Vietnam Travel Guide

bởi Last Updated: Vientam Travel Guide, Vietnam Guide Address Dong Da, Ha Noi, VN. 4.5 stars based on 23659 reviews

Worship of Ancestor Custom

Published: 31/05/2011 02:41 Hit: 1529

A very popular belief among Vietnamese is the custom of the ancestor cult. In every household, an ancestor altar is installed in the most solemn location.

Vietnamese believe that the soul of a dead person, even if dead for many generations, still rests along with their descendants on earth. The dead and living persons still have spiritual communion; in everyday life, people must not forget that what they enjoy and how they feel is the same for their dead relatives.

On the last day of every lunar year, an announcing cult, cung tien thuong, is performed to invite the dead forefathers to return home to celebrate Tet holidays with their families. During the last days before Tet, all family members visit their ancestors’ graves; they clean and decorate the graves, in the same manner that the livings clean and decorate their houses to welcome the New Year.

On the anniversary of an ancestor’s death, descendants and relatives unite and prepare a feast to worship the dead people and to ask for health and happiness for themselves. From generation to generation, ancestor worshipping customs have been religiously preserved. There are some small variations between those customs among the many Vietnamese ethnic groups, but the common theme of fidelity and gratitude towards the ancestors remains.

Related content in Customs & Habits

Vietnam Travel

Vietnam Tourism, Vietnam Travel, Guide, Agents, Company,Culture travel La Belle Vie Hotel

Language and Literature

Silent Hanoi

Silent Hanoi

The above lines were penned by the Hanoi poet Xuan Dieu, written for one person, whose name is appeared in the poem.

Festivals & Folk-games

"Tò he" - the artful toy in Vietnam

"Tò he" - the artful toy in Vietnam

"Tò he" toys are sculptured figurines fashioned from colored rice dough, that make not only Vietnamese children but also adults feel so interesting...

Art performance

Vietnamese Water Puppet

Vietnamese Water Puppet

Water puppetry is a tradition, appeared in the 11th century CE when it originated in the villages of the Red River Delta in northern Vietnam. Today's Vietnamese water puppetry is a unique art on the ancient Asian puppet tradition.

Costumes

Dao's traditional costume

Dao's traditional costume

The Dao (pronounced Zao) are the 9th largest ethnic group in Vietnam with a population of just under 500,000.

Architecture & Fine-arts

Admire the famous architecture of Saigon Central Post Office

Admire the famous architecture of Saigon Central Post Office

Together with the Notre Dame Cathedral, Saigon Central Post Office is iconic buildings, tourist attractions as much for its architecture as its history.

Markets

Ben Thanh market in Ho Chi Minh City

Ben Thanh market in Ho Chi Minh City

Ben Thanh market is one of Saigon's most famous landmark. The market has been set up since the French occupation.