The Cultures of Vietnam

Vietnam has one of the richest and most vibrant cultures of South Asia. A culture shaped by centuries of interaction with foreign cultures.

The Culture of Vietnam is one of the oldest of such in the Southeast Asia region. During French colonial period, Vietnamese culture received merchant influences from the Europeans. To date, Vietnam is the only non-island nation of Indochina which uses the Latin alphabet to write the national language.

Despite considerable foreign influence, Vietnamese people have managed to retain many distinct native customs which have always played a vital role in daily Vietnamese life. Most of the Vietnamese historians consider the ancient Dong Son culture to be one of the significant aspects of early Vietnamese civilization.

Music and Dance

The rich heritage of the culture of Vietnam has given rise to the unique music and dance in Vietnam. It has both indigenous and foreign influences which has given it a character of its own. Music and dance in Vietnam has been strongly influenced by the trends in the royal courts.

Northern classical music is Vietnam's oldest and is traditionally more formal. Vietnamese classical music can be traced to the Mongol invasions, when the Vietnamese captured a Chinese opera troupe. Central classical music shows the influences of Champa culture with its melancholic melodies. Southern music exudes a lively laissez-faire attitude.

Vietnam has 54 different ethnics, each with their own traditional dance. Among the ethnic Vietnamese majority, there are several traditional dances performed widely at festivals and other special occasions, such as the lion dance. Some of the more widely known dances are the imperial lantern dance, fan dance, and platter dance which require great skills.

Arts and Crafts

Water Puppetry (Mua Roi Can) is a distinct Vietnamese art which had its origins in the 10th century. Water puppetry is performed in a chest-deep pool of water, with the water's surface as a stage and they are manipulated using long poles hidden beneath the water. Epic story lines are played out with many different puppets, often using traditional scenes of Vietnamese life, legends and national history. Each puppet is carefully carved, and then painted with several consecutive layers of paint to protect the puppets.

Despite nearly dying out in the 20th century, Water Puppetry has been acknowledged by the Vietnamese Government as an important part of Vietnam's cultural heritage. Today, puppetry is commonly performed by professional puppeteers, who typically are taught by their elders in rural areas of Vietnam.

Vietnamese martial art is highly developed from the country's long history of warfare and attempts to defend itself from foreign occupation. Although most heavily influenced by Chinese martial arts, it has developed its own characteristics throughout the millennia in combination with other influences from its neighbours. Vietnamese martial art is deeply spiritual due to the influence of Confucianism, Buddhism and Taoism, and is strongly reliant on the "Viet Vo Dao" (philosophy of Vietnamese martial arts). It is probably most famous for its scissor kicks.

Cuisine

Vietnamese cuisine emphasizes on fresh food, uses very little oil and many vegetables. There is an extensive use of different kinds of sauces (fish, soy sauce, and fish sauce), lemon grass, lime, and kaffir lime leaves in their food. Vietnamese cuisine also includes Buddhist vegetarian dishes. Dipping sauce and fresh vegetables as side dishes are common throughout the country.

Clothing

In feudal Vietnam, clothing was one of the most important marks of social status and strict dress codes were enforced. Commoners had a limited choice for every day use and limited colours that they were allowed to use.

One of the most popular traditional outfits for a woman is the Ao Dai. It has been modified over time from Chinese court clothing.

Ao Dai are often worn for special occasions such as weddings or festivals. Men used to wear a mandarin-like suit but this is rarely see now except in traditional dance or music performances.

Religion

The Vietnamese way of viewing life has been strongly shaped by the people’s religions and beliefs. Vietnam is often described as a Buddhist or Confucian country. Historically, the so-called Tam Giao (triple religion), characterizing the East Asian intricate mixture between Mahayana Buddhism, Confucianism, and Taoism has always had a large impact on Vietnamese society and philosophy. Of the three, Vietnamese Buddhism has always been the most popular with commoners.

Besides the "triple religion", Vietnamese life was also profoundly influenced by the practice of ancestor worship as well as native animism. Most Vietnamese people, regardless of religious denomination, practice ancestor worship and have an ancestor altar at their home or business, a testament to the emphasis Vietnamese culture places on filial duty.