Vietnamese culture — 4000-year history, bamboo, áo dài, pho. Classic Southeast Asian wet rice culture.
Language
Vietnamese — Quốc ngữ script (Latin) since 1651 by Alexandre de Rhodes. Before chữ Nôm (Sinicized). 6 tones.
Áo Dài and Traditions
Áo dài — women traditional dress. Conical hat. Bamboo — symbol of Vietnam (strong, flexible). Water puppetry (UNESCO) — Northern Vietnam specialty.
Religion
Three Teachings — Buddhism + Confucianism + Taoism coexisting. Ancestor worship — most important. Catholicism (8%).
Cuisine
Phở — national dish. Banh mi, gỏi cuốn, bún chả, bún bò Huế, cao lầu, cơm tấm. Fish sauce — unique condiment. Vietnamese coffee — 2nd in world.
Literature
Tale of Kiều by Nguyễn Du — national masterpiece. Hồ Xuân Hương — female poet. Nam Cao, Vũ Trọng Phụng — modern literature.
Arts
Đông Hồ paintings — folk art. Central Highlands gongs (UNESCO). Quan Họ Bắc Ninh (UNESCO). Huế Royal Court Music (UNESCO).
Modern Culture
Vietnamese cinema — Trần Anh Hùng (The Scent of Green Papaya 1993 Oscar nomination), Bùi Thạc Chuyên. Sơn Tùng M-TP, Hoàng Thùy Linh — modern pop. Tết — most important holiday.