On every adventurer’s bucket list, Vietnam is considered a must-visit place due to its unspoiled islands, rich history, vibrant color, and, most importantly, delicious food!
So without further ado, here are some fun facts about Vietnam that will be your catalyst to plan a trip to Vietnam and experience their true culture.
1. The Country Is Home To The World’s Largest Cave
The Hang Son Doong Cave in Vietnam is the largest cave in the world, and uniquely, allows people to camp inside.
This majestic cave dates back 2.5 million years, and campers can set up tents on a site near a colossal stalagmite. This cave is home to some of the tallest stalagmites in the world.
Pearls the size of baseballs have been discovered inside this cave!
2. The Vietnamese Language Has 29 Alphabets Insisted Of 26
They use different alphabets for some of their unique tones in the Vietnamese language, such as “Sac,” “nga, and” hoi,” etc., which requires these different alphabets.
The language is more like a song, which is quite different from monotone languages like English.
3. Vietnamese People Are Very Conscious About Finger Gestures
When you visit Vietnam or come across Vietnamese people, do not use your index finger to point at anyone. It is considered very rude, and instead, you should use your entire hand.
You can also spot Vietnamese people using their two fingers to make a ‘V’ shape while greeting friends, family and strangers alike.
4. Vietnam Is The 2nd Biggest Exporter Of Rice Globally
As much as Vietnamese people love eating rice, a big part of their economy also depends on it.
In 2021-2022, the country exported around 6,500 metric tons of rice globally.
The agricultural sector contributes up to 24% of the country’s GDP, in rice production takes up to 30%.
5. Despite It Being A Tropical Country, You Will Find Snow Here
It may sound unbelievable looking at the country’s geographic location, but it’s true.
The northern part of the country is almost 1600 meters above the mean sea level, making it quite chilly throughout the year.
The location’s particular name is Sapa, famously known as Europe inside Vietnam.
6. Vietnamese New Year Is Celebrated In February
Unlike most countries that follow the Gregorian calendar, Vietnamese people use the Lunar Calander, which is why the locals celebrate the new year (known as Tet) in the month of February.
Most of the festivals are celebrated according to the Lunar calendar.
7. The Country Is Home To More Than 3,000 Wonderful Islands
Apart from more than three thousand small and large sized isolated islands, the country is also home to two large archipelagos named Hoang Sa and Truong Sa.
The largest island of all is Phu Quoc, with a surface area of 574 square kilometers, and the smallest is named Con Co island, with a size of only 2.5 square kilometers.
8. The Unique Art Of Water Puppetry Originates In Vietnam
This ancient art of water puppetry beautifully depicts Vietnamese culture and traditions.
This art is passed on from generation to generation and portrays the lives of the ancient Vietnamese people, especially the farmer groups.
This art form was created for the entertainment of Viternamese royalties but now can also be enjoyed by commoners. And trust me, you have to go to a show or 3!
9. Vietnam Has 8 UNESCO World Heritage Sites
The heritage sites include:
- An ancient town named Hoi An
- Halong Bay
- Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park
- The Cluster of Hue monuments
- The Ho Dynasty Citadel
- My Son Sanctuary
- The Trang An Landscape area
- The Thang Long Imperial Citadel.
10. Tube Houses Are Widespread In Vietnam
As the country’s population density is very high, especially in the cities, space for homes has become quite limited.
More than 95 million people live on a land of over 300K square kilometers. Tube houses have become the best solution for families with many generations living together.
11. Vietnamese People Prefer Street Stalls To Expensive Restaurants
Good food is mainly associated with Michelin-star restaurants or fancy places, but it is not the case in Vietnam. Locals love their street food and choose food stalls over fancy restaurants on any day!
12. In Spite Of Being A Developing Country, Vietnam Has A Literacy Rate Of 97.75%
As a developing country, Vietnam has a striking literacy rate and has only been going up the graph.
Compared to the previous year, the rate has gone up by 1.44%.
13. Khau Vai Love Market Festival For Lovers Is One Unique Festival
Unlike traditional markets, where you buy and sell things, you don’t do that here.
This unique Vietnamese annual event is organized specially for ex-lovers who couldn’t get married!
This extraordinary festival is inspired by a legendary sad love story where a couple from different tribes fell in love but couldn’t get married.
It is celebrated every lunar-March 26th, and hundreds if not thousands of couples who had to leave their love story unfinished meet at this market.
14. You Can Buy Snake Wine (From A Real Snake!)
Yes, you read it right, SNAKE wine!
It is an unusual but very popular drink in Vietnam, where snakes or scorpions are put in a bottle of rice wine. If you are a wine enthusiast and aren’t afraid of reptiles, then this will be a must-try!