Discover Local Culture on a Vietnam Trip
Despite long years of foreign occupation, Vietnam has developed a rich and unique culture, a combination of historical Chinese and modern Western influences. Eighty-six percent of Vietnam’s 84 million people are ethnically Kinh (or Viet), while other ethnicities such as Tay, Thai, Muong, Khome, Hoa, Nun, and Hmong make up the other fourteen percent. During your Vietnam trip you are likely to hear a variety of languages and dialects. While the official language is Vietnamese (kinh), the country’s many ethnic minorities speak dozens of different languages. English is becoming an increasingly popular second language, along with Chinese, French, and Russian and several mountain-area languages.
Many of the ethnic groups that make their home in the central highlands and mountains still live very traditional lifestyles, with kin groups and small communities as a central focus. Vietnamese culture tends to value clan over family, though most clan members are related by blood. In rural areas, a clan will often live together in one house, with three or four generations sometimes sharing one dwelling.
The indigenous people of the central highlands also produce lovely folk art. Hardwood from the forests is carved into crossbows and figures. The men weave baskets and mats, while the women weave blankets and clothing. Each Vietnamese ethnic group has a unique style of clothing; when you tour the area you will likely notice that many people still wear the traditional clothing of their area on special occasions such as festivals. Most traditional wear has been replaced by Western clothing for daily use. One exception is the ao dai, perhaps the most well-known Vietnamese costume, which is a long gown with a slit on either side, worn over flowing silk pants. Ao dai has become something of a national symbol, and you will see it throughout the country during a trip to Vietnam. It is mandatory in many high schools, some colleges, and for women in certain jobs (such as secretaries and tour guides) as well.
Vietnam’s literary history has seen several shifts. Up to the 13th century, Vietnamese poetry was written in Chinese, but 200 years later a uniquely Vietnamese script was developed. The most famous piece of Vietnamese literature is the long narrative poem Kim Van Kieu (The Tale of Kieu) by Nguyen Du, written in the 18th century. Today, Vietnamese literature is written in the romanticized script developed by Portuguese missionaries. Theatre is also popular in the country, and a unique experience to enjoy during a Vietnam trip. Satirical musical comedies, called cai luong, are often performed, as are modern plays. Some groups perform traditional Chinese opera, traditional operettas, or Vietnamese water puppetry, which takes place on a pool or pond.
Though more than two-thirds of the population does not claim a religion, Confucianism, Taoism, and Buddhism have long had their impacts on the philosophies and belief systems of the Vietnamese people. Over the years these religions were simplified and twisted together to form a Vietnamese folk religion—Tam Giáo—that was shared by most of the population. Christianity also had its influence following the introduction of Roman Catholicism in the 1500s and Protestantism in the early 1900s. All foreign clergy were forced to leave Vietnam after North Vietnam conquered the South, leaving only native priests and pastors. The current constitution guarantees freedom of religion, but that freedom in reality is slow in coming.
