PRESENTATION OUTLINE
1. General information
Vietnams flag represent 5 main classes in Vietnamese society, business, worker, intellectuals, farmers and military personnels. The currency is Vietnamese dong, and 1 dollar in Australia is equal to 15573.69 vietnamese dong. The size of Vietnam is 4% of Australia with about 4.15 times the population of Australia
2. Geography
Distance of Australia Victoria Melbourne to Ho Chi Minh City is 6715 kilometres
There's an island called Phú Quốc
Capital city in Vietnam is Hanoi
Other major cities in Vietnam are Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) by population, Da nang and Haiphong
One great great place is Nha Trang
Highest mountain in Vietnam is Fansipan
3. Nha Trang
A great place to go to is Nha Trang, a resort accommodating 400,000 people with great pristine beach with the best scuba diving place in central Vietnam. Heaps of biodiversity 540 species of marine animals at the bay.
Street food and coffee
Coffee is one of or is the biggest coffee exporter which is available nearly everywhere and cheap (33 cents to $3). Ice coffee [ca phe da] is strong and sweet chocolate-like richness. Street food in Vietnam is tasty and has a reputation of one of worlds tastiest foods. Restaurants offer not as good service that combines with a pricier range when you could have a better meal for cheaper!
Ho Chi Minh City Zoo and Botanical Gardens
Existed around 100 years ago (one of the oldest zoos). At the moment featuring 550 animals, more than 1830 trees and 260 plant species and some of it could date back 100 years! There are more things to explore there too.
4.
Religion
Vietnamese people aren't very religious (one of least religious countries in the world.
There are Confucianism and Taoism that was from China and strong tradition in Buddhism
Customs
Vietnamese people are known to be polite, hospitable and sensitive. Friendship is most important to the people, visits from friends are always welcome as well as drop ins
Gifts given to guests or a known person/family would be spoken lightly due to boasting is critiqued. When hosting family brings guest over for a meal host would always give the guests best part because Friendship is most valued. Drinking is accepted but hidden because of it being a social disgrace.
Cultural festivals
Vu Lan Festival
This festival is to wish for dead relatives souls to avoid punishment in afterlife offering rice, salt and pure water
Tet Nguyen Tieu
Chinese people and Vietnamese people in Ho Chi Minh City start off the festival with bright colourful lanterns with big drum noise. It is a traditional event hosted annually to keep and develop Chinese community. Event has a custom of having a lantern or flower called Hoi Hoa Dang to wish for right weather and good business
Tet Trung Thu
Tet Trung Thu is celebrated mid autumn which everyone participates, they have lanterns, performances, differences cakes one famous one being Moon cakes. During the main time many group of lions come to dance to drums and cymbals to adore the beauty of the moon.
5.
Food
Vietnamese cuisine
Vietnamese cuisine follow five main tastes in overall meal while each dish shows one or more element. Common ingredients, fish sauce, soy sauce, shrimp paste, rice, fresh herbs, fruits and vegetable. Vietnamese recipe uses Lemongrass, ginger, mint etc. Vietnamese cooking mainly uses fresh ingredients, low use of diary and oils but relies on herbs and vegetables. Vietnamese food is considered one of the healthiest cuisine.
Banh Mi
There are certain foods that are popular and must try! One of which can be seen quite a lot Banh Mi, it is a baguette with wide choice of fillings
Pho
Vietnamese noodle soup with broth that is served with Beef or Chicken and herbs. It is a very popular street food while restaurants also sell it. It is eaten anytime for Northern Vietnamese people while Southern eat it for breakfast or sometimes lunch
