In Vietnamese tradition, the paper fan was an indispensable item in times of yore, one of eight prized objects in every household – the others being a gourd bowl, a quil…

Vietnamese cuisine is affected by Yin-Yang and Five Elements theories of Asian philosophy. Instead of focusing on the nutritional value of food, Vietnamese emphasize the…

Once upon a time, the sixth son of King Hung Vuong the Fifth named An-Tiem disobeyed the King’s order and was exiled to a deserted island. The Prince had to build his ow…

The festival which best epitomizes Vietnam’s cultural identity is Vietnamese New Year or Tet. Popular festivals play a major role as mirror and guardian of a nation’s cu…

Hat Xam, or the song of the blind artists, has existed since the Tran dynasty (13th century). Tran Quoc Dinh, a son of King Tran Thanh Tong was the father of the special…

The Cong Chieng is a kind of musical instrument casted from mixed copper and belongs to the idiophonic family. In Vietnamese language, the word “Cong” points to a musica…

One of the most traditional special foods for the Lunar New Year (or Tet) is Banh Chung or sticky rice cake. Banh Chung is made of sticky rice, pork meat and green bean,…

Cai Luong (Renovated Opera) appeared in the southern part of Vietnam in the 1920s. This relatively modern form combines drama, modeled after French comedy, and singing. …

Ca tru music sounds strange to the uninitiated. Clicks and clacks accompany the centuries old ballads. It is not the kind of music that inspires toe tapping or humming. …

There is a popular belief in Viet Nam that Tao Quan, the Three Kitchen Gods, are present in the kitchen of every home. These gods observe everything that takes place the…

The Tam Thap Luc is a sort of zither with thirty-six brass strings as it is called. It has the shape of an isosceles trapezoid, with a slightly convex sound board made o…

During the Lunar New Year (Tet), Vietnamese love dressing up to visit relatives and friends as well as exchanging New Year’s wishes. Besides, giving lucky money in a red…