Vietnam

Vietnam

Introduction to Culture & History:

In its early history, Vietnamese writing used Chinese characters. In the 16th century, the Vietnamese developed their own set of characters called Chữ Nôm. The celebrated epic Kim Van Kieu by Nguyễn Du is written in Chữ Nôm. During the French colonial period, Quốc Ngữ, the Romanized Vietnamese alphabet representation of spoken Vietnamese, became popular and brought literacy to the masses. This had a profound effect on the political power in the country.

Due to Vietnam's long association with China, Vietnamese culture remains strongly Confucian with its emphasis on familial duty and harmony. Education is highly prized. Historically, passing the imperial mandarin exams was the only means for ambitious Vietnamese to socially advance themselves. In the modern era, Vietnamese are trying to reconcile traditional culture with Western ideas of individual freedom, distrust of authority, and consumer culture.

The majority of Vietnamese are Buddhists, with a strong emphasis on ancestor worship. Some critics say that the Vietnamese' second religion is superstition and fatalism, brought on by the decades of war. Within a typical Vietnamese Catholic family, one would find: an intense devotion to the Virgin Mary (the Holy Mother outranks the Son in Confucian thinking), pictures of deceased ancestors on the family altar, and belief and practice in Feng Shui (Phong Thủy), fortune telling, and communication with spirits and the dead.

Vietnam's cuisine and music have three distinct flavors, related to Vietnam's three regions: Bac or North, Hue or Central, and Nam or South. Northern classical music is Vietnam's oldest and is traditionally more formal. Vietnamese classical music can be traced to the Mongol invasions, when the Vietnamese captured a Chinese opera troupe. Central classical music shows the influences of Champa culture with its melancholic melodies. Southern music exudes a lively laissez faire attitude, probably due to the region's relative prosperity. Vietnamese cuisine is based on rice, soy sauce, and fish sauce. Its characteristic flavor is sweet (sugar), spicy (Serrano peppers), and flavored by a variety of mints.

Tourist Attractions in Vietnam:

Travelers can start their journey either from the northern capital of Hanoi or Ho Chi Min city (formerly Saigon) in the South and move on to other cities by car, train, or domestic flights. Generally, it takes at least a week to cover the whole country on a tour package, but if you want to take itinerary management into your own hands, we suggest that you check all the information about the cities and accommodation and, especially, transportation prior to your journey – a 70 kilometer road trip might take longer than you expect between some cities. The country offers all classes of accommodation from luxury colonial style hotels to inexpensive local guesthouses. The official currency is Dong but American currency is accepted (and welcomed) in most hotels and restaurants in the big cities.

Tour Packages in Vietnam:

1- Vietnam Discovery. 2- Vietnam insights. 3- Vietnam Highlights. 4- Vietnam Splendour. 5- Northern Expedition. 6- Gourmet Treasures. 7- Spirit of indochina.

5 Days/4 Nights based on BB

as low as USD 395

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