- 1). Serve traditional Vietnamese foods, such as pho, which is Vietnamese soup, or sticky rice cakes. You could also serve pasta dishes incorporating meats with vermicelli pasta or Vietnamese fried egg rolls and spring rolls. Provide ample chopsticks and Asian style spoons, as these are the traditional tools used for eating in the culture. Hold a demonstration on how to properly use the chopsticks.
- 2). Ask some of the guests or hosts to come dressed in Vietnamese clothing, such as the traditional dress worn by all classes of women, the ao yem. The ao yem is traditionally composed of either simple, brown material or brightly colored, pink red and blue material.
Have the men wear items worn for everyday use: brown-colored clothing, a turban and wooden shoes, according to Vietnam-Culture.com. Choose natural fibers for the clothing, such as cotton or hemp. - 3). Play traditional Vietnamese music featuring such instruments as the two-stringed fiddle, called the dan nhi, and the four-stringed guitar, know as the dan ty ba. Coordinate the instruments into a production of cheo, which is similar to musical theater in Vietnamese culture. The act consists of dancing, singing, music and magic tricks.
- 4). Ask volunteers to read traditional Vietnamese legends and myths, such as "Shoot at the Moon" or "The Hundred Knot Bamboo." These can be read to the guests or performed as a part of the cheo. Other tales you could include are "The Magic Cross Bow" or "Love Story of My Chau and Trong Thuy."
- 5). Display samples of Vietnamese artwork, such as silk paintings and Dong Ho paintings. Assign someone to the art station to explain the various cultures that influenced Vietnamese art, such as the ancient influence of Chinese art and the more recent impact of French techniques. Also include examples of traditional Vietnamese paper painting, word carving and lacquer painting.
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