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Traditional Culture & Custom
Prestige
Prestige is particularly important for Vietnamese. For example, all
families, even poor ones, are expected to have big wedding parties and
throw their money around in order to show their prosperity. This is often
ruinously expensive and even though it may cause bankruptcy to a young
couple, it seems to be less important than losing face.
Beauty concept
Vietnamese consider pale skin is beautiful. On sunny day you may see a
trendy Vietnamese women strolling around under the shade of an umbrella in
order to keep from tanning. Women who work in the fields will go to great
lengths to preserve their pale skin by wearing long-sleeved shirts,
elbow-length groves, and a conical hat and by wrapping their face in a
towel. To tell Vietnamese women that she has white skin is a great
compliment; telling her that she has a lovely suntan would be an insult.
Women in society
As in most part of Asian, Vietnamese women are considered rather low
priority in their community or even their own family than the otherwise.
In the countryside, you may see women working hard work: crushing rocks at
construction sites, carrying baskets weighing 60kg. Nowadays, women are
delaying marriage to get an education, in fact, approximately 50% of
university student are female, however, their skills doesn't seem to put
much use after graduation.
Geomancy
Geomancy is the science of manipulating or judging an environment, it is
an ancient form of divination that employs handfuls of soil or other
materials, scattered on the ground and then interpretation of their shape
and position. People believe that properly build their construction;
houses, tombs, communal meeting halls or pagodas according to the
geomancers' advice will bring a great luck, indeed, a location of an
ancestors' grave is a serious matter - if the grave is facing the wrong
direction, there's no telling what trouble the spirit might cause. In some
circumstance such as failing business, calling in a geomancer might be a
solution. The concept of geomancy is believed to be influenced from
Chinese practice called feng shui. Although both Chinese and Vietnamese
have disparaged the practice of geomancy as superstition, it still has a
large influence on people thought and believes.
No Knock
Vietnamese do not share concept of privacy and personal space like
Westerners do, so don't be surprised if people walk into your room without
knocking. For instance, you may be sitting in your hotel's room when the
maid unlocks the door and walking in unannounced. Therefore, check if
there's a bolt on the door that cannot be opened from the outside with a
key otherwise, prop a chair against the door.
Respect
Visitors entering Buddhist pagodas are expected to remove their shoes and
it is considered impolite to point feet, especially the soles, at people
or statues of the Buddha. Donations to the upkeep of temples are not
expected, but are received gratefully. Permission should be asked before
taking photographs of people or in places of worship.
Social
The most appropriate manner of greeting is a gentle handshake and a smile.
Though occasionally rigid, Vietnamese officials - such as the police -
appreciate being treated in a firm, yet diplomatic manner. It is best to
deal with misunderstandings with patience and good humor. Local people who
offer assistance appreciate small gifts such as cigarette lighters, pens,
foreign cigarettes, liquor, perfume and even shampoo. However, giving
money to street beggars can lead to mob scenes as other beggars also
attempt to impose upon such generosity.
This article is authored
and copyrighted
by Royal Exclusive Travel
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