The characteristics of Vietnamese culture are outstanding features, unique attributes of the culture when we compare it with other regional and international cultures. Applying a geographical-historical approach, the characteristics of Vietnamese culture crystallize the fruits of the nation's labor, struggle for thousands of years of water building and water retention, including: The culture formed from the foundation of wet rice agriculture in rivers and islands; upholding family cultural values tradition; the community, autonomy of village culture; imbued with patriotism and national consciousness; promoting feminism; agricultural, far from forest, pale sea; multi-ethnicity, unity in diversity; Anopen, adaptive and harmonious culture of human civilizations.

Vietnamese culture crystallizes the labor process of ethnic groups during the process of water building and water retention, demonstrating the level and art of dealing with nature, society and initiative Integration into the flow of human civilization. The characteristics of Vietnamese culture are outstanding features, unique attributes of the culture when we compare it with other regional and international cultures. Over the past time, many scholars in Vietnam, depending on each approach, have explored and introduced the characteristics of Vietnamese culture. Absorbing the results of previous researchers, applying a geographical-historical approach, we draw out the characteristics of Vietnamese culture as follows:

1. The culture formed from the foundation of rice cultivation in rivers and islands

Vietnam is located in Southeast Asia, S-shaped, running from North to South, land area 331,212 km2, coastline 3,260km. Based on texts Legal internationally and domestically, our sea is more than 3 times larger than the land area and accounts for about 29% of the entire East Sea, where there are over 3,000 large and small islands. The tropical climate is hot, rainy, the northeast monsoon is cold in winter. Southeasterly winds from the South China Sea bring water vapor inland to meet high hills and cold air, converging into tropical rains. In Vietnam, most large and small rivers originate from the western mountainous forests flowing east to the sea, the water carries a lot of silt to build up the valleys of the foothills and coastal deltas suitable for wet rice crops. Vietnam has 54 ethnic groups, a population of more than 96.2 million people, of which Kinh ethnic group is more than 82 million, accounting for a majority of 85.3% (according to the census 01/4/2019), followed by Tay, Thai, Muong and Khmer ethnic groups. The inhabitants of these 5 ethnic groups all take wet rice cultivation as the main source of livelihood. Therefore, the foundation and main stream of Vietnamese culture is the culture of the Kinh people, then the Tay, Thai, Muong, Khmer, then the minorities of the remaining ethnic groups. Historically, the area of residence of Vietnamese people in the delta as well as in the valleys of the foothills, they all established villages by rivers, areas with water sources, coastal areas or islands with water to live. In feudal times, the majority of Vietnamese people lived mainly by farming and mainly wet rice cultivation. The value system of the profession in feudal times was officer - agriculture - industry - trade. Nong is ranked second after mandarin. The policy throughout feudal times was to extend rice cultivation (the king went to plow), build, open canals to regulate water for rice cultivation. This leads to a number of proverbs in Vietnamese culture that draw folk knowledge about the profession, mostly summarizing the experience of rice cultivation, issues related to wet rice cultivation. In the past, there was no electricity, people could not use electric pumps to conduct imported water. Rice cultivation depends on natural conditions, especially water. His father summed it up: "First country, second equinox, three need, four varieties." The festival is a big activity of farmers in rural villages that still preserve cultural activities related to water such as the belief of praying for rain, worshiping mother rice, worshiping the Four Fa (clouds - rain - thunder - lightning), water bridge (through water procession), dry bridge, praying for water to recede to be harvested rice, Life is full. The Vietnamese meal is rice cooked from rice, a product of the rice plant. Rice is real jade, there are many delicacies that are prepared from rice…

2. A culture that emphasizes family cultural values tradition

The family is the cell of society, the birthplace, nurturing the human personality. Each ethnic group, each country has a choice, upholding different values in family culture. For Vietnamese people, family cultural values tradition drawn from the adaptation and response of the nation to nature and society to the challenges of history. It is also ancestor worship, but Vietnamese people have deep affection for ancestors through religious rituals. In the house the most solemn, most splendid decoration is the ancestral altar, when many peoples of the world do not worship, or there is worship but the altar of the deceased is small, left in the corner of the house. Vietnamese people worship ancestors for unlimited time, after 5 generations, they enter the incense bowl to worship the ancestor into a main incense bowl called the incense bowl to worship the ancestors. Valuing graves, commemorating the death anniversary of grandparents and parents, there is no custom of abandoning graves or removing places of worship. After all, revered ancestors are a way of behaving Vietnamese people value those who are born into them.

Family culture traditions are rich in humanity such as respecting the elderly, loving children, upholding the love of husband and wife: "My husband has a torn shirt I love, my husband wears a brocade shirt". Respecting maternal rights, even though living in a patriarchal society, the role of mother is indispensable in family cultural activities. She was the master of the key box and participated in the creation of cultural rituals. Children and grandchildren must remain filial to their parents. Brothers must stick together, get along to help each other in times of need and difficulties, the motto of behavior is "sister fall, I lift". Family cultural values tradition manifested in social relations such as calling elders grandfathers, grandmothers, uncles, aunts ... And the younger ones are you, grandchildren, children.

One of the cultural values of the traditional Vietnamese family is a family concept associated with the nation-state. Vietnamese people consider water to be a big family. The memory of the ancestral roots is deep about Rong's father (Lac Long Quan) marrying his mother Tien (Au Co) to give birth to a hundred eggs hatched into ethnic groups in Vietnam. The country has the anniversary of the Hung Kings Ancestor (March 10th of the lunar calendar).

3. The community and autonomous culture of village culture

Villages are a unique social organization in feudal society in Vietnam. The village started as a blood lineage that later expanded to include many families living together. Vietnamese village clearly shows the community. Members of the village are attached and closely related to each other in all life activities, from farming, breeding, exchanging goods to organizing cultural activities. Under feudal times, every Vietnamese village had public fields, the property of the whole village, every 3 years to 5 years was redistributed according to the rate of nails (sons) in the village. This is an important economic basis for each member of the village to stick together. The village is the ancestral homeland, the place where the umbilical cord is buried, which is respectfully called home by everyone. The public fields are also assigned to members of the village to grow crops to collect profits for the work of the village. The pavilion is the symbol of each village, dedicated to the patron emperor. The village community jointly organizes village associations to show spiritual strength in religious works: communal houses, temples, pagodas, shrines, shops. The community is reflected in the cultural activities of the members of the village such as weddings, mourning, celebrating life, celebrating new houses...

Under feudal times, the organization in each Vietnamese village was quite close, some researchers have likened Vietnamese villages to a miniature picture of Vietnamese society, clearly showing autonomy. The proverb goes: "The drum of which village beats, the holy village that worships", "The king loses the village rule". Each village creates cultural symbols with its own aesthetic value through the architecture of village gates, pagodas, pagodas, wells, water piers ... Vietnamese villages maintain the village democracy mechanism, all male members are allowed to discuss village affairs at the village communal house. The Pastoral Council (who has dignitaries and power in the village) has the role of advising the head of the village to decide on the affairs of the village and this work can only be carried out when it receives the consent of the Council of Elders. Each Vietnamese village has customs, many democratic villages discuss through incense treaties, maintaining long-standing customs. In behavior, Vietnamese people place relations with villagers higher than relations with people of the same blood: "Selling distant brothers to buy near neighbors", "Living in villages, moving to the country". The spirit of elders: "The court is respectful, the village is respectful" (respect for the elderly). Community and autonomy are the basis for Vietnamese villages to become cultural fortresses that preserve regional identity. Some researchers believe that the structure of Chinese society is: Individuals - families - clans - countries while the structure of Vietnamese society is: Individuals - families - villages - countries. Thus, in Vietnam, the village is an autonomous entity but the village and water are closely related, creating the value of the village meaning water.

4. The culture is imbued with patriotism and national consciousness

History has proven that during thousands of years, the Northern empires did not give up their desire to annex Vietnam into districts and attempt to assimilate the Vietnamese. Facing the challenges of history, Vietnamese people have defended their nation with cultural weapons to uphold and spread the spirit of common patriotism and the sense of national identity. The Vietnamese have created the legendary system The surname Hong Bang talks about the roots of ethnic groups in Vietnam, considering the peoples in Vietnam as compatriots. The Fatherland is a large family, with the Hung Kings being the National Ancestor who gave birth to the first Van Lang state in the history of the Vietnamese nation. Create the legend of Myzhou - Trong Shui to transmit the lesson of vigilance against foreign invaders. Folk tales talk about the wisdom of ambassadors and Vietnamese states in saving national and national face when responding to kings, officials and envoys of the North. Resist the war of foreign aggression with the spirit: "Come to the house, women also fight". Vietnamese villages set up pavilions to worship village gods as patrons, most of the gods worshiped as people who resisted invasion and contributed to the cause of national construction. The verses call for great national unity: "Gourd loves the same pumpkin, though different but the same truss"; "Noise overshadows the mirror rack, people in a country must love each other." In feudal times, the Vietnamese concept of middle king was always patriotic. The sense of national territory has been deeply ingrained in the Vietnamese mind through the legend of Van Lang country consisting of 15 tribes. Therefore, Emperor Guangzhong sent a letter to the governor of Meiguang (Guangdong, Guangxi) demanding the demarcation of the old borders, intending to take back the land of the Hung kings. The spirit of patriotism permeates deeply into all cultural and artistic activities. Patriotic poetry, regardless of the period in the history of the Vietnamese nation, especially the period of feudal autonomy, is imbued with the theme of affirming that Vietnam is a sovereign country, with a clear platform and a long-standing constitution. Typically, the worship of the god: Nam quoc son ha Nam emperor residence, legend of General Ly Thuong Kiet and Fox binh Ngo, the eloquent ancient literature of the great poet Nguyen Trai. Above all, Vietnamese people understand that loss of culture is loss of nationality, loss of country, so patriotism is to jointly preserve national cultural identity, relieve foreign culture, and call Northerners to reside as uncles. The historical and cultural relics commemorating those who have meritorious service to the country and patriotic art against aggression have clearly shown the soul, essence, determination to protect the Fatherland and the peace-loving aspiration, "nothing is more precious than independence and freedom" of Vietnamese people, as President Ho Chi Minh's legacy.

5.  A culture that promotes feminism

Human history evolved from matriarchy to patriarchy. In Western countries, it is the process by which women gradually lose their social status, especially under feudalism. To date, feminist issues are emerging in Western society, women fight against discrimination and demand gender equality. In contrast, in Vietnamese culture, the expression of discrimination against women is very faint but the image of women is also appreciated and holds a worthy position in cultural activities tradition, especially in places of worship of religious beliefs. In folk beliefs, Vietnamese people are dedicated to places where women worship called goddesses Holy Mother, some goddesses are also honored as National Mother such as National Mother Au Co, National Mother Tay Thien. The beliefs of the Tam Phu (worship of Mau Thien, Mother Thuong Thous, Mau Thuy/Thoai) and the Four Palaces, in addition to the worship of Holy Mother Lieu Hanh are widely worshiped in the village, which is a bold belief of the Vietnamese people. Many regions of Vietnam have places of worship of Mothers, people call them Mother of the land. These are the Lady of the Land on Mount Sam in Chau Doc city (An Giang), the Linh Son Holy Mother on Ba Den mountain (Tay Ninh), the Mother of Thien Y A Na of the Cham people in Thap Ba, Nha Trang city (Khanh Hoa), the goddess Poh Nagar in the towers of the Cham people in Central Vietnam. The introduction of foreign religions into Vietnamese culture has continued to favor women. Buddha entered Vietnam to become Buddha Grandmother. Mrs. Man Nuong in the Strawberry region (Bac Ninh) became the Buddha Sample of Vietnamese. Christian families take a solemn place in the house hanging pictures of Mary. Women from thousands of years ago who died for water, for the people worshiped by the people became martyrs who set an example for descendants such as Mrs. Zhong, Mrs. Zhao ... In modern times, the image of the Mother for Water is revered to erect statues such as the heroic Vietnamese Mother in Quang Nam, Mother Throughout in Dong Hoi (Quang Binh) ... The temples of Vo Thi Sau martyrs in Con Dao, the temple of ten volunteer young girls at the junction of Dong Loc (Ha Tinh), the temple of volunteer youth in Tam Co cave (Quang Binh) ... People have drawn up the role and position of Vietnamese women: "Your order is not equal to your gong", in a harmonious and democratic relationship: "Favorable spouses slap the Dong tank is also shallow".

 6. The culture is agricultural, far from forests and pale from the sea

This feature is quite prominent in Vietnamese culture. His father had the concept of "microscopic farming" (taking agriculture as the root), thinking very realistically: "First soldier second farmer, no rice running free, first farmer second". Therefore, agricultural production takes cultivation, animal husbandry, exploits the potential of land to make products to feed people, organizes cultural activities is the constant consciousness of Vietnamese people, is the motto "non-agricultural instability". The Vietnamese choose fertile alluvial deltas and coastal foothill plains to earn a living and organize villages. The achievements of Vietnamese culture clearly show the idea of respecting agriculture. Rich, bold Vietnamese villages tradition, maintaining fine customs, and closely organized are all agricultural villages in fertile land. The culture crystallizes the natural and social knowledge system for the cultivation and raising of cattle and poultry. The image of the buffalo is familiar to the people: "Buffalo I tell this buffalo, Buffalo goes out into the field, Buffalo plows with me, Transplants the peasant's capital, Here I am, who manages the work";" In the shallow field, in the deep field, the husband plows, the wife transplants the buffalo to harrow." Many beautiful verses arise from the agricultural labor environment: " you slap the water on the side, why do you scoop the golden moon away." Village festival - folk festival tradition expressing the spirit of community, sympathy and community of the villagers, including many agricultural elements. The culinary culture of Vietnamese people has a basic foundation from agriculture. Treasure agricultural land for livelihood "golden inches", "people are soil flowers". Vietnamese people have told each other to build thousands of kilometers of dikes to prevent floods, open hundreds of kilometers of canals and ditches to regulate water for cultivation and animal husbandry. These dikes, canals and ditches are a symbol of people's strength and at the same time a symbol of agricultural civilization of the Vietnamese people.

Considering in the course of history, Vietnamese people tend to be far from forests, the direction of development is from forests to plains and deltas. Mountain forests are difficult places to do business, arise diseases, and "poisonous water ghosts".

The Vietnamese are the owners of a country with a sea area more than three times that of land, but this potential and strength has not been exploited and promoted. In general, Vietnamese culture shows a cautious attitude towards the sea. Marine occupation develops in a part of the inhabitants of Central Vietnam, where the land is less fertile, it is difficult to ensure livelihoods. They catch sea fish to dry, salt and make fish sauce into commercial products to exchange with other regions. The sea does not measure the dangers. Seafaring husbands encounter strong winds and waves, capsize boats without returning, as a result of which young wives carry petrified children waiting for their husbands (Hon Vong Phu). The whole strip of land in the central to the south of the South has many fishing villages holding the Fisherman's festival to pray for dolphins in the sea to help the lives of seafaring fishermen when facing difficulties. Vietnamese fishermen mainly fish near the shore (near-coast) wary of going to the ocean. This is the "pale sea" characteristic of Vietnamese people.

7. Multi-ethnic culture, united in diversity

Vietnam is a multi-ethnic country (54 ethnic groups), in which Kinh ethnic group accounts for the majority, so Kinh ethnic culture plays a leading role. The history of cultural development of Vietnamese people has affirmed the respect, openness, exchange and voluntary acculturation among ethnic groups, combating manifestations of cultural discrimination and coercion of one ethnic group towards another. Multi-ethnic culture has created potentials and strengths to promote the nation's cultural soft power in international relations, increase friendship and mutual understanding among peoples.

Vietnamese culture in the historical process has clearly shown the unity of a nation-state culture. Although many ethnic groups migrated to the territory of Vietnam at different historical times, some people arrived thousands of years early, some people were newly introduced for several hundred years, but when choosing Vietnamese land as a place to live, the ethnic groups all share the same memory of ancestral roots, Being compatriots of each other, recognizing that the nation must have a clear platform, with a head representing the people to manage the country. Unify the national flag, coat of arms, national emblem, national anthem ... of water. Unify the rules of the state, adopt the Kinh language as the common language of communication, and regulate the national script in each historical period. Unite the ideology and institutions of social management and human behavior to build and defend the Fatherland.

Multi-ethnic culture has created a culture of diverse elements and forms of expression. Look at any cultural element such as food, housing, costumes, customs, customs, festivals, religious beliefs, literature and art, social organizations... We all easily recognize unique and unique manifestations in each ethnic group. Those are signs to recognize each other's culture. When the cultural nuances of each ethnic group are integrated into the culture of the nation, Vietnamese culture is really diverse, really a rich cultural garden of multicolored and multi-flavored flowers.

8. Open, adaptive and harmonious cultures of human civilizations

Vietnam is located in an important position in the western Pacific Ocean, east of the Southeast Asian peninsula, south of the Chinese mainland, north of the Southeast Asian archipelago, which is considered as a bridge between East and West of world cultures. In the history of the nation's development, Vietnam has absorbed four streams of culture/civilization of humanity. These are Indian, Chinese, Middle Eastern, Western culture. Looking at the expression of village culture, we think that Vietnamese culture is more about condensation, self-contained, autonomous. But on the national level in dealing with major cultural currents of humanity, the signs manifested in Vietnamese culture prove that this is an open culture. Vietnamese people actively embrace the religion and cultural institutions of Hinduism (Hinduism), Buddha Taoism (Hinayana and Mahayana orders), Confucianism (also known as Confucianism), Taoism (fairies and witches), Islam (orthodox and non-orthodox), Christianity (other names are Catholicism, Christianity), Protestantism. Vietnamese people adopt world religions, on the one hand, adapt, and on the other hand deal with inadequacies that are not in accordance with the fine customs and customs of the nation. Transforming world religions under the motto of preserving national culture and nationalizing world religions. Import Buddha Statue transformation spear Buddha sincere Buddha Grandmother. One type was folkified as the Buddha Mother of Man in the Strawberry region. School constructivism Buddha of Vietnamese: Truc Lam Yen Tu Zen sect. The Cham people in Central Vietnam created the Cham Pei polytheistic religion that combined Brahmin beliefs with folk beliefs, Cham customs and unorthodox Islam. Taoism in China came to Vietnam to form the internal Taoist line "August commemorates the Father (Saint Tran Hung Dao), March commemorates the Mother (Saint Lieu Hanh)". Catholics, in their homes, worship both God and ancestors. Cao Dai religion in Tay Ninh is the center of worship of the Eye, surrounded by religious masters and famous people in the world.

A conspicuous feature is that Vietnamese people continue to harmoniously transform human civilizations. There is an opinion that: Vietnamese people follow Buddha not as bold as Cambodians, Confucian not as bold as Koreans, Christian not as bold as Filipinos, Muslims not as bold as Indonesians. An open but delicate, skillful, flexible culture absorbs the good, suitable, not extreme, dominant, expressing the behavior of Vietnamese people: "Eat to look at the pot, sit to look in the direction", "Make mussels every two countries". The philosophy of sociability, moderation, reasonableness, prudence, preservation, these are the personality traits of Vietnamese people when interacting with human civilizations.

Source: vanhoaphattrien.vn