"Robbing wife" - the strange custom of H'mong people

The H'mong ethnic group with many unique customs and traditions. Robbing wife is a typical custom of them!

In spring, when the apricot flower forest blooms out with white, it signs a wedding season coming with brocade colors in many villages throughout the North West and North-East. The Mong has custom taking his beloved girl to home to become his wife (as robbing wife) As a young man who knew a girl and want her as his wife he would go and force her to his home.

Traditionally, when a boy wants to marry a girl, he will make his intentions clear, and will "rob" her during day light or night at any opportunity that is appropriate. This is traditionally only a symbolic kidnapping. 

Happiness when rob and be robbed

 Before kidnapping her, the boy must first give a gift to the girl whom he wants to marry. After a couple of days, the boy can then kidnap the girl. If the boy has never given a gift to the girl, she is allowed to refuse and go back home with any family member who comes to save her. 

The parents are not notified at the time of the kidnapping, but an envoy from the boy's clan is sent to inform them of the whereabouts of their daughter and her safety. This envoy tells the girl's family the boy's background and asks what the girl's background is. 

Before the new couple enters the groom's house, the father performs a blessing ritual, asking the ancestors to accept her into the household.
The head of the household moves the chicken in a circular motion around the couple's head. The girl is not allowed to visit anyone's house for three days after this. After three days or more, the parents of the groom prepare the first wedding feast for the newlywed couple.

The wedding is usually a two-day process. The couple returns to the house of the bride's family at the end of the first wedding feast and spends the night in preparation for the next day. On the second day, the family of the bride prepares a second wedding feast at their home, where the couple will be married.

Hmong marriage customs differ slightly based on cultural subdivisions within the different Hmong community, but all require the exchange of a bride price from the groom’s family to the bride’s family.

 The bride price is compensation for the new family taking the other family's daughter, as the girl's parents are now short one person to help with chores. he elders of both families negotiate the amount prior to the engagement and is usually paid in bars of silver or livestock. Today, it is also often settled in monetary terms.  

Before the bride and the grooms visit the bride's family, she must wear the grooms traditional clothes.

During the wedding, there are many rules a bride must follow. When leaving the bride's house, during that process, the bride must never look back for it will make her miss her family dearly. 

During the feast, no pepper dish can be served for it'll make the bride and groom's marriage life bitter.

At some point during the wedding, an elder would come ask the bride if she has any old gifts from past boyfriends. If she does, she must give them those gifts and they will return the gifts to her past boyfriends. 

There is a saying that if a bride does not give her past boyfriends' gifts back, if he still really loves her and dies early, he'll come haunt her babies, which will make her babies cry a lot.

The brides maid's job is to make sure the bride doesn't run off with a guy because way back in history, many girls were forced to marry and would elope with their boyfriends. 

Because the price of a bride is so high(depends on the parents), the groom's clan helps pitch in to help with the exchange of his wife. Afterwards, both the bride and groom must pay them back.  

The custom of wife robbery is considered as marriage strategic mode. This process is very popular in the West – North-East. And they still keep this custom nowadays but it just a custom for form’s sake. Young H'Mong men and women are free to choose their partners. Marriages are absolutely forbidden between men and women of the same lineage. Matrimonial life of the Mong is very harmonious and divorce is very rare. 

Love's H'mong people is still many exciting things. If you wonder, traveling in Vietnam travel to Northern mountains!

Phat Tich pagoga - A Buddhist cultural center with ancient sculptural

Phat Tich Pagoda - a Buddhist cultural center contains cultural and sculptural values of the Ly Dynasty. it is ideal destination for you to visit and research about Ly Dynasty.

Phat Tich (Buddha’s Trace) Pagoda, located in Phat Tich Commune, Tien Du District, Bac Ninh Province, is a cultural and historical relic in Vietnam which contains cultural and sculptural values of the Ly Dynasty. Phat Tich Pagoda, was built between the 7th and 10th centuries, and underwent several transformations throughout the years. It was first renovated during the Ly Dynasty. In 1057, King Ly Thanh Tong had a tower erected and a golden statue made. Later in the 17th century, the pagoda was enlarged. Unfortunately, the pagoda was ravaged by the war in 1947 and was rebuilt again in a simpler style in 1958. And in 1991, the pagoda has been reconstructed following ancient architectural designs.  Among the remains of the pagoda is the Amitabha Buddha stone statue dating back from the 10th-11th centuries, which is considered precious object. The columns of the pagoda are decorated with intricately carved lotus flowers and orchestra with artisans playing various types of traditional musical instruments. The Amitabha Buddha stone statue dating back from the 10th-11th centuries According to historical records, Phat Tich Pagoda was as an importance national pagoda, where the Kings of Ly Dynasty often come to hold the Buddhist ceremonies and pray peaceful and prosperous for the country and safety for people. This was not only a Buddhist cultural center but also the place where Buddhist monks were trained. With such special values, Phat Tich deserves as a national vestige where preserves national treasures.  Phat Tich Pagoda was the place where exhibit the largest Buddha Gem statue in Viet Nam – weighing 4.5 tons and standing 3.5 meters high, engraved out of Nephrite stone block, from 16 to 22 of May 2009. The world itinerary of the Buddha Gem statute has been put together to promote world peace. Before arriving at Phat Tich Pagoda, the Buddha Gem statue had visited Da Nang, Vung Tau, Ho Chi Minh City, and Dong Thap in Viet Nam. After leaving Phat Tich Pagoda, the statue traveled to other places in the world such as USA, Taiwan etc. before being settled at the Peace Tower in Bendigo, New South Wales, Australia. In 2010, the project of renovating and restoring the Historical Cultural Vestige of Phat Tich Pagoda has almost completed which cost 75 billion VND sourced from the State budget and donations from organizations, individuals and Buddhist followers nationwide. The Phat Tich pagoda has named project to celebrate the 1000th anniversary of Thang Long – Hanoi.   The giant Buddha statue has been placed on the Phat Tich Mountain Now coming to Phat Tich Pagoda, visitors will have chance to contemplate a new wonder of Bac Ninh Province from Vietnam travel news. That is the statue - 27 metres high (including Buddha's throne and pedestal) and weighs more than 3,000 tonnes which considered as one of the largest stone statues in Southeast Asia and the first of its kind in Viet Nam. It has constructed since February 2007. The statue is shaped based on the model of Amitabha Buddha statue which was made of stone during the Ly Dynasty - a masterpiece of the national fine-art with skillful lines. Therefore, the making of pattern and clothing creases for the giant Buddha statue is a very painstaking work. This giant work is the achievements of tireless labor of many people. Hundreds of artisans from Ninh Van Stone Village (Ninh Binh Province) have worked hard for almost four years under the difficult construction conditions on the mountain. They had to use rail to transport tens-tonnes rocks up to the mountain to preserve the surroundings. The construction of the statue was referenced by many experts. This work was also strictly reviewed and approved.  The giant Buddha statue has been placed on the Phat Tich Mountain at the 108 metres above sea-level with the inner wishes of natural potential as this is place of sacred mountain, Mount of Buddha, marking first place where the Buddhism rose up in Viet Nam. If tourists in Vietnam Travel have chance to visit Bac Ninh Province, Phat Tich Pagoda is a must-see place that should not be missed!

Vietnamese Folk Paintings

Folk paintings includes two types of Vietnamese folk paintings, Tet (Lunar New Year Festival) paintings and worshipping paintings. They are a combination of traditional cultural values with ancient artistic methods that have been created through the labour of past generations.

The Vietnamese people believe in ancestor worship and the deification of natural phenomena, they are reflected in the paintings. Because of their historical popularity, the folk paintings were produced in huge quantities. This high demand was met through the use of the woodblock carving printing technique, which has been practiced by the Vietnamese for several centuries. During the Ly Dynasty (12th century), there were lots of families who specialised in woodblock carving. By the end of the Tran Dynasty, they were also printing paper money. At the beginning of the Le So Dynasty, the Chinese technique of carving printing boards was chosen and improved. The History Museum and the Fine Art Museum in Hanoi still keep old printing boards as archives. During the Mac Dynasty (16th century), folk paintings developed quite extensively and were popular among the aristocracy in Thang Long. In the 18th and 19th centuries, the art of folk painting was stable and highly developed. Basing on artistic style, drawing-printing technique, and the materials used, folk paintings are classified into painting trends according to the name of their place of production. Each style of painting is different. However, in all the styles, shapes are formed based on the concept of don tuyen binh do (single line-simple designs), which uses lines to bend the coloured shapes and to make a border for the picture. Another method used is thuan tay hay mat (easy to draw and to see). With this design form, the folk paintings do not depend on the rules of perspective. The deities are big and take the upper positions, while the ordinary people are drawn on a smaller scale and the size of the animals and the natural scenery depicted depends on their relationship to the sentiment or story being expressed. These distinctive characteristics make the paintings profoundly impressive. As a result of cultural exchange, Vietnamese folk paintings in order to travel to Vietnam to contemplate them and have perserved and developed certain traditional facets. As well as the paintings have been influenced and enriched by the genius of other painting styles. One exception is Dong Ho paintings, which continue to exist unchanged during the challenges of time. » Also you like our http://minmaxvn.wordpress.com/about/ - http://minmax-vn.blogspot.com/ - http://minmaxtravel.blog.com/aboutus/

Huyen Tran Cultunal Centre - a Sacred Spiritual Attraction

Huyen Tran Cultural Centre is located in An Tay Ward, about 7km southwest of Hue, on an area of 28.5 ha near the foot of the Ngu Phong Mountain. It has many historical, cultural and artful works full of spiritual significance, of which the most noted are the temples dedicated to King Tran Nhan Tong (1258-1308), the patron saint of the Truc Lam Buddhist sect in Vietnam, and his daughter, Princess Huyen Tran (1287-1340).

Visitors to Huyen Tran Cultural Centre in Hue city will have an opportunity to contemplate the wholesome environment shaded by green pine trees and surrounding forests and mountains, visit the temples and shrines for worshiping, do research on Buddhism, compose poems or relax and absorb the magnificent surroundings. The entire complex is located amid a grandiose natural setting that highlights the value of the cultural and art works and their spiritual impression. Visitors at Huyen Tran Cultural Centre. The yard in front of the 3-gate entrance is paved with Bat Trang ceramic tiles. The temple dedicated to King Tran Nhan Tong. The shrine dedicated to King Tran Nhan Tong. Statue of Mitreya near the foot of Ngu Phong Mountain. A sculptural work engraved with grafted glazed terrace-cotta tiles. The statue of nun Huong Trang. The great celebration of the day when King and Master of Truc Lam Zen sect, Tran Nhan Tong went into Nirvana (lunar January 1st). The festival at Huyen Tran Temple on lunar January 9th. Engravings of the famous pagodas in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City on Hoa Binh copper bell. Ringing Hoa Binh (peace) bell.  Situated in the temple dedicated to King Tran Nhan Tong, who is considered the master of the Truc Lam Buddhist sect in Vietnam, is a statue of his Royal Highness, made of pure copper, standing 3m high and weighing 2 tonnes. It is cast identically to the original statue of the Tran Kings for worship in Nam Dinh Province. In front of King Tran Nhan Tong's shrine and along the stairway leading to it, are a pair of stone dragons made in the style of the Tran Dynasty (1225-1400). In the yard and along the staircases there are statues of elephants, horses, dragons and lions, believed to be spirits that safeguard the king's after world, making it impressive with a quiet and solemn beauty. The temple dedicated to Princess Huyen Tran was built with the architecture of Hue pagodas. The entire structure lies on a horizontal axis. In front of the first shrine there are three copper bas-reliefs engraved with scenes from the three regions of the country. In the main chamber, there is a copper statue of Princess Huyen Tran, 2.37m high and 1.5 tonnes in weight, which was cast by famous artisans from Hue. Besides the temples, in the open and spacious space there is an octagonal shaped house where stands a statue of the Nun Huong Trang and a courtyard with a statue of Mitreya (Buddha). After climbing on 246 stone stairs, visitors will arrive at the top of Ngu Phong Mountain, 108 m high, where there is a bell tower named Hoa Binh,  (peace) housing a bell made of pure copper, 2.16m high and 1.6 tonnes in weight, and carved with eight words, literally, "For a peaceful world, for a happy mankind", together with pictures of four pagodas typical for the country, namely Giac Lam Pagoda (in Ho Chi Minh City), Thien Mu Pagoda (Hue), Dien Huu Pagoda (Hanoi) and Truc Lam-Yen Tu Pagoda (Quang Ninh). Huyen Tran Cultural Centre is one of the tourist sites that provide visitors a sense of returning to the root of the country's glorious history to pay homage to people who had merits in building the country.

The Meaning of “Cay Neu”

Tet Nguyen Dan is the Lunar New Year Festival and is the most important Vietnamese holiday. Tet is the celebration of the beginning of spring as well as a new year. It is the time for family reunions, exchanging gifts, best wishes. Planting a New Year tree or “Cay Neu” is also a Vietnamese custom which is part of the springtime Tet Festival.

On the days before Tet, Vietnamese families plant a "Cay Neu", which is an extremely tall bamboo tree in front of their homes. The bamboo pole stripped of its leaves except for a tuft on top so that it can be wrapped or ornamented with good luck red paper. According to famous legends in the Vietnamese culture, the red color scares off evil spirits and the treeis supposed to ward off the evil spririts during absence of Tao Quan (the Kitchen Gods)who leave the family at this time to visit the palace of the Jade Emperor. “Cay Neu” are decorations similar to Christmas tree that is displayed in various cultures. Bows, arrows, bells and gongs are hung on the treetop with the hope that all the bad luck of the past year will be chased away and everyone will have a happy New Year.

Legends have it that long long ago, humans and devils co-inhabited the earth. The devils overwhelmed the former and invaded their land. Buddha told the devils: "I will hang my cassock on top of the bamboo, and wherever the shadow falls is Buddha's land, and you devils must give it to men." The devils agreed. So after planting the bamboo, Buddha flung his robe to the top and made the bamboo higher by means of magic; as a result, the cassock overshadowed the whole land and the devils were chased to the East Sea. Then the devils prayed to Buddha for permission to return to the mainland for a three day visit to their ancestors' tombs on the occasion of Tet. For this reason, Neu is often planted on this occasion with green leaves, an eight sign amulet and earthen bells hung from its top. Lime powder is scattered round its base to allow the painting of cross-bows and arrows to chase away the devils or keep them at bay. The shadow of Neu symbolizes the land acquired by the men in the legend. The sounds of small bells and gongs on Neu remind us of man's right to own the land and the bows and arrows tell us that they were once the weapons used to fight off the devil.

Cay Neu is ceremonially removed after the seventh day of Tet. This is the last ritual, which brings an end to the New Year celebrations.

Parallels & Fireworks in Tet

When Tet is coming, everybody is so busy shoping, cleaning and decorating houses. Vietnamese people cannot miss the Tet with parallels and fireworks, so interesting...

Composing, challenging and displaying parallels represents an elegant cultural activity of the Vietnamese people. On the occasion of Tet, parallels are written on red paper and hung on both sides of the gate, the pillars or the ancestral altar. Each pair of parallels has an equal number of words with contrasting or corresponding meanings and lines of verses. They show a keen intelligence, perception of nature and social life, uphold morality and a yearning for the well-being of all people. The red is symbolic of auspicious and powerful vitality, according to popular belief. Mingling with the green of the Chung cake, the pink of the peach blooms, the yellow of the apricot blooms, and the red of the parallels is sure to make the Spring warmer and cosier.

Fireworks sparkle and sound, exciting in the transitional period between Lunar New Year’s Eve and Day. The most exciting element in the celebration of Tet is the lighting of fireworks. These explosions are believed to drive off ghosts and evil spirits and leave good luck in the new year. As thousands of people partake in the fantastic firework shooting displays which are set off at  different locations in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City at midnight of the first day of lunar January. The level of volume and excitement rises to a fury. This level of emotion is the most memorable part of Tet and also the part, which makes it such a marvellous experience.

"Fat pork, salted onions, parallel sentences written on red paper. Long bamboo poles planted upright, strings of fireworks, and square glutinous rice cakes", these all make a meaningful Tet holiday for Vietnamese people...

Rice cooking competition

One of the meaningful acitivity in Vietnamese Tet festivals is rice cooking competition. A rice cooking competition is held to encourage women to take more responsibility in their traditional work.

During Tet holiday, a number of villages in northern and central Vietnam hold rice cooking contests that may sound simple, but follow strict and complex rules. Contestants cook in the open air while in a bamboo boat floating on the village pond. Charcoal, the usual fuel, is prohibited. Instead, each competitor receives some dried sugar cane, which burns only with difficulty. The challenge increases if it is windy and raining. Each contestant must set her rice pot in exactly the right place to take advantage of the wind and avoid extinguishing the fire.

The competition begins precisely at dawn. Hundreds of boats are tied up along the pond bank since as many as 200 young women may participate. After a salvo of 

drumbeats, competitors step into their boats, bringing along cooking tripods, rice pots, some damp straw and fuel. They row to the centre of the pond, make a fire and wash the rice.

A second salvo of drumbeats sounds, punctuated by three final beats, the competition starts. The cooking may be done in one pot after another or by using all pots al the same time. The tiny, light boat sways with the competitor's every movement, keeping the craft stable while cooking is like performing a circus act. The competitor who finishes first wins, but quality also counts. People from many villages watch from the pond bank, mothers who have trained their girls for months impatiently wait for the results of their efforts. Other women take advantage of the occasion to look for prospective daughters-in-law who are both good cooks and can also face difficulties with calmness.

The contest for boys is no less rigorous. Each boy must stand ready with all the necessary items (rice, water, matches and firewood) on a light boat moored the pond bank. At a given signal he paddles with his hands to the opposite bank, where a row of pots is placed on tripods. He must stay in his unmoored boat while cooking the rice on the bank. The least loss of balance tosses him over into the water.

The finished rice must meet particular criteria of taste and consistency.

Hanoi Cathedral

Hanoi Cathedral is famous not only for its architecture but its beautiful scenery as well. 

Hanoi Cathedral is at No.40 Nha Chung Street, Hoan Kiem District, Hanoi. It was built on the site of the former Bao Thien Tower, which was famous in the ancient capital of Thang Long under the Ly Dynasty (the 11^th and 12^th centuries).

Hanoi Cathedral, also known as Saint Joseph's Cathedral, was inaugurated on Christmas Day 1886, two years after its construction. Its design is similar to the architecture of Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris. Many catholic rituals have been held there. A ritual ceremony dedicated to Jesus Christ is held in this cathedral every year on March 19.

The special thing is that space around Hanoi Cathedral is an ideal meeting place for local residents in Hanoi, especially youngsters, to get away from the bustle and noise of the city. When it gets darker, groups of friends flock to the space to enjoy themselves. To enjoy this kind of entertainment, you can feast and drink with your friends in this open space. The bell striking from the church at meditative moments sways your mind. That is a great and romantic feeling. Young people have flocked to the cathedral because the church view and tranquil street corners will fuel their romantic liaison. Couples hand in hand show their love. Others regard it as a playground for chatting or a stage for music performances. 

Many famous artists and movie stars can be seen in this special place. Pianist Pho An My has the habit of sitting in the church yard to enjoy a cup of tea with ice and play her favorite pieces. “It is not necessary to go to the theatre to enjoy a music concert; a pageant show will undoubtedly bring a wind of change to the audience”, said the famous artist.

If you are a young person in Hanoi or nearby, you should not miss a chance to discover the underlying real scene of the city by once setting your foot into the space of Hanoi Cathedral.