The website continues to talk about the strangest and most unusual traditions of different countries. We have already talked about:

The culture and customs of another country often seem to us, if not wild, then strange. And when we wrote about Japanese traditions, it seemed that there was and could not be anything more amazing. But as it turned out, Southeast Asia is even more full of exoticism and traditions incomprehensible to us than Japan. Those interested in traveling to Vietnam will experience these exotic oddities to the fullest. Which of course will make your impressions travel in Vietnam unforgettable.

1. Road traffic

To get to know the country, it is of course best to travel as a “savage”, and many guidebooks advise planning travel around Vietnam consider renting a moped and travel around Vietnam"on your own." However, you should know that the main reason for spoiled holidays for tourists in Vietnam is not food, tropical diseases or snakes - it is road accidents.

There are few cars in Vietnam, but there are plenty of mopeds. Major intersections are regulated by police or traffic lights, but compliance with the rules does not seem mandatory - those in a hurry can easily drive onto the sidewalk. Most intersections are not regulated at all. However, this doesn’t bother the Vietnamese much - pedestrians, in order to cross the street, simply continue to move at their normal speed, giving mopeds the opportunity to go around them at their convenience. Shopping can also be done without leaving the moped - you just need to drive up to the store, ask, for example, for shampoo and the seller will bring it. And it should be noted that many tourists quickly got used to it and traveling around Vietnam They've been doing the same for a few days now.

2. Betel and tobacco

Traveling around Vietnam You will find people everywhere smoking local strong tobacco (thuoc lao) or chewing betel nut. For example, male peasants always carry a pipe with them, which they smoke while planting rice to brighten up this monotonous task.

The habit of chewing betel nuts, a chewable plant mixture, or betel nuts, has been known to the Vietnamese since ancient times. Old medical books claim that chewing betel nut and betel nut makes the breath aromatic, relieves negative emotions and promotes the digestion of food. Betel makes people become friendly and open.

Betel also plays an important role in rituals - in particular, any wedding ceremony should include dishes with betel and betel nuts.

3. Vietnamese wedding

Before the wedding, the groom's mother brings pink chalk and betel nuts to the bride's house. Pink chalk symbolizes a bright future. Betel nut is a way of showing respect to the groom and his family. Only after this ceremony can the groom and his family go to the bride's house.

The last night before the wedding is very important. The mother of the bride combs her daughter's hair with numerous combs. Each ridge has its own meaning. The third one is the most important. When using it, the mother asks for a happy future for her daughter.

Beauty is sometimes a truly terrible force!

4. Beauty is a terrible force

All over the world, women, and indeed many men, try to whiten their teeth, since white teeth are the standard of beauty. What can you say about radically black teeth? Women of one Vietnamese tribe apply black varnish to their teeth to look attractive. The varnish consists of the ashes of burnt coconut shells and resin. But this is done not only for beauty - white teeth here are considered a sign of demons, wild animals and savages, and a cultured and educated woman should not resemble any of the above. It's hard to argue with that.

5. Names

Children in Vietnam are often named by their birth order. The eldest is called Big, then comes the Second, Third and so on.

When one of the family members is dying, the whole family comes to him and the elder invites him to take a new name, since it is believed that a person should not go into another world with the name that he bore during life. The most commonly used names (in translation) for men are Loyalty, Honesty, for women - Devotion, Harmony.

6. All Vietnamese are brothers

According to legend, the ancestors of the Vietnamese people were a dragon lord and an immortal princess. Therefore, all Vietnamese are related to each other.

Vietnamese wedding

7. The Bird of Happiness

On the streets you can often see sellers with birds in cages. However, they are not sold as pets, but for religious purposes. Followers of Buddhism buy birds to release them as another good deed. So, traveling around Vietnam, you will also have the opportunity to do a good deed.

8. Who gets up early...

Most Vietnamese wake up at 5:30, many do gymnastics or go to the market. They start work at 7-7:30. The lunch break can rather be called a siesta. It starts at 11, the Vietnamese go home to have lunch with their families, rest until half past one during the hottest time of the day. The working day ends at half past five.

9. Nuok mom is the head of everything

Used in almost every Vietnamese dish, nuoc mam is a sauce derived from salted fish.

10. Ant eggs

The cuisine of Southeast Asia deserves a separate book, and more than one. Traveling through Vietnam and Cambodia, you will come across a huge variety of such delicacies as scorpions, beetles, grasshoppers, frogs... But even in this series, white ant eggs seem to be a particularly strange food. However, they taste surprisingly good in soups, for example. The eggs are soft, burst gently on the teeth and have a sour taste.

If after reading these strange Vietnamese traditions you have the impression that Vietnam is a wild country, then this is a mistake. Vietnam is developing rapidly, and the Vietnamese are well aware of Western culture and tolerant of tourists. So if you are going to travel around Vietnam, you will find a mixture of modern and traditional here, and you will surely enjoy it.

The strangest traditions of Vietnam TOP 10!

Vietnamese culture is an unusual mixture of cultures of different peoples and nationalities, a mixture of different religions. Throughout its existence, Vietnam has been under the rule of different peoples, each of which has left its own legacy in the cultural fund of the country.

Vietnam's rich culture- These are, first of all, the craft skills of local residents. Vietnam has long been known for its unique handicraft achievements.

Each province of the country is famous for its craft. For example, areas Ha Dog, Gue And Thai Binh famous for their elaborately embroidered silks; Hanoi, Haiphong famous for their elegant ceramics and porcelain, glazed and hand-painted; central Vietnam famous for its copper craftsmen.

Works by Vietnamese lacquer miniature masters known all over the world. And among tourists, wicker souvenirs made from rattan palm are very popular. By visiting village settlements in the districts of large cities, you can find unique handmade products for every taste. You can also order the production of any souvenir.

Since ancient times, they have been very popular in all countries of the world. mass performances, but in few countries there is such a variety of genres of these performances as in Vietnam.

Stage culture of Vietnam includes: water puppet theater on water, popular opera - cheo, theatrical opera - tuong, modern opera - cai luong and many other genres. One of the most popular stage genres in Vietnam is puppet theater.

This type of theater appeared in the 11th century; all puppets are created exclusively by hand, most often from wood, less often from other, always natural, materials.

Marionette plays take place on the water surface of the lake accompanied by live music. This unique performance attracts thousands of spectators. And the unique combination of fiery reflections of lamps, the peaceful surface of the lake, smoke, shadows and live music remains in the memory of the audience for a long time.

The most grandiose water puppet shows take place in the largest cities in Vietnam - Hanoi And Ho Chi Minh City. There are also cartoon films among Vietnam's pride, and although they are, of course, far from Japanese anime, they are also very, very good. There are even anime cosplays in Hanoi.

Musical culture of Vietnam has a long history of its development. Since ancient times, the Vietnamese have given particular preference to this particular art form, which explains the wide variety of musical genres and instruments.

Of particular importance in the musical life of the Vietnamese is gong. It is considered a sacred instrument, since gongs are used in various religious rituals and sacraments. Another interesting Vietnamese instrument is Dan Bau.

This instrument sounds especially attractive if it is used to perform love songs, so vigilant parents protected their daughters from the sound of this instrument: “don’t listen to this music if you are a young woman...”.

Architectural culture of Vietnam also deserves close attention. Particularly admirable are the various religious buildings throughout the country: from numerous pagodas to grandiose cathedrals.

One of the most ancient pagodas in Vietnam is Thien Mu agoda, this pagoda consists of seven floors and is dedicated to Buddha. The Single Column Pagoda located in Hanoi is known throughout the world.

This small, graceful structure was erected in 1049 and resembles a small opening lotus flower. Hanoi Cathedral St. Joseph's Cathedral– an interesting example of Vietnamese architecture. The peculiarity of St. Joseph's Cathedral is that it almost identically repeats the design of Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris.

A description of Vietnamese culture would not be complete without mentioning the numerous festivals taking place in the country.

The most famous festivals in the country: Thang Tam Temple Festival, Ba Hua Hu Festival, Ox Racing Festival, Traditional Bull Fights, Doi Wrestling Festival, Marble Mountain Festival - Kwan, Le Mat Snake Festival.

The official language in the country is Vietnamese. Residents also communicate in Chinese, English, Russian and French. In some parts of Vietnam there are settlements that communicate in Laotian and Khmer dialects.

Religion

The territory of Vietnam is influenced by several religious movements: Buddhism, Hinduism, Confucianism. And although the official religion is Buddhism, many village temples also have statues of several local patron spirits (Confucius, Bodhisattva and Buddha).

The Vietnamese are sure that the spirits of their ancestors live with them, protecting them and warning them of impending danger.

Features of behavior

The Vietnamese are very friendly people. They are thrifty, patient, disciplined and respectful to elders. They consider sincerity to be the main quality of a person.

Vietnamese people try not to say their name out loud. In their opinion, a person’s name reflects his essence, which protects him from evil forces. Careless pronunciation of a name can jinx a person, bringing illness and failure to him. You should keep this in mind when communicating with local residents.

It is not customary to praise children. Often outside the home, parents call their children “first son” or “first daughter” in order to avoid pronouncing the name.

During a conversation, you should not come close to your interlocutor, or touch his shoulder or head with your hands - this can disturb the person’s soul and bring trouble to him.

A slight bow to the interlocutor serves as a greeting.

When showing politeness, the Vietnamese never look their interlocutor in the eyes. Refusal in conversation is expressed in the form of soft denial. For example, “Let’s leave this question until next time.”

Help in Buddhism can only be given if it has been asked for. So, for example, if a person is drowning, but does not shout “Help,” then he cannot be saved. The most you can do is offer a helping hand. However, it will not always be accepted.

When shopping in stores and markets, do not forget to bargain. This is the only way you can buy the item you want at the lowest price.

Holidays

The main national holidays are:

Each country has its own customs and traditions. And what, in the opinion of a European, seems like an insignificant trifle, somewhere in an eastern country can become strange or even offensive. Today's Vietnam is diligently integrating into modern world society, but for the majority of the population, its internal traditions and values ​​are of great importance. Here they try to observe centuries-old customs, and the way of life often remains unchanged. Foreigners should know about Vietnamese etiquette. After all, even if we visit close people, we always try to maintain the rules adopted by hospitable hosts.

What are they like, the Vietnamese

To put it in a few words, they are calm, good-natured and smiling. At first, the inhabitants of the Indochina Peninsula may seem somewhat indifferent and indifferent. The reason lies in upbringing and traditional mentality. Just look at the conversation when the Vietnamese tries not to look you in the eye. The point here is both a certain shyness and instilling respect for elders in position or age.

The difference in cultures is already felt in speech. Europeans are more emotional and open. And often joy or sadness manifests itself on our face. Vietnamese will smile and nod, even when refusing someone's request. And also kindly agree, but at the same time, without doing anything if they made a promise under some pressure. The word “no” is not a favorite word here. And if the question needs to be answered in the negative, and the European will do this without a shadow of embarrassment, then the Vietnamese, out of a sense of tact and delicacy, may offer to return to this question next time.

The words of Comrade Sukhov “The East is a delicate matter!” in Vietnam appear in all their glory. Residents of the Indochina Peninsula show miracles of discipline and restraint even in disputes. Heated discussions between Vietnamese are not accepted, and hot foreign guys engaged in a showdown or argument are looked at with disapproval. A smile on the face of an Eastern person can appear not only out of politeness. But as a sign of awkwardness or anxiety. And even as a result of misunderstanding or skepticism.

However, these rules do not apply to trade. Local market entrepreneurs raise the price several times, often smiling affectionately. They do not like to bargain and can afford unflattering treatment. The attitude towards tourists is often consumerist. What can you do, the country is just entering normal market relations and trade is somewhat reminiscent of the Russian market of the 90s. Therefore, before shopping, it is advisable to find out the average prices for the goods you need. If the seller offers to pay twice as much, you can negotiate, but if it’s 3-4 times as much, then you shouldn’t even start a conversation.

Greetings

Vietnamese are friendly people, but any touching of oneself is intolerable for them and is akin to an insult. According to local beliefs, the human soul lives in the head, so you shouldn’t disturb it again. Shoulders are the resting place of the patron spirit, so it is difficult for locals to understand the traditional Russian hugs and pats on the shoulder when meeting. If you don’t want to be branded a barbarian in this Asian country, maintain the personal space of its residents. And having inadvertently touched your shoulder, now deliberately perform the same action with the other, so as not to frighten away fleeting luck.

But European influence also penetrates this ancient land. And today the Vietnamese no longer consider it superfluous to shake hands with friends and partners. At the same time, a phrase is used, something like our “How are you?” As for greeting women, the etiquette here is similar to that of Europe. The lady should be the first to extend her hand. If such action is not followed, this does not mean that you are being ignored. Many Vietnamese women avoid manual contact. They are more accustomed to a small bow with palms joined at chest level.

Call me quietly by name...

But don't forget to insert the word "Mr" and "Mrs" before that. The Vietnamese are extremely scrupulous about their manner of address. Even a good friend should first be asked if you can address him by name. If the answer is positive, you don’t need to do this in front of strangers, and even in a personal conversation, don’t forget about courtesy and “Mr. Otherwise, such familiarity will be regarded as disrespect or a certain degree of intimacy between you.

Residents of Vietnam usually prefer to give the palm of honor when dating to their foreign counterpart. And only then, at your request, the person can give his name and position. Vietnamese speak quietly and may not make eye contact when introducing themselves.

Representative people in power in the country are called in the Western manner by their specialty or position, for example, “Mr. Doctor” or “Mr. Teacher.”

The address “comrade” is still alive. After all, the Communist Party of Vietnam is still considered the leading and guiding force in the country, although socialism here has a certain capitalist and glamorous touch.

Ivanov, Petrov, Sidorov in Vietnamese

These are one of the most common surnames in Russia. Vietnam can also boast of this. Here, 90 percent of the population bears the 14 most common surnames. They have Nguyen alone, almost a third of all residents, 11% Chan and 9% Li.

A Vietnamese name can consist of 3–4 parts:

1. Father's surnames. They are often similar to imperial surnames. Today in the country, the majority of residents bear the surname of the last ruling dynasty, Nguyen. The General Secretary of the Communist Party is also named Nguyen Phu Trong.
2. Middle name. Nowadays, it shows that these people belong to the same generation (for example, brothers and sisters). Previously, the middle name indicated a person's gender. For women it was the same for everyone - Thi. Men had much more choice.
3. Personal name. It is the word that is often used to call a specific person. Personal names traditionally stand for something. Parents, when choosing a name for a child, express their desire to see the girl skillful, beautiful, polite, and their son strong, smart, and so on.

Vietnamese surnames are not as common and significant as ours. And even in a business environment, residents of the country address each other by name. And what to do if almost half of the country has the same surname. Imagine that only the Ivanovs work in your company?

In the old days, and even today, somewhere in the outback, children are given secret names that only those closest to them know.

This was done in the hope of protecting their child from evil spirits who could harm the child by learning such a secret code to the essence of a person. For everyone else, without further ado, the children were called in order: First Son, Second, and so on.

Signs and superstitions

All the life of the Vietnamese people are accompanied by a lot of different superstitions and signs. And at the same time, almost 80 percent of the population considers themselves atheists, but successfully combines this with the performance of various rituals. For example, many are sure that if a black cat jumps over the deceased, he will rise. Before you smile at such superstitions, remember if you didn’t secretly spit when you met the same unfortunate cat and didn’t knock on a piece of wood, afraid of jinxing the good news.

Among such prohibitions and superstitions in Vietnam are the following:

• Taking pictures together is unlucky.
• Whistle at night - a snake will crawl.
• To crawl between someone's legs is to make him stupid.
• Meet the funeral - you will be happy.
• Presenting one gift to the newlyweds means a quick divorce. The path would be better cheaper, but two pieces.

In Vietnam you are not allowed to pat children on the head. It is believed that this way the child will be deprived of protection from evil entities. There is no point in praising children. If somewhere in another country the child’s relatives would only be happy with such attention, then in Vietnam this is unacceptable. Suddenly the same dark forces find out about such a valuable child again and want to kidnap him.

Some subtleties

A few more rules that must be followed in this country. Here you cannot leave chopsticks in the plate and touch your neighbor with them. Well, this is something like the fact that we don’t fight with spoons during a feast. It is customary to pay for food in restaurants and cafes to those with higher status. And a Vietnamese guy will never ask his girlfriend to pay half of the bill; someone else pays.

When entering the house, shoes are left at the doorstep. The houses are very clean, and no one will steal your sandals. They enter temples and some shops barefoot. Additionally, visiting the pagoda requires women to cover their shoulders and knees, and men must wear trousers rather than shorts. You can often see mirrors on the front doors of houses on the street side. This is not for women to touch up the makeup they barely wear. The mirrors are here for the local dragons. If such a monster wants to climb into the house, it will approach the door and see its reflection. He will understand with his dragon head that there is already someone like him in the house and will go away. I wonder, do such mirrors save you from uninvited guests?

During their trips, some tourists like to show off their erudition and learn several common phrases. But in Vietnam it is undesirable to do this.

The Vietnamese language is quite difficult. There are six tones of spoken language here, and mispronouncing an innocuous word can turn it into an obscenity or insult. Also, here you shouldn’t make loud noise and show your emotions in public in every possible way, so as not to be branded as a rude foreigner. Be careful with your gestures. Any gestures aimed at attracting attention to oneself are considered uncivilized. It is correct to extend your hand with your palm down. If the palm faces up, according to local etiquette, such a person clearly demonstrates his disdain and superiority over others.

Features of Vietnamese culture: customs, religion, literature

Vietnam, a small country with a big history and unique culture, is attracting more and more attention. And not only from the point of view of tourism, everything about it is interesting - traditions, lifestyle, national creativity and art. Southeast Asia remains, perhaps, one of the few places on the planet where centuries-old traditions are carefully preserved and protected. Here, purity of morals and family values ​​prevail over Western influence. This is especially felt in the culture in Vietnam.

To a European, many things will seem strange in the life and culture of the Vietnamese. We have long been locked in our own little world, sometimes we don’t even know our neighbors in the stairwell. The Vietnamese live wide open. And in the literal sense. In Vietnam, it is not customary to close doors when someone is at home. Even in modern apartment buildings they are always wide open. “We have nothing to hide,” they seem to say.

The main thing in the life and culture of the Vietnamese is reverence for elders. Their old people never live separately, only in the family. There are almost no divorces here. This happens very rarely, but this is already the influence of the West. Just like the fact that in big cities young people began to show a desire for an independent life, separate from their parents. But, all the same, Vietnamese culture is slowly and reluctantly transforming towards the West.

The fate of women in Vietnam is unenviable. She does all the housework. It’s good when in the city it’s just cleaning, cooking and looking after children. In the village, her life turns into hard labor. Because repairing the house, tending the livestock and the garden is a woman’s responsibility. Working in the rice fields is also women's work. A man can spend the whole day watching TV and it won’t even occur to him to help a woman. Not accepted. This is the culture and customs of Vietnam.

Vietnamese people never have breakfast at home. From early morning, small street cafes are packed with visitors. Traditional breakfast is a huge portion of pho soup.

The culture of raising children in Vietnam is also different from ours. It is believed that until one year of age, a child should eat a lot. When you meet, they don’t ask how your child is feeling. They ask how much he weighs. In the mornings you can see a touching picture - mothers or grandmothers walking around the yard with their children, plates of food in their hands. They follow their child and feed him. Until a certain age, children are allowed everything that does not threaten their safety.

Traditions

The culture of the Vietnamese is such that they often live by predictions. Before making any decision, the Vietnamese will turn to a fortuneteller. You can often see a funeral procession on the street of a Vietnamese city at 7 o'clock in the morning or at 6 o'clock in the evening. The fortune teller appointed this time for the funeral. The opening of a new office, a time for receiving guests or a wedding date - everything is set in accordance with his recommendation. This culture of prediction is very common here.

In Vietnam, a wedding is considered modest if it is attended by 200-300 guests. The wealth of the bride's family is judged by how many dresses she changed during the wedding ceremony. One gift is never given at a wedding. Their number must be odd.

The Vietnamese culture of names is complicated (in our opinion). The name given to a child at birth is considered secret, only the parents know it. They refer to their children quite simply - “first”, “second” and so on in the order of their birth. A secret name is considered protection. There is also no patronymic - one cannot take the name of an ancestor in vain. The culture of communication in Vietnam implies that interlocutors address each other by the so-called individual name.

In the Vietnamese language there are as many as eight pronouns, which are translated into Russian by only one - “I”. Their use depends on age, gender and social status.

Relatives always give the deceased a new name. The Vietnamese culture does not allow you to pronounce your name during your lifetime - this is a great sin. Funeral services can last up to 7 days. On the first day, relatives must wear white clothes - this is the color of mourning in Vietnam. The hearse looks more like a gilded carriage; the funeral procession travels quite quickly and is accompanied by bravura music. There are also public cemeteries in Vietnam, but you can often find burials right in the courtyard of the house where the deceased lived. Sometimes there are up to 10 graves there.

Etiquette

Handshakes are common in Vietnam, but only men greet each other this way. A slight bow with hands folded in prayer is appropriate only during official receptions. The culture prohibits a gentle pat on the shoulder because it is perceived as aggression. You should not stroke a child’s head; you deprive him of protection from evil spirits.

When dining with a Vietnamese, never leave your chopsticks on the plate of food, and you should not touch your chopsticks to the chopsticks of the eater sitting next to you. The one who is higher in social status always pays for lunch. Vietnamese culture is such that you should never split the bill for a meal at a restaurant. It is always paid by one person.

When entering a temple or home, and even some shops, take off your shoes outside. And don’t be afraid, no one will ever steal it. The Vietnamese culture is very clean and they wash their shops several times a day.

Religion

When talking about Vietnamese culture in the field of religion, the name “religious triangle” is heard. Three religions have influenced this aspect of spiritual life - Buddhism, Confucianism and Taoism. The French colonialists left their mark on Vietnam in the form of Christianity. About 8% of Vietnamese are Catholics or Protestants. The main part are animists - those who worship spirits and the mother goddess. Buddhism is practiced by about 17% of the population.

In fact, according to the culture of religion, the majority of Vietnamese are atheists. And the main thing in their life is the cult of ancestors. Wherever you go - to a store, cafe, office, private house or apartment - you will see a small altar with smoking incense sticks and fruits. This is the altar of the ancestors.

Every second and sixteenth day of the lunar month, a treat is presented to the ancestors. A table is placed under the open sky and served with various dishes. Among them there must be sweet rice, homemade rice noodles, boiled chicken, and fruits. If the ancestors were smokers and drank alcohol, there will be glasses of Vietnamese moonshine and lit smoking cigarettes on the table. After the ancestors have accepted these gifts, they are supposed to be eaten (except for cigarettes, of course).

We cannot ignore a very young, artificially created religion - Cao Dai - “Big Eye”. The culture of this religion combines the features of Freemasonry, Buddhism, Taoism, the cult of ancestors and Christianity with a strong bias towards mysticism. In Vietnam, it arose in the second decade of the 20th century and was at one time subject to repression for political reasons. Today she has several million followers, the cult is practiced freely and attracts tourists very much. The following historical figures were elevated to the rank of holy spirits: Lenin, Leo Tolstoy, Victor Hugo, Louis Pasteur.

Theater and music

Vietnamese theatrical art is an integral part of the country's culture. It has roots in the distant past. Like the Japanese shadow theater, it has its own traditional national water puppet theater. The dolls are made of wood, and the entire performance takes place on the surface of the lake. An unforgettable sight - to the accompaniment of national music, in the light of burning lights, an action takes place, which is reflected in the water. These performances are loved by both local residents and tourists, on whom it makes an indelible impression.

Another favorite cultural destination in Vietnam is the opera theater. There are several of them - Cheo (popular opera), Tuong, which is more reminiscent of a production of a heroic epic, and Cai Luong - an opera in the modern style.

Cheo originated in mountain villages, where people entertained themselves by staging genre skits accompanied by music. The culture of singing is accompanied by dancing, where the clown is an indispensable participant. Actors often improvise during a performance.

Tuong was intended to awaken patriotic feelings. A mandatory attribute is lush decorations, military props and masks.

Cai Luong is a thoroughly modern theater that combines tradition and folk music with modern urban rhythms.

Vietnamese music is very melodic. The Vietnamese are musical people, they love to sing and do it very beautifully. They draw inspiration from music - for love and labor deeds. Their culture allows them to sing in both sadness and joy. National instruments are gongs, bamboo flutes, plucked string instruments and xylophones. The latter, preserved from ancient times, have stones instead of keys. But how they sound!

A separate genre of culture is music performed on the Dan Bau instrument. They play it exclusively for themselves, to fill their soul with love. In Vietnam they say that young women should not listen to her. Poems are often recited to this music.