The charming Vietnamese capital has aged well, preserving the Old Quarter, monuments and colonial architecture,

while making room for modern developments alongside. Hanoi may have shrugged off several former names, including Thang Long, or "ascending dragon," but it hasn't forgotten its past, as sites such as Ho Chi Minh's Mausoleum and Hoa Lo Prison attest. Lakes, parks, shady boulevards and more than 600 temples and pagodas add to the appeal of this city, which is easily explored by taxi. Hoi An Ancient Town is an exceptionally well-preserved example of a South-East Asian trading port dating from the 15th to the 19th century. Its buildings and its street plan reflect the influences, both indigenous and foreign, that have combined to produce this unique heritage site. ( UNESCO World Heritage Centre) The Thang Long Imperial Citadel was built in the 11th century by the Ly Viet Dynasty, marking the independence of the Dai Viet. It was constructed on the remains of a Chinese fortress dating from the 7th century, on drained land reclaimed from the Red River Delta in Hanoi. It was the center of regional political power for almost 13 centuries without interruption. The Imperial Citadel buildings and the remains in the 18 Hoang Dieu Archaeological Site reflect a unique SouthEast Asian culture specific to the lower Red River Valley, at the crossroads between influences coming from China in the north and the ancient Kingdom of Champa in the south. ( UNESCO World Heritage Centre) Complex of Hu Monuments Vietnam

Established as the capital of unified Viet Nam in 1802, Hu was not only the political but also the cultural and religious center under the Nguyen dynasty until 1945. The Perfume River winds its way through the Capital City, the Imperial City, the Forbidden Purple City and the Inner City, giving this unique feudal capital a setting of great natural beauty. ( UNESCO World Heritage Centre) A World Heritage Site since: 1993 Ha Long Bay

Vietnam

Ha Long Bay, in the Gulf of Tonkin, includes some 1,600 islands and islets, forming a spectacular seascape of limestone pillars. Because of their precipitous nature, most of the islands are uninhabited and unaffected by a human presence. The site's outstanding scenic beauty is complemented by its great biological interest. ( UNESCO World Heritage Centre) A World Heritage Site since: 1994 My Son Sanctuary Vietnam

Between the 4th and 13th centuries a unique culture which owed its spiritual origins to Indian Hinduism developed on the coast of contemporary Viet Nam. This is graphically illustrated by the remains of a series of impressive tower-temples located in a dramatic site that was the religious and political capital of the Champa Kingdom for most of its existence. ( UNESCO World Heritage Centre) A World Heritage Site since: 1999 Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park Vietnam

The karst formation of Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park has evolved since the Paleozoic (some 400 million years ago) and so is the oldest major karst area in Asia. Subject to massive tectonic changes, the parks karst landscape is extremely complex with many geomorphic features of considerable significance. The vast area, extending to the border of the Lao Peoples

Democratic Republic, contains spectacular formations including 65 km of caves and underground rivers. ( UNESCO World Heritage Centre) A World Heritage Site since: 2003 tinations in Vietnam::: Where to go in Vietnam: Hanoi, Hue, Saigon, Halong Bay, Hoi An, Mekong Delta,

Expect a new travel experience. Expect to see a picture perfect landscape of rice paddies and water buffalo. Expect wide tree-lined streets full of bicycles and motorcycles, which are a challenge to cross! Expect to be smiled at a lot, expect to smile back you cant help it! Expect curious locals to engage you in unexpected conversations, invitations to enjoy a cup of tea. Expect the occasional mishap a delayed flight or a short power outage. Expect endless photo opportunities. Expect to find bargains! Expect to sample a new and unique cuisine. Expect to eat French baguettes warm and crisp and baked fresh every morning. Expect the noise and the heat. Expect to learn about daily rituals and traditions performed for hundreds of years. Expect grace and beauty as you watch the young school girls in their white ao dais (traditional gowns) ride by on their bicycles. EXPECT THINGS TO BE DIFFERENT FROM WHAT THEY ARE AT HOME - ISN'T THIS THE REASON YOU CAME ? Saigon and the Environs Saigon (Ho Chi Minh City) Once romantically referred to by the French as the Pearl of the Orient, Ho Chi Minh City is still called Saigon by almost everyone who lives there. It is a modern city by Asian standards and has only been under firm Vietnamese control for a little more than 200 years. The city's character remains essentially French -- with wide boulevards, colonial villas, and a lively caf society -but also resolutely Asian. It has more of a cosmopolitan feel than Hanoi, although much of the old French colonial city is vanishing beneath the rapidly rising skyline and the sheer weight of recent

history. Combined with this vivacious street life, the city's French influences have bred a charm all their own. Tay Ninh Cao Dai Great Temple is the cathedral of the Cao Dai religion and is the main attraction in Tay Ninh. The temple, built between 1933 and 1955, is located more specifically in Long Hoa, 5-km southeast of Tay Ninh. The Great Temple is 140 m long and 40 m wide. It has 4 towers each with a different name: Tam Dai, Hiep Thien Dai, Cuu Trung Dai, and Bat Quai Dai. The interior of the temple consists of a colonnaded hall and a sanctuary. The 2 rows of columns are decorated with dragons and are coated in white, red, and blue paint. The domed ceiling is divided into 9 parts similar to a night sky full of stars and symbolizing heaven. Under the dome is a giant star-speckled blue globe on which is painted the Divine Eye, the official symbol of Caodaism. Cao Dai followers worship Jesus Christ, Confucius, Laotze, and Buddha. Mekong River Delta Mekong Delta is the southern rice bowl of Vietnam, a fertile area covered with rice fields and winding tributaries of the Mekong River. Originating in the high plateau of Tibet, the Mekong River is over 2600 miles long travels through China, Myanmar, Laos and Cambodia before reaching Vietnam where it empties into the South China Sea. The Delta is a colorful display of rural life with its lush vegetation, island farms and floating markets. Places of interest in the Mekong Delta include My Tho, Vinh Long, Can Tho and Chau Doc.

Phan Thiet is a quaint fishing village located along the southeastern coast, known today for its stretch of pristine powder sand, crystal clear waters and spectacular sand dunes. This small village offers little in terms of recreation and dining but the resort properties offer a quiet retreat. Coco Beach, Bamboo Village and the newly built Victoria Phan Thiet, all offer bungalow-style accommodations and the Novotel Ocean Dunes Resort offers a golf course. Phan Thiet is becoming a popular stop for overseas travelers.

Central Highlands

DaLat, Le Petit Paris, was the name given to this former French hill station. The Vietnamese call it City of Eternal Spring because of the cooler, fresher air of this mountainous region. DaLat is nestled in the central highlands and renowned for its tranquil beauty; a favorite of the French during colonial days. the French influence is evident in the hundreds of lovely colonial villas dotted throughout the town. DaLats alpine landscape of pine forests, rolling hills and tranquil lakes make it a popular getaway for honeymooners and travelers Buon Ma Thuot, is the coffee capital of Vietnam. Its scenic landscape offers flowing waterfalls and forested mountains and is inhabited by a variety of ethnic hill tribes. Visitors can visit coffee and rubber plantations, hill tribe villages and enjoy an elephant trek. Pleiku and Kontum The Central Highlands is one of the most remote and least populated areas of Vietnam the Central Highlands is peaceful today with its virgin forest, mountains, waterfalls and wildlife, the Central Highlands was an area of intense battles during the American-Vietnam War. Pleiku, home to the Jarai hill tribe and Kontum home to the Banhar hill tribe are the main towns in this mountainous area. Explorers can take elephant treks through the jungle and overnight in a hill tribe communal longhouse. Central Coastal Region

Hue is the ancient royal capital of the Nguyen Dynasty whose magnificent tombs are a major attraction. Hue is situated in the central coastal area; the Perfume River winds through the center of town, past the Citadel and Forbidden Purple City, which was modeled after the Forbidden City in Beijing. There are many important historical and cultural sites such as the Thien Mu Pagoda and the many mausoleums of the Nguyen emperors that can be found in the small villages around Hue. Designated by UNESCO as a cultural heritage site it is one of Vietnams major attractions. Da Nang is Vietnams third international gateway and a major seaport with magnificent beaches. Its historical significance stems back to 192AD when it was the capital of the Kingdom of Champa. Relics from this period can be found in the open-air Cham Museum, considered to be one of the finest collections of Cham sculptures in the world, and at the ruins of My Son where twenty Hindu-like temples are still standing. DaNang was also the site of the first military landing in 1965 by American troops and was a major base for American Marines and naval forces during the war. Sightseeing includes Marble Mountain, with its natural grottos and Buddhist sanctuaries and China Beach a favorite rest and recreation center for American troops. Hoi An-The World Culture Heritage This lovely and well-preserved 600-year-old town, is an architectural living museum with its eclectic mix of restored homes, winding streets and ancient bridges. In the 16th-18th centuries it was an international trading port connecting Asia and the West. The influence of the traders and seamen from Portugal, China, Japan, and France are evident throughout this lovely town.

Nha Trang Offers the widest selection of accommodations of all the seaside areas in Vietnam; it also has some of the bestknown beaches and pristine waters. Becoming popular for snorkeling and diving it has a lively atmosphere, many ocean front seafood restaurants and sidewalk cafes. Beautiful examples of the Cham culture can be found in the 10thcentury Po Nagar Towers.

Hanoi and the North Hanoi the capital of Vietnam was founded in 1010. It is the center of cultural and political life, a city of lakes, broad boulevards and almost 600 temples and pagodas. The city has retained much of its old architecture and colonial charm. Amongst the many sights in this lovely city are the one-pillared pagoda, originally built in 1049; the Temple of Literature first university in Vietnam, founded in 1070; and Ho Chi Minhs mausoleum. A cyclo ride (man-powered taxi) through Hanois Old Quarter along winding streets whose names include Coffin Street, Silk Street, Chicken Street, Basket Street offers an exciting glimpse into Hanoi life. HaLong Bay One of the most scenic areas in Vietnam, has over 3000 fascinating sculptured islands rising from the clear emerald waters of the Gulf of Tonkin. The rock formations are full of lovely grottos, caves and small beaches. A journey by motorized sampan allows you to wander through these rock formations which legend says were made by a mighty dragon whose feet caused the

formation of mountains in the sea. Hoa Lu was the first capital of Vietnam during the Ly Dynasty 968-1010 AD. It is a scenic area with limestone hills and gently flowing rivers. Many of the beautiful 11th-century temples still remain, including the Temple of Dinh Tien Hoang, one of the finest examples of medieval architecture in Vietnam. Our tour includes a gentle sampan journey through the hills and caves of this historic area. Hoa Binh and Mai Chau Valley lie across the Red River Valley at the foothills of Ha Son Binh province. The air is crisp, and the road becomes tougher. The Mai Chau Valley shimmers with tiny villages that nestle beneath the towering limestone cliffs. In this area live the Muong communities and Black Thai minority. The Muong are farmers growing rice, sugarcane and tea. Silk production and weaving are common village industries. The area is very scenic with jagged limestone peaks and deep valleys. The region provides wonderful trekking, and hiking. Accommodation in the local village communities is very basic but the welcome is genuine. Huong Pagoda is an important religious destination for the Vietnamese. There are three pagodas, Pagoda of the Perfumed Vestiges, Pagoda of Purgatory and Pagoda Leading to Heaven. They are set into the sides of the limestone cliffs of Huong Tich Mountain along the River Yen. It is a very picturesque area and part of the journey is by boat through the limestone outcroppings. The scenery is similar to that of Guilin China but on a smaller scale. Sapa high in the mountains, close to the Chinese border, is home to many minority hill tribes. SaPa is surrounded by ladder rice fields, mountains and forests. To reach Sapa, we journey by overnight train from Hanoi to Lao Cai and then continue by car up the mountain. Vietnams indigenous flora and fauna are in abundance in this region. The Victoria

Hotel blends beautifully into the surrounding mountains and provides a wonderful rest stop to enjoy this mountainous region of Vietnam. Dong Ho is a small village outside of Hanoi known as the printers village. It was originally inhabited by one family who for 400 years and 20 generations have been artist-craftsmen producing rustic and colorful pictures printed from etched wooden blocks. The paper is made by hand and natural inks are derived from local materials. Artistic creativity was not the inspiration for Dong Ho prints; rather each is intended to convey a popular fable, allegory, social value or historical struggle. Dong Ho is recognized by UNESCO as a traditional craft village. Vietnamese people Vietnam has one of the most complex ethno linguistic patterns in Asia. The Vietnamese were significantly Sinicized during a millennium of Chinese rule. Vietnamese, one of the Mon-Khmer languages of the Austro-Asiatic language family, exhibits strong Chinese influence. Indian influence is found among the Cham and Khmer minorities. The Cham, whose language belongs to the Austronesian language family, formed the majority population in the Indianized kingdom of Champa in what is now central Vietnam from the 2nd century to the late 15th century AD. Small numbers of Cham remain in the south-central coastal plain and in the Mekong delta near the Cambodian border. The Khmer (Cambodians), whose language is one of the Mon-Khmer

languages, are scattered throughout the Mekong delta. Many other ethnic groups inhabit the highlands. While cultures vary considerably in the central highlands, shared characteristics include a traditional way of life still largely oriented around kin groups and small communities. Known collectively by the French as Montagnards ("Highlanders"), these peoples have affinities with other Southeast Asians. Many groups such as the Rade (Rhade), Jarai, Chru, and Roglai--speak Austronesian languages, linking them to the Cham, Malay, and Indonesian peoples; others--including the Bru, Pacoh, Katu, Cua, Hre, Rengao, Sedang, Bahnar, Mnong, Mang (Maa), and Stieng--speak Mon-Khmer languages, affiliating them with the Khmer. Highlanders have experienced little Chinese or Indian influence, but they were exposed to Western (French and then American) influence from the late 19th century until the early 1970s. French missionaries and administrators provided roman script for some of the Montagnard languages, and additional orthographies have been devised since. The Montagnards have exhibited an intense desire to preserve their own cultural identities. The various groups in the uplands of northern Vietnam have ethnolinguistic affiliations with peoples in Thailand, Laos, and southern China. The largest of these are the tribal Tai

(Thai) groups who speak Tai languages and generally live in upland valleys. H'mong (Miao, or Meo) and Mien groups, who speak languages of the Sino-Tibetan language family, are scattered at higher elevations.

Demographic trends

Vietnam's population has grown rapidly since reunification in 1975. As a result, an increasing proportion of the population is young. The migration pattern long has been predominantly from north to south, and more recently there also has been migration from the lowlands to higher elevations and from rural to urban areas. In 1954 nearly one million people moved from north to south. In both the north and the south in the late 1950s, there were programs to resettle ethnic Vietnamese from the lowlands to the uplands. While these programs were discontinued in the south in 1963, they continued in the north; between 1976 and 1980 they were revived throughout the country and greatly intensified, with a significant number of people moving from the south to the central highlands. Since then, however, there has been an overall flow of migrants into Ho Chi Minh City and its environs, as well as into the central highlands. Out-migration has been greatest in parts of the northeast and along the central coastal plain.

The Vietnamese Language

Vietnamese Vietnam's official language, is a tonal language that can be compared to Cambodia's official language, Khmer. With each syllable, there are six different tones that can be used, which change the definition and it often makes it difficult for foreigners to pick up the language. There are other languages spoken as well such as Chinese,

Khmer, Cham and other languages spoken by tribes inhabiting the mountainous regions. Although there are some similarities to Southeast Asian languages, such as Chinese, Vietnamese is thought to be a separate language group, although a member of the Austro-Asiatic language family. In written form, Vietnamese uses the Roman alphabet and accent marks to show tones. This system of writing called quoc ngu, was created by Catholic missionaries in the 17th century to translate the scriptures. Eventually this system, particularly after World War I, replaced one using Chinese characters (chu nom), which had been the unofficial written form used for centuries.

Vietnamese Cuisine Restaurants in Vietnam Vietnam is a long, skinny country stretching from Hanoi and the Red River in the north to Ho Chi Minh City and the fertile Mekong River Delta in the south. These ends are connected by a mountainous spine that runs along the South China Sea. On the west, Vietnam is bordered by Laos and Cambodia, and to the north, lies China. The food of the north, through stir-fries and noodle-based soups, shows the heavy influence of Chinese cooking. The mountainous middle section, with the former Imperial capitol, Hue, at its center, has an abundance of fresh produce. It was in Hue that royal chefs developed the more elaborate dishes of Vietnamese cuisine. The southern region is tropical, sustaining rice paddies, coconut groves, and many more spices than the north.

As in the rest of Southeast Asia, there is an ancient layer of Indian cultural presence, most obviously evidenced in the religion of Buddhism French colonization of Vietnam, which began in the 16th century and ended in the middle of the 20th century, also had a deep influence on Vietnamese cooking. The cuisine balances all these influences. One street vendor may noodle soup, pho bo, from his cart. The next vendor over might sell baguette smeared with one of the many ground pork concoctions known as pts. Both may be complemented by the ubiquitous Beef noodles-Vietnamese favourite native fish sauce (nuoc nam) or dipping food sauce (nuoc cham -- made from fish sauce, water, sugar, and lime juice and seasoned with chiles and garlic). As in many of the neighboring countries, a Vietnamese meal is rarely divided into courses. All the food is served at once and shared from common dishes. Meals are anchored by a starch, usually rice and sometimes noodles (especially in the north where grain is more prevalent than rice). The Vietnamese prefer long-grain rice to the glutinous short grain varieties preferred by northern Thai and Japanese palates. Most meals include a soup, a stir-fry, and another main dish. Often, a light salad with shrimp or beef and vegetables will accompany the meal. Like the Chinese, the Vietnamese eat from a bowl with chopsticks. Vietnamese cooking is generally not as rich or heavy as the coconut milk curries, of, say, Thailand or India. All that coastline means that fish and seafood are central to the diet. Other meats -- pork, beef, and chicken -- are also common, but in smaller quantities. Vegetables are often left raw, especially in the south, to act as a fresh contrast to the spicy cooked meat. The distinct flavors of Vietnamese food come primarily from: mint leaves, coriander, lemon grass, shrimp, fish sauces (nuoc nam and nuoc cham), star anise, ginger, black pepper, garlic, basil, rice vinegar, sugar, and green onions. Many flavorful marinades are made by some combination of these flavorings. Marinated meat or fish is quickly sauted in the wok and served with an array of raw vegetables and herbs. All this may be eaten over rice or rolled in a rice-paper wrapper or lettuce leaf (or both), then dipped into a pungent sauce. Roll Your Own

The other do-it-yourself element in many Vietnamese meals comes with roll-yourown rice-paper rolls. For example, grilled chunks of lemongrass beef (thit bo nuong), grilled meatballs (nem nuong), or freshly steamed shrimp (tom) all come served with a salad plate together with a stack of moist rice papers (banh trang) or fresh rice wrappers (banh uot). You lay a wrapper on your open palm, put in a piece or two of meat, several strips of pickled radish, perhaps some herbs, sprouts, or rice vermicelli, then tuck over the ends and roll it up. You now have your own unique fresh spring roll that can be dipped in nuoc cham or nuoc leo, or eaten simply on its own. Market and Restaurant Foods Market food is at its best, and offers the greatest selection in the morning before the day gets hot. While breakfast in the south and north is generally soup, in rural areas it can be xoi-sticky rice steamed in a leaf wrapper. Often peanuts or mung beans are steamed with the rice.In addition to street food, you'll want to experience a Bo Bay Mon or "Beef Seven Ways" restaurant. Beef dishes include beef fondue (bo nhung dam), grilled beef-stuffed leaves (bo la lot), beef pate steamed in banana leaves (cha dum), and beef rice soup (chao thit bo). Beverages Freshly pressed sugarcane juice is available from vendors in the afternoon and evening. Vietnamese beer is good; try Saigon Beer or 333. Vietnam grows its own tea in the region around Dalat. Tea is consumed morning to night; it's served before or after but never during a meal. For another caffeine hit, try Vietnamese coffee black and hot or iced with condensed milk, with sugar- our favorite. The coffee is made in individual slow-drip filters and can be very strong.

VIETNAMESE CULTURE Family and Social Culture Before the late 1980s, nearly all Vietnamese people lived in villages, and the cultivation of wet rice was the principal economic activity. The basic component of rural society was the nuclear family, composed of parents and unwed children.

Respect for parents and ancestors is a key virtue in Vietnam. The oldest male in the family is the head of the family and the most important family member. His oldest son is the second leader of the family. Sometimes, related families live together in a big house and help each other. The parents chose their children's marriage partners based on who they think is best suited for their child. When people die, their families honor their ancestors on the day of their death by performing special ceremonies at home or at temples and by burning incense and fake money for the one who died. The Vietnamese believed that by burning incense, their ancestors could protect them and their family from danger and harm. Days before the ceremony starts, the family has to get ready, because they won't have enough time to get ready when the guests arrive and the ceremony starts. Usually the women cook and prepare many special kinds of food, like chicken, ham, pork, rice, and many more including desserts. While the women are busy cooking, the men are busy fixing up and cleaning up the house, so it won't be messy and dirty because of all the relatives of the person that died will come for the ceremony and show honor and respect to that person. Families venerated their ancestors with special religious rituals. The houses of the wealthy were constructed of brick, with tile roofs. Those of the poor were bamboo and thatch. Rice was staple food for the vast majority, garnished with vegetables and, for those who could afford it, meat and fish. The French introduced Western values of individual freedom and sexual quality, which undermined and the traditional Vietnamese social system. In urban areas, Western patterns of social behavior became increasingly common, especially among educated and wealthy Vietnamese attended French schools, read French books, replaced traditional attire with Western-style clothing, and drank French wines instead of the traditional wine distilled from rice. Adolescents began to resist

the tradition of arranged marriages, and women chafed under social mores that demanded obedience to their fathers and husbands. In the countryside, however, traditional Vietnamese family values remained strong. The trend toward adopting Western values continues in South Vietnam after the division of the country in 1954. Many young people embraced sexual freedom and the movies, clothing styles, and rock music from Western cultures became popular. But in the North, social ethnics were defined by Vietnam Communist Partys principles. The government officially recognized equality of the sexes, and women began to obtain employment in professions previously dominated by men. At the same time, the government began enforcing a more puritanical lifestyle as a means to counter the so-called decadent practices of Western society. Traditional values continued to hold sway in rural areas and countryside, where the concept of male superiority remained common. In the 1980s, the Vietnamese government adopted an economic reform program that freely from free market principles and encouraged foreign investment and tourism development. As a result, the Vietnamese people have become increasingly acquainted with and influenced by the lifestyles in developed countries of South East Asia and the West. Arts and Handicrafts in Vietnam Ceramics and pottery have been around Vietnam, it is believed, since the Neolithic period. During the 11th century ceramics were in great demand for religious purposes with the popularity of Buddhism. Religious objects as well as statues were needed and were produced with great skill. The beauty and elegance of ceramics caused the aristocracy, as well as emperors, to become patrons of kilns in the Red River Delta. Cups, dishes, etc., with whitish-ivory and jade-green glazes were produced in the 12th century, gradually increasing in ornamentation during the 15th and 16th centuries. With the adoption of cobalt blue from China, Vietnam started producing blue-white ceramics which were still being produced as late as the 19th century in royal workshops, and in the village of Bat Trang (Hanoi). Woodcarving, considered to be a peasant art, was until recently a hidden art within Vietnam. It was not until 1972 that the country realized the beautiful art hidden

within it's country's homes. This art uses ironwood, ebony, reddish mahogany and rosewood (yak wood) with the natural beauty of the wood just adds to the finished product, whether it be in a temple, home or a statue. Adding to the natural beauty, sometimes several layers of lacquer and color are applied making it even more breathtaking. Woodcuts initially came from China, but is now considered to be a traditional Vietnamese art. These are mainly used for book illustrations and for pictures during Tet (Tranh Tet - traditional New Year's pictures). Dong Ho Paintings You may have seen them before. They adorn the walls of Vietnamese restaurants everywhere in the world. Vietnamese people hang them up as Lunar New Year approaches. In Vietnam, production of these folk paintings peaks right before Tet as merchants stock up in anticipation of heavy customer demand. The Print Making Process These paintings are traditionally used to decorate homes for the New Year festival. The prints are made by brushing paint made of local material onto carved wood blocks, then pressing the blocks on paper. The print is left to dry after each color is applied before another color is added. Three to five colors are used to make each print. The Wood Blocks The wooden blocks are made from the thi tree, a soft fibrous wood. The block is used as a printing plate, with one block for each color, print and size. The blocks are usually kept in a separate warehouse to preserve them in their finest form. The Paper The prints are all done on traditional giay gio paper made from the bark fiber of the do tree. This tree grows in the northwestern part of the country. The sheath is stripped off the tree trunk and soaked in a pond for a month. It is then dipped in limewater for two weeks, followed by a wash. After ten days or so the pulp is poured into frames which are stacked for several more days. Then the stacks are arranged on a wall to dry, and pressed smooth with a stone mortar. The paper is coated with a pulverized powder made from shellfish found in the Hai Phong area. The shellfish is brought to the village and coated with mud for two years. The entire mixture is then ground up by stone mortar and put into a water tank to be filtered and pressed into balls that weigh about a kilo and they are left to dry on the walls or floors. They are then used as needed and mixed with glue. This mixture is called diep powder.

The Brush The prints are painted with a beautiful brush made of spruce. The thet brushes are made from dried spruce leaves bound together. These brushes are made in a village not far away and come in various sizes. The leaves are pounded with salt water and a hammer to make the brush tip soft enough and are bound together and flattened at the top. The Paint The folk art simplicity has strong and simple contours with bright colors that are made from dried bamboo leaves, the local fruits, flowers and leaves. The paint is mixed in large earthenware pots. The colors are mixed by hand and each artisan has his or her own formula. The red paint is made from soi son, a soft stone that is found in the region. The blue paint is made from indigo leaves found in the minority areas. Both of these paints must be soaked in an earthenware pot for a couple of years and strained of all impurities. Yellow paint usually comes from the sophora tree whose flowers are as small as rice kernels. The flowers are roasted in a pan until they turn brownish-yellow. When water is added and the mixture is boiled, the yellow color appears. The liquid is filtered and the pulp thrown away. The violet color comes from the mong toi fruit. Black paint comes from the bamboo tree. When the bamboo trees shed their leaves, they are burned to a cinder, then sprinkled with water and put in a glazed clay jar half filled with water. After a year or more the water is strained and the black ink is ready for use after being mixed with glutinous rice glue. Grinding glutinous rice into a fine powder and mixing it with water makes the rice glue. As the rice powder settles to the bottom, the clear water is skimmed off every day, to prevent the contents from fermenting. Traditional Female Ao Dai The ao dai appears to flatter every figure. Its body-hugging top flows over wide trousers that brush the floor. Slits in the gown extend well above waist height and make it comfortable and easy to move in. Although virtually the whole body is swathed in soft flowing fabric, these slits give the odd glimpse of a bare midriff, making the outfit very sensual. Over time, the traditional "ao dai" has gone through certain changes. Long gowns are now carefully tailored to fit the body of a Vietnamese woman.

The two long slits along the side allow the gown to have two free floating panels in the front and at the back of the dress. The floating panels expose a long pair of white silk trousers. In recent years some foreign fashions have been introduced to Vietnam; however, the traditional "ao dai" remains preferable to women in both urban and rural settings. On formal occasions, they wear a special three layered dress called an "ao dai", a long gown with slits on either side. Traditional female Ao Tu Than The outer garment is a special silk gown called an "ao tu than" which is brown or light brown in colour with four slits divided equally on its lower section. The second layer is a gown in a light yellow colour and the third layer is a pink gown. When a woman wears her three gowns, she fastens the buttons on the side, and leaves those on the chest unfastened so that they form a shaped collar. This allows her to show the different colors on the upper part of the three gowns. Beneath the three gowns is a bright red brassiere which is left exposed to cover the woman's neck. In general, Vietnamese clothing is very diverse. Every ethnic group in Vietnam has its own style of clothing. Festivals are the occasion for all to wear their favorite clothes. Festivals in Vietnam

TET FESTIVAL (Lunar New Year)

The largest traditional festival of the Vietnamese people is tet , which is celebrated nationally from the first lunar month (late January or early February). It is primarily a festival for the family . People reunite with their relatives on these days to make offerings to ancestors or to visit the church , tombs and wells in the place in which they were raised . Rich or poor , every family has a tray of good food , a bottle of wine , cakes , flowers and fruits to offer their ancestors . Elephant Racing Festival This festival is celebrated in the Spring, in the 3rd lunar month. It is usually held in Don village or in forests near the Sevepoi River, in Dak Lak province. At the signal , the mahouts take their elephants to the start line .Once the start command is given, all the elephants rush to the exciting beat of the drums and gongs, accompanied by the viewers cheering. The winning elephant waves to the audience with its trunk. The elephant will often take this opportunity to flap its ears gently and to give tender looks to receive sugar cane from the viewers. Elephant races are the biggest festival to take place in the middle highlands. It bears the martial spirit

of M'nong ethnic groups, which is very famous for bravery and experience in hunting wild elephants. Do Son Buffalo Fighting Festival Although the Do Son Buffalo Fighting Festival is officially held on the 9th of the 8th lunar month in Hai Phong, preparations start several months before. Fighting buffaloes must be carefully selected, well fed, and trained. The selection of the official fighting buffaloes starts in May when qualification matches take place in small villages. Only 6 buffaloes will participate in the final fight. The festival begins with a procession to the communal house where offerings from several little villages are presented to the gods; such gifts include a buffalo, a pig, and a basket of sticky rice. The procession, in which the buffaloes are covered with red cloth, also includes 12 young men, also dressed in red, who take the buffaloes to the fighting circle. After the young men perform the "Opening the match" dance, a pair of buffaloes are led into the fighting circle. The two buffaloes fight until the defeated gives up and runs away. The winner then goes on to fight another buffalo until a final winner is determined. Vietnamese Language Vietnamese is basically a monosyllabic language having six tones, which gives the language a singsong effect. A word can be repeated with any one of six tones to indicate six different meanings. For example, the word ma has six different meanings according to the tone which the word carries: phantom, ghost; cheek; but, which, who; tomb; horse; young rice seedling. Vietnamese has three basic dialects, all are generally understood by most Vietnamese speakers. It is very different from English; verbs do not change forms, articles are not used, nouns do not have plural endings, there are no prefixes, no suffixes, no definitive and no distinction among pronouns. Its complex vocabulary reflects basic cultural values. Name and Naming Traditionally, Vietnamese people list their family name first, then their middle name, with their first (given) name listed as last. Family members use different given names (first names aren't passed down), and the name reflects some meaning. Most names can be used for either gender.

In Vietnam, we never call our parents, grand-parents, teachers, uncles, aunts by their first names, but Western people do. "Co", "Thay", "Chu", "Bac" is always added. In addition, the people from the south of Vietnam usually call their relatives, their neighbours by their ranks in their family instead of their first names