Viet Nam is a multi-nationality country with 54 ethnic (1) ______. The Viet (Kinh) people account (2) ______87% of the country’s population and mainly inhabit the Red River delta, the central coastal delta, the Mekong delta and major cities. The other 53 ethnic (3) ______groups, totalling over 8 million people, are scattered over mountain areas (covering two-thirds of the country’s territory) spreading from the North to the

South. Among ethnic minorities, the largest ones are Tay, Thai, Muong, Hoa, Khmer, and Nung with a (4) ______of around 1 million each, while the smallest are Brau, Roman, Odu with several hundred people each.

A number of ethnic minorities had mastered some farming techniques. They grew rice plants in swamped paddy fields and carried out irrigation. Others (5) ______hunting, fishing, collecting and lived a semi-nomadic life. Each group has its own culture, diverse and special. Beliefs and religions of the Vietnamese ethnic minority groups were also disparate from each other.

There are about 1.3 million Khmer people living in the southern provinces of Soc Trang, Tra Vinh, and Can Tho. They earn a living by farming, fishing and producing handicraft products. The Khmer live harmoniously with other ethnic (1) _______ in the Mekong Delta, while keeping their unique culture and lifestyle.

  The Khmer are Buddhists. There is a temple in every village. The temples are not only places for the Khmer to practise their religion. They are the village schools too. At the age of 12, Khmer boys come to live and (2) _______ in a temple for several years before they become adults. There, they learn about Buddhism, and to read and write the Khmer (3) _______. They also learn how to behave towards their grandparents, parents, teachers, old people, and others in their (4) _______. They learn basic knowledge of their traditional culture - folk tales, songs, and (5) _______.

The Kate Festival

The Kate Festival is the most important festival of the Cham in Vietnam. It is held for three days at the beginning of October. The main ceremony takes (1) _______ in Po Rume, Po Nugar, and Po Klong Garai towers in Ninh Thuan Province. The festival helps people remember Cham heroes and (2) _______ their ancestors. It is also a time for people to relax, visit each other, and wish others good luck. For festival goers, it is a great opportunity to (3 ) _______ the beauty in the Cham culture. The ceremony starts with people calling their ancestors and gods. Then, they (4) _______for health and prosperity. The festival follows with (5) _______ traditional music and dance performances. The festival is full of sounds and colours, and is a wonderful time for both the locals and visitors.

A Longevity Celebration

On the fifth day of Tet, Binh An Village holds a longevity celebration for (1) ______ people over 70. This tradition has continued for centuries in the village.

In the morning, everyone (2) _______ nicely and walks to the village temple. According to tradition, the elderly wear traditional ao dai. They sit at the most honourable place. The village leaders congratulate them. They offer each elder a "longevity flag" and a bunch of flowers. Then, each family takes photographs (3) ______ their elders. At noon, families hold a home party for their elders. It is customary for the family members to cook for their elders. The traditional dishes served are five-colour sticky rice, steamed chicken, spring rolls, and deep-fried fish.

The longevity celebration is (4) ______ to all villagers. It is an opportunity for them to show their respect to the elders. It is (5) ______ a great time for family gatherings.

Bac Ha Sunday Fair

Bac Ha Sunday Fair in Lao Cai is the largest and (1) ______ colourful highland market in Viet Nam. Every Sunday, the market is crowded with minority people from villages far and near. The Flower Hmong, Tay, Nung, Dao, and other ethnic groups come wearing their colourful traditional costumes. They come on foot or on (2) ______, bringing with them anything they can exchange. These goods may be vegetables and fruits they (3) ______ in their gardens or medicinal plants they gather from the forests and mountains. They also sell other items like the clothing they weave or silver jewellery they make. The market has a large place (4) ______ poultry and animals like chickens, ducks, dogs, buffaloes, and horses.

Bac Ha Sunday Fair is also a place for people to meet and chat. (5) ______ they finish their market activities, they gather around a big hot pan of thang co, a famous traditional Hmong food from horse meat. Young people come there with the hope of finding a lover.

There are about 1.3 million Khmer people living in the southern provinces of Soc Trang, Tra Vinh, and Can Tho. They earn a living by farming, fishing and producing handicraft products. The Khmer live harmoniously with other ethnic groups in the Mekong Delta, while keeping their unique culture and lifestyle.

The Khmer are Buddhists. There is a temple in every village. The temples are not only places for the Khmer to practise their religion. They are the village schools too. At the age of 12, Khmer boys come to live and study in a temple for several years before they become adults. There, they learn about Buddhism, and to read and write the Khmer language. They also learn how to behave towards their grandparents, parents, teachers, old people, and others in their community. They learn basic knowledge of their traditional culture - folk tales, songs, and dances.

Bac Ha Sunday Fair in Lao Cai is the largest and most colourful highland market in Viet Nam. Every Sunday, the market is crowded with minority people from villages far and near. The Flower Hmong, Tay, Nung, Dao, and other ethnic groups come wearing their colourful traditional costumes. They come on foot or on horseback, bringing with them anything they can exchange. These goods may be vegetables and fruits they grow in their gardens or medicinal plants they gather from the forests and mountains. They also sell other items like the clothing they weave or silver jewellery they make. The market has a large place to sell poultry and animals like chickens, ducks, dogs, buffaloes, and horses.

Bac Ha Sunday Fair is also a place for people to meet and chat. After they finish their market activities, they gather around a big hot pan of thang co, a famous traditional Hmong food from horse meat. Young people come there with the hope of finding a lover.

A Longevity Celebration

On the fifth day of Tet, Binh An Village holds a longevity celebration for elderly people over 70. This tradition has continued for centuries in the village.

In the morning, everyone dresses nicely and walks to the village temple. According to tradition, the elderly wear traditional ao dai. They sit at the most honourable place. The village leaders congratulate them. They offer each elder a "longevity flag" and a bunch of flowers. Then, each family takes photographs with their elders. At noon, families hold a home party for their elders. It is customary for the family members to cook for their elders. The traditional dishes served are five-colour sticky rice, steamed chicken, spring rolls, and deep-fried fish.

The longevity celebration is important to all villagers. It is an opportunity for them to show their respect to the elders. It is also a great time for family gatherings.

In Viet Nam, a market is a trading place, but many markets are not only about buying and selling things. They reflect the life of the community. A traditional market is a social gathering point for people of all ages and it is a new and exciting experience for children, a trading place for local craftsmen, and a chance for young people to meet. People go to the traditional market not only to buy and sell things but also to eat, drink, play games, and socialize. For example, if you go to Sa Pa Market, which is the highlands in the north of Viet Nam, you can see people wearing their nicest clothes and spending all day long at the market. They buy things, play the flute, dance, and sing. This is also a time to meet, make friends or look for lovers. That is why this kind of gathering is also called "Love Market”. Some other countryside markets in the Mekong Delta are held on boats. Most of the goods are sold at a floating market. The most exciting time is in the early morning when boats arrive loaded up with agricultural products.

GIFT-GIVING CUSTOMS IN VIET NAM

Gift-giving is important in Viet Nam because of the significance of interpersonal relationships in Vietnamese culture.

First and foremost, do not encourage corruption. There is a clear cut between gift-giving and bribery. Nevertheless, it is common in Viet Nam for exchanging small gifts on certain occasions such as anniversaries, Tet holidays... to express respect, love, appreciation, or gratitude.

Gift-giving customs depend on the context. If it is a private gift for one Vietnamese partner you should give the gift at a private occasion. If you have a gift for the whole office or company, you should give it after the business meeting with the whole office employee.

Do not wrap a gift in black paper because this color is unlucky and associated with funerals in Viet Nam. Gifts that symbolize cutting such as scissors, knives, and other sharp objects should be avoided because they mean the cutting of the relationship.

Vietnamese may or may not open these gifts when they are received; leave the option to them. You will also receive gifts and should defer to your host as to whether you should open them when receiving or not. Regardless of when it is opened or what it is, profuse thanks are always appropriate.