Culture Of Vietnam

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The culture of Vietnam (Vietnamese: Văn hoá Việt Nam, chữ Hán: 文化越南) comprises the customs, traditions, and artistic expressions of the diverse peoples inhabiting the country. Situated within Southeast Asia and the Sinosphere , Vietnamese culture has been profoundly shaped by centuries of Chinese culture following the 1000 years of Northern Rule (111 BCE – 939 CE). From this era until the 19th century, Classical Chinese ( Hán văn ) served as the language of official writing. Between the 15th and 19th centuries, popular literature and folk songs were composed in the Vietnamese language using a native script derived from Chinese characters ( chữ Nôm ). [4][5]

After gaining independence in the 10th century, Vietnam embarked on a southward expansion that incorporated lands previously controlled by Champa and the Khmer , leaving a lasting imprint on the nation’s cultural mosaic. During the French colonial period , Catholicism was introduced, and a Latin script — the Vietnamese alphabet (Vietnamese: chữ Quốc Ngữ, literally “National Language Script”) — was promoted as the official writing system. [6]

Characteristic elements of Vietnamese culture include ancestor veneration, deep respect for community and family, and a harmonious relationship with the natural environment. [7]

Language

Main article: Vietnam § Languages

Handwritten Vietnamese manuscripts illustrate the transition from chữ Nôm to the modern Vietnamese alphabet .

Vietnam ranks among the most linguistically diverse nations of Southeast Asia . While Vietnamese holds official status, more than one hundred minority languages are spoken across the territory, belonging to five major families: Austronesian , Austroasiatic , Hmong–Mien , Sino–Tibetan , and Kra–Dai . [8] The language contains a substantial corpus of Sino‑Vietnamese vocabulary .

Phonologically, Vietnamese is an Austroasiatic tongue marked by monosyllabic roots and tonal inflections. Its writing system originally employed chữ Nôm , a script based on Chinese characters, before evolving into the current Vietnamese alphabet . The alphabet incorporates a series of diacritics to denote tones: the horn for “ ơ ” and “ ư ”, the circumflex for “ â ”, “ ê ”, and “ ô ”, the breve for “ ă ”, and a bar through “ đ ”. Six tone marks—acute (á), grave (à), tilde (ã), dot below (ạ), and the neutral (a)—modify vowel quality. When typed on standard keyboards, digraphs such as “aa” produce “â”.

Literature

Main article: Vietnamese literature
See also: Truyện tranh

A 19th‑century manuscript of Lĩnh Nam chích quái (Mysterious Tales of the Southern Realm) preserves a 15th‑century narrative, exemplifying early Vietnamese prose.

The earliest extant written records in Vietnam appear after the Han conquest of Nanyue (111 BCE), when Old Chinese and Classical Chinese were inscribed on bricks and coins in the northern and central regions. The first surviving literary artifact is the Sanskrit Võ Cạnh inscription (4th century CE) near Nha Trang , attributed either to the Funan or to the Chamic cultural sphere. This is followed by the Old Cham Đông Yên Châu inscription near Trà Kiệu , erected by King Bhadravarman I of Champa in the late 4th century, written in Old Southern Brahmic script. It is recognized as the oldest extant epigraphic text of any Southeast Asian language, predating Mon , Khmer , and Malay by several centuries. [9]

Literary production in Vietnam initially unfolded in chữ Hán and later in chữ Nôm . The latter script became dominant for poetic compositions from the 10th century onward. Up to the 21st century, two parallel literary streams existed: works composed in Classical Chinese—poems and prose that chronicled Vietnamese history and society—and works written in Nôm, primarily poetic works. [citation needed]

From the 1920s onward, literature shifted predominantly to the national script (the Vietnamese alphabet ), ushering in radical innovations in form and genre—novels, modern poetry, short stories, and drama—while diversifying artistic orientations. The August Revolution catalyzed a surge in socially engaged writing, guided by the Vietnamese Communist Party’s cultural policy and focused on the lives of the people. [citation needed]

Classical masterpieces include The Tale of Kieu (Truyện Kiều , by Nguyễn Du ), Complaint of a Palace Maid (Cung Oán Ngâm Khúc , by Nguyễn Gia Thiều ), Lament of the Soldier’s Wife (Chinh phụ ngâm , by Đặng Trần Côn ), and the Poetry Collection (Quốc âm Thi Tập , by Nguyễn Trãi **), all rendered in chữ Quốc ngữ . Notable female poets such as Hồ Xuân Hương , Đoàn Thị Điểm , and Bà Huyện Thanh Quan further enriched the literary canon. [citation needed]

Modern Vietnamese literature has traversed romanticism and realism, moved from wartime heroism to a nuanced portrayal of everyday life, and recently embraced English translations of Vietnamese fables. [10]

Poetry

Main article: Vietnamese poetry

Historically, Vietnamese poetry comprises three linguistic traditions, each originally composed in Classical Chinese and later infused with Sino‑Vietnamese lexicon. Themes often revolve around Buddhism and Confucianism . [12][13] This form remained predominant until the 13th century, after which vernacular Vietnamese poetry began to rival Classical Chinese verse. [citation needed]

The chữ Nôm script was adapted for poetic composition and enjoyed state endorsement as the principal literary medium until the close of the 20th century. [15] The advent of European colonial rule introduced the romanized chữ Quốc ngữ , which dramatically increased literacy but, according to scholars, sometimes sacrificed the subtle tonal and semantic nuances of poems written in Hán‑Nôm when transposed to the Latin alphabet. [16][17]

Traditions

• Kinship
• Clothing
• Marriage
• Games

Cuisine

Main article: Vietnamese cuisine
See also: Vietnamese wine

Vietnamese gastronomy is extraordinarily varied, commonly divided into three regional strands—Northern, Central, and Southern—each with distinct flavor profiles. The cuisine favors minimal oil, relies heavily on rice and fish sauce , and showcases a balance of sweet (e.g., sugar ), spicy (e.g., Bird’s eye chili ), sour (e.g., lime ), and umami (e.g., nước mắm ). Aromatic herbs such as mint and basil further define its palate.

A hallmark of Vietnamese nourishment is its extensive repertoire of noodles and noodle soups. Regional specialties give rise to diverse shapes, tastes, and colors. The iconic phở (pronounced [fəː˧˩] )—a fragrant broth of rice noodles, beef (or chicken), and assorted garnishes—originated in Northern Vietnam. Its preparation involves simmering marrow‑rich stock with spices and sauces, then ladling it over noodles, vegetables, and thinly sliced raw beef, which cooks in the hot liquid. Phở embodies a symphony of flavors: the sweetness of beef, the acidity of lime, the salinity of fish sauce, and the freshness of bean sprouts and scallions. [19]

Religion & Philosophy

Main articles: Religion in Vietnam and Vietnamese philosophy

Hanoi’s One Pillar Pagoda , a historic Buddhist sanctuary, epitomizes the syncretic spiritual landscape.

Beyond indigenous folk religion , Vietnamese religiosity has traditionally blended Buddhism , Confucianism , and Taoism —collectively termed the Tam Giáo (“the three teachings”). [20][21] These traditions co‑exist with a growing Catholicism community. [24]

Key folk practices include:

• Ancestor worship and filial piety , observed by the majority of Vietnamese regardless of formal religious affiliation; households often maintain altars adorned with photographs, incense, and offerings. [25][26]
• Đạo Mẫu, the veneration of mother goddesses, which emerged in the 16th century and synthesizes a myriad of local deities and rituals. [27][28]
• Thành hoàng worship, wherein village deities are enshrined in communal shrines (đình) and believed to protect inhabitants from calamities while bestowing prosperity.

Funeral Rites

• Traditional: The funeral procession (lễ đưa tang) is scheduled with meticulous care; relatives, friends, and descendants escort the deceased along the route to the burial ground , dropping votives en route. At the gravesite, the coffin is interred, and mourning observances unfold over a prescribed period: three days of lamentation, a ceremony after 49 days (lễ chung thất) when rice offerings cease, and a final rite after 100 days (tốt khốc) marking the conclusion of the mourning period. [citation needed][29][30][31]

• Modern: Contemporary practice streamlines the ceremony, emphasizing the covering and placement of the body in a coffin, a simplified procession, and visits to the grave. [citation needed][32][33][34]

Traditional attire for mourners comprises white garments and turbans; notable Vietnamese officials—such as Hồ Đắc Trung, Tôn Thất Hân, Nguyễn Hữu Bài , and Đoàn Đình Duyệt—are depicted in the funeral portraiture of Emperor Khải Định .

Traditional Clothing

Main article: Vietnamese clothing

Portrait of Nguyễn Quý Đức (1648–1720) wearing áo giao lĩnh illustrates the sartorial elegance of earlier eras.

In feudal Vietnam, attire served as a marker of social stratification, and stringent dress codes were enforced. [citation needed][35][36] Following the Ming conquest of Vietnam , Ming officials imposed Chinese dress within a month; this policy, framed as “civilizing” the “barbarian” Vietnamese, paradoxically diminished the presence of Taoist institutions. [28][37]

Later periods witnessed the emergence of distinct court garments, such as the áo tràng vạt —a cross‑collared robe—later supplanted by the áo ngũ thân during the Nguyễn dynasty, which became obsolete. [29][30][31]

The áo tứ thân (“four‑part dress”) and its accompanying áo yếm bodice represent ancient attire worn by commoner women. Peasants gradually adopted silk “pajama‑like” outfits: [áo cánh] in the north and áo bà ba in the south. [citation needed][32]

Headgear varied across dynasties: the plain cloth wrap (Khăn vấn ) of the Nguyễn era, the hat Đinh Tự of the Lê period, and the ubiquitous conical hat nón lá , which persists in two modern styles. Footwear traditionally consisted of barefoot activity for laborers, with wooden clogs or sandals reserved for formal occasions; shoes were the prerogative of the elite. [citation needed][33]

Royal protocol reserved gold for emperors, while nobles donned red or purple; earlier dynasties—Đinh dynasty and Lý dynasty —favored red and white, respectively. The imperial court maintained a repertoire of ceremonial gowns, each tied to specific rites. Although fashion regulations evolved dynasty by dynasty, fundamental principles endured. [citation needed][34]

The áo dài stands as Vietnam’s most recognizable national costume, worn primarily by women; it comprises a long, fitted gown with side slits over tailored trousers. Initially promoted in the mid‑18th century by the rulers of Đàng Trong to differentiate their subjects from those of Đàng Ngoài , where [áo tràng vạt] and [nhu quần] prevailed. Today, white [áo dài] serves as the uniform for many secondary‑school girls, and certain professional sectors (e.g., hospitality, tourism) require its wearing. In everyday life, Western dress has largely supplanted traditional garb, except during festivals and ceremonial occasions. [citation needed][35]

Visual Arts

Main articles: Vietnamese art and List of traditional Vietnamese handicraft villages

Traditional Vietnamese art spans from ancient Đông Sơn drums to post‑Chinese‑domination works influenced by Buddhist art , Taoism , and Confucianism . The artistic legacy of Champa and France later contributed to the canon. Vietnamese ceramics, calligraphy, and architecture reflect sustained cultural exchange. Contemporary Vietnamese lacquer painting enjoys considerable popularity.

Calligraphy historically employed chữ Hán alongside chữ Nôm ; modern calligraphers often favor the Vietnamese alphabet . During festivals such as Tết, scholars create hanging calligraphic works featuring poetry or proverbs.

Silk painting, exemplified by works like the 18th‑century portrait of Trịnh Đình Kiên, utilizes layered pigments to evoke ethereal atmospheres. French influence introduced vibrant palettes that distinguish Vietnamese silk art from its East‑Asian counterparts.

Woodblock printing, epitomized by Đông Hồ , employs organic pigments applied to carved blocks, producing multicolored impressions on paper.

Performing Arts

• Vietnamese martial arts
• Traditional Vietnamese dance
• Water puppetry
• Theatre
• Music

Media

• Radio
• Television
• Cinema
• Internet

Sports

Vietnam participates in regional and international competitions, with notable achievements in Sport such as martial arts, football, and sepak takraw.

Symbols

• Flag
• Coat of arms
• National anthem

Heritage

• World Heritage Sites
• Intangible Cultural Heritage

See Also

• Vietnam portal
• History of Vietnam
• Ethnic groups of Vietnam
• Languages of Vietnam
• Religion in Vietnam