Vietnamese has a long history and vibrant culture that combines the trends and traditions of Confucianism, Taoism and Buddhism, thus making it a significant attraction for tourists from all over the world. So what can first-time visitors to this beautiful country expect? There’s plenty to explore from colourful festivals to unique cultural dances, to delicious cuisines, giving tourists a one-of-a-kind experience.
Festivals and Celebrations
Tết Nguyen Dan or Lunar New Year is the most important festival in Vietnam, celebrated on the first day of the Lunar New Year. It is a time of family reunions, decorating homes, exchanging gifts, visiting temples to pray for good luck, and of course celebratory food.
The Mid-Autumn Festival or Tết Trung Thu celebrates the full moon and the harvest season on the 15th day of the 8th lunar month. This is the festival where colourful lanterns adorn the streets filled with singing and dancing.
The Hung Kings Temple Festival or Giỗ Tổ Hùng Vương celebrates and honours the first king of Vietnam, King Hung. It is celebrated on the 10th day of the 3rd lunar month. Thousands flock to the temple where incense offerings are made and dances are performed.
Vietnam’s Food
Vietnamese cuisine is one of the most complex in Asia. It places importance on balancing sweet, sour, salty and spicy elements, and each dish has an interplay of opposites like hot versus cold, fresh versus fermented and soft versus crispy.
Some notable ingredients are commonly found in Vietnamese food. The most common is rice, owing to the plentiful rice fields in Vietnam. It is a base ingredient in several dishes like rice noodles, rice pancakes, rice sheets, puffed rice snacks and even rice wine. Another notable ingredient is nuoc mom a distinctive fish sauce made from fermented anchovies that gives a unique flavour to Vietnamese food over other Asian cuisines.
Side dishes are also popular in Vietnam, often served alongside the main dish. Side dishes usually contain cucumber, bean sprouts, spring onion and aromatic herbs.
Tourists can explore various food stalls and eateries to experience these culinary delights, or they can pay a visit to beach resorts in Vietnam that offer higher-end dining experiences like those provided by Anantara Quy Nhon Villas.
Traditional Music and Dance
Ca Trù is an ancient musical tradition popular among the royal palace and aristocrats. It dates back to the 15th century and was performed in private homes, communal houses and inns. Ca Trù singing was included on UNESCO’s Intangible Cultural Heritage Urgent Safeguarding List and has since been revived in the country.
Hát Xẩm, also known as “blind wanderers’ music” is an ancient tradition often performed by blind musicians who move from place to place with a wooden box and stick singing songs of daily life and its struggles.
There are also several folk dances performed during festivals like Lunar New Year. These include the Fan Dance, Lotus Dance, Lantern Dance, Candle Dance and more.