VIETNAM

Cambodia

China

Laos

Socialist Republic of Vietnam

Hoang Sa Islands

Truong Sa Islands

Phu Quoc

Island

Con Dao

Island

Mainland

Vietnam

Hanoi

Geography 329,560 sq km

Population 85,262,356 (July 2007 est.)

Language Vietnamese

Ethnic groupsKinh (Viet) 86.2%

& 53 others 13.8%

Capital Hanoi

Administrative divisions59 provinces and 5

municipalities

National holidayIndependence Day, 2

September (1945)

Sapa

Hanoi (the capital)

Ha Long Bay

Hue

Da Nang

Tay Nguyen

Da Lat

Phan Thiet

Ho Chi Minh city (Saigon)

One nation, 54

ethnics

85 million people

54 ethnic groups

1 nation

Áo dài (long dress) is the

essence of the Vietnamese girls.

An elegant, yet demure garment…

Nón lá (palm-leaf conical hat).

Under influences of Chinese culture and Western culture, so have

Vietnamese adopted the Western elegance and Eastern grace.

Recent years, we have achieved rapid Industrialization

and modernization

The peaceful pace of life and intimate social

interaction seem to remain unchanged over time.

Ha Long Bay

Breath-taking landscape, Ha Long bay is a world-classed tourist destination.

With its spectacular sight view and miraculous limestone structures…

You can enjoy fresh breeze, along an energetic culture with the

hospitability of people.

Recognized by UNESCO as a World Heritage, Ha Long bay is

ranked the First position in the vote for new 7 Wonders of Nature.*

*: Data on 7th April 2008 from New7Wonders website: http://www.new7wonders.com

The bay consists of 1,969 limestone monolithic islands,

several of the islands has enormous caves.

Đầu Gỗ (Wooden Stakes Cave) is the

largest grotto in Ha Long bay.

“Ha Long” means

“the descending dragon” in

English.

The Story of Lotus Tea

Lotus Tea

Purity and grace

The astonishing Vietnamese tea art.

Tea leaves need to be collected on hills and then dried under hot

sunshine.

Lotus flowers must be picked

at early time in the morning,

when they are still wet…

Collection lotus flowers’ bud to make the spectacular scent for the tea

Ingredients of one variation of lotus tea.

Vietnamese Lotus Tea - a

spirit that has rooted deeply

in every single Vietnamese’s

soul.

Beautiful and graceful.

Lunar New Year – Tết

Tết (or New Lunar Year’s Eve) is one of the most

significant uniqueness in Vietnamese culture.

Crowded street in Hanoi as the New Lunar Year’s coming

People always try to go back to their families, and the streets and markets are often

overcrowded as this occasion comes.

Young Vietnamese ladies are

making traditional pictures, which

are symbol for luck and wishes,

using engraved wood plates.

Peach blossoms are thought as the

sign of prosperity in Northern

Vietnam…

While Apricot blossoms appear everywhere in the South.

Chung (층) Cake, which is

symbolized for the earth and

prosperity; is an essential specialty

to worship ancestors during Tet

holiday of Vietnamese.

Made from rice, green bean and pork, the cake is tightly wrapped using

special leaves, which only grow on high mountains.

It could take up to a day to cook Chung Cake, and this is the best

chance for family members to gather and talk right beside the fire.

Dishes are well-prepared to worship Gods and ancestors in the New

Year’s Eve.

People now often go out to watch the firework on the streets.

The firework in New Year’s Eve in Hanoi.

Firecracker was once used to

threaten the evil souls and pray for

luck; however, the government has

banned the use of it due to high injury

rate. Nonetheless, the Tet holiday

have never been less exciting.

During the first days of a new year, people always visit relatives, friends,

neighbors, and go to pagodas and temples to pray for luck and

prosperity. Adults give each other best wishes, while children are often

given “lucky money” as a wish for new year.

Nowadays, Vietnamese still follow many old traditions, such as getting a holy

letter from scholars, or bring home some small tree branch as a sign for new

seeds of success in the following year.

THANK YOU