Susanne If you really want to get to know Vietnam, you cannot miss “Tet” or the “Vietnamese Lunar New Year“, the biggest New Year festival in late January or early February. During Tet, Vietnam people visit their relatives and temple and hope for a better future. Locals clean their houses, prepare special foods and celebrate their ancestors.
Vietnamese food is one of the world’s most popular cuisines. Usually, Vietnamese cuisine is based on rice, soy sauce, and fish sauce. The Vietnam national food is Pho, a consommé soup with beef or chicken and rice noodles and served with fresh herbs, limes and hot chilies. There are many famous Pho restaurants in Hanoi. Vietnamese Coffee is also famous and Vietnam is the second largest coffee exporter in the world. Locals generally drink the coffee with condensed milk, due to its easier storage in this tropical climate.
“Ao Dai” is the name of the traditional Vietnamese costume. It is a knee or ankle length silk dress with a tight fitting top portion and a slit that reaches above the hip and is generally worn with baggy white silk pants underneath. Nowadays it is mostly worn by women although men may still wear it during certain festive ceremonies. Tourists frequently purchase custom-made traditional Vietnamese outfits at local tailors.
A compelling country, Vietnam presents many faces to its visitors. Traces of the French colonial era coexist with typically Asian traditions, and make for a fascinating and colorful world. You can explore Vietnam’s interesting history , enjoying shopping in a local market, go trekking in the mountains, relax by a beach or take a stroll in a Western-style neighbourhood. Vietnam’s charm will definitely captivate you.
