Vietnamese Culture and Cuisine Essay

Vietnam is a country with a rich history, a rich culture, and unique and diverse cuisine. The country is located in Southeast Asia, spanning about 331 km2 and with a population of about 96 million people (World Population Review, 2019). The densely populated country has a rich cuisine due to its favorable climatic conditions and influences from other countries, including China, France, and the United States (Vietnam, 2019). Although Vietnam has its traditional cuisine, influence from other countries has diversified its cuisine to include a variety of dishes and snacks.

The most dominant food in Vietnam is rice. Rice is produced in bulk, making Vietnam the world's third-largest exporter of rice (Vietnam, 2019). Vietnamese people value rice not only as physical but also spiritual. Rice is believed to be a gift from Mother Goddess with people using it for worship (Altotrip, 2014). Rice is prepared in various forms, including steamed rice, rice cakes, and rice porridge. Rice is also used to produce wine, vinegar, noodles, and spring rolls. The same way Americans adore bread with every meal having a form of bread, Vietnamese also dominate their meals with rice

The country's favorable climatic conditions and fertile soils have influenced the cuisine. The conditions have enabled farmers to practice agriculture, resulting in many types of foods. A typical meal in Vietnam is full of vegetables and fruits. Fruits are in such abundance that they are used as a dessert. In South Vietnam, sugarcane is popularly used with sugar added to food and shrimps wrapped in sugarcane. Other vegetables grown in Vietnam include soybeans, potatoes, coffee, and potatoes (Vietnam, 2019). The good climatic conditions have also enabled the rearing of livestock including, pork, poultry, and cows. As a result of the climatic conditions, Vietnam has intensified its agricultural production, which has enriched its cuisine with not only a variety of fruits and vegetables but also meat from various animals.

Other countries have also greatly influenced Vietnamese food culture. To start with, Vietnam was dominated by China for thousands of years. The Chinese passed on their food culture, including stir and deep-frying, and the use of chopsticks (Vietnam, 2019). France, who colonized Vietnam also added to the cuisine of Vietnam. The French brought with them snacks, including French bread, butter, cakes, and coffee (Vietnam, 2019). The Vietnam War also brought the influence of the United States. The main food influence from the United States was ice cream with many ice cream factories set up during the war. Due to Chinese domination, French colonization, and the Vietnam War, the Vietnamese food culture is diverse with foreign dishes and snacks.

Customs also play a significant role in Vietnamese food culture. Food is served in common dishes with the family sitting on mats (Vietnam, 2019). Each person uses chopsticks, which were introduced by the Chinese, to retrieve food from the dishes (Vietnam, 2019). The family also shares a common dipping sauce. This setting gives the family time to bond and share. Another custom practiced by the Vietnamese is the preparation of tea which is the most common beverage. It is custom to serve visitors with tea which is therefore prepared in the morning.

Conclusion

In conclusion, although the Vietnamese culture has played a significant role in dictating their cuisine, influences from other countries have also contributed to the cuisine. The favorable climatic conditions have enabled the production of rice which is the staple food, fruits and vegetables, and also the rearing of livestock. The custom of the Vietnamese has also ensured that mealtime is family time with food shared among family members using common dishes. Overall, Vietnam has a rich cuisine influenced by its culture and interactions with other countries.

References

Alotrip (2014, Oct 15). Vietnam Food Culture Overview. Retrieved from https://www.alotrip.com/about-vietnam-culture/vietnam-food-culture-overview

Vietnam (2019). Food in Every Country. Retrieved from http://www.foodbycountry.com/Spain-to-Zimbabwe-Cumulative-Index/Vietnam.html#ixzz60nPMYgoC

World Population Review (2019). Vietnam Population, 2019. Retrieved from http://worldpopulationreview.com/countries/vietnam-population/