Multi- Cultural Week

Socialist Republic of Vietnam Continent: Asia (southeast) On the South China Sea Current Population: 87,840,000 Official language: Vietnamese How to say hello: Xin cháo Pronunciation: m/word/xin_ch%C3%A0o/ m/word/xin_ch%C3%A0o/ Other languages: H’mông, Chinese and many others

Natural Beauty in Vietnam Mountains, valleys, and beaches Luxurious Resorts Son Doong Cave Once considered a closed country, tourism became popular in 1990.

Hanoi, the Capital of Vietnam Capital of North Vietnam before the Vietnam War. In 1976, it became the capital of the reunified Vietnam Situated along the banks of the Red River Over 2 million residents

Ho Chi Minh City Formerly Saigon (until 1975) South Vietnam an independent anti- communist republic fought against the Viet Cong Largest city 9 million residents

Religion Main religion: Buddhism, Confucianism, Taoism Other religions: Christian, Catholic, Hóa Hào, Cao Dái Hanoi Cathedral Dau Pagoda

Popular Dishes  Vietnamese food is very healthy.  Some traditional dishes are vegetarian—influenced by Buddhist values.  Dishes are full of fresh herbs, vegetables, soy sauce, rice and much more.  Common meats used are chicken, pork, and beef, and various types of seafood

Pho (beef or chicken broth with rice noodles) Summer rolls: rice paper rolls that often include shrimp, herbs, pork, rice vermicelli and other ingredients wrapped up and dipped in nước chấm or peanut sauce. nước chấm Bánh Mi: a Vietnamese submarine sandwich

Traditional Clothing Ao Dai A national Vietnamese costume, now worn mostly by women It is a long gown worn with trousers; a symbol of Vietnamese feminine beauty

Government Type: Socialist Republic a communist state achieved independence from France in 1945 President: Nguyen Minh Triet Prime Minister: Nguyen Tan Dung In April 2006, several government leaders, including the president and the prime minister, resigned as a result of multiple allegations of corruption. Vietnam became the 150th member of the World Trade Organization in January 2007

Other Facts National Holiday: September 2 (1945) Became independent from France Literacy Rate: 94% (2003) Wedding Traditions: The bride wears an Ao Dai (usually pink or red); the bridegroom wears a blue Ao Dai or a suit. The bridegroom's family goes to the bride's house to ask her parents to take her to her new home Currency: dong