Vietnam
An Unforgettable Experience in Southeast Asia
An unforgettable journey through Southeast Asia, between the green of the forests and the white of the beaches. A constant discovery among temples and pagodas, mausoleums, lakes, and museums.
Vietnam is a young country. Despite the many difficulties linked to the wars fought for independence and reunification, it is making its way among the must-see destinations. The various ethnic groups have managed to keep alive the sounds, scents, and colors of their cultures, creating a wonderful mosaic.
In the country, you can visit rice fields where women in conical hats work tirelessly, or take a cruise through Ha Long Bay and stay with local families, experiencing their daily life.
In the capital, Hanoi, an exotic and vibrant city, you’ll find the Old Quarter, full of vendors displaying their goods and people sipping coffee. One must-see attraction is the Water Puppet Theater of Hanoi, where scenes of daily life are performed over water, accompanied by traditional music and songs.
Vietnam offers a magical, timeless atmosphere. Its landscapes, the warmth and smiles of its people, and its culinary specialties fill the heart and delight the senses.
Language: The official language is Vietnamese. French is spoken mainly by the older generations, while English is becoming increasingly common among the younger population.
Religion: The majority of the population is Buddhist. Catholics make up about 10 percent, while Confucianism and Taoism are still practiced. Additionally, Vietnam has a state policy of atheism.
Time Zone: The time difference with Italy is +7 hours.
Documents: A passport with at least six months of remaining validity is required, as well as a tourist visa for stays longer than 15 days.
Currency: Vietnamese Dong.
Sports: The main national sports include several Vietnamese martial arts such as Vovinam Viet Vo Dao and Qwan Ki Do, which also involve the use of weapons, as well as Viet boxing.
Curiosity
In Vietnam, it’s not uncommon to see people walking around with pigs, don’t be surprised! It’s quite common to keep them as pets.
While traveling through the countryside, you may see clusters of graves scattered among the fields. Regardless of religion, ancestor worship is a deeply rooted tradition. Families often have an “altar of ancestors” at home, a large wooden piece of furniture displaying photos of deceased relatives and offerings.
In some regions, rice is harvested twice a year, in others three times, depending on the climate. If you’re lucky, you’ll witness breathtaking scenes of lush green rice fields and workers standing barefoot in the water harvesting rice all day long.
If you stay with a local family, you’ll notice that during meals, even with delicious and sometimes spicy dishes, no water or tea is served. It’s not customary, since many dishes are brothy and because they believe water makes you feel bloated. Only after clearing the table is it time to drink.
As for the abundance of motorbikes, it’s because owning a car is too expensive. Motorbikes are affordable, practical, and used to carry just about everything.
Our advices
To Read: For those who wish to prepare before traveling to Vietnam, recommended readings include the short stories of contemporary Vietnamese writer Nguyên Huy Thiêp, or The Poet and the Princess: A Journey in Vietnam by Carolijn Visser, which tells the story of a country where traditional culture, French colonial influence, and the scars of war coexist.
To Listen: Vietnamese music is divided into two main genres, Bac, which is lively, and Nam, which is melancholic. Traditional Vietnamese music shows strong Chinese, Korean, Mongolian, and Japanese influences. Among the typical instruments are the Dan Day and the Dan Bau (in Vietnamese, dan means lute), often decorated with mother-of-pearl inlays.
To Watch: Almost all films set in Vietnam are centered on the war of the 1970s between the USA and Russia, and between the North and the South. Many of them are famous classics, such as Full Metal Jacket, Apocalypse Now, The Deer Hunter, Good Morning Vietnam, and Born on the Fourth of July.
To Eat: Vietnamese cuisine is rich in herbs and vegetables and uses nuoc mam, a fermented fish sauce, to enhance flavor. Northern cuisine is known for its salty taste, central cuisine for its spiciness, and southern cuisine for its sweeter dishes, often using coconut milk. The national dish is Pho (pronounced “feu”), the soul of Vietnam, a bowl of rice noodles served hot with meat and aromatic herbs. A traditional dessert is Che, a sweet soup that comes in many varieties, often made with cassava, jelly, coconut milk, and fruit.
