10 Vietnamese Traditions you should know

Hung King temple. Photo by Rajesh- Wikimedia commons  

10 Vietnamese Traditions you should know

Vietnamese are a Southeast Asian ethnic group originally native to modern-day Northern Vietnam and southern China. The native language is Vietnamese. It is the most widely spoken Austroasiatic language.

 The diverse cultural traditions, geographies, and historical events have created distinct regions in the country. Vietnam has unique culture and tradition that has been passed over for millennia.   Many ethnic groups inhabit the highlands. Therefore the culture has varied in the central region, sharing characteristics including the way of life. This has led to numerous special festivals where it shows belief and traditions.

It is worth enjoying some of the festivals in Vietnam to get a better understanding of the peaceful country. Here are some of the 10 Vietnamese you should know

1.  vietnamese people worship their ancestors 

The Vietnamese ancestor believed to continue to live in another realm. It was the duty of the living beings to meet their need. In return, the ancestor would give advice and bring good fortune.

A small altar is usually placed in every house in Vietnam. It is used to commune with the departed ones. Some of the rites consist of making offerings of fruits, food, wine votive paper, lighting candles and also burning incense before praying in front of the altar.

2. Hung King Temple Festival

Hung King temple. Photo by Rajesh – Wikimedia common 

Hung King Temple Festival is a national event. It is normally held in Phu Tho. The event takes place annunciator to commemorate Hung kings the founder of the nation.

During this festival people all over the world and living abroad head from the main temple on Nghia Linh, Phu Tho to take part in the meaningful festival. The atmosphere of the festival is bustling with different folks with games like human chess, bamboo swings, rice cooking competitions, wrestling, and lion dance.

3. Celebration of the baby’s first month

Vietnamese people celebrate one month of baby. It is like commemorating a president’s first 100 days in office. While Vietnamese mothers are expected to rest indoors without taking a shower for a month after giving birth. At the celebration friends and family present mother and child with luck money.

4 Visit/perfume the pagoda festival

Pagoda. Photo by Balon- Wikimedia commons – 

Perfume pagoda festival is the most popular festival in Hanoi. The festival draws visitors all over Vietnam to the iconic perfume pagoda.

During the spring season, many Vietnamese go to pagodas. Praying is one of the most important activities in Huong Tich cave. It is believed that if you pray here to get a son/ daughter by touching the mountain the wish will come true. If you touch the silver/ gold trees in the cave you can pray for wealth and prosperity.

5. Eating the boiled chicken

boiled chicken. Wikimedia commons  

Boiled chicken is a strong cultural indicator that the Vietnamese continue to serve in any traditional holiday meal. In Vietnamese whether it’s a wedding party, new year holiday, or any other holiday there is no proper meal will be served without a boiled chicken cooked with handed-down skills.

6. Traditional costumes of Vietnam

Vietnam traditional wearing clothing. Photo by Dang Dan Cung – Wikimedia commons 

Vietnam has 54 tribes and every tribe has its traditional costumes. The traditional dress of the Vietnamese people has changed significantly from time to time. The common people of the country had greater freedom to choose their clothing under the Nguyen dynasty.

During the Nguyen dynasty, several restrictions were placed on the type and the colours of clothes that should be worn by the common people of Vietnam. Some examples of traditional Vietnamese costumes include the Ao Giao Linh,  Ao Tu Than, Ao Canh, and the Ao BaBa. The first one refers to a cross-collared robe worn by Vietnamese men while the second is a four-part dress worn by women.

7. Martial Arts in Vietnam

Vietnam’s traditional martial art is Vovinam. The country has a very well-developed tradition of martial art. It has some similarities to that of Chinese martial arts. Vietnamese vovinam martial arts philosophy guides the martial art practice in the country. The martial art is associated with intense spirituality because of its association with Buddhism, Taoism, and Confucianism. The scissor kicks are a famous movement in this form of martial arts.

8. Buddha’s birthday

Buddha is a religious and also a national festival. Buddha’s birthday became a significant event for Vietnamese people. They celebrate commemorating the birth and enlightenment and the death of buddha.

Before the celebration, hundreds of monks and thousands of people tend to gather in big pagodas chosen to act as the holding place. These pagodas are cleaned and decorated with buddha’s statue in the middle of a pink lotus. They are surrounded by colourful lanterns, different kinds of flowers, and small lotus flowers.

During the festival, sacred rituals like offering incense and flowers are done to celebrate the birthday. people actively participate in charity activities like helping the unlucky, mentally retarded, and the elderly.

9. Vietnamese music and dance

Vietnam dancers. Photo by Shankar – Wikimedia commons 

Vietnam is associated with a rich tradition of dance and music. The Vietnamese music exhibited variance in every part of Vietnam. It is older and more formal in the north while Champa culture exerts considerable influence on central classical music and the music of the southern part of the country.

The country has nearly 5o national musical instruments. Some important traditional forms of Vietnamese music include imperial court music and ca tru. The great ethnic diversity of Vietnam has gifted the country with diverse dance forms. These dances are normally performed at the cultural program and festivals that are held in the country. Some of the traditional dance forms in Vietnam include the lion dance, platter dance, fan dance, and imperial lantern dance. These dances developed in the imperial courts of Vietnam. They are quite complex.

10. Lunar new year is more about the family reunion

It is also known as the Tet holiday. The Vietnamese new year takes place from the first day of the first month of the lunar calendar. It is around late January or early February and lasts for at least 3 days. This is a joyful family reunion full of smiles and blessings to express filial piety. the family bonds and the desire for the coming year full of happiness and also the prosperity and the goodness.