If ever visiting Vietnam, you must be amazed by a lot of special things in this country. Let’s discover them in Vietnam in this article below.
1. The first special thing of Vietnam: Western New Year or Vietnam Lunar New Year (Tet Nguyen Dan)?
The Western New Year
The Western New Year in Vietnam, which is on 1st January, is not as important as the Lunar New Year. In the general subconscious of the people, it is merely a day that marks the transitional moment. During this occasion, people spend time reviewing works or plans that have been done and preparing for a new year. Therefore, even though it marks a milestone, the Western New Year is still an ordinary moment of Vietnam.
The Vietnam Lunar New Year
The Lunar New Year is considered the unique thing about Vietnam. The Vietnam Lunar New Year has been a traditional holiday for thousands of years, and many generations of Vietnamese have maintained it. Families see this occasion as important days for family and relatives and as an opportunity to perform traditionally spiritual rituals. Lunar New Year is also an occasion for worshipping, praying, and giving everyone the best wishes.
Unlike the Western Calendar, there is no 31st day on Lunar December. The 30th of Lunar December is the last day of a lunar year. Everything needed to be well-prepared for the New Year’s Eve must be completed. On the last night of the year, every family prepares for worshipping to enter the new year.
2. The second unique thing of Vietnam: The charming beauty of Vietnamese women
Intellectual, intelligent, and generous
Vietnamese women today have high education levels and even higher than men. They are also compassionate, knowledgeable at work. There was no longer a span when men played an important part in society, but women did not. They still respect their husbands, but if their husbands do not behave rationally, they always have their own opinions.
Good at housework
Not all women in the early 21st century believe that cooking skills are another feminine trait. On the contrary, they promote the successful women, the strong women and even consider that a good man who wants love a woman must be good at all aspects and know cooking to get her heart. This is contrary to what their families and society have taught Vietnamese women. Therefore, the ability to cook well of women is average in Vietnamese culture, and it is highly appreciated overseas.
Family is the best thing to them
Most Vietnamese women, when married, tend to take care of their husbands and children and build up their families. Besides, they are also respectful of her parents-in-law and her parents. For most Vietnamese women, marriage means, living together to the end of their life and caring about their family members.
Independent and supportive
Vietnamese women in modern society are no longer only the housewives; they still get married, pregnant, still work and earn money, even support her husband and children as well as all other family members, and still have the responsibilities for housework. Meanwhile, in many developed countries in Asia, such as Japan and Korea, women tend to stay at home to take care of their families after marriage.
3. The third special thing of Vietnam: The fantastic differences between the North and the South of Vietnam
If every special thing of Vietnam makes this country more special, the difference between the two regions makes Vietnam more attractive to visitors.
3.1. People in Hanoi and Sai Gon
The difference between the two areas is a special thing in Vietnam. In the South of Vietnam, Ho Chi Minh city is a mixture of people coming from different regions, including Hanoi. So it’s hard to tell. It may depend on the exact person that you meet. But basically, the South vs. the North people just like “American vs. Great Britain.”
People in Sai Gon (an old name of Ho Chi Minh city) are more cheerful and easy-going. So, everybody coming to this city receives a warm welcome and free space to show their personality. However, sometimes, due to the fast pace, some people may feel lost because others are moving on so fast. No one can stay with them for a while.
On the other hand, Hanoi people gives a feeling of something old, something peaceful, and something traditional, especially in the autumn. It is relaxing when spending time walking around the old quarter or some historical sites. However, Hanoian tends to take a long time to get acquainted with new things. Some people having strong personalities may be regarded as strangers. It is more difficult to get on with Hanoi people.
3.2. Venders – An unusual thing of Vietnam belonging the street
The easy-to-find vendors on the road are typical of Hanoi, and in Saigon, people are more familiar with vendor carts that sell a multitude of regional specialties.
3.3. Flowers shops
Visitors can see a lot of flower bicycles on the streets in Hanoi. The diversity in each type of flowers in each season, such as roses, sunflowers, daisies, lilies. When walking around the Old Quarter, you can come across a lot of colorful flower bicycles. These flowers are quite cheap, only USD 1 – 2 per bouquet. Meanwhile, in Saigon, flowers can only be purchased at markets or flower shops. It is easy to understand that people see flowers shops as a special thing in Vietnam.
3.4. Weather
The weather in the two regions is also significantly different. Notably, only Hanoi has winter, but Sai Gon does not. It creates one more special thing of Vietnam.
The rain in Hanoi is often prolonged and very sudden. In Saigon, having rain in the dry season is a very reasonable thing, rain comes and goes very quickly.
Hanoi is in four seasons area; they’re at least 5–6 months with fresh air (around 17–25 Celsius degree). Some times the difference in temperature between day and night is quite big (over 10 degrees). Expect four months that’s very hot during summer, which temperature is 33–39 C degrees, peaks 40 C degrees. At summer night the temperature is down to 28–29 C degree. Hanoian prefers temperature at 28 C degrees, which is hot temperature during autumn.
Vietnam must be more specialized in the foreigners’ eyes because of this difference!
While Saigon is in two seasons area with the average temperature around 28–32 Celsius degree all year, the peak could be 33–35C degrees, and there are months of raining.
3.5. Special flower
One more special thing of Vietnam is the typical flower of each region.
Peach blossom is s symbol of the Northern Spring, and apricot blossom is the vitality of Southern Spring.
Peach blossom: the early blessing in the new year
Northern people often choose red peach branches to put on altars or peach trees for the decorating in the house. According to the concept of the ancients, the peach blossom has a unique power to eliminate demons; red contains strong vitality. Therefore the peach blossom is a special prayer in the new year.
Apricot blossom: the intense desire to be wealthy
If the Northern people like a peach blossom, the Central and Southern people, prefer apricot blossom, perhaps partly because of the climate. Northern peach blossoms cannot grow in the tropical weather of the South, partly because of the philosophy of life: Northern people are influenced a lot by Northern culture, often obsessed with demonic spirits, blessings, and Southern people mainly care about the richness and glory in the present life. Apricot blossom, the royal color, symbolizes the king (feudal period). Therefore apricot blossom is also a symbol of beauty and success.
3.6. Special cuisine
The last special thing of Vietnam we mention in this article is cuisine.
Hanoi Bun Cha
Bun cha is a traditional dish of Hanoi people, though it has been passed from many different generations its taste is always preserved. It is not only merely a unique dish for Hanoi, but it also has been known by people from different regions as well as foreign tourists. Placing in the list of must-try recipes when traveling to Vietnam, and being voted one of the ten best street food in the world by National Geographic readers, Bun cha deserves to be a symbol of Hanoi cuisine.
Sai Gon Com Tam
Com Tam itself is delicious and accessible in Sai Gon. However, Com Tam can be eaten with grilled chicken, grilled ribs, fish dishes, shrimp, braised meat, added pickles, fried green onions, fresh chili or chili sauce, soy sauce. For each Com Tam dish, ribs are thinly sliced, marinated with garlic, sugar, soy sauce, and a little water before being cooked.
In Saigon, there are many famous Com Tam restaurants such as Com Tam Thuan Kieu restaurant (District 1, District 3), Com Tam Kieu Giang (Saigon Bridge), Com Tam An Duong Vuong, Com Tam Nguyen Van Cu, etc. There is a long Com Tam street on Ngo Gia Tu Street (District 10), Vo Van Tan street (District 3).
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