Vietnam culture

The San Diu ethnic minority people, believed to have migrated from Guangdong, China in 1600, are now living in villages in Vietnam’s northern midlands and mountainous areas. The San Diu are also known as San Deo, Trai, Trai Dat and Man Quan Coc. San Diu women in their traditional clothes. (Photo: vietnam.vnanet.vn) Traditionally, San Diu ethnic women make their own clothes. A piece of traditional clothing often takes  several months to complete. Diep Thi Vong from Vinh Phuc province is one of a few San Diu women keeping the tradition of making her own clothes and teaches the younger generation how to weave and embroider. “My grandmother and mother used to make their own clothes. They taught me and even sent me to a weaving class to learn how to make San Diu traditional clothes. A San Diu woman was required to make what she wore on her first day of marriage,” Mrs. Vong said. San Diu women often layer their clothes — a traditional white top … [Read more...] about San Diu ethnic people in Vietnam

Illustrative photo (Source: congthuong.vn) Hanoi (VNA) – Activities themed around the “Colours of Vietnamese ethnic groups” will take place at the Vietnam National Village for Ethnic Culture and Tourism from April 1 to May 2, to celebrate Vietnam’s Ethnic Groups’ Cultural Day (April 19). One of the event’s highlights will be a highlands market introducing the traditional specialties and folk games of the Mong, Dao, Thai, Muong, Kho Mu, Tay, Ha Nhi, and Si La ethnic groups. Artists from the northern mountainous provinces of Lai Chau and Son La will stage folk song performances, while about 40 photos themed “Colours of Northwest Culture” will be on display. The Pang A festival of the La Ha ethnic group in Son La province, the rainy season festival of the Ha Nhi ethnic group in Lai Chau, and the new crop festival of the Si La group will be also revived. The Vietnam Ethnic Groups’ Cultural Day will be held from April 19-21, … [Read more...] about Cultures of Vietnamese ethnic groups to be highlighted

The Red River has played a critical role in the historical and cultural life of Hanoi, Vietnam’s 1000-year-old capital.  The Red River appears in many historical records and folklore traditions. Le Minh, a researcher with the Vietnam National Institute of Culture and Arts Studies (VICAS), said "Wet rice cultivation has played an important role in world history. When talking about wet rice cultivation, people often think of deltas formed by rivers like the Tigris and the Euphrates in the Middle East, the Ganges in India, and the Nile in Egypt. The Red River provided water and silt for Vietnam’s northern delta, one of the earliest cradles of wet rice civilization."   The Red River has left its imprints on multiple regions, including the former Thang Long imperial citadel, now Hanoi. "The Red River is the cradle of both Vietnam’s wet rice civilization and Vietnamese culture. Along the Red River are numerous temples, pagodas, shrines, and relics, including … [Read more...] about Traces of Red River civilization in Thang Long culture

Cover of the photo book  11 intangible cultural heritages include the Belief in the Mother Goddesses of Three Realms, a traditional practice with a long history in Vietnam; Tugging rituals and games; Vi and Giam folk songs; “Don ca tai tu” (southern folk music); the worship of Hung kings; Xoan singing in Phu Tho; Giong festival of Phu Dong and Soc temples; Ca Tru singing; Quan ho Bac Ninh folk songs; the space of Gong culture in the Central Highlands and Nha Nhac – Vietnamese court music. To complete this photo book, photographer Nguyen A traveled across the country in 2016 to take the photos of these heritages and meet with heritage artisans. The photo book will be showcased at the Hanoi Old Quarter Culture Exchange Center till January 3, 2017. Translated by Chung Anh … [Read more...] about Photo book on 11 UNESCO-recognized intangible cultural heritages of Vietnam published

  A festival is taking place in Hanoi where ethnic people from across the country gather together and exchange their cultures as well as introduce them to local people and tourists. The activities aim to celebrate Vietnam Ethnic Groups’ Culture Day on April 19th. Village elders, artisans and people from ethnic minority groups across the country are flocking to the Vietnam National Village for Ethnic Culture and Tourism in Son Tay district in Hanoi to participate in the event. By attending the festival, they hope to preserve and promote their distinctive cultural values.  “I am happy to be here. Visitors always ask us to give our ethnic group’s distinctive performances,” said artisan Chama Le Dap, a Raglai ethnic from Ninh Thuan province. “This is a chance for us to preserve the group’s cultural values,” he added. The annual event is an occasion for ethnic minorities to gather and perform traditional activities. During the past 10 … [Read more...] about Festival promotes ethnic cultural values