Hello ladies and gents this is the Viking telling you that today we are talking about
Vietnam
Vietnam is slowly becoming a hot travel destination. Although it may not be considered one of the “must see” countries by some, Vietnam still has a lot to offer travellers. With unspoiled islands, beautiful beaches, delicious food, fascinating culture and amazing history, this incredible country is waiting for you to explore. If it does not sound enough to convince you to come, here are 5 interesting facts about Vietnam to surprise you.
Fact 1: Snow in a tropical country
The climate in Vietnam is greatly impacted by the monsoon, which is characterized by many sunny days, rainfall and high humidity. Temperature ranges between 17-29 degrees Celsius all year round. However, you still can catch up snow at the right time at the right place. Sa Pa is a charming, mountainous town in the North of Vietnam along the border with China. Between Decembers and February, the temperature can drop below 0 there. Although snowboarding and sledding are not common in Vietnam, you can still have fun in Sa Pa with other winter activities such as making a snowman, snowball fighting or simply watching the snowfall.
Fact 2: Largest cave in the world
Located in Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park, Quang Binh Province of Vietnam, a newly -discovered cave system approximately 5.5 miles long, 650ft wide, and 500ft tall offers spectacular and enormous opportunities for cave explorers. The cave system is made up of more than 150 individual caves and has many awe-inspiring subterranean features such as a giant stalagmite, fields of pre-historic algae and cave pearls. It is debatable whether this is truly the world’s largest cave but it is definitely worth exploring.
Fact 3: Facts about the Vietnamese language
The Vietnamese literature and language are strongly influenced by China due to more than 1000 years of colonization. The Vietnamese written language originally made use of Chinese characters until the 13th century when Vietnam developed its own script called chu nom, with the later adoption of Latin alphabet with diacritics in the 17th century. Spoken Vietnamese is tonal. Though the grammar of the Vietnamese language is relatively simple, 6 tones are quite challenging for learners. A small change in tone changes the meaning of the word. See example below:
Level tone - not emphasized anywhere: ma = ghost
Hanging tone - a grave accent over a vowel: mà = but
Sharp tone - an acute accent over a vowel: má = mom
Asking tone - a hook-like symbol over a vowel: mả = grave
Tumbling tone - a tilde over a vowel: mã = horse
Heavy tone - a point below a vowel: mạ = baby rice plant
Fact 4: Teachers are highly respected
In some Western countries, the teaching career has received less attention and become undervalued, so it’s cool to see teachers get respect in Vietnam. There is even a national day to honour teachers, that is Vietnamese Teacher Day which is held on the 20th of November annually. On this special day, students express gratitude and respect to their teachers. This special day is usually celebrated at schools with fun activities such as singing, dancing, recitals, sports, and exhibitions. Alumni often bring some flowers and gifts and visit their teachers at their homes.
Fact 5: Ho Chi Minh's embalmed body on display
Ho Chi Minh, the first president of Vietnam, also known as Uncle Ho, died in 1969, and his body is now displayed in a mausoleum located in Ha Noi capital. For many Vietnamese, this place is a destination of religious pilgrimage. If you want to see Ho Chi Minh’s corpse but feel reluctant due to long queue lines, think again! Actually, the lines move really fast. Visitors are not allowed to pause to take a picture. You are expected to move along while watching. The mausoleum is typically closed from September to December as it is said that the body is brought to Russia annually for maintenance.
And as always have a chilled day from the Viking
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