauty, these destinations will bring you unforgettable memories for your trip to Vietnam.

Vietnamese Etiquettes 

If you first have a trip to our country, you should know basic Vietnamese etiquette to engage with local people in a positive and friendly way. Below are our suggestions relating to must-know etiquette in the Vietnam lifestyle. In particular:

Do

• Take off your shoes before entering the inside space of pagodas, temples, or homes.
• Say cheers with locals at Vietnamese parties, like “Mot, hai, ba, dzo”.
• Be careful to move in front of the altars.
• Dress modestly in religious or public sites.
• Always ask before snapping any pictures of locals.
• Say “Xin Chao” in any conversation with Vietnamese people.

Don’t

• Don’t show public touching such as kisses or saving hugs in public.
• Don’t use one finger to draw attention to someone or something.
• Don’t give something to anyone with one hand.
• Don’t wear revealing shirts or extremely short clothing in public.

Conclusion

We have introduced outstanding concerns of culture in Vietnam to you. We hope that our blog can help you to have a deeper understanding of Vietnamese culture and traditions. If you want to know more about the Vietnamese lifestyle, let’s read more on our website. Have a wonderful memory during your trip to Vietnam!