Vietnam is a nice and peaceful country located in the South East of Asia. With a long coast line from the North to the South and a lot of mountains and highlands, Vietnam has both sea and mountain attractions. The country is one of the hottest travel destinations in Asia. More and more tourists come to Vietnam every year because of its peace, friendliness and fast development. Tourists can enjoy visiting peaceful traditional villages, grand temples and pagodas or sunbathing on beautiful beaches in luxury seaside resorts. This article will give you some helpful advice for your travel in Vietnam:

You should check full information on Vietnam prior to your trip. You should note some typical features of Vietnam culture. Follow Vietnam Laws, avoid involving in illegal issues. Should not bring with you high valued things when going out. Ask your hotels to keep your papers: Passport, air tickets and other important things.Take a hotel card before going out, thus you will easily contact your hotel if lost the way. Should not go out late with anyone you do not know. Should call a taxi instead of a Motorbike taxi when going out in the evening. Should check carefully luggage for the trip, ask your travel agent what should be brought with for your trip.

Respect the habits of the Local people. Do not point your figures towards local altar for it is considered to be rude. Should not dispose empty bottle when trekking, for you are not sure the bottle is safe or without risk of dental problems. Should not wear shorts when visiting temples or pagodas. Should take off your shoes before entering some one’s house. Should learn some useful Vietnamese for emergency cases. Bargain when purchasing something except for fixed price. Take a careful look before crossing streets. Taking care of yourself with safe food, cheap or street food may result in low quality and poor conditions.

Should hire a tour guide if you think necessary for a guide knows how to help you avoid unnecessary problems. Only bring with you necessary things. Should bring with you some dollars, for the dollar is the most popular currency in Vietnam. Should exchange for some Vietnamese currency (at airport or bank); Vietnam currency will be necessary for some of your small payments. If possible, get the address or phone number of your Embassy in Vietnam. Make sure that your visiting areas are safe and no risk of natural problems. Should visit Vietnam from August – March, for this period is really suitable for traveling (good climate). Buy travel insurance prior to your trip.

Should not photograph someone if he does not want you to. Avoid involving in issues of local people, everything should be settled in peace. Should not approach restricted areas especially army zones. Be sure that you bring with you necessary medicines.Should print emails or bring with you fax sent by Vietnam partner, or should notify Vietnam partner your coming 3-4 days prior to your departure to make sure that you will be picked up at the airport in time. Before going to Vietnam you should do some searches for a general idea about prices in Vietnam. On the internet, you can easily find information about prices of going by taxi or some other means of transportation.

With 54 ethnic groups, Vietnam is one of top culturally diversified nations on the world . Although the culture was strongly influenced by traditional Chinese civilization as well as by French when French colonialism introduced important European elements into the culture of the country in nearly 100 years of rule, the Vietnamese still continue to observe rites honoring their ancestors.

The first flourishing of Vietnamese art occurred with the emergence of the Dongson culture on the coast of Annam and Tonkin. The inspiration for the magnificent bronzes produced by the artists of Dongson originated from China: the decorative motifs have clear affinities with earlier Chinese bronzes. At the same time, the exceptional skill of production and decoration argues that these pieces represent among the first and finest of Southeast Asian works of art. The period during which the central Vietnamese kingdom, centered on the Annamite coast was under the Champa rulers saw the ‘golden’ period of the Vietnamese art and architecture. Valuable works of Vietnamese Art comprise of the historic and treasured form of art executed on extravagant, fine and delicate silk. Created by artists including Le Pho, Mai Trung Thu and Vu Cao Dam these pieces of art are pristinely preserved. Lacquer practice has held a major role throughout the history of Vietnamese Art, and particularly so in 20th Century Vietnam, when a new approach, through color and form, was employed to develop this ancestral technique in order to promote it as an aesthete that is unique to Vietnam.

Vietnam has longstanding folk traditions. Techniques and styles are often handed down within families from generation to generation. Vietnamese Art shows a strong Chinese influence. Traditional Buddhist art forms are very much evident on the sculptures and paintings of Vietnamese artists. These art forms are made to complement and enhance traditional practices found in temples, monasteries, centers, hermitages, the home and places of retreat. Contemporary artists may use traditional or contemporary forms separately or in combination e.g. film, sculpture or in painting used together in an installation piece. While there may be a deeply felt spiritual context to the work, it would not necessarily be intended to go in a monastery, center or temple and would not have to be made according to econometric recommendations.

Many contemporary artists also use themes such as impermanence, delusion; interdependence, compassion commonly studied in Buddha dharma, and may feel a link with Buddhist ideas without necessarily calling themselves Buddhists. Contemporary art also assists in viewing the Vietnam War and war experience in general through art. It helps to forge a link between the common man, soldier, art and history. Contemporary Vietnamese art focuses on analyzing how art relates to historical themes and issues, interpreting and understanding art as a tool of communication, synthesizing and assimilating information from different disciplines into demonstrated comprehension, and further developing abstract and critical thinking that can be applied throughout the learning process.

Despite the limitations of the war years, a few world literature was carefully translated into Vietnamese and widely distributed gradually. This translated world literature greatly influenced the spiritual life of Vietnam. Efforts of contemporary Vietnam artists have been successful in reviving the exquisite and inimitable elements, not only of erstwhile Vietnam but have also raised some of the present-day humanitarian issues. With a stride ahead towards presenting South-East Asia, Vietnamese art has been considered a cultural patron in the field of global fine arts.