Culture

After using the chinese script, they change at the 13th century by creating their own alphabet. However, in the 17th century, Alexandre de Rhodes, a French jesuit priest introduce the current romanized writing (quoc ngu). The richness of Vietnam’s origins is evident throughout its culture. Traditional Vietnamese music and theatre is extremely diverse, consisting of many different styles varying from region to region. Imperial Court music is an elaborate form of music which features an extensive array of musicians and dancers, dressed in extravagant costumes. It was an integral part of the rituals of the Imperial court. Water Puppetry is a distinct Vietnamese art which had its origins in the 12th century. In water puppetry, a split-bamboo screen obscures puppets which stand in water and are manipulated using long poles hidden beneath the water. Epic storylines are played out with many different characters, often depicting traditional scenes of Vietnamese life. Vietnamese cuisine is very possibly the most delicious you will ever find. Although rice is the foundation of Vietnamese diet, the country’s cuisine is anything but bland. Deeply influenced by the national cuisines of France, China and Thailand, Vietnamese cooking is highly innovative and makes extensive use of fresh herbs, including lemongrass, basil, coriander, laksa leaf, lime, and chili.

With the time, confuscianism, taoism and buddhism have been blended with chinese beliefs in order to form the “Triple Religion” or Tam Giao. As well, the religion is widely present especially the culte of ancestors that could be considered sometimes as a religion. The caodaism is a religion born in the Mekong Delta in the 20’s and associate the religious philosophy from the East and from the West such as Sun Yat Sen, Victor Hugo...