the charming vietnamese capital has aged well

7/30/2019 The Charming Vietnamese Capital Has Aged Well

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The charming Vietnamese capital has aged well, preserving the Old Quarter,

monuments and colonial architecture, while making room for modern

developments alongside. Hanoi may have shrugged off several former names,

including Thang Long, or "ascending dragon," but it hasn't forgotten its past, as

sites such as Ho Chi Minh's Mausoleum and Hoa Lo Prison attest. Lakes, parks,shady boulevards and more than 600 temples and pagodas add to the appeal of

this city, which is easily explored by taxi.

Hoi An Ancient Town is an exceptionally well-preserved example of a South-East

Asian trading port dating from the 15th to the 19th century. Its buildings and its

street plan reflect the influences, both indigenous and foreign, that have combined

to produce this unique heritage site. ( UNESCO World Heritage Centre)

The Thang Long Imperial Citadel was built in the 11th century by the Ly Viet

Dynasty, marking the independence of the Dai Viet. It was constructed on the

remains of a Chinese fortress dating from the 7th century, on drained land

reclaimed from the Red River Delta in Hanoi. It was the center of regional political

power for almost 13 centuries without interruption. The Imperial Citadel buildings

and the remains in the 18 Hoang Dieu Archaeological Site reflect a unique South-

East Asian culture specific to the lower Red River Valley, at the crossroads

between influences coming from China in the north and the ancient Kingdom of

Champa in the south. ( UNESCO World Heritage Centre)

Complex of Hu MonumentsVietnam

Established as the capital of unified Viet Nam in 1802,

Hu was not only the political but also the cultural and religious center under theNguyen dynasty until 1945. The Perfume River winds its way through the Capital

City, the Imperial City, the Forbidden Purple City and the Inner City, giving this

unique feudal capital a setting of great natural beauty. ( UNESCO World

Heritage Centre)

A World Heritage Site since: 1993

Ha Long Bay


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Vietnam

Ha Long Bay, in the Gulf of Tonkin, includes some 1,600

islands and islets, forming a spectacular seascape of limestone pillars. Because of

their precipitous nature, most of the islands are uninhabited and unaffected by a

human presence. The site's outstanding scenic beauty is complemented by its great

biological interest. ( UNESCO World Heritage Centre)


My Son Sanctuary

Vietnam

Between the 4th and 13th centuries a unique culture

which owed its spiritual origins to Indian Hinduism developed on the coast of

contemporary Viet Nam. This is graphically illustrated by the remains of a series

of impressive tower-temples located in a dramatic site that was the religious and

political capital of the Champa Kingdom for most of its existence. ( UNESCOWorld Heritage Centre)


Phong Nha-Ke Bang National ParkVietnam

The karst formation of Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park

has evolved since the Paleozoic (some 400 million years ago) and so is the oldest

major karst area in Asia. Subject to massive tectonic changes, the parks karstlandscape is extremely complex with many geomorphic features of considerable

significance. The vast area, extending to the border of the Lao Peoples


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Democratic Republic, contains spectacular formations including 65 km of caves

and underground rivers. ( UNESCO World Heritage Centre)


tinations in Vietnam::: Where to go in Vietnam: Hanoi, Hue, Saigon, Halong Bay,

Hoi An, Mekong Delta,

Expect a new travel experience. Expect to see a picture perfect landscape of

rice paddies and water buffalo. Expect wide tree-lined streets full of bicycles

and motorcycles, which are a challenge to cross! Expect to be smiled at a lot,

expect to smile backyou cant help it! Expect curious locals to engage you in

unexpected conversations, invitations to enjoy a cup of tea. Expect the

occasional mishapa delayed flight or a short power outage. Expect endlessphoto opportunities. Expect to find bargains! Expect to sample a new and

unique cuisine. Expect to eat French baguettes warm and crisp and baked fresh

every morning. Expect the noise and the heat. Expect to learn about daily

rituals and traditions performed for hundreds of years. Expect grace and beauty

as you watch the young school girls in their white ao dais (traditional gowns)

ride by on their bicycles.

EXPECT THINGS TO BE DIFFERENT FROM WHAT THEY ARE ATHOME - ISN'T THIS THE REASON YOU CAME ?

Saigon and the Environs

Saigon (Ho Chi Minh City)Once romantically referred to by the French

as the Pearl of the Orient, Ho Chi Minh City

is still called Saigon by almost everyone

who lives there. It is a modern city by Asian

standards and has only been under firm

Vietnamese control for a little more than

200 years. The city's character remains

essentially French -- with wide boulevards,colonial villas, and a lively caf society --

but also resolutely Asian. It has more of a

cosmopolitan feel than Hanoi, although

much of the old French colonial city is

vanishing beneath the rapidly rising skyline

and the sheer weight of recent


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history. Combined with this vivacious street

life, the city's French influences have bred a

charm all their own.

Tay NinhCao Dai Great Temple is the cathedral of the

Cao Dai religion and is the main attraction

in Tay Ninh. The temple, built between

1933 and 1955, is located more specifically

in Long Hoa, 5-km southeast of Tay Ninh.

The Great Temple is 140 m long and 40 m

wide. It has 4 towers each with a different

name: Tam Dai, Hiep Thien Dai, Cuu Trung

Dai, and Bat Quai Dai. The interior of the

temple consists of a colonnaded hall and a

sanctuary. The 2 rows of columns aredecorated with dragons and are coated in

white, red, and blue paint.

The domed ceiling is divided into 9 parts similar to a night sky full of stars and

symbolizing heaven. Under the dome is a giant star-speckled blue globe on

which is painted the Divine Eye, the official symbol of Caodaism. Cao Dai

followers worship Jesus Christ, Confucius, Laotze, and Buddha.

Mekong River DeltaMekong Delta is the southern rice bowl of

Vietnam, a fertile area covered with rice

fields and winding tributaries of the Mekong

River. Originating in the high plateau of

Tibet, the Mekong River is over 2600 miles

long travels through China, Myanmar, Laos

and Cambodia before reaching Vietnam

where it empties into the South China

Sea. The Delta is a colorful display of rural

life with its lush vegetation, island farms

and floating markets. Places of interest in

the Mekong Delta include My Tho, VinhLong, Can Tho and Chau Doc.


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Phan Thiet is a quaint fishing villagelocated along the southeastern coast, known

today for its stretch of pristine powder sand,

crystal clear waters and spectacular sand

dunes. This small village offers little in

terms of recreation and dining but the resort

properties offer a quiet retreat. Coco Beach,

Bamboo Village and the newly built

Victoria Phan Thiet, all offer bungalow-style

accommodations and the Novotel Ocean

Dunes Resort offers a golf course. Phan

Thiet is becoming a popular stop for

overseas travelers.

Central HighlandsDaLat, Le Petit Paris, was the name givento this former French hill station. The

Vietnamese call it City of Eternal Spring

because of the cooler, fresher air of this

mountainous region. DaLat is nestled in the

central highlands and renowned for its

tranquil beauty; a favorite of the French

during colonial days. the French influence is

evident in the hundreds of lovely colonial

villas dotted throughout the town. DaLats

alpine landscape of pine forests, rolling hills

and tranquil lakes make it a popular getaway

for honeymooners and travelers

Buon Ma Thuot, is the coffee capital of Vietnam. Its scenic landscape offersflowing waterfalls and forested mountains and is inhabited by a variety of

ethnic hill tribes. Visitors can visit coffee and rubber plantations, hill tribe

villages and enjoy an elephant trek.

Pleiku and Kontum The Central Highlands is one of the most remote andleast populated areas of Vietnam the Central Highlands is peaceful today with

its virgin forest, mountains, waterfalls and wildlife, the Central Highlands wasan area of intense battles during the American-Vietnam War. Pleiku, home to

the Jarai hill tribe andKontum home to the Banhar hill tribe are the main towns

in this mountainous area. Explorers can take elephant treks through the jungle

and overnight in a hill tribe communal longhouse.

Central Coastal Region


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Hue is the ancient royal capital of theNguyen Dynasty whose magnificent tombs

are a major attraction. Hue is situated in

the central coastal area; the Perfume River

winds through the center of town, past the

Citadel and Forbidden Purple City, which

was modeled after the Forbidden City in

Beijing.There are many important

historical and cultural sites such as the

Thien Mu Pagoda and the many

mausoleums of the Nguyen emperors that

can be found in the small villages around

Hue. Designated by UNESCO as a cultural

heritage site it is one of Vietnams major

attractions.Da Nangis Vietnams third international gateway and a major seaport withmagnificent beaches. Its historical significance stems back to 192AD when it

was the capital of the Kingdom of Champa. Relics from this period can be

found in the open-air Cham Museum, considered to be one of the finest

collections of Cham sculptures in the world, and at the ruins of My Son where

twenty Hindu-like temples are still standing. DaNang was also the site of the

first military landing in 1965 by American troops and was a major base for

American Marines and naval forces during the war. Sightseeing includes

Marble Mountain, with its natural grottos and Buddhist sanctuaries and China

Beach a favorite rest and recreation center for American troops.

Hoi An-The World CultureHeritage This lovely and well-preserved600-year-old town, is an architectural living

museum with its eclectic mix of restored

homes, winding streets and ancient

bridges. In the 16th-18

thcenturies it was an

international trading port connecting Asia

and the West. The influence of the traders

and seamen from Portugal, China, Japan,and France are evident throughout this

lovely town.


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Nha Trang Offers the widest selection ofaccommodations of all the seaside areas in

Vietnam; it also has some of the best-

known beaches and pristine

waters. Becoming popular for snorkeling

and diving it has a lively atmosphere, many

ocean front seafood restaurants and

sidewalk cafes. Beautiful examples of the

Cham culture can be found in the 10th-

century Po Nagar Towers.

Hanoi and the NorthHanoithe capital of Vietnam was founded in

1010. It is the center of cultural and

political life, a city of lakes, broadboulevards and almost 600 temples and

pagodas. The city has retained much of its

old architecture and colonial

charm. Amongst the many sights in this

lovely city are the one-pillared pagoda,

originally built in 1049; the Temple of

Literaturefirst university in Vietnam,

founded in 1070; and Ho Chi Minhs

mausoleum. A cyclo ride (man-powered

taxi) through HanoisOld Quarteralongwinding streets whose names include

Coffin Street, Silk Street, Chicken Street,

Basket Street offers an exciting glimpse

into Hanoi life.

HaLong Bay

One of the most scenic areas in Vietnam,

has over 3000 fascinating sculptured

islands rising from the clear emerald watersof the Gulf of Tonkin. The rock formations

are full of lovely grottos, caves and small

beaches. A journey by motorized sampan

allows you to wander through these rock

formations which legend says were made

by a mighty dragon whose feet caused the


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formation of mountains in the sea.

Hoa Lu was the first capital of Vietnamduring the Ly Dynasty 968-1010 AD. It is

a scenic area with limestone hills and

gently flowing rivers. Many of the

beautiful 11th-century temples still remain,

including the Temple of Dinh Tien Hoang,

one of the finest examples of

medieval architecture in Vietnam. Our tour

includes a gentle sampan journey through

the hills and caves of this historic area.

Hoa Binh and Mai Chau Valley lie across the Red River Valley at thefoothills of Ha Son Binh province. The air is crisp, and the road becomes

tougher. The Mai Chau Valley shimmers with tiny villages that nestle beneath

the towering limestone cliffs. In this area live the Muong communities andBlack Thai minority. The Muong are farmers growing rice, sugarcane and tea.

Silk production and weaving are common village industries. The area is very

scenic with jagged limestone peaks and deep valleys. The region provides

wonderful trekking, and hiking. Accommodation in the local village

communities is very basic but the welcome is genuine.

Huong Pagoda is an important religiousdestination for the Vietnamese. There are

three pagodas, Pagoda of the Perfumed

Vestiges, Pagoda of Purgatory and Pagoda

Leading to Heaven. They are set into the

sides of the limestone cliffs of Huong Tich

Mountain along the River Yen. It is a very

picturesque area and part of the journey is

by boat through the limestone outcroppings.

The scenery is similar to that of Guilin

China but on a smaller scale.

Sapa high in the mountains, close to theChinese border, is home to many

minority hill tribes. SaPa is surrounded byladder rice fields, mountains and

forests. To reach Sapa, we journey by

overnight train from Hanoi to Lao Cai and

then continue by car up the mountain.

Vietnams indigenous flora and fauna are inabundance in this region. The Victoria


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Hotel blends beautifully into the

surrounding mountains and provides a

wonderful rest stop to enjoy this

mountainous region of Vietnam.

Dong Ho is a small village outside of Hanoi known as the printers village. Itwas originally inhabited by one family who for 400 years and 20 generations

have been artist-craftsmen producing rustic and colorful pictures printed from

etched wooden blocks. The paper is made by hand and natural inks are derived

from local materials. Artistic creativity was not the inspiration for Dong Ho

prints; rather each is intended to convey a popular fable, allegory, social value

or historical struggle. Dong Ho is recognized by UNESCO as a traditional craft

village.

Vietnamese people

Vietnam has one of the mostcomplex ethno linguistic

patterns in Asia. The

Vietnamese were significantly

Sinicized during a millennium

of Chinese rule. Vietnamese,

one of the Mon-Khmer

languages of the Austro-Asiatic

language family, exhibits strong

Chinese influence. Indianinfluence is found among the

Cham and Khmer minorities.

The Cham, whose language

belongs to the Austronesian

language family, formed the

majority population in the

Indianized kingdom of Champa

in what is now central Vietnam

from the 2nd century to the late

15th century AD. Smallnumbers of Cham remain in the

south-central coastal plain and

in the Mekong delta near the

Cambodian border. The Khmer

(Cambodians), whose language

is one of the Mon-Khmer


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languages, are scattered

throughout the Mekong delta.

Many other ethnic groups

inhabit the highlands. While

cultures vary considerably in

the central highlands, shared

characteristics include a

traditional way of life still

largely oriented around kin

groups and small communities.

Known collectively by the

French as Montagnards

("Highlanders"), these peoples

have affinities with other

Southeast Asians. Many groupssuch as the Rade (Rhade),

Jarai, Chru, and Roglai--speak

Austronesian languages,

linking them to the Cham,

Malay, and Indonesian peoples;

others--including the Bru,

Pacoh, Katu, Cua, Hre,

Rengao, Sedang, Bahnar,

Mnong, Mang (Maa), and

Stieng--speak Mon-Khmer

languages, affiliating them with

the Khmer.

Highlanders have experienced little Chinese or

Indian influence, but they were exposed to

Western (French and then American) influence

from the late 19th century until the early 1970s.

French missionaries and administrators provided

roman script for some of the Montagnard

languages, and additional orthographies have beendevised since. The Montagnards have exhibited an

intense desire to preserve their own cultural

identities. The various groups in the uplands of

northern Vietnam have ethnolinguistic affiliations

with peoples in Thailand, Laos, and southern

China. The largest of these are the tribal Tai


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(Thai) groups who speak Tai languages and

generally live in upland valleys. H'mong (Miao, or

Meo) and Mien groups, who speak languages of

the Sino-Tibetan language family, are scattered at

higher elevations.

Demographic trendsVietnam's population has grown rapidly since

reunification in 1975. As a result, an increasing

proportion of the population is young.

The migration pattern long has been predominantly

from north to south, and more recently there also

has been migration from the lowlands to higherelevations and from rural to urban areas. In 1954

nearly one million people moved from north to

south. In both the north and the south in the late

1950s, there were programs to resettle ethnic

Vietnamese from the lowlands to the uplands.

While these programs were discontinued in the

south in 1963, they continued in the north; between

1976 and 1980 they were revived throughout the

country and greatly intensified, with a significant

number of people moving from the south to thecentral highlands. Since then, however, there has

been an overall flow of migrants into Ho Chi Minh

City and its environs, as well as into the central

highlands. Out-migration has been greatest in partsof the northeast and along the central coastal plain.

The Vietnamese LanguageVietnamese Vietnam's official language, is a tonal

language that can be compared to Cambodia's

official language, Khmer. With each syllable, there

are six different tones that can be used, which

change the definition and it often makes it difficult

for foreigners to pick up the language. There are

other languages spoken as well such as Chinese,


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Khmer, Cham and other languages spoken by tribes

inhabiting the mountainous regions. Although

there are some similarities to Southeast Asian

languages, such as Chinese, Vietnamese is thought

to be a separate language group, although a

member of the Austro-Asiatic language family. In

written form, Vietnamese uses the Roman alphabet

and accent marks to show tones. This system of

writing called quoc ngu, was created by Catholic

missionaries in the 17th century to translate the

scriptures. Eventually this system, particularly

after World War I, replaced one using Chinese

characters (chu nom), which had been the unofficial

written form used for centuries.

Vietnamese Cuisine

Restaurants in Vietnam

Vietnam is a long, skinny country stretching from Hanoi and the Red River in the

north to Ho Chi Minh City and the fertile Mekong River Delta in the south. These

ends are connected by a mountainous spine that runs along the South China Sea.

On the west, Vietnam is bordered by Laos and Cambodia, and to the north, lies

China. The food of the north, through stir-fries and noodle-based soups, shows the

heavy influence of Chinese cooking. The mountainous middle section, with the

former Imperial capitol, Hue, at its center, has an abundance of fresh produce. It

was in Hue that royal chefs developed the more elaborate dishes of Vietnamese

cuisine. The southern region is tropical, sustaining rice paddies, coconut groves,

and many more spices than the north.
http://www.discoveryvietnam.com/restaurants.htmhttp://www.discoveryvietnam.com/restaurants.htmhttp://www.discoveryvietnam.com/restaurants.htm


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Beef noodles-Vietnamese favouritefood

As in the rest of Southeast Asia, there is

an ancient layer of Indian cultural

presence, most obviously evidenced in the

religion of Buddhism French colonization

of Vietnam, which began in the 16th

century and ended in the middle of the

20th century, also had a deep influence on

Vietnamese cooking. The cuisine balances

all these influences. One street vendor

may noodle soup, pho bo, from his cart.

The next vendor over might sell baguette

smeared with one of the many ground

pork concoctions known as pts. Both

may be complemented by the ubiquitous

native fish sauce (nuoc nam) or dippingsauce (nuoc cham -- made from fish

sauce, water, sugar, and lime juice and

seasoned with chiles and garlic).

As in many of the neighboring countries, a Vietnamese meal is rarely divided into

courses. All the food is served at once and shared from common dishes. Meals are

anchored by a starch, usually rice and sometimes noodles (especially in the north

where grain is more prevalent than rice). The Vietnamese prefer long-grain rice to

the glutinous short grain varieties preferred by northern Thai and Japanese palates.

Most meals include a soup, a stir-fry, and another main dish.

Often, a light salad with shrimp or beef and vegetables will accompany the meal.

Like the Chinese, the Vietnamese eat from a bowl with chopsticks.

Vietnamese cooking is generally not as rich or heavy as the coconut milk curries,

of, say, Thailand or India. All that coastline means that fish and seafood are central

to the diet. Other meats -- pork, beef, and chicken -- are also common, but in

smaller quantities. Vegetables are often left raw, especially in the south, to act as a

fresh contrast to the spicy cooked meat. The distinct flavors of Vietnamese food

come primarily from: mint leaves, coriander, lemon grass, shrimp, fish sauces

(nuoc nam and nuoc cham), star anise, ginger, black pepper, garlic, basil, rice

vinegar, sugar, and green onions. Many flavorful marinades are made by somecombination of these flavorings. Marinated meat or fish is quickly sauted in the

wok and served with an array of raw vegetables and herbs. All this may be eaten

over rice or rolled in a rice-paper wrapper or lettuce leaf (or both), then dipped into

a pungent sauce.

Roll Your Own


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The other do-it-yourself element in many Vietnamese meals comes with roll-your-

own rice-paper rolls. For example, grilled chunks of lemongrass beef (thit bo

nuong), grilled meatballs (nem nuong), or freshly steamed shrimp (tom) all come

served with a salad plate together with a stack of moist rice papers (banh trang) or

fresh rice wrappers (banh uot). You lay a wrapper on your open palm, put in a

piece or two of meat, several strips of pickled radish, perhaps some herbs, sprouts,

or rice vermicelli, then tuck over the ends and roll it up. You now have your own

unique fresh spring roll that can be dipped in nuoc cham or nuoc leo, or eaten

simply on its own.

Market and Restaurant FoodsMarket food is at its best, and offers the

greatest selection in the morning before

the day gets hot. While breakfast in the

south and north is generally soup, in rural

areas it can be xoi-sticky rice steamed ina leaf wrapper.

Often peanuts or mung beans are

steamed with the rice.In addition to street

food, you'll want to experience a Bo Bay

Mon or "Beef Seven Ways" restaurant.

Beef dishes include beef fondue (bo

nhung dam), grilled beef-stuffed leaves

(bo la lot), beef pate steamed in banana

leaves (cha dum), and beef rice soup

(chao thit bo).

BeveragesFreshly pressed sugarcane juice is available from vendors in the afternoon and

evening. Vietnamese beer is good; try Saigon Beer or 333. Vietnam grows its own

tea in the region around Dalat. Tea is consumed morning to night; it's served before

or after but never during a meal. For another caffeine hit, try Vietnamese coffee

black and hot or iced with condensed milk, with sugar- our favorite. The coffee is

made in individual slow-drip filters and can be very strong.

VIETNAMESE CULTURE

Family and Social CultureBefore the late 1980s, nearly all Vietnamese people lived in villages, and the

cultivation of wet rice was the principal economic activity. The basic component of

rural society was the nuclear family, composed of parents and unwed children.


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Respect for parents and ancestors is a key

virtue in Vietnam. The oldest male in the

family is the head of the family and the

most important family member. His

oldest son is the second leader of the

family. Sometimes, related families live

together in a big house and help each

other. The parents chose their children's

marriage partners based on who they

think is best suited for their child. When

people die, their families honor their

ancestors on the day of their death by

performing special ceremonies at home

or at temples and by burning incense and

fake money for the one who died.The Vietnamese believed that by burning incense, their ancestors could protect

them and their family from danger and harm. Days before the ceremony starts, the

family has to get ready, because they won't have enough time to get ready when

the guests arrive and the ceremony starts. Usually the women cook and prepare

many special kinds of food, like chicken, ham, pork, rice, and many more

including desserts.

While the women are busy cooking, the men are

busy fixing up and cleaning up the house, so it

won't be messy and dirty because of all the

relatives of the person that died will come for

the ceremony and show honor and respect to

that person.

Families venerated their ancestors with special

religious rituals. The houses of the wealthy

were constructed of brick, with tile roofs. Those

of the poor were bamboo and thatch. Rice was

staple food for the vast majority, garnished with

vegetables and, for those who could afford it,

meat and fish.The French introduced Western values of individual freedom and sexual quality,

which undermined and the traditional Vietnamese social system. In urban areas,

Western patterns of social behavior became increasingly common, especially

among educated and wealthy Vietnamese attended French schools, read French

books, replaced traditional attire with Western-style clothing, and drank French

wines instead of the traditional wine distilled from rice. Adolescents began to resist


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the tradition of arranged marriages, and women chafed under social mores that

demanded obedience to their fathers and husbands. In the countryside, however,

traditional Vietnamese family values remained strong.

The trend toward adopting Western values continues in South Vietnam after the

division of the country in 1954. Many young people embraced sexual freedom and

the movies, clothing styles, and rock music from Western cultures became popular.

But in the North, social ethnics were defined by Vietnam Communist Partysprinciples. The government officially recognized equality of the sexes, and women

began to obtain employment in professions previously dominated by men. At the

same time, the government began enforcing a more puritanical lifestyle as a means

to counter the so-called decadent practices of Western society. Traditional values

continued to hold sway in rural areas and countryside, where the concept of male

superiority remained common.

In the 1980s, the Vietnamese government adopted an economic reform program

that freely from free market principles and encouraged foreign investment andtourism development. As a result, the Vietnamese people have become

increasingly acquainted with and influenced by the lifestyles in developed

countries of South East Asia and the West.

Arts and Handicrafts in VietnamCeramics and pottery have been around Vietnam, it isbelieved, since the Neolithic period. During the 11th

century ceramics were in great demand for religious

purposes with the popularity of Buddhism. Religious

objects as well as statues were needed and were

produced with great skill. The beauty and elegance of

ceramics caused the aristocracy, as well as emperors, to

become patrons of kilns in the Red River Delta. Cups,

dishes, etc., with whitish-ivory and jade-green glazes

were produced in the 12th century, gradually increasing

in ornamentation during the 15th and 16th

centuries. With the adoption of cobalt blue from China,

Vietnam started producing blue-white ceramics which

were still being produced as late as the 19th century in

royal workshops, and in the village of Bat Trang(Hanoi).

Woodcarving, considered to be a

peasant art, was until recently a

hidden art within Vietnam. It was

not until 1972 that the country

realized the beautiful art hidden


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within it's country's homes.

This art uses ironwood, ebony, reddish mahogany and rosewood (yak wood) with

the natural beauty of the wood just adds to the finished product, whether it be in a

temple, home or a statue. Adding to the natural beauty, sometimes several layers

of lacquer and color are applied making it even more breathtaking. Woodcuts

initially came from China, but is now considered to be a traditional Vietnamese

art. These are mainly used for book illustrations and for pictures during Tet

(Tranh Tet- traditional New Year's pictures).

Dong Ho PaintingsYou may have seen them before. They adorn the walls of Vietnamese restaurants

everywhere in the world. Vietnamese people hang them up as Lunar New Year

approaches. In Vietnam, production of these folk paintings peaks right before Tet

as merchants stock up in anticipation of heavy customer demand.

The Print Making ProcessThese paintings are traditionally used to decorate homes for

the New Year festival. The prints are made by brushing

paint made of local material onto carved wood blocks, then

pressing the blocks on paper. The print is left to dry after

each color is applied before another color is added. Three to

five colors are used to make each print.

The Wood BlocksThe wooden blocks are made from the thi tree, a soft

fibrous wood. The block is used as a printing plate, with

one block for each color, print and size. The blocks are

usually kept in a separate warehouse to preserve them in

their finest form.

The PaperThe prints are all done on traditional giay gio paper made from the bark fiber of

the do tree. This tree grows in the northwestern part of the country. The sheath is

stripped off the tree trunk and soaked in a pond for a month. It is then dipped in

limewater for two weeks, followed by a wash. After ten days or so the pulp is

poured into frames which are stacked for several more days. Then the stacks are

arranged on a wall to dry, and pressed smooth with a stone mortar. The paper iscoated with a pulverized powder made from shellfish found in the Hai Phong area.

The shellfish is brought to the village and coated with mud for two years.

The entire mixture is then ground up by stone mortar and put into a water tank to

be filtered and pressed into balls that weigh about a kilo and they are left to dry on

the walls or floors. They are then used as needed and mixed with glue. This

mixture is called diep powder.


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The BrushThe prints are painted with a beautiful brush made of spruce. The thetbrushes are

made from dried spruce leaves bound together. These brushes are made in a village

not far away and come in various sizes. The leaves are pounded with salt water and

a hammer to make the brush tip soft enough and are bound together and flattened

at the top.

The PaintThe folk art simplicity has strong and simple contours with bright colors that are

made from dried bamboo leaves, the local fruits, flowers and leaves. The paint is

mixed in large earthenware pots. The colors are mixed by hand and each artisan

has his or her own formula. The red paint is made from soi son, a soft stone that is

found in the region. The blue paint is made from indigo leaves found in the

minority areas. Both of these paints must be soaked in an earthenware pot for a

couple of years and strained of all impurities.

Yellow paint usually comes from the sophora tree whose flowers are as small asrice kernels. The flowers are roasted in a pan until they turn brownish-yellow.

When water is added and the mixture is boiled, the yellow color appears. The

liquid is filtered and the pulp thrown away. The violet color comes from the mong

toi fruit. Black paint comes from the bamboo tree. When the bamboo trees shed

their leaves,

they are burned to a cinder, then sprinkled with water and put in a glazed clay jar

half filled with water. After a year or more the water is strained and the black ink is

ready for use after being mixed with glutinous rice glue.

Grinding glutinous rice into a fine powder and mixing it with water makesthe rice glue. As the rice powder settles to the bottom, the clear water is

skimmed off every day, to prevent the contents from

fermenting. Traditional Female Ao DaiThe ao dai appears to flatter every figure.

Its body-hugging top flows over wide

trousers that brush the floor. Slits in the

gown extend well above waist height and

make it comfortable and easy to move in.

Although virtually the whole body is

swathed in soft flowing fabric, these slitsgive the odd glimpse of a bare midriff,

making the outfit very sensual. Over

time, the traditional "ao dai" has gone

through certain changes. Long gowns are

now carefully tailored to fit the body of a

Vietnamese woman.


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The two long slits along the side allow the gown to have two free floating panels in

the front and at the back of the dress. The floating panels expose a long pair of

white silk trousers. In recent years some foreign fashions have been introduced to

Vietnam; however, the traditional "ao dai" remains preferable to women in both

urban and rural settings. On formal occasions, they wear a special three layered

dress called an "ao dai", a long gown with slits on either side.

Traditional female Ao Tu ThanThe outer garment is a special silk gown called an "ao tu than" which is brown or

light brown in colour with four slits divided equally on its lower section. The

second layer is a gown in a light yellow colour and the third layer is a pink gown.

When a woman wears her three gowns, she fastens the buttons on the side, and

leaves those on the chest unfastened so that they form a shaped collar. This allows

her to show the different colors on the upper part of the three gowns. Beneath the

three gowns is a bright red brassiere which is left exposed to cover the woman's

neck.In general, Vietnamese clothing is very diverse. Every ethnic group in Vietnam has

its own style of clothing. Festivals are the occasion for all to wear their favorite

clothes.

Festivals in Vietnam

TET FESTIVAL (Lunar New Year)The largest traditional festival of the Vietnamese people

is tet , which is celebrated nationally from the first lunar

month (late January or early February).

It is primarily a festival for the family . People reunite

with their relatives on these days to make offerings to

ancestors or to visit the church , tombs and wells in the

place in which they were raised . Rich or poor , every

family has a tray of good food , a bottle of wine , cakes ,

flowers and fruits to offer their ancestors .

Elephant Racing FestivalThis festival is celebrated in the Spring, in the 3rd lunar month. It is usually held in

Don village or in forests near the Sevepoi River, in Dak Lak province. At thesignal , the mahouts take their elephants to the start line .Once the start command is

given, all the elephants rush to the exciting beat of the drums and gongs,

accompanied by the viewers cheering. The winning elephant waves to the audience

with its trunk. The elephant will often take this opportunity to flap its ears gently

and to give tender looks to receive sugar cane from the viewers. Elephant races are

the biggest festival to take place in the middle highlands. It bears the martial spirit


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of M'nong ethnic groups, which is very famous for bravery and experience in

hunting wild elephants.

Do Son Buffalo Fighting FestivalAlthough the Do Son Buffalo Fighting Festival is officially held on the 9th of the

8th lunar month in Hai Phong, preparations start several months before. Fighting

buffaloes must be carefully selected, well fed, and trained. The selection of the

official fighting buffaloes starts in May when qualification matches take place in

small villages. Only 6 buffaloes will participate in the final fight.

The festival begins with a procession to the communal house where offerings from

several little villages are presented to the gods; such gifts include a buffalo, a pig,

and a basket of sticky rice. The procession, in which the buffaloes are covered with

red cloth, also includes 12 young men, also dressed in red, who take the buffaloes

to the fighting circle.

After the young men perform the "Opening the match" dance, a pair of buffaloes

are led into the fighting circle. The two buffaloes fight until the defeated gives upand runs away. The winner then goes on to fight another buffalo until a final

winner is determined.

Vietnamese LanguageVietnamese is basically a monosyllabic languagehaving six tones, which gives the language a sing-

song effect. A word can be repeated with any one

of six tones to indicate six different meanings. For

example, the word ma has six different meanings

according to the tone which the word carries:

phantom, ghost; cheek; but, which, who; tomb;

horse; young rice seedling.

Vietnamese has three basic dialects, all are

generally understood by most Vietnamese

speakers.

It is very different from English; verbs do not change forms, articles are not used,

nouns do not have plural endings, there are no prefixes, no suffixes, no definitive

and no distinction among pronouns. Its complex vocabulary reflects basic cultural

values. Name and Naming

Traditionally, Vietnamese people list their family name first, then their middle

name, with their first (given) name listed as last. Family members use different

given names (first names aren't passed down), and the name reflects some

meaning. Most names can be used for either gender.


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In Vietnam, we never call our parents, grand-parents, teachers, uncles, aunts by

their first names, but Western people do. "Co", "Thay", "Chu", "Bac" is alwaysadded. In addition, the people from the south of Vietnam usually call their

relatives, their neighbours by their ranks in their family instead of their first

names

the charming vietnamese capital has aged well

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