UNIT 1

VIETNAM – AT A GLANCE
GET IDEAS
1. How much do you know about Vietnam?
2. What does the following information mean? Discuss with your
partner. 12
5 8
3. 127,880 Square Miles 94 millions
1 Hanoi
4.
9 13
2 5. Vietnamese Ao dai bowls and chopsticks
6.
6 Southeast Asia 10 14
37.
Halong Bay VND 54
8.
7 bowls
49. 11
‘Army March’ and Ho Chi Minh
10. chopstick
s

2. In which cities are these pictures taken?

a. b. c.

d. e. f.

2. Have you ever been to these cities? What do you know about these cities?

1
READING

Overview of Vietnam
General Information
Official name: The Socialist Republic of Vietnam
Capital: Hanoi
Population: 93,421,835 people (2016)
Total Area: 331.212 square kilometers
Major religion: Buddhism
Major language: Vietnamese
Monetary unit: Vietnam dong
International dialing code: +84
Time Zone : GMT +7 hours
Location
Vietnam is one of the most beautiful countries in
the South East Asia. Vietnam is bordered by
China, Laos, and Cambodia. To the West of
Vietnam is the Gulf of Tonkin and, to the South,
is the Gulf of Thailand.

Owning to stretching the length of the Indochina Peninsula, Vietnam boasts a

unique shape of an elongated S and a long coastline of 3,260km with a lot of
wonderful sites.
Climate/Weather
Although Vietnam lies entirely within the tropics, Vietnam’s climate varies from
region to region with the annual average temperature ranging from 22ºC to 27ºC.
Because of its topography, the mountainous people of Sapa in the north might be
seeking shelter from snow while the urban dwellers of Ho Chi Minh City in the
south seek refuge from mid-day heat.
From the Hai Van mountain pass in the middle of Vietnam and further to the North,
there are four different seasons in a year: spring, summer, autumn, and winter.
Spring lasts from February to April with warm weather. Spring is characterized by
a fine drizzle that helps plants grow fast and flowers bloom brightly. Summer lasts
from May to August with hot weather. The sun shines on most days, but there are
sometimes sudden thundershowers that make summer less hot and the days a bit
cooler. Autumn lasts from September to November with cool air along with dry
and lightly windy weather. It can be said that it is the most beautiful season of the
year with yellow leaves falling on the streets and bright sunshine during the day.
During autumn, sometimes typhoons threaten life and agriculture in the country.
Winter lasts from November to January, with cold and dry weather. It is the coldest
2
season of the year. Frost and snow can also occur in the mountains (over 1000m
above sea level). Because snow is rare in Vietnam, many people are eager to travel
to the mountains to take photos.
The southern region is predominantly sub-equatorial with two main seasons: wet-
rainy season, and dry season. The wet-rainy season ranges from April to
September. During this season, it is often sunny in the morning and rainy in the
late afternoon. Showers often rain heavily but stop quickly. The dry season spans
the months of October to May. The weather becomes hotter. The sun shines all
day. But it becomes very cool at night.
Transportation
Transportation in Vietnam may not rate as the best in the world. But flying to
Vietnam is not difficult, and a person can get around quite easily in the cities. Taxis
are by far the most convenient mode of transportation and not expensive. If you
want to try and be a little different, then the “cyclo” (three-wheel taxi) is an
interesting and enjoyable way to explore a city. Alternatively, you can also go by
the motorbike taxis. A must do is to take a boat tour, which is available for many
destinations. To travel to the highlands or mountains, you can take a train. The
trains are available during the day or at night and the luxury cabins have air
conditioning, so you will feel very comfortable.
1. Read the text and answer the following questions
1. Where is Vietnam located?
2. What is the length of the coastline in Vietnam?
3. What is the difference between the weather in the North and in the South of
Vietnam?
4. What is the most convenient way to travel around the cities? Is it cheap?
5. How can the tourist get to the highland of Vietnam?

2. Guessing game
Work in groups.
Think of a country you know.
Give three cues for the other to guess.

3
LISTENING AND SPEAKING

Giving a short presentation

1. Listen to parts of a presentation about Minnesota. Which of

the topics (1-8) does the presenter talk about?

1. The people in Minnesota and their customs

2. The history of the name ‘Minnesota’
3. The history of the United States
4. the capital city of Minnesota
5. The food in Minnesota
6. The weather in Minnesota
7. The geographical features of Minnesota
8. The festivals in Minnesota

2. Listen again and complete these expressions for giving a short

presentation.

4
 Give a short presentation
Good morning and (1) _______________ all for coming.
Today I’d like to (2) ____________ about.......and in (3) ……………….....
Let me (4) _____________ by telling you about ……
So, that’s everything I wanted to (5) ___________________ …....
Now let’s (6) ____________ onto...
OK. Now the (7) _____________ part of my presentation is about...
For this, I’d like to (8) _______________ you some of my photos...
OK. That’s the (9) __________________ of my talk. So, to sum up...
Are there any _______________?

3. Prepare a short presentation with your partners. Think about a

country/ a city you have visited (not Hanoi) and make notes.
Make a presentation.

WRITING
Reorder the words to make meaningful sentences
1. home/ villages/ Vietnam’s/ ethnic/ several/ to/ 54/ are/ surrounding/ groups/ of/
the/ Sapa/ minority.
……………………………………………………………………………………
2. of/ has/ them/ own/ distinctive/ dress/ its/ dialects/ and/ customs/ each.
……………………………………………………………………………………
3. weekend/ tribes/ Sapa/ these/ in/ can/ town/ all/ market/ the/ be/ seen/ at.
…………………………………………………………………………………
4. Renowned/ for/ trekking/ its/ Sapa/ is/ also.
……………………………………………………………………………………
5. Mountain Fansipan/ only/ away/ the/ 9 kilometers/ only/ is/ valleys.
……………………………………………………………………………………
6. great/ the/ perfect/ provide/ background/ mountains/ for/ some/ the/ treks.
……………………………………………………………………………………
7. stays/ have/ some/ villages/ local/ now.
……………………………………………………………………………………
8. overnight/ traditional/ a/ tourists/ family/ home/ can/ the/ with/ their/ some/
stay.
……………………………………………………………………………………

5
USEFUL LANGUAGE
To be, Present Simple and Present Continuous
1. Complete the description of Canada with are, is, has got, or nothing.

CANADA

Canada __________ (1) the world’s second largest country. It (2)

____________located to the north of the USA and (3) _____________
stretches across six time zones. Canada (4) ___________ a population of
approximately 32 million that (5)_____________ consists of many different
nationalities: there (6) _______________ an English-speaking majority but
there (7) ___________ also a large French-speaking minority in Quebec.

The climate (8) ___________varied: the north (9) _____________ a polar

climate, but on the Pacific coast around Vancouver there (10) __________
warm winters, where temperatures rarely fall below zero. There (11)
_________ many attractions for tourists. Canada (12) _________ some of the
most spectacular scenery in the world. There (13) _______ mountains, great
plains, and many rivers, along which most of the big cities (14) ________
located. There (15) _________lots of things for the twenty million visitors a
year who come to Canada to do.

2. Write questions for the FAQ section of a website about Canada.

1. Where / located? ___________________________________________

2. What / population? __________________________________________
3. What / climate / like?_________________________________________
4. What / attractions? __________________________________________
5. Where / cities? ______________________________________________
6. How many / visitors every year?________________________________

6
 UNIT 2 HANOI
GET IDEAS
1. Thousands of visitors were interviewed what they think about Hanoi.
Read some of the answers below. Do you agree with them?

Pierrick from Australia: Tommy from the USA:

Hanoi is a lovely, historical, romantic city One of the delights when I visited Hanoi is
spreading around several lakes of various its extraordinary cuisine which has won
sizes. The Old Quarter has small busy streets the hearts of both domestic and
organized along trades, with “Hang” in their international tourists.
name meaning merchandise. For example, Hanoi is famous with many
world famous foods: pho, spring rolls.

Nancy from France:

George from Japan:
The people of Ha Noi drive on their motorbikes
Just like many city hubs, Hanoi’s cuisine is a
like roller coasters. They're the most reckless,
mix of cuisine from all around Northern
most careless drivers I've ever seen. I got dizzy
Vietnam, that’s what makes Hanoi’s cuisine
just watching them go. But all in all, it's not a bad
special.
place. The prices can be ridiculously high, and
I remember on a cool autumn day, walking on
the people can sometimes be a bit unlikable.
the side of Sword Lake, just watching the
people passing by is enough for us and enjoy
retro coffee shops.

2. What are the famous places of Hanoi? Name some and share with your
partner.
3. Label the photos with the names below.

1. 2.
a. One Pillar Pagoda d. Hoan Kiem Lake
b. Temple of Literature e. Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum
c. Hanoi Opera House f. Hanoi Flag Tower

7
4. 5. 6.

READING
Text 1

The History of Hanoi

The site where Hanoi stands today has been
inhabited since the Neolithic period. Emperor
Ly Thai To moved his capital here in AD
1010, naming it Thang Long (City of the
Soaring Dragon). The decision by Emperor
Gia Long, founder of the Nguyen dynasty in
1802, to rule from Huế relegated Hanoi to the
status of a regional capital for a century.
Down the centuries, Hanoi has been called many names, including Dong Kinh
(Eastern Capital), from which the Europeans derived the name they eventually
applied to all of northern Vietnam – Tonkin. The city was named Hanoi (The City
in a Bend of the River) by Emperor Tu Duc in 1831. From 1902 to 1953, Hanoi
served as the capital of French Indochina.
Hanoi was proclaimed the capital of Vietnam after the August Revolution of 1945,
but it was not until the Geneva Accords of 1954 that the Viet Minh, driven from
the city by the French in 1946, were able to return.
During the American War, US bombing destroyed many parts of Hanoi, however
almost all the damage has since been repaired. One of the prime targets was Long
Bien Bridge, which was originally built between 1888 and 1902 under the direction
of the same architect who designed the Eiffel Tower in Paris. US aircraft repeatedly
bombed the strategic bridge, yet after each attack the Vietnamese managed to
improvise replacement spans and restore all road and rail services. It is said that
the US military ended the attacks when US prisoners of war (POWs) were put to
work repairing the bridge.
In 2008, it was decided that Ha Tay Province, Vĩnh Phúc's Mê Linh District, Hoa
Binh, and 4 communes of Lương Sơn District would merge into the metropolitan
area of Hanoi. On August 1, 2008, Hanoi's total area increased to 334,470 hectares.
The city was divided into 29 subdivisions with the new population being
6,232,940. The Hanoi Capital Region (Vùng Thủ đô Hà Nội), a metropolitan area

8
covering Hanoi and 6 surrounding provinces under planning will have an area of
13,436 square kilometers with a population of 15 million by 2020.
Hanoi has experienced a rapid construction boom recently. Skyscrapers, popping
up in new urban areas, have dramatically changed the cityscape and have formed
a modern skyline outside the old city. In 2015, Hanoi was ranked # 39 by Emporis
in the list of world cities with the most skyscrapers over 100 meters; its two tallest
buildings are Hanoi Landmark 72 Tower (336m, the tallest building in Vietnam
and second tallest in south-east Asia after Malaysia's Petronas Twin Towers) and
Hanoi Lotte Center (272m, and the second tallest building in Vietnam).
Answer the questions
1. Who moved his capital to Hanoi? When?
2. List some other names of Hanoi.
3. Who designed the Long Bien Bridge? When was it built?
4. What happened to Hanoi on August 1, 2008?
5. What are the two tallest buildings in Hanoi? How tall are they?
Text 2

The Imperial Citadel of Thang Long - a valuable cultural heritage

The history of Hanoi is extremely rich;
some monuments have been preserved for hundreds of
years until today. They are restored and maintained to
show visitors the unique authenticity of Vietnam. The
important landmarks of Hanoi also include the Thang
Long Imperial Citadel, which was built in the year
1110. The Citadel is located in the heart of Hanoi, about
2.5 km from the Hoan Kiem Lake, on the way to the Ho
Chi Minh mausoleum.

The Imperial Citadel of Thang Long was a political and economic center of
Hanoi.
In 2009, The Imperial Citadel of Thang Long was announced and included as one
of the top ten national treasures of Vietnam. In 2010, it became a UNESCO World
Heritage Site. The monument consists of two areas: the archaeological site at 18
Hoang Dieu Street and the central area of the Citadel of the Nguyen Dynasty. The
central area includes the Flag tower (Ky Dai), the South Gate (Doan Mon), Kinh
Thien Foundation, Princess Pagoda (Hau Lau) and the North Gate (Bac Mon).
There were also other historic buildings in the Imperial Citadel of Thang
Long.

9
Today, it might seem like the Imperial Citadel of Thang Long has a lot of
monuments and buildings, but many of its historical buildings were destroyed.
However, this place is extremely valuable and many artifacts and excavations were
found recently. Archaeological excavations continue and the underground remains
of palaces in the central region are still being discovered.
D67 House and Tunnel – The Underground Tunnel of the Communist
Resistance

The D67 House and Tunnel were built

in 1967; the tunnel is 68m long. It is a
one-storey building with an area of 605
square metres. The building is made
of solid and bulk concrete and steel.
The outer wall is 0.60m thick while the
dividing wall is 0.28m thick. The D67
House and Tunnel is located north of The D67 House and Tunnel in Imperial Citadel
Kien Thien hall. It was of Thang Long.
the headquarters of the Vietnam
People’s Army from 1957-1975.
The house contains preserved objects and tools used by the military commanders.
The tunnel has 3 rooms. The rooms contain things like a table of the General Staff,
maps, telephones and other items.
The Imperial Citadel of Thang Long in Hanoi
Address: 12 Nguyen Tri Phuong Street – Quan Thanh Ward – Ba Dinh District
Opening time:
Morning – 8:00 – 11:30 Afternoon – 13:30 – 17:00
Admission: 30 000 dong
Answer the questions

1. When was Thang Long Imperial Citadel built?

2. What does the central area include?
3. What was discovered in the underground of the central region?
4. How long is the D67 Tunnel?
5. What things are in the D67 House and Tunnel?
6. Where and when can people visit the Imperial Citadel of Thang Long?

10
LISTENING

1. Listen to a talk about Egg Coffee

and circle T (for true) or F (for false).

1. The story of egg coffee dates back to 1914. T F

2. Vietnamese egg coffee is the same as Swedish egg T F
coffee.
3. The idea of substituting egg yolks for the milk in the T F
coffee was from a bartender in Hanoi.
4. In Vietnamese egg coffee, people can enjoy a frothy T F
brew with a deep mocha taste.
5. Egg coffee is found mostly in the South of Vietnam. T F
6. Giang coffee shop is considered the birthplace of Hanoi T F
egg coffee.
2. Listen again and complete the missing words.

How to make Vietnamese egg coffee?

Firstly, (1)__________ a small cup of Vietnamese coffee.

Then (2)___________ an egg and discard the whites.
Put the yolk and the sweetened condensed milk in a small, deep bowl and (3)
__________ exuberantly until you end up with a foamy and soft mixture.
(4) ________ a tablespoon of the brewed coffee and whisk it in.
(5) _________ in your brewed coffee in a clear coffee cup, then add the fluffy
egg mixture on top.

SPEAKING

Giving a short presentation

1. Look at the Key Words. What does your
Key words: Places town or city have? Add more places to the
list.
airport, pagoda, art gallery, boating
2. Work in groups. Research information
lake, castle, cathedral, ice rink,
about Hanoi.
medieval streets, museum, open-air
market, river

11
 Welcome to Hanoi
1. SIGHTSEEING
There’s so much to see in Hanoi!
You must visit _______________ with its marvelous ______________.
While you’re there, go on _________________! Don’t miss our _____________, one
of thirty medieval churches in the city.
2. HISTORY
Here are a few important events in the history of Hanoi.
 ……………
 ……………
 ……………
 ……………
3. LOCAL HEROES
There are statues of _____________________.
 ………….
4. LEISURE ACTIVITIES
If you’re feeling a bit tired of sightseeing, you can take a boat trip on the river,
……………. Maybe you fancy shopping in …………….. or the big open-air market.
And don’t forget, the beautiful …………………….., or just have a walk and picnic.
5. LOCATION
Hanoi is in the …………… of Vietnam and it is very easy to get to. There is also an
international airport.
6. ACCOMMODATION
There are many hotels in Hanoi but it is a good idea to book early for the summer
months.

Word Builder
3. Look at the Word Builder. Use words It’s very easy to get to.
to write four sentences about your There is a really famous statue.
city/ town.
If you’re feeling a bit tired of sightseeing….
Example: The Norfolk Broads are quite near/ not very
far.
The nightlife is not very ……………..
The buses are quite ………………….
The pagoda is really ………………….
The streets are sometimes a bit ………….

12
4. Complete with there’s or it’s.
a) ___________a lovely temple near hear. _________in the main square.
b) _________a boating lake in the park. ___________not very big.
c) ________one of Hanoi’s biggest markets.
d) _________also an international airport.
5. Give a short presentation about Hanoi.

6. Work in pairs. One student asks five to nine questions about Da Nang.
The other prepares to answer.

DA NANG
- Area : 1,256 square km
- Population: about 870,000
- Geography:
 one of Vietnam’s major seaports,
 has a range of landscapes: Hai Van Pass to the north, Bà Nà
Mountain to the North West, Son Tra Peninsula to the East,
beautiful beaches along with the Marble Mountains to the south.
- Climate:
 two distinct seasons: wet and dry.
 average temperature : 280 C
- Beaches :
 famous for beautiful beaches with clear, warm water all year
round.
 best time to get: Summer (May to August).
- Cuisine: seafood, Quang noodle, pork rolled in “trang” cake, and
Khome cake (sesame cake)
( “Bánh tráng “ is a thin ,large, round steamed rice flour cake).

13
 UNIT 3
TRADITIONS AND CUSTOMS - 1

“If you reject the food, ignore the customs, fear the religion and
avoid the people, you might better stay at home.”
James A. Michener

GET IDEAS

What can you see from the photos? Say something about the things or people
in the pictures.

READING

Text 1

Marriage in Vietnam
The traditional Vietnamese wedding is one of the most important ceremonies in
Vietnamese culture. These weddings include influence from both Confucian and
Buddhist ideologies. The wedding day is a significant day, not only for the couple
involved, but also for both families. Thus, it usually includes quite a few formal
ritual observances.

14
While different ethnic groups of Vietnam each have their own wedding habits and
traditions, in general there are two main events: the engagement ceremony, and the
wedding ceremony

Engagement Ceremony hua hôn

Marriage has a vital role in Vietnamese culture and tradition. In the past, most
marriages were arranged by parents or extended family and children might only
sometimes be consulted. The groom and bride may have only met on the day of the
engagement.
In modern Vietnam, single girls and boys can meet each other before the wedding
and arrange marriage by themselves. Parental permission is not as important as in
the past.
Normally, both the bride and groom or their parents go to a fortuneteller to see
what date and time is best for the marriage ceremony. They strongly believe in this
date and time so the groom's family and relatives must come on time. Some days
before the wedding, they will visit the bride and her family with round lacquered
boxes known as betrothal presents. These presents consist of areca nuts and betel
leaves, tea, cake, fruits, wines and other delicacies. The presents are covered with
red cloth and carried by unmarried children. Usually, there are 5, 7, or 9 gift boxes.
In Vietnamese beliefs, the odd number and the red color will bring luck to the
young couple.
Wedding Ceremony
There are two important parts to the wedding ceremony:
1. Xin dâu. Asking the bride to bring her to the groom’s house. The groom’s family
sends elder and respected representatives to the bride’s home to notify that groom
family is on the way to pick up the groom. It’s about half an hour before the later
part
2. Bringing the bride home. Groom family goes to pick up bride on “flower car” (a
car decorated with flowers.)
The groom’s family arrives. The groom asks her parents in law for permission to
bring his wife home. Then, he enters her room to accompany her out. Together they
light up incense at her family’s altar to pay tribute to ancestors. Once stepping on
the flower car to groom’s house, from the customary perspective, she’s officially
left behind her single life. The delegation goes to groom’s house have several
beloved members of the bride, including her best friend. There, the bridegroom
again light incense at the altar of ancestors. Then they go back to wedding hall
for the wedding party.
In reality, two families can jointly or separately hold the wedding party. On that
day, the bridegroom wears formally attire, often in western style. The groom wears
suits, and the bride is in long dress with gown, glove, and flowers.
The event is held in a wedding hall or sometimes at their house and lasts about a
couple of hours. The ceremony will enjoy foods while listening to some wedding
songs performed by local singers or volunteering guests.

15
Guests should bring wedding gift, which is normally cash put in an envelope.
Sometimes, closest friends may want to give tangible presents like electronic rice
cook, pottery, pillow and bed sheet, etc.

1. Label the photos with the phrases from the box.

a. b.
1. betrothal presents
qua hua hon, trap an hoi
2. areca nuts and betel
trau cau
leaves
3. altar of ancestors
4. lighting incense
thap huong
5. fortune-teller thay boi

c. d. e.

2. Answer the questions

a. What is the main difference between Vietnamese marriages of the past and
Vietnamese marriages today?
b. How do the bride and groom decide the date for their wedding?
c. What do the bride and groom’s families usually do on the engagement day?
d. List important things the bride and groom will do for the wedding ceremony?
e. What should you bring when you attend a wedding party?
f. What are the two important parts of a wedding ceremony?
g. Why do the brides and groom or their parents go to the fortuneteller? What do
Vietnamese people generally believe?
h. What is the betrothal presents?
i. What elements does it compose of?
j. Why is the number of gift boxes usually 5, 7, or 9?

16
Text 2

Vietnamese Traditional Family Values

1. Read through the article about Vietnamese

traditional family values and label the photos
above.
a. ___________ pattern

b. male superiority
___________ role
c. parental __________ confucian ethic
d._____________
ethics

2. Read the text and match the words with their explanation
c
1. siblings a. ask for advice
2. household e b. system of rules and regulations.
3. consult a c. a brother or sister
4. discipline b d. pay
5. endure f e. family
6. compensate d f. to lengthen

The traditional values of Vietnam have been deeply influenced by Confucian

philosophy. This philosophy has been the basis of the extended family structure in
Vietnam for over 2,000 years.

The Vietnamese household traditionally follows an extended multi-generational

pattern. The parents, their sons and their wives, their children, and unmarried
siblings usually constitute a Vietnamese household. In this structure, frequent
contact with family is maintained, and this constant closeness to family is
emphasized from childhood. It continues to be important to Vietnamese people
throughout their lifetime.
For centuries in Vietnam, traditional family values have gone together with
traditional gender roles. Vietnamese people value the traditional ideal of male

17
superiority. Since the highest status in Vietnamese families is given to the man
(father), he has absolute authority in the household. His position as provider for
the family is unchallenged. Because he provides the main source of income for the
household, he is never expected to work in the kitchen or to cook. After work he
returns home and relaxes. As the head of the household, he has the final decision
in all matters, although he might consult his wife or children. Even though he has
the final say in all matters, it is important for the father to exercise restraint and
wisdom in running his family. This is so that he can prove he deserves his respected
position. Having a boy in the family is considered extremely important because the
eldest son assumes the duties of his father after his father dies. A family which has
no sons to continue the process is superstitiously thought to have disappeared
forever.
In a patriarchal society like Vietnam, women have limited rights and take a
secondary place in the family. Women are brought up according to a strict
discipline, and have been traditionally less educated than men. Additionally,
daughters are not considered necessary to the heritage of the family.
After marriage, a woman in Vietnam becomes a housewife and a mother. She is
expected to be dependent upon her husband. She needs to budget the household
income, take care of any children or grandchildren, and perform all household
tasks. Divorce is legal but not common. If a wife is unhappy in her marriage, the
family encourages her to sacrifice and to endure the difficulties of the marriage
for the sake of her children.
Obedience and respect are traditional virtues which Vietnamese children are taught
to exhibit in the family. Discipline and physical punishment are acceptable
remedies for disobedience in Vietnamese families. When parents grow old,
children are expected to take care of them as a way to compensate for the gift of
birth and upbringing. Western style courtship and romance are seen as
inappropriate for unmarried children. When marriage, parents generally make
decisions with regards to the marriage of their sons and daughters, because they
believe they can judge better than their children.
(Adapted from Vietnam-culture.com)

3. Read the text again and decide whether these statements are true or false.

1. Tradition of Vietnam lifestyle is affected by Confucian ethic.

2. Women used to be the person who earned the most money in the family.
3. Women have the right to decide important things.
4. All Vietnamese families want to have a baby girl.
5. Women in the past depended on their husbands.
6. Children in traditional Vietnamese households can marry with who they
love.

18
LISTENING AND SPEAKING

1. Listen to the first parts of a talk about Tết in Vietnam. Answer the
following questions?

1. What is Tết?
2. What does the word ‘Tết Nguyên Đán’ mean?
3. What are the two meanings of Tết, according to Vietnamese tradition?
4. What do the three parts of Tết mean in English?
Tất Niên ___________________________
Giao Thừa ___________________________
Tân Niên ___________________________

2. Listen to the rest of the talk about Tết customs. Tick the things mentioned
in the talk.

the first-footer children’s clothes Red River

house buying salt Chung cake

decoration

travelling lucky money Vietnamese’s altar

visit relatives gold fish firework

five-fruit tray Kitchen God going to pagodas

and temple

new clothes ancestor worship taboo

2. Listen again. Decide the following statements are true (T) or false (F).

1. Sweeping the house during Tet is taboo since it symbolizes T F

sweeping money away.
2. A kumquat tree or peach flowers in the house symbolize the T F
fertility and fruitfulness in the new year.
3. People offer a farewell ceremony for one Kitchen God on the T F
23rd night of the last lunar month.
4. Xông nhà one of the most important rituals during Tet.

19
 5. The first-footer should be a relative family who is well respected. T F
6. Traditionally, children are excited to wear new clothes on the first T F
day of New Year. T F
7. The first day of New Year is always the day to honor the family’s T F
ancestors with food, wine, cakes and fruit.

Talking about traditions and customs

Read the following customs and traditions. Make sentences to

say if you have these in your city/ country, using the
expressions in the Language Box.

According to tradition, we
have Bánh Chưng on New
Year Days.
There is a custom in our
country of giving offerings
to our ancestors.

Some areas broke with

tradition by ……..

►Talking about traditions and customs

Complete the expressions below.

1. It’s the custom for somebody to do something.

2. There’s a custom in our country that + clause
3. According to tradition, + clause
4. follow the tradition of doing something
5. have the custom of doing something
6. there is a custom of doing something
7. break with tradition by doing something

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VOCABULARY

Words for culture and tradition

1. We have a variety of words for culture. Can you think of any words that
can go with ‘cultural’?
For example: cultural believe
Use the dictionary to check the meanings of the words in the box.
2. Complete these short excerpts below with the most suitable words from the
box.

cultural festival cultural exchange cultural integration

cultural assimilation cultural heritage culture shock cultural heritage
cultural differences cultural uniqueness cultural specificities

1. With activities in festival, we hope to provide an opportunity that can

benefit both Vietnamese students and a range of foreign tourists, as
well as improving the _____________ between Vietnam and the world.
2. _____________ eliminates conflicts arising from cultural
differences by organizing events to connect the values of different
communities.
3. _______________ is when you adopt a culture as part of your own.
This usually happens when you move to another country, and sometimes
even another state.
4. It is essential for you to be aware of _______________in
communication, for example, to know the correct way of addressing and
greeting your business partners, your boss and your colleagues.
5. Trau Cau is one of Vietnamese ______________. The Vietnamese
people use Trau Cau to worship ancestors at every wedding ceremony
in the hope that the bride and the groom would live together forever.
6. A unique geographical position has given India a chance to develop a
unique culture and this _______________ is a big ‘pull’ factor for
travelers from different countries who visit this amazing country.
7. The annual _______________ aims to honor the Cham people’s
values and cultural identities and provide an opportunity for Cham
ethnic minority groups to strengthen their solidarity.

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8. With a group of temple-towers of Cham people, an imperial city
during the Champa kingdom, My Son Sanctuary is a _____________
and tourist attraction in Vietnam.
9. _____________ basically comes from a lack of understanding and
builds up anxiety. So it is very important to try to understand the
culture religion and people of the country that you are travelling to.
10. Vietnam’s Hung Kings worshiping ritual in Phu Tho province becoming
part of the world’s intangible ____________ reflects the importance
to the Vietnamese people of ancestor worship.

3. Match the halves in column A with the others in column B to make

compound words about Vietnamese wedding traditions and family values.

A B

extended roles
traditional family
male style
strict ideologies
Western superiority
Buddhist discipline
ritual presents
parental perspective
betrothal permission
customary ethics
wedding observances
Confucian gift

SPEAKING

1. Based on what you have searched from TIME TO WRITE, make a small
talk about Holiday traditions in Vietnam and compare with one another
country in the world.

2. Pair-works

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 UNIT 4
TRADITIONS AND CUSTOMS - 2

Did you know…

Traditions reflect the beliefs,

values, and heritage of a culture.

GET IDEAS

1. Vietnam's customs are varied and plentiful. What practices do you know
about Vietnamese customs? Discuss with your partners.

2. What customary practices do the photos below refer to? Guess.

a. ancestor
_________________
worship b. _________________ c. _________________

d. _________________ e. _________________ f. _________________

3. Label the photos with the words from the box below.

b calligraphy asking and offering c superstition dfuneral customs

a ancestor worship e longevity custom f village’s guilds

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READING

Vietnamese Funeral Rites

The Vietnamese attach great importance to two traditional family obligations: the
care of elderly parents and the mourning of parents after death. These duties are
felt so strongly, they are considered sacred rites. The traditional time of mourning
sap xay ra
for parents is three years. Mourning begins even before death is imminent. When
death is about to take place, the entire family assembles around the dying relative.
A strict silence is observed. The eldest son or daughter bends close to record the
last words of advice or counsel. At this time, the eldest child suggests a name for
the dying person. This is because it is considered unlucky for a person to use the
same name in both life and death.

According to ritual, after a parent dies, the children do not accept the idea of death.
They place a chopstick between the teeth of the deceased and place the body on a
mat on the floor in an effort to "bring it back to life". Next, the eldest son or
daughter takes a shirt that the deceased has worn in life and waves it in the air,
calling upon the soul of the dead to return to the body. Then, the descendants
perform the ceremonial cleansing of the body, which symbolizes the washing off
of the dust of the terrestrial world. The hair is combed and the nails clipped. Money,
gold and rice are placed in the mouth of the dead to indicate that the deceased has
left this world without want or hunger. The corpse is then wrapped in white cloth
and placed in a coffin. Members of the family form an honor guard around the
clock until a favorable time for burial has been selected.

During the period of mourning, descendants wear special clothes for mourning.
These garments are made of crepe and have a seam in the middle of the back. All
of the mourners are required to cover their heads. In the past, when Confucianism
was a more dominant influence on life in Vietnam, mourning the dead was
considered more important than the affairs of the living. A mandarin had to resign
his position and retire to his home. He was expected to erect a tomb where the
parent was buried and conduct memorial ceremonies there. Mourners could not
marry, comb their hair or have a haircut. They were not permitted to eat good food
or enjoy any form of entertainment whatsoever.

Recently, however, the severity of the mourning period has, to a large e been
abolished to a large extent. After the funeral, the family returns to work and are no
longer required to interrupt their business affairs. Clothing for the mourning period
has been modified to only a piece of black cloth worn around the arm, lapel or the
head. There are no wedding during the mourning period, but if the families have
already approved of the engagement, special dispensation may be obtained through
the proper rural or urban authorities.

Funeral rites represent a traditional way of life to the Vietnamese people. These
rites are based on the concept of the indestructible soul and the close relationship
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between members of the same blood line. By assuming this responsibility,
generation after generation retains the strong fabric of Vietnamese society.

Read the article and decide the following statements are true (T) or false (F)

1. Mourning parents in death is one obligation of a traditional Vietnamese

family.
2. The time of mourning is three years.
3. It is considered normal for a relative to use the same name after death.
4. Only money is placed in the mouth of the dead to indicate that the deceased
has left this world without want or hunger.
5. Vietnamese people select the time for burial very carefully.
6. During the period of mourning, descendants wear special clothes.
7. Today, clothing for the mourning period has been modified to only a piece
of black cloth worn around the arm, lapel or the head.
8. For most Vietnamese people, getting married during the mourning period is
not allowed.
9. Funeral rites represent a traditional way of life
10. Funeral rites are only based on the concept of the indestructible soul.

LISTENING

1. Listen to the first part of a talk about

Ancestor worship in Vietnam. Circle T (for
true) or F (for false) for the following
statements.

1. Ancestor worship is a Vietnamese ritual practice to pays T F

tribute to family and reminds people of their roots. T F
2. Vietnamese ancestor worship is only influenced by
Confucianism.
3. The practice of ancestor worship is “filial piety” toward T F
deceased parents, relatives and ancestors.
4. Vietnamese people usually worship their ancestors once a
T F
month.

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2. Listen to the second part of the talk and fill in the missing words.

Every house in Vietnam has a small (1) ________ which is used to commune
with ancestors.

(2) ___________ ___________ are burned at least twice a month, on the first
and the fifteenth days of the (3) __________ ___________.

The (4) __________ made vary from family to family, but usually include a dish
of (5) ________ __________, boiled meat, fruit, cakes and sweets.

Altars often include (6) _________ ___________ of money. After worshipping,

these paper gifts are burnt so that the (7) _________ of the offerings can ascend
to heaven for the ancestors to use.

SPEAKING

1. Choose a custom in GET IDEAS.

2. Find information about it and describe it to your partner.

WRITING

Write the meaningful sentences based on the clues.

1. Vietnam/ most people/ worship/ ancestors/ the country/ myriad pagodas.

……………………………………………………………………………………
2. Many/ old/ and/ special/ that/ recognized/ place/ special-interest.
……………………………………………………………………………………
3. Tet/ family/ make/ way/ pagoda/ pray/ happiness/ lucky/ health/ peace.
……………………………………………………………………………………
4. Each/ dedicated/ particular saint/ particular power.
……………………………………………………………………………………
5. Faith/ choice/ where/ pray/ accord/ what/ hope/ coming year.
……………………………………………………………………………………
6. Some/ pagoda/ have/ special/ history.
…………………………………………………………………………………
7. Tam Thanh Pagoda/ Lang Son province/ dedicated/ a woman/ wait/ her
husband/ come home/ long/ that/ she/ her child/ turn/ stone.
……………………………………………………………………………………
8. Some/ pagoda/ house/ value/ artworks.
…………………………………………………………………………………
9. Tay Phuong Pagoda/ Ha Tay/ where/ a series/ beautiful/ Buddha/ statue/ find/
…………………………………………………………………………………
10. Thay Pagoda/ Bac Ninh/ know/ its/ architecture.

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