Culture Mosaic Club
Written By: Stephen F
One of the oldest cultures in the world, with a mix of modern skylines and traditions
In modern times, Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon), Hanoi and Da Nang are the primary tech hubs in Vietnam. This is in stark contrast to ancient days gone by when when Vietnam was known as the Kingdom of Nam Viet. While this was the early beginnings of the culture, bronze craftsmanship and traditions, many of those traditions are still seen today.
The struggles to keep their vibrant traditions and culture were many. From more than a
thousand years of Chinese rule where Confucianism, their style of government and art and writing were influenced by the Chinese, to the period of French colonial rule that resulted in Vietnam adopting several western elements, including the Latin alphabet,
European-style architecture and the Catholic religion. Still later communist influence from the Soviet Union, Cuba and China continued to have their influences.
The Vietnamese Flag
Much controversy has occurred and still continues to surround the Vietnamese flags. In a
post on Wikipedia, you can see that there have been decades of protests, and lobbying
efforts to recognize the "Vietnamese Heritage and Freedom Flag" over the official
Vietnamese flag. Therefore, we will omit the topic from this post. Vietnamese flag.
Vietnamese Food
In the USA, Vietnamese food has become a huge favorite. The most frequently seen
Vietnamese restaurants are those serving phở although over time, more dishes were
discovered and now the cuisine is renowned for its fresh ingredients, balance of flavors
(sweet, salty, sour, bitter, and spicy), and use of herbs and spices. Popular dishes include
Pho (noodle soup), Banh Mi (sandwich), Goi Cuon (spring rolls), Bun Cha (grilled pork
noodles), and Banh Xeo (Vietnamese crepes).
Vietnamese Tourist Destinations
Three of the most famous places that tourists should visit in Vietnam include Ho Chi Minh City, Hanoi and Da Nang.
Ho Chi Minh City has a lot of popular tours and must-do experiences including visiting the Mekong Delta by boat, exploring the Cu Chi Tunnels and spending a day sampling the local foods.
Hanoi has its own mood and offers a variety of stops including the “Old Quarter” where the night market, lively street food scene and a large variety of shops are available. Other stops include the Hoa Lo Prison, The Vietnam Museum of Ethnology, The Temple of Literature and National University
Da Nang offers the Sun World Ba Na Hills theme park with cable car rides and many
attractions. Others may select a visit to the large Lady Buddha statue or the more
adventurous might take a Jeep Tour to the Marble Mountain.
Where is Vietnam?
Vietnam is located in Southeast Asia on the eastern edge of the Indochinese Peninsula. It has a very long land border of 2,827 miles that it shares with China to the north, Laos and Cambodia to the west, and the South China Sea to the east and south. It has a land area of about 331,000 square miles, a bit larger than the area of California and Montana combined.
Vietnamese Art Forms:
The Vietnamese have a wide variety of art forms including Silk Painting, Bat Trang Pottery, Dong Ho Painting, Water Puppetry, Lacquerware and many more:
The Vietnamese Wedding
As a way to get an understanding of the ways the culture of Vietnam was influenced by an almost countless number of outside influences, we take a look into the many cultures
represented during a typical Vietnamese wedding ceremony.
Ideologies and influences represented include; Confucianism, Buddhism, Chinese Culture, Multiple changes of attire including traditional Vietnamese áo dài, Western wedding dress and various symbolisms make the wedding a truly rich tradition.
The Chinese symbol for “Double Happiness” is another influence typically used to wish the couple happiness.
囍 (xǐ), a traditional Chinese auspicious motif, is composed of double Xi 喜 (xǐ). It means
Double Happiness. Let’s not forget the Chinese when we look around and see all of the
color influences of red, signifying prosperity and gold that brings good fortune.
The tea ceremony takes its roots in Confucianism where the emphasis on family unity and respect for the elders is shown as the bride and groom show their respect by serving tea to their elders.
Buddhism also takes the role of determining the auspicious date for the wedding. This
shows the focus on balance, harmony and the interconnectedness of everything. The date is carefully chosen to align with the astrological and lunar conditions.
