It is performed by the bride and groom and both sets of parents; each person takes 3 sips of sake from each of 3 cups. The first 3 represent three couples, the bride and groom, and their parents. The second 3 represent three human flaws: hatred, passion, and ignorance. "Ku", or 9 is a lucky number in Japanese culture. 1. Don't take a bath when you're sick. When you're feeling under the weather, chances are you want to take a nice hot bath to soothe your pain. According to Italian traditions, however, taking a bath when you're sick will only make you sicker as will going outside with wet hair. 2. One Vietnamese traditional proverb denotes that you can be hungry all year except for three days of the Tet festival because dozens of delicious dishes and desserts will be prepared on Lunar New Year in Vietnam to feast on the ancestors as well as every family member. Chung Cake Indigenous religions or Nature Religion that consist of the traditional customs and beliefs ( Paganism, Animism, Totemism, Shamanism) of particular ethnic groups, refined and expanded upon for thousands of years, often lacking formal doctrine. Indigenous religions, formerly found on every continent, but now marginalized by the major organized Vietnamese culture is complex, diverse and represents something of a history lesson. The nation's labyrinthine, teeming trading quarters are rich in indigenous crafts and reflect centuries-old mercantile influences. Ancient temples display distinctly Chinese influences in the north and Hindu origins in the south. 5. Eat at hawker centre and visit a wet market. Eating at a hawker market is a must-do in Singapore. Photo credit: Ivan Tykhyi / Depositphotos.com. The term 'hawker centre' might not be familiar to you, especially if you're from the Western world, but they are one of the most integral Singapore traditions. TCSUx. Cao Dai temple in Tay Ninh, Vietnam. The majority religions in Vietnam are unique to the country and include Vietnamese folk religion, Buddhism, Roman Catholicism, Caodaism, and Christian Protestantism. An overview of these religions is available below. Vietnamese Folk Religion - Vietnamese folk religion is the dominant religion in Vietnam. Some of these most common folk religions include Đạo Bửu Sơn Kỳ Hương Đạo Bửu Sơn Kỳ Hương is an organized folk religion in Vietnam that takes some of its religious traditions from elements of Buddhism. That religion was started by a Vietnamese mystic named Đoàn Minh Huyên 1807–1856 who while living in the Thất Sơn mountains claimed to be a living embodiment of Buddha. Currently, there are around 15,000 followers of the religion throughout Vietnam. Minh Đạo Minh Đạo is a religion that has its roots from the Xiantiandao Tiên Thiên Đạo religion of China. That religion started to emerge in Vietnam around the city of Saigon in the 17th Century just as the Ming Dynasty 1368-1644 of China declined and lost influence in Vietnam. For most of its history the religion focused in literature, helping the poor and worship but took on a more nationalistic tone at the beginning of the 20th Century. Đạo Tứ Ân Hiếu Nghĩa Đạo Tứ Ân Hiếu Nghĩa is an organized folk religion in Vietnam that was founded at some point towards the end of the 19th Century. The religion currently has around 80,000 practitioners, mostly farmers throughout out the south of Vietnam, with most of them located in the Tri Tôn district of the country. Đạo Mẫu This Vietnamese folk religion worships the various mother goddesses of Vietnam, a practice that has gone on in Vietnam since its prehistory. These include, but are not limited to, the worshiping of such goddesses as Bà Chúa Xứ The Lady of the Realm and Bà Chúa Kho The Lady of the Storehouse, as well as actual people, including the female warrior Lady Triệu 225-248 AD and the Trung Sisters, who were female military leaders. Buddhism - Buddhism is believed to have arrived in Vietnam from China at some point starting in the 2nd Century. Buddhism in Vietnam does not have any institutional structures, hierarchy, or sanghas that most traditional Buddhists follow, since it has grown in isolation in a symbiotic way with Taoism and other native religions in Vietnam. Catholicism - Roman Catholic Christianity first came into contact with Vietnam in the 16th Century via Portuguese Catholic missionaries who first came to the country shortly after the Portuguese made contact and starting trading. The Portuguese had mild success, but it was not until Vietnam became a French colony French Indochina 1887-1954 that Catholicism made a definitive dent in the country. In 1933 John Baptist Nguyễn Bá Tòng was made the first Vietnamese bishop and by 1976 the first Vietnamese cardinal, Archbishop Joseph Mary Trịnh Như Khuê was ordained. Caodaism - Caodaism, also known as the Cao Đài faith, is an organized monotheistic folk religion that is unique to Vietnam. That religion started was officially established in 1926 in the the city of Tây Ninh where the Declaration of the Founding of the Cao Đài Religion was signed and shown to the French Governor for approval. The religion quickly grew rapidly popular with its appeal towards nationalist spirit, message of universal salvation and its ability to bring together underground sects in Vietnam. Protestantism - Protestant Christianity first came to Vietnam in the early 20th Century when the Canadian Christian and Missionary Alliance C&MA missionary Robert A. Jaffray 1873-1954 visited the city of Da Nang in 1911. In 1963 the Evangelical Church of Vietnam North ECVN was officially recognized by the government. However, it was not until 2001 that another Protestant church, the Southern Evangelical Church of Vietnam SECV, was officially recognized. Since then more Protestant churches have been recognized by the government. Hoahaoism - Hoa Hao is a religious based on Buddhism that was established in 1939 by Huỳnh Phú Sổ 1920-47. Followers of Hoa Hao consider Huỳnh Phú Sổ to be a prophet and that the religion is the continuation of the Đạo Bửu Sơn Kỳ Hương folk religion foundered by Đoàn Minh Huyên. Both Sổ and Huyên are also believed to have been living Buddhas and that they are destined to protect the country. The religion places a strong emphasis on temple worship, ordination and stress aid to the poor and helping peasant farmers. Both Buddhism and Hoa Hao are is recognized as one of the six state religions of Vietnam. Other - Other religions in Vietnam include Taoism, Confucianism, Hinduism, Islam, Orthodox Christianity, and irreligion. Religious Beliefs In Vietnam RankReligionPopulation Percentage 1Vietnamese folk Home Society Major Religions in Vietnam Located in the easternmost part of mainland southeast Asia, Vietnam is home to million people. Though the country is officially atheist—a result of its Communist history—most Vietnamese peoples’ lives are influenced by at least one major world religion. Fast Facts Religion in Vietnam Vietnam is officially a secular state, as a result of its Communist past, but Confucianism, Christianity, Buddhism, Hinduism, Islam, and folk religion are all folk religion is a mixture of world religions and indigenous faiths, but it focuses mostly on the reverence for symbols of from China had an influential impact on the sociopolitical structure of historical Vietnam and the practice of folk religion. A majority of Vietnamese people are religiously unaffiliated, meaning they do not openly or consistently practice belief in a singular God or Higher Power. However, Vietnamese people have a strong sense of respect and veneration for ancestors and spirits, as nearly half of the population is associated with Vietnamese folk religion. Dao Mau, a distinct Vietnamese folk religion, is considered to be the oldest religion in the country, but Confucianism, Buddhism, and Taoism came to Vietnam through China fairly early in the historical record. Though the country was colonized by France, it was the Portuguese in the 16th century that brought Christianity—specifically, Roman Catholicism—to Vietnam. Hinduism and Islam are present in the country, though only practiced within small communities of ethnic minorities. Vietnam is home to several unique branches of religion, including Cao Dai, a type of 20th century nonviolent monotheism. For ease of understanding, this article uses the term “Vietnam” to refer to the geographical region that has historically been home to a multitude of nations and civilizations. Vietnamese Folk Religion This Bich Dong Pagoda was built to honor the Buddha and Mau Thuong Ngan, the Goddess of the Forest. sergwsq / Getty Images More than 45% of the population of Vietnam is associated with traditional Vietnamese folk religion, though in the spirit of true folk religions, the association influences daily spiritual experiences rather than a liturgical doctrine. Vietnamese folk religion dates back to human prehistory, though as a result of a thousand years of Chinese control over Vietnam, aspects of traditional beliefs are closely associated with Confucianism. Elements of Vietnamese folk religion vary depending on the region, but typically include reverence for natural deities and ancestral spirits and hierarchical sociopolitical and personal relations for the purpose of maintaining harmony. There is also strong emphasis on traditions and rituals, though, like most folk religions, there is no singular sacred doctrine or text. Folk religion in Vietnam features aspects of Christianity, Buddhism, and Shintoism, particularly in the veneration of heavenly beings, gods and goddesses, ancestral spirits, legendary cultural heroes, emperors and political leaders, and even deities of surrounding kingdoms, like the Khmer empire of Cambodia and the Cham in what became southern Vietnam. The focal point of Vietnamese folk religion is the observation of and respect for divinity, with little emphasis on the origins of the divine. Practice of folk religion is typically done in temples where deities are enshrined. Many of these temples, particularly in northern Vietnam were destroyed in the mid-20th century, between the end of the dynastic period in 1945 and the early 1980s. The spread of Communism in Vietnam also spread an anti-religious sentiment that led to cultural dismantling of religious beliefs in Vietnam and, later, the physical destruction of religious temples and institutions. The Vietnam War also severely damaged remaining temples and religious structures. The end of the Vietnam War sparked a revival in Vietnamese folk religion in an attempt to reclaim a national pride and unified identity. Dao Mau One of the oldest recognized folk religions of Vietnam, Dao Mau, is the ethnically-based worship of the "mother goddess". Known as Mau, the mother goddess can be personified as a singular entity, in the form of Mother Earth, for example, or a multitude of goddesses that also relate to healing and fertility. The worship of female goddesses in Vietnam can be traced back to prehistory. The Communist government of Vietnam outlawed many of the practices of Dao Mau, and the practices remained illegal until the end of the 20th century. Confucianism and the Chinese Impact Dating back to the ancient world, China and Vietnam historically have had close, though rarely peaceful, relations. China exerted its imperial strength over Vietnam for a thousand years before Vietnam fought for and won independence from China in 939 Though this independence movement came relatively early in the historical record, China had been in Vietnam long enough for a cultural exchange, particularly of Confucian values. The Temple of Literature Van Mieu Hanoi. Degist / Getty Images In contrast to its Buddhist neighbors in southeast Asia, Vietnam’s sociopolitical system resembled a pyramid, with the emperor at the top, much like China. While the emperor in China was considered to be divine, the emperor of Vietnam was, at most, a liaison between the natural and supernatural world. China’s most influential contribution to Vietnam was the highly structured sociopolitical hierarchy that stems from Confucianism. Social harmony was maintained by strict adherence to prescribed relations, and upward mobility and political advantage were possible through honorable scholastic achievement and hard work, though in practice this applied mostly to the elite and rarely to the lower class. The centuries-old division between the upper and lower classes of Vietnam ultimately lead to the crisis in the mid to late 20th century. However, the physically exhausting work of rice cultivation built strong bonds amongst the peasantry that was also fueled by Confucian values. Christianity Though the state maintains its secularism, about million Vietnamese, around 7%, identify as Catholics, and million, or just under 2%, identify as Protestant. Pilgrims and locals take part in the procession of Baby Jesus led by Bishop Joseph Nguyen Nang during the Christmas Midnight Mass on the site of Phat Diem Cathedral on December 24, 2018 in Kim Son District, Ninh Binh Province, Vietnam. Linh Pham / Getty Images As the first group of Europeans to reach southeast Asia in search for spices, the Portuguese brought with them Roman Catholicism and a desire to convert indigenous people. By the 18th century, the French had invaded Vietnam from the south, hoping to infiltrate and dominate trade routes between Vietnam and China. The French didn’t realize, however, that the geographical proximity to China did not guarantee established trade routes between the countries. In fact, Vietnam had kept Chinese involvement at arms-length for centuries. However, the French did maintain a colony in Vietnam, even with the limited trade opportunity with China, and they attempted, with some success, to overhaul Vietnamese traditional beliefs and practices with French culture. However, French colonization was never able to eliminate indigenous languages and beliefs. It is important to note that the divine, saintly status afforded to many mythical Vietnamese heroes does include both Joan of Arc and Victor Hugo, an indicator that French culture influenced at least a minor aspect of folk religion in Vietnam. Buddhism More than of Vietnamese people associate with Buddhism in modern Vietnam. As in most countries in southeast Asia, it arrived via trade routes between China and India. The strong Confucian traditions that created the Vietnamese sociopolitical system changed the forms in which Buddhism was understood and experienced in Vietnam. Panorama of Buu Long Pagoda in Ho Chi Minh City. A beautiful buddhist temple hidden away in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. Mongkol Chuewong / Getty Images While Buddhism tended to lead to chaos in surrounding countries, according to the Chinese historical record, the Vietnamese placed emphasis on the practice of rites and rituals as a form of spirituality to maintain systematic order. Caodaism A relatively new, monotheistic belief, Caodaism was established in southern Vietnam in 1926. Caodaists follow strict ethical practices in order to leave the cycle of reincarnation to join God in heaven. Caodaists are vegetarian or vegan, and they practice nonviolence. Like other religious institutions during the 1940s, 1950s, and 1960s, Caodaist temples were seized by the state and converted into factories. Less than 1% of modern Vietnamese identify as Caodaist. Group of people praying in a monastery, Cao Dai Monastery - Cao Dai Holy See Temple -Tay Ninh, Vietnam. Pham Le Huong Son / Getty Images Hinduism Like Buddhism, Hinduism entered Vietnam via trade routes, specifically from India. Hinduism thrived in the Champa kingdom, located in what is now southern Vietnam. The Champa kingdom began to shrink as early as the 12th century, though it wasn’t officially annexed into Vietnam until the 19th century. Ethnically Cham people still live in parts of southern Vietnam, and they make up the majority of Vietnamese that practice Hinduism, though that number is less than 1%. Sources Bielefeldt, Heiner. Press Statement on the visit to the Socialist Republic of Viet Nam by the Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Religion or Belief. Geneva, Switzerland Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, 2014. Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor. 2018 Report on International Religious Freedom Vietnam. Washington, DC Department of State, 2019. Farid, Shaikh. “Caodaism A Syncretistic Religion of Vietnam.” The CDR Journal, vol. 1, no. 1, June 2006, pp. 53– Ho Tai. “Religion in Vietnam.” Asia Society, Aug. Charles. Catholic Vietnam a Church from Empire to Nation. University of California Press, Milton E. Southeast Asia An Introductory History. 11th ed., Allen & Unwin, Research Center. Folk Religionists. Washington, Pew Research Center, Heidhues, Mary. Southeast Asia A Concise History. Thames & Hudson, 2000.“The World Factbook Vietnam.” Central Intelligence Agency, Central Intelligence Agency, 1 Feb. 2018. Vietnam is a country which has a rich and wide variety of religions. These include religions based on popular beliefs, religions brought to Vietnam from the outside, and several indigenous religious groups. As with other countries, the Vietnamese have several popular beliefs, such as animism and theism. The most widespread popular belief among the Vietnamese is the belief in ancestor-worship. In regard to the major world religions, Vietnam is a multi-religious state, with more than 20 million believers, and more than 30,000 places of worship. Buddhism is the largest of the major world religions in Vietnam, with about ten million followers. It was the earliest foreign religion to be introduced in Vietnam, arriving from India in the second century in two ways, the Mahayana sect via China, and the Hinayana sect via Thailand, Cambodia, and Laos. During the ten-century feudal reign of Vietnam, Buddhism was considered a state religion. At present, Vietnam has more than 20,000 pagodas dedicated to Buddha, with a large number of other pagodas being built or restored. The second largest foreign religion in Vietnam is Catholicism, with about six million followers. Catholicism was introduced to Vietnam by Spanish, Portuguese, and French missionaries early in the 17th century. There are now more than 6,000 churches engaged in religious activities throughout the country. More than 500 churches damaged during the air war against Vietnam are being rebuilt. Protestantism came to Vietnam in 1911, and was widely spread throughout Vietnam in 1920, but the number of Protestants in Vietnam is not very large. Islam was introduced to Vietnam long ago, but did not flourish. In addition to these religions originating in other parts of the world, Vietnam has indigenous religions, such as the Cao Dai and Hoa Hao sects, with their holy lands in the city of Tay Ninh and the provinces of Chau Doc and An Giang in the Mekong Delta. The Vietnamese religions have never opposed or competed with one another, but were united in a national united front, the Vietnam Fatherland Front, peacefully coexisting in the Vietnamese community, and contributing to the struggle against foreign aggression for national construction. History of beliefs and religions The Vietnamese folk beliefs since the ancient time consist of belief in fertility, worship of nature and worship of man. Human beings need to be reproduced, crops need to be lushly green for the nourishment and development of life, so belief in fertility came into existence. Water-rice agriculture that depended much on natural factors ignited the belief of worshiping nature. In Vietnam, this belief was polytheism and respect for goddess, and worshipp of animals and plants as well. A research book published in 1984 listed 75 goddesses, mostly matriarchal goddesses, also called Mau ancient people not only worshipped the Creator but also Mau Cuu Trung which was a female Creator, as well as Mau Thuong Ngan, River Goddess and so on. Regarding botany-worshiping beliefs, the rice plant was most venerated, the next were the banyan-tree, the areca-tree, the mulberry tree and the gourd. In respect of animal-worshiping beliefs, unlike nomadic culture that worships fierce wild animals, Vietnamese tend to worship gentle species of animals like stag, deer, frog, especially those which are easy to come by in the riverside regions like water-birds, snakes, and crocodiles. The Vietnamese proclaimed themselves as belonging to the Hong Bang family line and the Tien Rong breed Hong Bang was the name of a huge species of water-bird, Tien, or Fairy, was deification of an egg-laying species of bird, Rong, or Dragon, was an abstract image of snake and crocodile. The ascending dragon that was born in the water is meaningful and special symbol of the Vietnamese nation. Among the human-revering beliefs, the custom of worshiping ancestors is the most popular, which nearly become one belief of the Vietnamese also called Dao Ong Ba in the Cochinchina. The Vietnamese choose the death-day rather than the birthday to hold a commemorative anniversary for the deceased. Every family worships Tho cong, or the God of Home, who takes care of the home and blesses the family. Every village worships its Thanh hoang, the God of the village, who protects and guides the whole village the Vietnamese always honour the people who rendered distinguished services for villagers or national heroes who were born or died in the village to be their Thanh hoang. The whole nation worships the very first kings, sharing the common ancestors' death anniversary the Ritual of Hung Temple. Particularly, the worship of Tu Bat Tu, or the Four Immortal Gods, namely, God Tan Vien preventing flooding, God Giong resisting and defeating foreign invaders, God Chu Dong Tu together with his wife growing out of poverty to consistently build his fortune and Goddess Lieu Hanh heavenly princess who left Heaven for the earth in the yearning for happiness has been regarded as extremely beautiful national values. Although turning into superstition in some specific cases, folk beliefs have lasted consistently and mixed with orthodox religions. Therevada Buddhism might have been imported directly into Vietnam from India through sea routes since the 2nd century Vietnamese Buddhism stays on earth rather than ascends up to heaven, attaches to exorcism and prayers for wealth, happiness and longevity rather than heads toward nirvana. Only when Maharayana Buddhism approached the country from China did Vietnamese monks have the chance to carry out in-depth study of Buddhism; however, separate schools were later formed, such as Truc Lam Buddhist School which attaches importance to the Buddha inside the human heart. In the Ly-Tran dynasties, Buddhism, though having reached its peak, still embraced both Taoism and Confucianism to create a cultural face with "the three religions existing at the same time". Over ups and downs throughout the history, Buddhism has become absolutely familiar to the Vietnamese; according to the 1993 stastistics, there were up to some 3 million Buddhist believers and some other 10 millions frequently going to the pagoda for worshipping the Buddha. Under the Chinese domination, Confucianism had yet to gain a position in the Vietnamese society. The official adoption of Confucianism had not been recorded until 1070 when King Ly Thai To built Van Mieu the Temple of Literature to worshipChu Cong and Khong Tu confucius. In the 15th century, due to the need of constructing a unified nation, a centralized administration and a social order, Confucianism took the place of Buddhism to become a national religion under the Ledynasty. Confucianism, mostly Song Confucianism, that took root deep into the social and political structure, the system of education and examinations and the circle of Confucian scholars gradually dominated social and moral life. However, Confucianism was only accepted to Vietnam in specific factors, particularly on politics and morality, rather than its entire system. Taoism penetrated Vietnam at roughly the end of the 2nd century. Since the Vo Vi letting things take their own course doctrine bore the thought of resisting the Chinese rulers, it was used as a weapon against the Northern feudalism. This religion also contained factors of magic and mystery, so it fits human subconscience and primitive beliefs. Many Confucianists also admired Taoism?s tendency of enjoying quietness and joyful leisure. However, Taoism has long been regarded as an extinct religion that only left vestiges in folk beliefs. Christianity came to Vietnam in the 17th century as an intermediary of the Western culture and colonialism. It made use of the favorable opportunity in which feudalism was in crisis, Buddhism was depraved and Confucianism was in deadlock to become a spiritual relief of a part of the population. However, this religion failed to integrate into the Vietnamese culture for a long time. Christians had to set up an altar dedicated to Jesus Christ right at their homes. Only when the Gospel was introduced into Vietnam, Christianity was able to gain a position. In 1993, there were 5 million Catholics and nearly half a million Protestants. Foreign religions imported to Vietnam did not exterminate the local folk beliefs, but they mixed with each other to derive specific variants for both sides. For example, Taoism could not lower the women?s role, which was reflected by widespread worship of Mau Goddess. The features of polytheism, democracy, and community are manifested by the worship of groups of ancestors, and pairs of gods. Entering a pagoda, people can easily recognize that not only Buddhas but also gods and even human are worshiped there. Perhaps, only in Vietnam, there were legends that a toad dares to sue Heaven or a human being marries a fairy. These are the prominent features of Vietnamese beliefs. Vietnamese are a Southeast Asian ethnic group originally native to modern-day Northern Vietnam and southern China. The native language is Vietnamese. It is the most widely spoken Austroasiatic language. The diverse cultural traditions, geographies, and historical events have created distinct regions in the country. Vietnam has unique culture and tradition that has been passed over for millennia. Many ethnic groups inhabit the highlands. Therefore the culture has varied in the central region, sharing characteristics including the way of life. This has led to numerous special festivals where it shows belief and traditions. It is worth enjoying some of the festivals in Vietnam to get a better understanding of the peaceful country. Here are some of the 10 Vietnamese you should know 1. vietnamese people worship their ancestors The Vietnamese ancestor believed to continue to live in another realm. It was the duty of the living beings to meet their need. In return, the ancestor would give advice and bring good fortune. A small altar is usually placed in every house in Vietnam. It is used to commune with the departed ones. Some of the rites consist of making offerings of fruits, food, wine votive paper, lighting candles and also burning incense before praying in front of the altar. 2. Hung King Temple Festival Hung King Temple Festival is a national event. It is normally held in Phu Tho. The event takes place annunciator to commemorate Hung kings the founder of the nation. During this festival people all over the world and living abroad head from the main temple on Nghia Linh, Phu Tho to take part in the meaningful festival. The atmosphere of the festival is bustling with different folks with games like human chess, bamboo swings, rice cooking competitions, wrestling, and lion dance. 3. Celebration of the baby’s first month Vietnamese people celebrate one month of baby. It is like commemorating a president’s first 100 days in office. While Vietnamese mothers are expected to rest indoors without taking a shower for a month after giving birth. At the celebration friends and family present mother and child with luck money. 4 Visit/perfume the pagoda festival Perfume pagoda festival is the most popular festival in Hanoi. The festival draws visitors all over Vietnam to the iconic perfume pagoda. During the spring season, many Vietnamese go to pagodas. Praying is one of the most important activities in Huong Tich cave. It is believed that if you pray here to get a son/ daughter by touching the mountain the wish will come true. If you touch the silver/ gold trees in the cave you can pray for wealth and prosperity. 5. Eating the boiled chicken Boiled chicken is a strong cultural indicator that the Vietnamese continue to serve in any traditional holiday meal. In Vietnamese whether it’s a wedding party, new year holiday, or any other holiday there is no proper meal will be served without a boiled chicken cooked with handed-down skills. 6. Traditional costumes of Vietnam Vietnam has 54 tribes and every tribe has its traditional costumes. The traditional dress of the Vietnamese people has changed significantly from time to time. The common people of the country had greater freedom to choose their clothing under the Nguyen dynasty. During the Nguyen dynasty, several restrictions were placed on the type and the colours of clothes that should be worn by the common people of Vietnam. Some examples of traditional Vietnamese costumes include the Ao Giao Linh, Ao Tu Than, Ao Canh, and the Ao BaBa. The first one refers to a cross-collared robe worn by Vietnamese men while the second is a four-part dress worn by women. 7. Martial Arts in Vietnam Vietnam’s traditional martial art is Vovinam. The country has a very well-developed tradition of martial art. It has some similarities to that of Chinese martial arts. Vietnamese vovinam martial arts philosophy guides the martial art practice in the country. The martial art is associated with intense spirituality because of its association with Buddhism, Taoism, and Confucianism. The scissor kicks are a famous movement in this form of martial arts. 8. Buddha’s birthday Buddha is a religious and also a national festival. Buddha’s birthday became a significant event for Vietnamese people. They celebrate commemorating the birth and enlightenment and the death of buddha. Before the celebration, hundreds of monks and thousands of people tend to gather in big pagodas chosen to act as the holding place. These pagodas are cleaned and decorated with buddha’s statue in the middle of a pink lotus. They are surrounded by colourful lanterns, different kinds of flowers, and small lotus flowers. During the festival, sacred rituals like offering incense and flowers are done to celebrate the birthday. people actively participate in charity activities like helping the unlucky, mentally retarded, and the elderly. 9. Vietnamese music and dance Vietnam is associated with a rich tradition of dance and music. The Vietnamese music exhibited variance in every part of Vietnam. It is older and more formal in the north while Champa culture exerts considerable influence on central classical music and the music of the southern part of the country. The country has nearly 5o national musical instruments. Some important traditional forms of Vietnamese music include imperial court music and ca tru. The great ethnic diversity of Vietnam has gifted the country with diverse dance forms. These dances are normally performed at the cultural program and festivals that are held in the country. Some of the traditional dance forms in Vietnam include the lion dance, platter dance, fan dance, and imperial lantern dance. These dances developed in the imperial courts of Vietnam. They are quite complex. 10. Lunar new year is more about the family reunion It is also known as the Tet holiday. The Vietnamese new year takes place from the first day of the first month of the lunar calendar. It is around late January or early February and lasts for at least 3 days. This is a joyful family reunion full of smiles and blessings to express filial piety. the family bonds and the desire for the coming year full of happiness and also the prosperity and the goodness. Ivone Discover Walks contributors speak from all corners of the world - from Prague to Bangkok, Barcelona to Nairobi. We may all come from different walks of life but we have one common passion - learning through travel. Whether you want to learn the history of a city, or you simply need a recommendation for your next meal, Discover Walks Team offers an ever-growing travel encyclopaedia. For local insights and insider’s travel tips that you won’t find anywhere else, search any keywords in the top right-hand toolbar on this page. Happy travels!

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