Customs & habits
Hue music and song
Chamber music originated from royal music at the beginning of the 19th century in the Nguyen Dynasty. It was well developed by the time of King Tu Duc. By the end of the 19th century, it was popularized and ditties … Read more
Hat Van
Hat van or hat chau van, a traditional folk art which combines singing and dancing, is a religious form of art used for extolling the merits of beneficent deities or deified national heroes. Its music and poetry are mingled with a … Read more
Quan Ho
The birth place of quan ho folk songs is Bac Ninh Province. During village festivals, which are held every year, particularly in spring, young men and women gather in the yard of a communal house or pagoda, on a hill or … Read more
Vietnamese Conical Hat
For many years, Non (traditional conical hats woven from palm leaves) have been close to the daily life of Vietnamese women. The image of the Non was engraved on ancient objects, such as Ngoc Lu Bronze Drum and Dao Thinh … Read more
Worship of Ancestor of Vietnam people
Vietnamese believe that the soul of a dead person, even if dead for many generations, still rests along with their descendants on earth. The dead and living persons still have spiritual communion; in everyday life, people must not forget that … Read more
Funeral Ceremony
Formerly funeral ceremonies went as following: the body was washed and dressed; then a le ngam ham, or chopstick, was laid between the teeth and a pinch of rice and three coins were dropped in the mouth. Then the body … Read more
Wedding ceremony
Depending on habits of specific ethnic groups, marriage includes various steps and related procedures, but generally there are two main ceremonies: Betrothal ceremony: Some time before the wedding, the groom and his family visit the bride and her family with … Read more
Chewing Betel and Areca Nuts
A quid of betel, also called trau, is composed of four elements: an areca leaf (sweet taste), betel bark (hot taste), a chay root (bitter taste), and hydrated lime (pungent taste). The custom of chewing betel nut is unique to … Read more
Villages – Guilds
In Vietnamese society, people gather together to form villages in rural areas, and guilds in urban areas. Villages and guilds have been forming since the dawn of the nation. These organizations have gradually developed for the population to be more … Read more
