GET IDEAS

1. How many handicraft villages have you visited? Where are they? What are
they famous for?
2. Look at the photos below. Identify the handicraft products referred to.
a. b. c.

d. e. f.

Did you know

There are 3,000 traditional handicraft villages in Vietnam, performing many

professional jobs, such as pottery, weaving, traditional paintings, stone, wood…

In recent years, handicraft tourism has become very attractive to tourists traveling to
Vietnam, especially international tourists, thanks to the traditional cultural values and
the creativity in making handicraft products.
vietnamtourism.vn

vietnamtourism.vn

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3. Match the photo with the product and the village

Photos Handicraft products Handicraft villages

a silk Đông Hồ village
b conical hat Quất Đông village
c green young sticky rice Bát Tràng village
d embroidery Chuông village
e folklore painting Vòng village
f ceramics Vạn Phúc village

4. Complete the Vietnam Handicraft Products Diagram

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READING

Bát Tràng Ceramic Village

A. ________________
Bát Tràng, a small village in the north of Vietnam, is about 13 kilometers south east
of Hanoi center, on the other side of Chương Dương Bridge. Why is it popular to
most tourists of northern Vietnam? The answer is its famous, high quality ceramic
and pottery products. If you know anything about Vietnam, you may not be
surprised that Bát Tràng’s vases, bowls, dishes, and many other kinds of ceramic
products have been exported worldwide.
B. ________________
Several documents say that Bát Tràng village was established in either the 14th or
15th century. However, according to the villagers, the village started much earlier
than that. The villagers have two stories concerning the origin of the village. One
of these tells that under the Lý dynasty, in the year 1100 there were 3 scholars who
went on a mission trip to China. While in China they learned many things about the
ceramic craft industry. When they returned to Vietnam they taught the people of
Bát Tràng. The other story dates back to the 10th century, when King Lý Công Uẩn
relocated the capital in Thăng Long. With the establishment and development of the
capital, businessmen and crafters from many areas come to settle down in the area
to work and trade. In Bát Tràng, there was a lot of white clay, so that many potters,
among whom was Nguyễn Ninh Tràng family, came and built kilns. Accordingly,
Bát Tràng has gradually changed from a normal ceramic and pottery village into the
famous ceramic and pottery center that it is today.
C. ________________
To produce a complete product, one must follow 3 steps. The first step is making a
frame. The artists select the clay, treat it and start making a raw product. It must be
molded to get the best appearance. Secondly, they decorate and cover it with glazes.
Last but not least, the raw products are baked in a kiln for 3 days and 3 nights. There
are several kinds of kiln, yet the temperature must be at 1200 or 1300 degrees
Celsius. After baking, products are brought out, classified and repaired in case there
are mistakes.
D. ________________
Bát Tràng products are divided into 3 kinds based on the purpose of use.
Page | 3
Decorating the product
Utilitarian wares: including plates,
bowls, teacups, kettles, wine bottles,
flowerpots, vases, jar… What differs is
that they are thicker than Chinese ones.
Religious wares: comprise lamp
stands, candle holders, incense burner,
altar boxes, swords… These are
valuable for collectors because of
inscription of the production years, the
names of the producers and the potters.
Decorative objects: house models, altars, statues and architectural fixtures
E. ________________
The special trait is the varied decorations on the products. Thanks to a long–lasting
history and development, the village’s works have been accumulated with a lot of
different special designs. One more thing that makes them distinguished is the glaze,
which is of high quality and a variety of colors, such as blue, brown, white, and
moss green.
F. ________________
In fact, there have appeared a number of competitors both domestically and
internationally who take advantages of high technology. Yet most customers prefer
the craft products that contain historical and traditional values.
Hence, Bát Tràng ceramic village has become a popular destination for people
living in Hanoi and foreign tourists who want to understand more about the
historical and traditional values in each handicraft product.
(Adapted from vietnam-beauty.com)

1 Match the headings (1-6) with the paragraphs (A-F)

1. Diversified decoration
2. History
3. Introduction
4. Production process
5. Famous ceramic and pottery products
6. Unchangeable values

Page | 4
2 How is a ceramic product made? Complete the chain diagram below.

Process of producing a complete ceramic product

Select Treat it to make the ______________

suitable make a _____
______ product

decorate, cover it with ______

________ the raw product in 3

days and 3 nights in the ______
in ___________ of 12.000/13.000

The products are brought out,

Perfect products
_____________ or __________.

3 Find words in the texts that match these meanings

1. ceramic a. coating, cover
2. scholar b. inhabit, set up house
3. settle down c. academic, specialist
4. glaze d. be made of clay
5. kiln e. designed to be useful rather than
6. utilitarian attractive
7. cult f. mount up, collect, gather
8. accumulate g. for worship or religious purpose
9. domestically h. locally, internally
10.craft i. handicraft, handiwork
j. furnace

Page | 5
 4 Read the article again and answer the following questions
1. Where is Bát Tràng Ceramic village?
2. What is it famous for?
3. When was the ceramic village originated?
4. How many kinds of Bát Tràng products?
5. What makes Bát Tràng products distinguished?
LISTENING

1 Đông Hồ Village with its famous folk paintings has become an aesthetic
symbol in Vietnam culture. Listen to a talk about Đông Hồ folk paintings.
Answer the questions.
1. Where is Đông Hồ village located?
2. What kind of paper are Đông Hồ folk paintings printed on?
3. What special about this kind of paper?
4. How many colors are used in the paintings?
5. What are the main themes of Đông Hồ painting mentioned?
2 Listen again. Complete the extract with the missing information.
1

 Đông Hồ paintings are printed on Dó or (1) _______ ____________

 The papers are then coated with a (2) ________of paste or pine resin
mixed with (3) ________ to create a bright and slightly glittering (4)
______________.
 There are (5) _________ main colors used in the paintings: black, green,
indigo, red and yellow, which are made of natural materials so they are
very (6) _______________ , and as natural as the natural colors of
flowers and trees
 Đông Hồ folk paintings feature (7) ______________ in 5 categories: (8)
___________, history, blessings, daily use and story-telling. The topics
include people’s daily activities and production. They portray (9)
_________ ___________, landscapes, and activities that imply wishes
for happiness, wealth, bumper crops and effective husbandry.
 Đông Hồ folk paintings have become a (10) __________ of the Kinh
Bắc region. Bac Ninh province is filing a dossier to (11) _________
Đông Hồ folk paintings as a (12) ___________________ recognized by
UNESCO.

Page | 6
SPEAKING
Describing a handicraft product

1. Match the painting with the appropriate theme.

Đông Hồ folk paintings feature 180 topics in 7 main categories: worshipping,
blessings, history, story-telling, legendary figures, scene, and daily use.

Dong Ho painting Theme of Dong Ho folk painting

a. Lợn đàn (corpulent pig with 1. Wishing prosperity, happiness and

suckling piglets) luck
b. Đám cưới chuột (Mice wedding) 2. Reflect Vietnamese social
c. Hứng dừa (Catching coconut) commentaries
d. Đánh ghen (Jealously) 3. Reflect Vietnamese legendary figures

e. Chăn trâu thổi sáo (boy sitting on a 4. Reflect daily life and daily activities
buffalo and playing flute) 5. Worshipping
f. Đấu vật (Wrestling) 6. History
g. Đàn gà (Chicken Family) 7. Scene

2. Watch a video about How to describe a Đông Hồ folk painting. Fill in the
blank with the missing information.
Name of the painting: (1) _______________________

Theme: (2) _________ Paper: (3) _________

Color: (4) ____________

Figures: (4) _____________

Page | 7
 USEFUL LANGUAGE
The theme: The painting represents/ reflects/ illustrates the wish for prosperity and
happiness
The figures:
 Đám cưới chuột (Rat's wedding) is a famous painting which features a wedding
march of rats with the rat bride and groom and other rat guests delivering gifts to a
big cat in hope that the cat will leave the happy "couple" alone.
 …celebrates daily activites.
The paper:
 The painting are printed on / are created on …
 The printing paper is made from …
The color:
 The black color is taken from …
 … is created by powder of…
 … is made from a powder mixture of…

3. Choose one of the following Dong Ho folk paintings and describe it. The
USEFUL LANGUAGE can help you.

Pigs Mice wedding

Catching coconut Playing flute on a buffalo

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WRITING
Make meaningful sentences to introduce about Van Phuc Silk village
Silk - Van Phuc village
1. Van Phuc silk village / situated / the bank of Nhue River / about 10km southwest
/Hanoi Old Quarter.
……………………………………………………………………………………
2. Van Phuc village/ renowned / its traditional weaving and premium quality silk
products.
…………………………………………………………………………………..
3. Van Phuc / most ancient silk village,/ over 1,200 years of history.
…………………………………………………………………………………..
4. It produces the best silk in Vietnam.
…………………………………………………………………………………..
5. Van Phuc silk is known for its smooth, lightweight and elegant appearance.
…………………………………………………………………………………..
6. A traditional kind / silk / called ‘Van Silk’, / which / been / traditionally /
produced / Van Phuc / very insulative.
…………………………………………………………………………………..
…………………………………………………………………………………..
7. This kind of silk/ the ability / make the person wearing it / feel cool /during /
summer / and / pleasantly warm / winter.
…………………………………………………………………………………..
…………………………………………………………………………………..
8. Van Phuc silk producers / expand / their silk garment goods / include/
embroidered silk / wrinkled silk / double layers of silk / and / a wider variety /
silk colors / to satisfy / varied demand / their silk.
…………………………………………………………………………………..
…………………………………………………………………………………..
FOLLOW-UPS
Discuss and answer the following questions
1. What is handicraft?
2. What are traditional handicraft products of Vietnam? Describe one.
3. How can handicrafts help develop tourism of a country?

Page | 9
 UNIT 6 PERFORMING ARTS
GET IDEAS
1. Look at the photos. Do you know which performing art is in the photo?

1. ___________________ 2. ___________________ 3. ___________________

4. ___________________ 5. ___________________ 6. ___________________

2. Vocabulary
Match the types of Vietnamese performing arts in column A with the definitions
in column B.
A B
1. Nhã nhạc a. an elaborate form of music which features an
extensive array of musicians and dancers, dressed in
2. Ca trù extravagant costumes.
b. An ancient form of chamber music which originated
3. Tuồng in the imperial court.
c. A theatre form strongly influenced by Chinese
4. Cải lương opera, it transitioned from being entertainment for
the royal court to travelling troupes who performed
5. Chèo for commoners and peasants, featuring many well-
known stock characters.
Page | 10
 6. Rối nước d. A kind of modern folk opera originating in South
Vietnam, which utilizes extensive vibrato
(Water techniques.
e. The most mainstream of theatre/music forms in the
puppetry) past, enjoyed widely by the public.
f. a split-bamboo screen obscures puppets which stand
in water and are manipulated using long poles
hidden beneath the water.
READING
1. Look at the photos below. What does each one refer to?
2. Name the figures in the photos
3. Read the article about Vietnamese water puppetry. Match each paragraph
with the appropriate heading.
i. Cultural belief
ii. History
iii. The puppets
iv. The skits’ themes
v. Festivals with water
puppetry
vi. Water
vii. The puppeteers
viii. The stage and music

Vietnam Water Puppetry

A. _________________
Vietnamese Water Puppetry originated from the Red River Delta of Vietnam in the
tenth century. Water puppetry is deeply imbued with the cultural characteristics of
the people of this area. This unique art first appeared around the 12th century, when
post-harvest, artists who were also farmers would gather to perform and relax. The
art form remains to this day in many localities in the Red River Delta, called Phường
múa rồi nước such as Đào Thục (Đông Anh, Hanoi), Hồng Phong (Ninh Giang),
Thanh Hải (Thanh Hà, Hải Dương), Bảo Hà (Vĩnh Bảo, Hải Phòng), Nguyên Xá,
Đồng Ngư (Bắc Ninh), and Nam Chấn.
B. ________________
Water puppetry was the lively creation of farmers who spent their days in flooded
rice fields. In ancient Vietnam, the rural Vietnamese believed that spirits controlled
all aspects of their life, from the kitchen to the rice paddies. That is the reason why

Page | 11
the farmers in this region devised a form of entertainment and worship to satisfy these
spirits.
C. _______________
At some point, they discovered that water was an excellent medium for puppetry: it
not only concealed the puppeteers' rod and string mechanisms, but it also provided
exciting effects like waves and splashes.
D. ________________
For over a thousand years, performers’ feet in Vietnamese Water Puppet Theater
have suffered in the cold and wet conditions. Water puppetry is performed in a chest-
deep pool of water, with the water's surface as a stage. The puppeteers stand behind
a screen and control the puppets using long bamboo rods and string mechanism
hidden beneath the water surface.
E. _______________
The puppet is carved out of wood and often weighs up to 15 kg. A large rod supports
the puppet under the water and is used by the puppeteers to control them. The
appearance is that of a puppet moving over the water. The puppets enter from either
side of the stage, or emerge from the murky depths of the water.
F. _______________
A traditional Vietnamese orchestra provides background music accompaniment.
Singers sing the songs which tell the story being acted out by the puppets.
Performances of up to 18 short scenes are usually introduced by a pig-tailed bumpkin
known as Tễu, and accompanied by a small folk orchestra. The musicians and the
puppets interact during the performance; the musicians may yell a word of warning
to a puppet in danger or a word of encouragement to a puppet in need.
In addition to singers and decorations setting the stage for each particular scene,
traditional musical instruments like drums, wooden bells, cymbals, horns, two-
string Chinese violins and flutes help to create the style of water puppetry. It’s
believed that water puppetry combines sculpture, architecture, painting, music,
stage and literature.
G. _____________
The theme of the skits is rural and has a strong reference to Vietnamese folklore. It
tells of day-to-day village life in rural Vietnam and Vietnamese folk tales that are
told from older generations to younger generations. Of which stories of the harvest,
of fishing and of festivals are highlighted.
Water puppets bring wry humor to scenes of farming, fishing, festival events such as
buffalo fights, and children's games of marbles and coin-toss. Fishing turns into a
game of wits between the fisherman and his prey, with the fisherman getting the short
end (often capturing his surprised neighbor by mistake).
Besides village life, legends and national history are also told through short skits.
Lion dogs romp like puppies while dragons exhale smoke and shoot sprays of water
at the audience. Tễu, a pig-tailed bumpkin, is the character who usually plays the role
of introducing the performances. Spotlights and colorful flags adorn the stage and
Page | 12
create a festive atmosphere. There have been 17 water puppet shows restored in
Thăng Long Water Puppet Theater in Hanoi including Bật cờ, Chú Tễu, Múa rồng,
Em bé chăn trâu, Cày cấy, Cậu ếch, Bắt vịt, Đánh cá, Vinh quy bái tổ, Múa sư tử,
Múa phượng, Lê Lợi trả gươm, Nhi đồng vui chơi, Đua thuyền, Múa lân, Múa tiên,
Tứ linh.
H. ________________
Water puppetry has always gone hand in hand with festivals. Each Lunar March 13,
Bồ Dương villagers (phường rối nước Bồ Dương, xã Hồng Phong, Hải Dương) hold
a festival to commemorate their tutelary god. Aside from worship, the festival is also
an opportunity for villagers to relax by watching water puppetry, fireworks display,
flying kites and entering cock-fighting contests. The festival always attracts
thousands of people. Village festivals are a great way to relax for farmers and artists
alike.

4. Answer the following questions

1) When was water puppetry first appeared in Vietnam?

2) Where was it originated?
3) Where is water puppetry performed?
4) What’s special about the water as a medium for puppetry?
5) How is a puppet created?
6) Who or what are the puppets visualized for?
7) How do the puppeteers control the puppets?
8) Who is Tễu in a water puppetry show?
9) What is the skit?
10) What are the themes of the skits?
11) Why is Water puppetry believed as a combination of sculpture, architect,
painting, music, stage and literature?

5. SUMMARIZE

Describe Water Puppetry in your own words. Use the Graphic Organizer below to help
you.

Page | 13
LISTENING

1. A presenter is talking about Chèo, a Vietnamese

famous traditional performing art. Listen to the first
part of the talk and answer the following questions.

a) When was Chèo originated?

b) Where does it have roots?

2. Listen to the second part and complete the missing information

Definition
Chèo is an (1)_______ folk art performance with stories composed by
(2)__________ author-performers and orally “passed on” to fellow performers.

Chèo repertoires
Famous national Chèo repertoires are Trương Viên, Kim Nhân, Lưu Bình –
Dương Lễ and Quan Âm Thị Kính, which are considered treasures of the
traditional stage.

Significant features
Stories  Chèo stories can be (3)_________, poetry, (4) _________ or even
daily life.
 Chèo stories may sometimes be romantic or (5)_________,
sometimes in an amusing or (6)__________ way.
 (7) __________ __________ and magic are also brought into
the play.
Music  Chèo plays are performed by (8) _______ _______ with
pantomime, instrumental music and dances, combined with
instructive or interpretative sketches.
Characters Chèo uses (9) _________ _________ characters -usually a hero, a
heroine and a (10) __________ - who are instantly recognizable to
the audience.
Stage A Chèo play could be put on the stage of a (11) _________
________, or on one or two bed mats spread in the middle of a (12)
_________ ___________.

Page | 14
SPEAKING
Describing a performing art
1. Work in three groups. Each group USEFUL LANGUAGE
studies about one type of Vietnamese
traditional performing arts assigned  …. was originated in ………
below.  … has its root in …….
2. Note down the information about:  Cheo plays are performed by ….
 Name and definition  Cheo uses ….

 Origin  … a wonderful combination of

 Different name
 Famous repertoires/pieces of art
 Significant features: stories,
characters, music and stage
……
 … a fantastic blend of ………..
 Cheo reflects the …values of ….

Group A – Tuồng Group B – Ca trù

Group C – Quan họ singing Group D – Nhã nhạc

3. Use the language in the box to help and share with other groups

Page | 15
WRITING
1. Imagine you are a
reporter for the
Svietnam program on
television. Title Introduction

Write a TV report
about a traditional History Features
performing art of your
country.
Your report should
include:
 Some images of it
 The introduction
 Brief history
 Significant features
2. Make an audio guide
to a group of foreign
tourists.
Start with Welcome
to…!

Page | 16
HOMEWORK

Exercise 1. Complete the text giving an Overview of Vietnam traditional

Performing Art with the missing words or phrases.

adorned split-bamboo diverse mainstream court

puppets theater depicting entertainment dance

Vietnam Performing arts – An Overview

Traditional Vietnamese music is extremely (1)___________, consisting of many

different styles varying from region to region. The widely known is Imperial Court
music that was performed in the Vietnamese (2) _________ during feudalistic times
from Tran Dynasty to Nguyen Dynasty. It features an array of instruments, featuring
musicians and dancers (3) __________ in elaborate garb. Besides, Quan họ has a long
tradition in Vietnam while Ca trù has been considered to recognize as Intangible
Cultural Heritage.
As regard traditional (4) __________, Cải lương remains very popular in modern
Vietnam in comparison to other folk styles. Cheo singing is the most (5)
___________of theater forms in the past and enjoyed widely by the public. Tuồng
singing, on the other hand, was transitioned from being (6) ____________for the royal
court to traveling troupes.
Vietnam has 54 ethnic minority groups; each one has their own traditional (7)
__________. There are several traditional dances performed widely at festivals and
other special occasions, such as the lion dance.
When watching a water puppet show, do you know that it originated in the 12th
century? In a show, the (8) ___________standing in water are obscured by a (9)
______________ screen and manipulated by long poles hidden beneath the water.
Epic stories are sung with many different characters, often (10)
____________traditional scenes of Vietnamese life.

Exercise 2. Reading Comprehension

"Ca tru" singing is an old form of singing in the North of Vietnam that originated and
flourished around the 15th century. In different regions, "ca tru" singing has different
names such as "A dao" singing, "co dau" singing, "nha tro" singing, etc. "Ca tru"
singing itself originally used to be a form of entertainment for royal court, wealthy
people and scholars in the feudal era.

These performances are a blend of poems, singing and traditional instruments

(including castanets, “dan day” and “chau” drum). The Castanets (called “phach” in
Vietnamese) are a couple of small wooden sticks and a piece of bamboo to beat the
Page | 17
sticks on. “Dan day” is a unique traditional instrument of Vietnam. Its structure is quite
similar to a guitar, but it has 3 strings and a wooden trapezoidal body. The “Chau”
drum has an ordinary appearance. But the special feature of “chau” drum is the
drumstick because the drummer uses only one drumstick while playing.

A “ca tru” band consists of three people: a female vocalist (normally called “dao” or
“ca nuong” in Vietnamese), a male instrumentalist (“kep”) and a male drummer (called
“quan vien” in Vietnamese). While singing, the singer plays castanets for the beat. The
instrumentalist assists her by playing the “dan day”. The drummer (usually the
composer of the song performed) also sits with them and beats the “chau” drum to
express his feelings about the performance. If he beats the “chau” drum once, it means
“praise”. If he beats the drum twice, this act means “disapproval”. All three people
wear traditional Vietnamese “ao dai” during the performance.

During the 20th century, “ca tru” singing was at risk of disappearing forever. However,
on October 1st, 2009, “ca tru” singing was officially recognized as an Intangible
Cultural Heritage by UNESCO. At present, there are 63 “ca tru” singing clubs in 14
provinces (or cities) throughout Vietnam.

1. Read the article and decide whether the following statements are TRUE or
FALSE.
1. Ca tru singing is an old form of singing in the North of Vietnam.
2. Ca tru has various names.
3. Ca tru singing is a form of entertainment for royal court, wealthy people and
scholars.
4. It is a blend of poems, singing and different types of traditional instruments.
5. Ca tru singing is performed in a band of three people: dao, kep and quan
vien.
6. Ca tru singing was at risk of disappearing.
7. Ca tru is now an Intangible Cultural Heritage recognized by UNESCO.
8. There are many Ca tru singing clubs around Vietnam to preserve this
heritage.
2. Read again and answer the following questions

1. What does Castanets mean in Vietnamese?

2. What is special about “chau” drum?
3. What is Dan day?
4. What kind of clothes do the band members wear during the performance?
5. When was it recognized by UNESCO as the Intangible Cultural Heritage?

Page | 18
GET IDEAS
1 What festivals are there in your province/ hometown?
What other festivals do you know?

2 Put the correct festivals into the appropriate geographical areas in the
Festival Map of Vietnam
1. Lim Festival
2. Sình Village Wrestling Festival
3. Hung Temple Festival
4. Chol Chnam Thmay Festival
5. Yên Tử Festival
6. Phủ Dày Festival
7. Mid-Autumn Festival
8. Bái Đính Pagoda Festival
9. Elephant Race
10. Hoa Lư ancient capital
11. Hương Pagoda
12. Kate Festival of Chăm People
13. Bà Đen Mountain Festival
14. Tết Nguyên Đán
15. Tết Nguyên Tiêu
16. Viềng Market nam dinh
17. Ra Glai Tribe Festival ninh thuan
18. Village Land Praying Ceremony

Page | 19
 Did you know?

Viet Nam is the land of traditional festivals. According to statistics, every year
Vietnam organizes more than 7,000 traditional festivals all over the country.
These festivals occur all year round, but the majority of the festivals happen in
the spring, after Lunar New Year.

Festivals show the history and are exciting community-based activities,

attracting people from different walks of life. Festivals are very important for
Vietnamese people because they satisfy both spiritual and cultural needs.

READING
1
Read the extracts A- E and match the photos (1-5) with the correct
festival.

1
3
2

A
Lim Festival
The Lim Festival is a special cultural activity in the North. The festival celebrates the "Quan Họ"
folk song which has become a part of the national culture and is a typical folk song well loved in
the Red River Delta region. The Lim Festival takes place every year on the 13th day of the first
lunar month. Visitors come to enjoy the festival and see the performances of "lien anh" and "lien
chi". These are male and female farmers who sing different types of songs in the pagodas, on the
hills, and in the boats.

Visitors can also come to the Lim Festival to enjoy the weaving competition of the Noi Due girls.
They weave and sing Quan Ho songs at the same time. Like other religious festivals, the Lim
Festival goes through all the ritual stages, from the procession to the worshipping ceremony, and
includes other activities.

Page | 20
 B Kate Ceremony

Time: 1st day of the 7th month of the Cham calendar (usually sometime in late September or
early October)
This is biggest festival of the Cham people, taking place in Ninh Thuan and Binh
Thuan Province. The ceremony is held at Poklong Garai and other Cham towers to
commemorate national heroes, ancestors, and deities of the Cham, as well as King
Poklong and King Porome.
People from surrounding areas gather at the towers to attend the simple but very
significant ceremony. After reading from Taoist books and an appearance from a holy
man in the courtyard, everyone enters the tower to witness a female medium and a holy
man washing. There are also prayers, singing of traditional folk songs and a ceremony in
honor of the stone statue of King Poklong garai.
After the rituals, there is performances of song and dance on the river and rituals of
worship in front of the main temple

4
5

C
Lunar New Year (Tet Nguyen Dan)
Tet is the beginning of the new year in the lunar calendar. This is also the time when the
cycle of the universe finishes: winter ends and spring, the season of birth of all living things,
comes.
Tet is an occasion for pilgrimages and family reunions. It is a time when one pays respect
to ancestors and grandparents. It is an occasion when everyone sends each other best wishes for
a new year, stops thinking about unhappy things and says good things about each other.
On the 23rd day of the twelfth month in the lunar calendar, there is a rite to see Táo Quân
(Kitchen God) off. The rite to say goodbye to the old year is held on the 30th day of the month of
the twelfth month by lunar calendar. The rite to welcome the New Year is held at midnight that
day. The rite to see off ancestral souls to return to the other world is often held on the 3rd day of
the first month by lunar calendar after the conclusion of the Tet holidays and everyone has gone
back to work.
There are various customs practiced during Tet such as ancestral worshipping, visiting a
person’s house on the first day of the new year, giving lucky money to young children and old
people, wishing longevity to the oldest people, and opening rice paddies or opening a shop.

Page | 21
 D Hùng Kings’ Temple Festival
The death anniversary of the Hùng Kings, or the Hùng Kings’ Temple Festival has
become one of the greatest national festivals in Viet Nam. Every year, during the third lunar
month, many Vietnamese people head for Nghĩa Lĩnh Mountain, Phú Thọ Province in
commemoration of the Hùng Kings whose regime helped establish Viet Nam as a sovereign
nation.
The Hùng Kings’ Temple festival is held annually from the 8th to the 11th of the third
month in the lunar calendar with the main festival day falling on 10th. Like other festivals in the
northern part of Viet Nam, this festival includes two parts: an incense-offering ceremony and
recreational activities.
The former, an important part of the festival, is held at the Upper temple to express respect
and gratitude from the “Dragon and Fairy descendants” to their ancestors. Offerings to the
ancestors consist of many things such as pigs, goats, cows, Chưng cake, Dày cake and even a
five-fruit feast. After hearing the sound of an old bronze drum, the state representatives, followed
by elders and pilgrims will conduct an incense-offering rite.
These activities occur around the temples with a mixture of both traditional and modern
activities. However, the most interesting activities are the procession marches, the Xoan singing
performance in the Upper temple, and the Ca Trù singing performance in the Lower temple. The
performances were recognized by UNESCO as an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.
Cross-bow shooting, rice cooking, swinging contests, cock fighting, and dragon dancing also
attract many tourists’ attention.

Chol Chnam Thmay Festival

E
Chol Chnam Thmay is the name of the New Year festival of the Khmer people in Southern
Vietnam. It takes place from the 1st to the 3rd in the fourth month of the Khmer calendar. It usually
lasts three days in a normal year and four days in leap year. The Khmer people believe that every
year the heavens send a God called Tevoda to the earth to look after human beings and their lives.
At the end of the year, one Tevoda returns to heaven and another is sent to replace him. Therefore,
on New Year’s eve, most families prepare a party, burn incense and light color lamps to see off the
old Tedova and greet the new one. They visit each other, pray for good luck and participate in
traditional festivities like Ghe Ngo racing, lantern release, and folk dances.
The first day is called Chol sangkran Chmay. On this day, at a selected hour, people take a
bath and put on their best clothes in anticipation of the New Year. They take incense, lamps, flowers
and fruits to a pagoda where they pray for a happy new year.
On the second day, known as Wonbof, Khmer families cooks rice and offers it to Buddhist
monks at the pagoda in the early morning and at noon. This is to show their hopes for rain and
happiness.
On the third day, Lom Sak, statues of Buddha and Buddhist monks are washed in perfumed
water. After that, people return to their houses and wash any statues of Buddha they may have at
home. They offer dishes, confectionery and fruits to ask for happiness for their parents and
grandparents and to be forgiven for mistakes made in the old year.

(Adapted from Vietnam tourist Guidebook)

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2 Match the statements (1-6) with the festivals (A-E)
This festival
2. _____ is for family reunion
3. _____ is/are for pilgrim
4. _____ is for children
5. _____ has/ have marching and singing performances
6. _____ is taken place both in pagodas and houses
7. _____ commemorate national heroes, ancestors, and deities of the Chăm
8. _____ is for the ceremony to wash the Buddha statue in perfumed water
9. _____ includes the incense-offering ceremony and recreational activities.
10._____ has the performances of folk songs
11._____ witness the female medium and the holy man washing
3 Find words in the texts that match these meanings
1. a song originating among a region, passed by oral tradition from one
generation to the next. (Test A)
2. a religious practice to show reverence and adoration for a deity. (Text A)
3. a person who journeys to a sacred place for religious reasons. (text C)
4. a religious or other solemn ceremony or act. (Text C)
5. a god or goddess. (Text B)
6. a formal religious or public occasion, especially one celebrating a particular
event. (Text B)
7. a ceremony or celebration in which a person or event is remembered. (Text
D)
8. a gum, spice, or other substance that is burned for the sweet smell it
produces. (Text D)
9. a year, occurring once every four years, which has 366 days. (Text E)
10. activities or events celebrating a special occasion. (Text E)

4
Summaries
Choose 2 festivals from the Reading and summarize the main ideas about
the festivals
______________________ ________________________

Time:

Place:

Page | 23
 Ethnic:

Origin:

Celebration:

In your own words, describe:

 The entertainment at each festivals
At Lim festival, …
 The best thing about each festival
I think the best thing about the …is…

VOCABULARY
1 Festive Vocabulary
Noun Verb Adjective
1 There are big celebrations The festival It was a public holiday and
on New Year’s Day. ___________ the everyone was in a
New Year. ______________ mood.
2 The festival is a time of Each year, the The celebration brought
____________ festival renews _____________ hope to the
the national spirit villagers.
of the people.
3 The festival is held in March. There was a _________
mood in the village.
4 The parade in the town The parade is always very
square was a very colorful spectacular.
________.
5 Many customs have their A __________ procession
origin in pagan ceremonies. is held through the streets
of the city.

2 Common collocations used when talking about festivals

rich heritage
cultural back
festive season
date tradition
Page | 24
Match the two halves of collocations and complete the following sentences.

1. There is a _______________ of music and dance in Sweden.

2. Jazz is part of the ______________ of the southern United States.
3. The event marks the beginning of the _________________.
4. The tradition ______________ to the Middle Ages.

LISTENING

Hương pagoda festival

1. Listen to a talk about Hương
pagoda festival in Hanoi. Answer the
questions.

1. Where is Hương pagoda located?

2. When is the official opening day of
the festival?
3. How many parts does the festival
include?

2. Listen again and choose T (for true) and F (for false) for the following statement.

1. Hương Pagoda is regarded as Vietnam’s most revered Buddhist T F

pilgrimage site.

2. In 2018 more than 14,000 pilgrims visited the Pagoda. T F

3. The festival lasts for three months from the first to the third month in T F
the Lunar Calendar.

4. The Festival is divided into two parts including ceremonial activities T F

and festival activities.

5. During the festival, tourists can enjoy boat cruises, exploring sacred T F
caves, and white apricot flowers blossom.

Page | 25
3. Fill in the missing information to complete the extract.

Hương Pagoda Festival’s main activities

Ceremonial activities consist of an (1) ____________

____________ ______________ and a (2) __________
______________ in which incense, flowers, candles and fruits are
offered by (3)___________ and other (4) ____________. During the
ceremony, there are two monks performing (5) ___________
_____________.

The festival part includes significant activities like a (6) _________

_________, mountain climbing, and exploring (7) _________
____________. It is believed that climbing up the top of (8)
______________ ____________ and going into the ancient sacred
cave will bring you fulfillment and great success in life.

SPEAKING

Talk about a tradition festival

Work in groups. Talk about one of the Vietnamese festivals that you are interested in.
Try to include the following details:
1. Its origin and meanings
2. Time and place that the festival is held
3. Cultural activities and spiritual products
4. The symbols of the festival
5. Process of the festival: preparation, the festive day and the ending
WRITING – Create a festival brochure

1
What is the best festival you’ve been to?
5
Why? What type of entertainment have you seen at festivals? Plan ahead
2 Think of ONE festival. Complete the missing information about the
festivals.

Page | 26
 Festival 1
Type of event
Where?
What’s it like?
Food?
How long is it?
Extra information
3 What you need
 An assortment of travel brochures
 Various reference materials, print and online, if desired
 Things to Include in a Travel Brochure Handout
 Paper and Art Supplies
4
What to do
1. Choose a festival you would like to go.
2. Collect travel brochures and examine them together.
 Are there maps? photos? diagrams? other illustrations?
 What kind of language and vocabulary is used?
 How is text presented? paragraphs? bulleted lists?
 Are there specific places highlighted? What kind?
3. Learn about what makes a successful travel brochure
 What additional information do they need to make a useful travel brochure?
 Who is your audience for this brochure?
 What qualities of a brochure (maps, diagrams, photos, bulleted lists, etc.)
would help you create a brochure that will be useful for your audience?
4. Make your own festival brochure

Things to Include in a Travel Brochure

Festival
• Brief summary of the setting, with highlights of important places Brochure
• Location, including a map
• Geography
• Historic Sites and Landmarks
• Recreation and Outdoor Activities—parks, sports, water
• Climate and overall weather conditions
• Transportation
• Arts and Culture, including museums, theaters, places to visit
• Languages and Local Dialect
• Food that the area is known for
• Pictures/Graphics
• Additional Information

Page | 27
GET IDEAS
A tourist attraction is a place of interest where tourists visit,
typically for its inherent or exhibited natural or cultural
value, historical significance, natural or built beauty. Tourist
attractions offer leisure, adventure and amusement.

1. Do you know the names of these famous attractions in Vietnam?

2. Do you know where are they exactly in Vietnam?
3. Have you ever visited one of these attractions?

1 2 3

4 5 6

1 Work in groups. Match the places of interests in Vietnam with their

names.
a. Halong Bay b. Son Đoong cave c. Trấn Quốc pagoda
d. Bà Nà Hills Fantasy Park e. Huế citadel f. Hội An Ancient Town
2 What type of attraction is each one? Choose from the list.
f historic monument beach ski resort d theme park palace
cathedral a, bnatural site e citadel c religious site
3 Which of the above attractions are natural attractions? What are the
general features of a natural attraction? Discuss with your partner
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Did you know…

According to The World of Travel and Tourism, there are 4 different types of attractions. They are
called Natural Attractions, Heritage Attractions; Purpose-Built Attractions and Events. The tourist
boards have estimated that there are around _______ tourist attractions in Vietnam. In the travel and
tourism sector, attractions are a vital part as they are what bring in all the tourists from around the
world.

A Natural Attraction is an attraction that has been created by

nature. These are attractions such as caves, waterfalls, seashores and
any other scenic view that wasn’t created by mankind. Halong Bay is
one of the most popular natural attractions in Vietnam.
son doong cave, phong nha ke bang, thac ba
A Heritage Attraction - attractions that are old and have been in
place for many years and are now historical. These are attractions
such as citadels, railways, or battlefields. These attractions are in
place so that people can gain an appreciation of the past. Hoi An
Ancient Town or My Son Sanctuary is a popular heritage attraction
owned by Vietnamese Heritage.
A Purpose-Built Attraction - attractions that have been built
purposely to attract tourists to that area. In Vietnam, there are many
purpose-built tourist attractions ranging from Ho Chi Minh
mausoleum, the One-Pillar Pagoda, the Vietnam Museum of
Ethnology, the Temple of Literature, and Ba Na Hills Fantasy Park.

Events are also attractions that bring in lots of tourists to the area.
These are attractions such as small events like the Southern Fruit
Festival or the Don ca tai tu Festival. There are also huge events like
the Sea-Games. Events play an important part in attracting tourists
because in different parts of the country, some places can't offer a
large amount of natural or purpose-built attractions.

READING
1. Read the article and match the heading (1-6) with the paragraph (A-F)
1. The location
2. The legend
3. Mounts
4. Grottoes and caves
5. Ecological values
6. World Natural Heritage

Page | 29
Hạ Long Bay A. 1

Magnificent Hạ Long Bay, with its 3,000

islands rising from the clear, emerald waters of
the Gulf of Tokin, is one of the natural marvels
of Vietnam. Visitors have compared the area’s
magical landscape of carboniferous chalk islets
to Guilin, China, and Krabi in southern
Thailand. These tiny islands are dotted with
innumerable beaches and grottoes created by
the wind and the waves. The closed-in bay,
which is 180 kilometers northeast of Hanoi,
covers an area of l.500 square kilometers.

B. 2 The legend

The name Hạ Long Bay means Where the Dragon Descends into the Sea. Legend has
it that the islands of Ha Long Bay were created by a great dragon that lived in the
mountains. As it ran towards the coast, its flitting tail gouged out valleys and
crevasses: as it plunged into the sea, the area dug up by the tail became filled with
water, leaving only bits of high land visible, forming thousands of islands and islets.

C. 3 Mounts

Traveling on the bay, one becomes lost in the natural landscape, with stone mounts of
different names: Mount Trống Mái (Hen and Cock), Mount Bài Thơ (Piece of Poem),
Mount Gà Chọi (Fighting Cock) … These stone islets seem to change color from
different views and at different times in a day.
D. 4 Grottoes and caves

Grottoes and caves in Hạ Long Bay bear different names and shapes: Thiên Cung
(Heavenly Palace), Đầu Gỗ (Hidden Logs), Trinh Nữ (Virginal Girl), Sửng Sốt
(Surprise) … These grottoes are closely related to historic legends about Vietnam’s
long wars of resistance against foreign invasions.
E. 5 Ecological values

Apart from the natural beauty, visitors to Hạ Long Bay have the chance to study its
bio-diversity in limestone ecological systems: coral reefs, ponds on the mount peaks,
seashells and riches of vegetation and animals: birds, monkeys, chickens or fisheries
squids…. Scientists and archeologist have discovered archeological sites in the
regions: Đông Mạc, Xích Thố, Cái Bèo … dating back to 5.000 – 10,000 years.

Page | 30
 F. 6 World Natural Heritage

The Word Heritage Committee has twice declared Hạ Long Bay a World Heritage
Site. The first time in 1994 for its natural beauty. In the year 2000 it was recognized
for its global value in geological and geographical structures. The World Heritage
Committee officially recognized Hạ Long Bay as one of the most well-known and
well-liked natural attractions by visitors at home and abroad.
2. Read again and answer the following questions
1. Where is Hạ Long Bay located?
2. What other places do people compare the bay with? Why?
3. What is the total area of Hạ Long Bay?
4. How many islands and islets are there?
5. Summarize the legend that explains the creation of Hạ Long Bay and its
name?
6. Give some names of the islets and grottoes in Hạ Long Bay.
7. Where do these names come from?
8. What are the ecological values of Hạ Long Bay?
9. What are the most important values of the bay?
10. How many times was it renowned as the World Natural Heritage? Give the
exact dates.
4. Match the half in A with the other half in B to make compound words from
the article
A B
1. emerald a. marvel
2. natural b. water
3. innumerable c. landscape
4. marvelous d. legend
5. stone e. beach
6. historic f. mount
7. resistance g. systems
8. limestone ecological h. structures
9. mount i. seascapes
10.archeological j. war
11.geological k. peaks
12. beautiful l. sites
Page | 31
5. Check you answer with your partner. If you have a different answer, look at
the text again together.
6. Work in small groups. Answer these questions.
 Would you like to go on a holiday to Ha Long bay? Why (not)?
 Take turn to tell each other about a special place you have had a holiday?
Decide which is the best place?

LISTENING AND SPEAKING

Describing a tourist attraction
A. Vocabulary

interesting attractive charming

fascinating superb impressive

enjoyable wonderful unforgettable

unusual nice beautiful

worth visiting lovely noisy

worth the trip lively hilly

Describe each of the attractions in Get Ideas to your friends.

Use the adjectives in the box to help you.

Example:

Halong Bay is worth visiting: it’s fascinating. (not attractive)

Tran Quoc pagoda is wonderful: it’s very impressive. (not fascinating)

Page | 32
 B. Speaking

1. Bangkok floating market, Thailand

4 ……………………………………………………

2.…………………………………… 5. ………………………………………………

4. ………………………………………………………….

1.Work in small groups. Look at the map of the world and the five photos.
Match the place names from the box below to the correct photo. Explain your
choice of place.
Photo 1 must be Bangkok floating market in Thailand because I can see
boats with lots of food and fruits in this photo.

Bangkok floating market, Thailand

Hikkaduwa Beach, Sri Lanka Marrakech, Morocco
The Great Wall, China Machu Picchu, Peru

Page | 33
2. Discuss these questions in your groups.
 What do you know about these places?
 What can tourists do in each place, do you think?
3. Listen to Mark Wines describing the Bangkok floating market. Put a tick next to
the things he talks about.
boats weather time of day
colors food transport
clothes activities the rivers
position rice bamboo
cracker table
4. Listen again and complete Mark Wines’ expressions 1-8.
1. Bangkok is a ___________city and sometimes I __________ I’m running
against ____________
2. Here, it _________ ___________ time stands still.
3. One of the things I _________ __________about it is that it’s _______
______________ and it has remained __________ time.
4. I’m here to do _________ __________ and some ________ strolling around.
5. Most of Bangkok floating markets are in the _________ of the city.
6. Floating market is actually quite small in __________to the whole market.
7. Food is really ___________ amazing.
8. What brings me ____________ is that this is where the local sit and that’s
always a good sight.
5. Work in pairs. Using the expressions in Exercise 4, take turns to describe one
of the other photos. The listener should close their book and not look at the
photos.

WRITING
1. Read the task and answer the questions that follow.
This is part of a letter you receive from an English-speaking friend.
Now write a letter to your friend. Write your letter in about 200 words
As part of a school project I have to write about a famous tourist attraction in our
country. Which one should I choose? Can you tell me about this attraction?

Page | 34
 1. What do you need to write?
2. How many words do you need to write?
3. What information should you include?
2. Work in small groups. Choose a famous tourist attraction in your country.
Then think of some adjectives to describe each one.

3. Kirsty lives in Quy Nhon, Vietnam. Read her answer to the writing task.

Dear Oscar,
As you know, I’ve been living in Quy
Nhon for a long time, so why don’t you
write about my city? It’s one of the
largest cities in South of Vietnam. It’s
Ky Co, Quy Nhon famous for Ky Co beach. Ky Co is located
at the foot of Phuong Mai mountain in
Nhon Ly commune, about 25km from Quy Nhon city to the Northeast. From Quy
Nhon, you could hire a motorbike or take a taxi to go to Eo Gio, then hire a canoe
or boat to get to Ky Co. About 100 meters from the shore, you will have a happy
experience when climbing on the basket boat to get onto the island.

Here, you can feel an impressive nature picture with beautiful colors of seawater,
sand, and sky. The seawater’s color is divided into 2 colors, blue inshore and dark
blue offshore. Cliffs form a unique natural swimming pool.

It is very great when you could immerse yourself in the quite, clear seawaters.
The stretching white sand also exalts the beauty of the cost. If you love
adventure, then you could climb onto the cliffs and jump down the sea. Delicious
fresh seafood is another plus point of this place.

I hope this is enough information.

Lots of love,
Kirsty

4. Write a rough copy of your letter.

5. Write the final copy and check in groups.

Page | 35
1

GET IDEAS
1. Which of these attractions in
Hanoi have you been to?
4
2. When was the last time you were
at an amusement park?

3. What is the best attraction you’ve

been on? What is the worst?

Page | 36
4. Work in pairs. Choose some of the places in the box to label the photos.
Vietnam Museum of Ethnology One-Pillar pagoda Hanoi's Old Quarter
Trấn Quốc Pagoda Saigon Notre Dame Cathedral Hỏa Lò Prison
Temple of Literature Thê Húc bridge Đường Lâm ancient village
Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum Bà Nà Hill Fantasy Park Quán Sứ pagoda

READING
A pilgrimage tour in Hanoi
1. Work in pairs or groups. Before the read the article, try to answer these
questions.
1. Which was the Hanoi’s most ancient pagoda?
2. When and where was it built?
3. Who created it?
4. What are the key features of a pagoda?
Now read the article and check your answers.
2. You are going to do a Jigsaw Reading.

Trấn Quốc Pagoda

Trấn Quốc Pagoda is regarded as the most ancient pagoda in
Hanoi. Located beside the West Lake in Hanoi, Trấn Quốc Pagoda,
with its 1,500 years of history is a major cultural symbol of Vietnamese
Buddhism.

The pagoda was originally built on the bank of the Red River during the reign of King Lý Nam
Đế (544-548). At this time it was called Khai Quốc Pagoda. In the time of King Lê Kính Tông
(1600-1618), the pagoda was moved to the Kim Ngư Islet due to the river bank crumbling and
was renamed Trấn Quốc.

Unlike other pagodas, Trấn Quốc Pagoda was built in a very intricate way. Behind the shrine
is the Buddhist trinity followed by corridors, ten shrines and the belfry. In the pagoda, there
are many valuable statues, such as the red statue trimmed with gold of Sakyamouni Buddha's
Parinirvana and many ancient steles.

In 1959, Indian Prime Minister Razendia Prasat offered the Pagoda a Bodhi tree as a gift. The
plant was grafted from the holy Bodhi tree where Sakyamuni sat in zen (meditation) position
25 centuries ago. Now the Bodhi tree is green and luxuriant, shading part of the pagoda's yard.
As a religious relic among spectacle scenery, Trấn Quốc Pagoda is a favourite stop-over of
many foreign visitors and pilgrims.
Page | 37
 Quán Sứ Pagoda

Quán Sứ Pagoda was first built on the land of An Tập village,

Thị Xương district, on the southern gate of the Thăng Long citadel.
Formerly, it was a small Buddhist pagoda constructed during the Lê dynasty in the 15th century
to receive foreign envoys and ambassadors.
In 1934, the pagoda was the headquarters of the Tonkin Buddhist Association.
Since 1942, the pagoda has been restored and expanded many times, with a larger and better
architectural structure. Nowadays, this place acts as the headquarters of the Vietnam Central
Buddhist Congregation, at 73 Quán Sứ Street, Trần Hưng Đạo ward, Hoàn Kiếm district, Hanoi.

Kim Liên Pagoda

The pagoda is located at the tip of a narrow strip of land jutting

into West Lake, in Nghi Tàm village. The pagoda is accessible only
through a small earth path from the village. All the other directions
are surrounded by West Lake. The unique location of the Kim Liên Pagoda makes it look very
serene. Visitors to the pagoda are given a rare chance to enjoy the tranquility and pastoral
solitude in this sacred place.

Legend has it that in the 12th century princess Từ Hoa, daughter of King Lý Thánh Tông led
her ladies-in-waiting to this area. Together they cultivated mulberry and reared silkworms to
make silk. Many years later, a pagoda was built right on the site. In 1771, it was named Kim
Liên (Golden Lotus). The architecture of the pagoda is modeled after the Chinese character
for the number three. This is way the pagoda has three lines of houses. Each rooftop is divided
into two layers to make it eight folds in all.

3. Read the article again and complete the table with the information

Famous Main features

pagodas
Location History Foundation Features
Trấn Quốc
Pagoda

Page | 38
 Quán Sứ
Pagoda

Kim Liên
Pagoda

LISTENING

The Temple of Literature

1. Work in small groups. Look at the
pictures and answer these questions
about the Temple of Literature
1. Where is the Temple of
Literature?

2. What is it?
3. What do you think is the
connection between the Temple of
Literature and modern universities
in Vietnam?

2. Read these notes about the Temple of Literature. Decide what information
you think is missing from each space (number, date, noun, verb, adjective, etc.).
3. You are now going to listen to a radio program about the Temple of
Literature. For each question, fill in the missing information in the numbered
space in the notes above.
4. Work in small groups. Discuss these questions.
 Do you like the Temple of Literature? Why (not)?
Page | 39
  What is most important value of the Temple of Literature?
 How could you attract more tourists to the Temple of Literature?

Temple of Literature
Location: 10 minutes away from (1)___________________
Time: constructed in (2)____________ under Ly Thanh Tong’s dynasty
In 1076: became (3)____________________ of Vietnam.
Structure: The temple is divided into five (4) ______________
 The first courtyard stretches from the (5) ___________ to Dai
Trung gate;
 The second stands out with Khue Van Cac (6) ____________
 The third courtyard is where doctor names were listed on a (7)
_____________ above ________________.
 The fourth courtyard is dedicated for Confucius and his 72 (8)
____________________.
 The last and also furthest courtyard is Thai Hoc house
Amazing numbers: There are a total of (9) _________ tombstones, with names and
origins of (10) _________ __________, corresponding to (11) ______________
examination courses from 1442 to 1779.

SPEAKING

Presenting a built attraction

Stage 1
Work in group. You are going to design and present a new built attraction in your
city. If you can, go to the Internet to find information.
Stage 2
In your group, discuss the following issues and come to agreements.
1. Location
Page | 40
 2. Theme for the built attraction. Try to use your local culture as well as more
international ideas.
3. Key features
Stage 3
Prepare a presentation of your attraction idea. Remember to use signposting and talk
notes when you give your presentation.
Stage 4
Work in new groups. Give your presentation to the people in your group.

USEFUL LANGUAGE

► ‘Signposting’ a talk
When we begin a talk, we say ‘Now, what I’d like to do today is talk about…’
This phrase helps the listener to follow the structure of the talk. It is an
example of ‘signposting’
1. Look at these phrases for signposting.
Which would you use at the beginning of your talk, which during the
main part of your talk, which at the end?
Write B (beginning), M (main part), or E (end)
1. What I’d like to do today is talk about …name your main topic.
2. Today I’m going to talk about …name your main topic.
3. That brings me to my next point, which is …name your next point.
4. Thank you for listening. Does anyone have any questions?
5. So, let’s take a look at …name your next point
6. My second/third point deals with …describe your next point.
7. Let’s move on to …name your next point.
8. Let’s begin, then, with …name your first point.
9. Last but not least, there’s …name your last point.
10. In conclusion, I’d like to say that …
11.I’ve divided my talk into …These are …
12.I’ve been talking to you about …list your main points.
13. I’ll be glad to answer any questions at the end of my talk.
14. Last of all, we mustn’t forget …name your last point.

Page | 41
WRITING
Researching local built attractions
1. Choose four built attractions from your country.
2. Find out more about each one and complete the table.
3. In the final row, include your personal opinion of how exciting and
entertaining the attraction is.

Attraction

Description

Website

Changes in last
20/30 years

Opening
hours/visitors
information

Excitement /
entertainment
Rating 0 to 5

Page | 42
 UNIT 10 RELIGIONS

“There is no bad religion. There are only bad people”.

Nelson Mandela

GET IDEAS

Look at the photos.

Which religions does
each photo represent
for?

What do you know

about them?

TIME TO READ

Text 1

Religion and Beliefs in Vietnam

Vietnam is a country of many religions and beliefs. The Vietnamese people have a
time-honored tradition of practicing their beliefs. Different ethnic groups in Vietnam
have different beliefs linked to their own material and spiritual lives.
Traditional beliefs: Since ancient times, Vietnamese people have believed that every
object has a soul. Because of this, the Vietnamese people worship a large number of
gods. Many of those gods (such as the sun, the moon, the land, mountains, rivers,
forests, etc.) are related to agriculture. Each ethnic minority in Viet Nam has its own
beliefs and customs. Groups such as Tày-Thái, Hmông-Dao still maintain these beliefs.

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Religions: Vietnam has a diverse mix of religions. Buddhism, Christianity, and Islam,
as well as some indigenous religions such as Caodaism, all have a large number of
followers in Vietnam.
Buddhism: There are two sects of Buddhism: Mahayana and Theravada (Hinayana).
Mahayana Buddhism was introduced in Vietnam in the 2nd century B.C, and
Theravada was introduced in Vietnam in the 2nd century A.D. After the 10th century,
Buddhism developed very quickly in Vietnam and became the national religion under
the Lý-Trần dynasty. At present, there are 10 million Buddhist followers, 20,000
pagodas, 38,000 Buddhist monks and many schools offer Buddhist training in Viet
Nam.
Catholicism: Catholicism was introduced in Vietnam in the 15th century by European
missionaries. Catholicism was first popular in coastal provinces such as Thai Binh,
Nam Định, Ninh Bình, Thanh Hóa and Nghệ An, etc., then spread throughout the Red
River delta and cities. At present, there are six million Catholics, 6,000 churches and
15,000 Catholic priests in Vietnam.
Protestantism: Protestantism was introduced in Vietnam in the late 19th and early
20th centuries. However, it was not until 1920 that Protestantism became popular all
over the country. At present, there are one million Protestants and 500 Protestant
churches in Vietnam.
Islam: The Islamic religion was introduced in Vietnam by the Chăm people in the 10th
and 11th centuries. People who practice Islam are called Muslims. At present, there are
100 mosques, 70,000 Muslims and 700 dignitaries in Bình Thuận, Ninh Thuận, An
Giang, Tây Ninh, Đồng Nai provinces and Ho Chi Minh City. There are two schools
of Islam in Vietnam: orthodox Muslims with followers who are Chăm people from
Châu Đốc, Ho Chi Minh City, Tây Ninh and Đồng Nai provinces; and non-orthodox
Muslims (or Cham Ba Ni) with followers who are Cham people from Bình Thuận and
Ninh Thuận provinces.
Caodaism: Caodaism is an indigenous religion created in Tây Ninh province in 1926.
Caodaism worships three Supreme Beings namely Buddha, Jesus Christ and Cao Dai
God. At present, there are 2.3 million Cao Đài followers, 7,100 dignitaries and 6,000
temples in Vietnam. The center of Caodaism is Tây Ninh province.
Freedom of belief and religion: Freedom of belief and religion is a right of all
Vietnamese citizens and is provided by the law and ensured by the State. This is clearly
stated in the Constitution and respected in practice. Article 70 of the Vietnamese
Constitution reads: “The citizen shall enjoy freedom of belief and of religion; he can
follow any religion or follow none”, “The places of worship of all faiths and religions
are protected by the law” and “No one can violate freedom of belief and of religion”.
Religious followers enjoy freedom in the practice of religious ceremonies and in the
expression and exercise of their beliefs. Religious dignitaries and monks are free to

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exercise religious activities in accordance with the law and religious rules. The
ordainment, appointment and assignment of dignitaries are carried out in accordance
with church rules. Recently, religious organizations recognized by the State under the
law have grown in terms of the number of establishments, followers, dignitaries, newly
built worshiping places, bible and book publications and activities provided by its
charter, statute, religious rules and law. Dignitaries and monks enjoy the right to study
or be trained at home and abroad or participate in religious activities abroad. Many
foreign religious organizations have come to Viet Nam for exchanges with local
religious organizations.
Answer the questions

1. What have the Vietnamese worshipped since the ancient time?

2. When were Mahayana and Theravada introduced in Vietnam?
3. Where was Catholicism first popular in Vietnam?
4. How many Protestant and Protestant churches in Vietnam nowadays?
5. What are two Islamic schools in Vietnam?
6. Who do the Caodaists worship?
7. Is there freedom of belief and religion in Vietnam? Give some examples.

Text 2 The predominant religion in Vietnam is Buddhism,

Buddhism which is also one of the world's great religions.
Buddhism was introduced into Vietnam under the
Chinese domination, in the second century B.C.. It was
introduced by Chinese immigrants and by Indian
preachers coming by the sea. Buddhism became the state
religion of Vietnam under Ly Dynasty (1010-1214).
Several kings took the cassock or retired into a pagoda
after their abdication.
Buddhist monks served as counselors to the king at court. Since the Trần Dynasty
(1225-1440), Buddhism has lost the status of a state religion but nevertheless remains
the dominant religion in Vietnam and a major cultural force.
Buddhism was originated in India by Shiddharta (563-483 B.C.). Shiddharta is also
known by the name Gautama Buddha, which means “the Enlightened One." According
to Buddha, people were born into this world to suffer. In order to be free from suffering,
man must suppress its ultimate cause: craving. Craving for wealth, fame, and power,
creates frustration and disappointment. This, in turn, causes suffering. Buddha taught
that a person must not be attached to anything in “this world" and person must live a

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life full of virtue, according to the Eightfold Path. This core of Buddhist teaching holds
that there are eight "right" ways to live virtuously: right views, right thoughts, right
conduct, right speech, right livelihood, right efforts, right mindfulness and right
meditation. An individual's fate in this existence is determined by what he has done in
his previous existence. This is the law of Karma, or cause and effect.
The soul does not perish at death, but reincarnates in another existence. This
reincarnation goes on and on. The Buddhist's goal is to be freed from the circle of
reincarnation and reach Nirvana, which is a state of complete redemption and supreme
happiness. Theoretically, any person may become a Buddha by suppressing craving
and following the Eightfold Path, but those who actually attain Buddhahood are rare.
There are two branches of Buddhism: Hinayana (Little Vehicle) and Mahayana (Great
Vehicle). Hinayana Buddhism, also called Theravada Buddhism, is practiced in Sri
Lanka, Thailand, Cambodia, Laos, and Burma. Mahayana Buddhism is found in China,
Korea, Japan, and Vietnam. Most Vietnamese Buddhists belong to the Mahayana
branch. The Theravada branch exists in communities of ethnic Cambodians and
Vietnamese living in the Mekong Delta.

1. Match the words from the article with their definitions

a. territory i. removal
b. antagonize ii. the offering of oneself as a sacrifice, especially by
burning
c. restricted iii. an area of land under the jurisdiction of a ruler or state.
d. self- iv. the unification of different religions, cultures, or schools
immolation of thought.
e. withdrawal v. limited in extent, number, scope, or action
f. syncretic vi. cause (someone) to become hostile

2. Read the article and decide these statements True or False. Correct the false
ones.

1. Buddhism was introduced into Vietnam under the Chinese domination, in the
fourth century B.C.
2. Buddhism became the state religion of Vietnam under Tran Dynasty.
3. Buddhism originated in China by Siddhartha.
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 4. According to Buddhism, man was born into this world to suffer.
5. Freeing yourself from suffering is the core of Buddhist teaching.
6. There are many branches of Buddhism in the world.
7. Sri Lanka is one of the countries where Theravada Buddhism is practiced.
8. Most Vietnamese Buddhists belong to the Theravada Buddhism.
3. Do you agree with the following ideas? Discuss.
1. An individual's fate in this existence is determined by what he has done in his
previous existence.
2. The soul does not perish at death, but reincarnates in another existence and this
goes on and on.

SPEAKING

Asking and answering about a religion

Student A: You are a tourist on a

religious tour in Vietnam. Ask your tour
guide about religious practices (in a
pagoda/ a church/ a mosque).

Student B: You are a tour guide on a

religious tour to a pagoda /a church / a
mosque. Answer your tourist’s questions

Page | 47
USEFUL LANGUAGE

► Asking and answering about a religion

Questions Answers

What / main religion / your country?  There are …..

What / belief?  Hinduism is …….of our country.
 According to Hinduism, the
Who / worship? universe was never created, it is
What religious practices / do to something that has always been and
worship? that will always exist.
 According to Hindu mythology,
Shiva is the ultimate power.
 It is believed that ….

Page | 48
 UNIT 11 CULINARY
The art of cooking: it’s when you mix craftsmanship at the highest level with creativity.”

Eric Ripert, Chef/Co-Owner of Le Barnardin

GET IDEAS
1. Watch the video about two young people talking about Vietnamese traditional
foods.
 What things are they talking about?
 What is special about these foods?
2. Look at the photos of these famous Vietnamese dishes. Can you name them?
A B

F C
Vietnamese
Cuisine

E D

3. Match the food with each photo and the city where it is famous for.
1. Chả cá Lã Vọng Huế
2. Phở Hội An
3. Bánh bèo Hanoi
4. Bún chả Southern
5. Cá lóc nướng lụi Hanoi
6. Cao lầu Hanoi
Page | 49
Did you know?

Vietnamese food – The Art of Harmony and Moderation

Vietnamese cuisine is distinctive because of its unique fusion of

ingredients. Foods always have an appropriate balance of spicy, sour
and salty tastes. In addition, foreigners tasting Vietnamese food also
have the chance to explore Eastern mysteries because cooking
Vietnamese food is an art of balancing the “Five basic elements of
Eastern philosophy” in order to provide the most nutritious and
delicious meals.

TIME TO READ A

1. Look at the photos.

2. Can you guess: - what delicacy is shown in each photo?

- Where is it from?
3. Match the photo (A-D) with the text (1-4). B

1. banh xeo
__________________

It means "sizzling pancake," and it's just that.

The savory, crisp-edged, crepe-like pancake is
best enjoyed straight from the pan. The batter
is made with rice flour, coconut milk, and
turmeric (hence the nice golden-yellow hue)
and is pan-fried altogether with pork, shrimp, C
and a heap of bean sprouts. The pancake is
then wrapped up with lettuce and herbs.
A good “sizzling pancake” is a crispy crepe
bulging with pork, shrimp, and bean sprouts,
plus the garnish of fresh herbs that are
characteristic of most authentic Vietnamese
dishes.
D
To enjoy one like a local, cut it into
manageable slices, roll it up in rice paper or
lettuce leaves and dunk it in whatever special
sauce the chef has mixed up for you.

Page | 50
 2. cao lau
____________________
This is not something you'll find all over
Vietnam—it's very unique to Hoi An, the historic
trading port town along the central coast. The
most important element of this pork and noodle
dish is the noodles. They're made with water
drawn from one specific well: the thousand-year-
old Ba Le well in Hội An.
The noodles are pre-soaked in the magical well
water along with lye made from wood ash brought
from the Cham Islands outside of Hội An. They
end up having a special chewiness and are served
in some, but not much, broth with thinly sliced
pork, herbs, bean sprouts, and crisp crouton-like
squares of fried dough.
3. pho
________________
No matter what time day or night, a steaming
bowl of this soup is never hard to find in
Vietnam. Just like Pad Thai in Thailand, this
dish in Vietnam is one of the best known
foods in this country.
The soup consists of flat rice noodles and a
meat-based broth. It is usually accompanied
by basil, lime, chili, and other extras on the
side so that eaters can season the soup to their
own taste. The balanced tastes of sweet,
salty, spicy, and citrus are very delicious and
this soup usually becomes an instant favorite
for anyone visiting Vietnam.

4. _____________
spring roll

This is a dish that can be served all year round, and is available at almost every Vietnamese
restaurant around the world. A dish that is so famous that many locals of Vietnam assume it is their
own specialty and give it names such as: “________” by northerners and “_____” by southerners.
Ingredients used for the fried spring roll are different depending on where they are made, but usually
it comprises of lean minced pork, sea crabs or unshelled shrimps, edible mushroom, dried onion,
duck/chicken eggs, pepper, salt and different kinds of seasoning.
Whatever ingredients are used, they are all mixed thoroughly before being wrapped with rice paper
into small rolls. These rolls are then fried in boiling oil. The cooked rolls are usually garnished with
fresh lettuce and herbs.

(Adapted from travel.cnn.com)

4. Give the title for each text with the name of a food.

5. Which dish

i. is savory, crisp-edged, crepe-like pancake banh xeo

ii. is made with a batter banh xeo
iii. is served into sauce spring roll, banh xeo
iv. has the most important element is the noodles cao lau
v. is made with water from an ancient well cao lau
Page | 51
 vi. has the balanced tastes of sweet, salty, spicy, and citrus pho
vii. is made from a mixture of lean minced pork with mushroom, dried onion, eggs,
pepper and salt. spring roll
viii. is wrapped with rice paper into small rolls. spring roll

LISTENING
nghe thuat am thuc
Vietnamese gastronomy
1. Listen to a lecture talking about Vietnamese gastronomy and decide whether
the following statements are TRUE or FALSE

a. Vietnamese cuisine is distinctive with unique fusions of

ingredients.
b. Foods are always kept at an appropriate level of spicy and salty
taste.
c. Vietnamese food is an art of balancing between two basic
elements of Eastern philosophy.
d. Foods with cold nature should be eaten with foods which of
cold nature to offset each other.

2. Listen again and complete the missing information in the extract.

Foreigners tasting Vietnamese food have chances to explore Eastern mysteries because
cooking Vietnamese food is an (1)________
art of ___________
balancing between “Five basic
elements of Eastern philosophy” in order to provide the most nutritious and
(2)__________
delicious meals.

For example,
 Foods with (3) ________
cold nature
_________ should be eaten with foods which of (4)
_______
hot spicy
and (5)_________ nature to offset each other.
 The dipping sauce: the (6)_______
tangy taste ________ of limes with a few thin slices
of (7)_________ is mixed into the sugar-added salty (8) _________
chilis fish sauce - which is
served with the rather plain lettuce and noodle.

Vietnamese (9) _____________

gastronomy is influenced by that of other countries like China or
France, there still a distinctive aspect to it: the look or the nutrition is not its focus;
Vietnamese cuisine sets the (10)_________
taste of __________at
food the highest priority. Due
to this, it can give you unforgettable impression by its taste.

Page | 52
 SPEAKING

Describing food
1. Look at the words in the box and decide if they are taste, texture or cooking
method
2. Use the words in the box to complete the mind map

thanh dam
spicy mild oily dry moist sweet sour bitter savory
mem
crunchy chewy soft tender hard
slippery slimy meaty fishy cheesy
nhot, nay nhua

nuong ngoai troi

boiled fried grilled barbecued baked
ham lam kho len men muoi chua
roasted stewed seared fermented pickled
nuong trong lo
marinated frozen
tam uop

spicy boile fried, grilled, baked

bitter
d

Flavor Describin How to

chessy
g food cook seared
savory marinated, stewed
sweet sour roasted
barbecued
fishy

dry
hard

soft
slimy Texture
moist
tender
slippery
crunchy
mild

3. Add some more words from the reading text.

Page | 53
Speaking
4. Read the extracts introducing some dishes. How do you describe a dish?

How does Sunday roast taste?

The meat is roasted, but it’s often a little dry
so we pour gravy over it.
The vegetables are quite soft and moist.
Depending on the meat served, there might
be more dressing.
Lamb is served with mint sauce, which is a
little bitter.
Pork is often served with apple sauce which
is sweet but it matches the taste of the pork
well.

What’s an okonomiyaki?
It’s like a Japanese savory pancake.
It’s made from flour, eggs, sliced pork
and shredded cabbage.
It’s fried on a hot plate or in a frying pan.
It’s served with a slightly fruity sauce,
mayonnaise and sprinkled seaweed.

5. Pair Work USEFUL LANGUAGE

Ask and answer about a special
food Describing a dish

6. Choose a Vietnamese famous  It’s like ….

food and describe it in your  It’s made from ….
group.  It’s fried / boiled/ stirred …
 It’s served with …..
 The dish carries the meaning …..

Page | 54
WRITING
Write a delicacy poster
Imagine you are attending a Delicacy
Vietnam Fair. You are a
representative from a province in Title: photo

your country.
1. Think of a special delicacy
2. Make a poster of the
delicacy ……………………….
3. Present in groups ……………………………………………
……………………………………………
Suggestion ……………………………………………
 The ingredients ……………………………………………
 Steps of making
……………………………………………
 Art of decoration
……………………………………………
 Meaning

Page | 55
 UNIT 12
TRADITIONAL COSTUMES
“Clothes make a statement. Costumes tell a story.”- Mason Cooley

GET IDEAS

1. What are the people in the photos wearing?

2. Match the clothes in the photos (1-4) with the country (a-d). Which of the
clothes would you like to wear?

a. Scotland b. Japan c. Peru d. China

e. Nigeria f. Vietnam g. Korea h. Russia

1. 2. 3. 4

5. 6. 7. 8

Page | 56
3. Here are some adjectives for describing costumes. Discuss with your partner
and use the words to describe the costume in each photo.

knee-length prim close-fitting light comfortable

lined conservative loose-fitting drip-dry
fashionable/chic vintage stylish voluminous
4. Write the words in 3 to match with their definitions.

showing the shape of your body

clothing or styles are traditional and without decoration
pleasant to wear, hold, or use
clothes do not need ironing
wearing clothing that is popular now
old, but high quality and valuable; the item of clothing may
have been worn before by someone else.
reaching your knees
clothes are made of thin cloth and are not very warm
clothing that is lined has another layer of cloth on the inside
clothes are large, comfortable, and not tight
clothes are neat, sensible, and show very little of your body
voluminous clothing has a lot of material in it and is loose on
your body

TIME TO READ

1. How much do you know about Áo Dài – the Vietnamese traditional costume?
2. Can you describe it?
3. Look at the Photo Gallery on the next page of Vietnamese áo dài through the
centuries. Can you put the correct time under each one? Share with your
partner and then read the article to check the answer
A BRIEF HISTORY OF THE ÁO DÀI
Every country has its national attire. China has the cheongsam, Japan the kimono,
Korea the hanbok, and Vietnam has its áo dài. Like the country from which it
originated, the áo dài has undergone many transformations that have resulted in its
current form.

Page | 57
18th-19th century
___________

__________

_____________

Vietnamese Áo Dài
Through the Centuries
Photo Gallery

_________
_______________ ___________

______________________

Page | 58
18th – 19th century
The history of the Vietnamese áo dài begins in 1744, when Southern Lord Nguyen Phuc
Khoat decreed a front-buttoned gown and trouser to be worn in his reign. The garment
borrowed the general style of the Cham people, who were the original inhabitants of the
land. This was done in order to show respect and to win some support from the Cham.
In the beginning, the áo dài featured a loose form and was used by both men and women.
1910 - 1930
The áo dài in this period was fairly loose, with an open collar which allowed the wearer
to show off any necklaces they might wear. Most of the gowns featured a white-colored
lining, to absorb sweat, since bras hadn’t yet appeared in Vietnam at this time. The flap
was usually placed at 8 inches above the wearer’s ankle.
The beginning of the modern áo dài can be traced back to 1930, when the artist Cat Tuong
(or Le Mur) combined Western dress styles with the traditional áo dài. The new gown
was a fusion of modern and traditional style, with a floor-length and curved flap, and a
covered waist, along with a western-style collar, buttons and sleeves. The Le Mur áo dài
was usually worn with white trousers, or paired with a purse or an umbrella.
1950 - 1960
In 1950, Vietnamese women preferred wearing their áo dài with very high collars and
long straps. Tailors started to make dresses in a more fitted form, similar to what is
typically worn today.
In 1958, Tran Le Xuan or Madam Nhu, wife of Ngo Dinh Nhu (brother of the puppet
president), wore the first bateau neck (or boat neck) áo dài in public. It was a big
innovation considering the hot weather in Saigon, although the change caused a big
debate. Many people thought the neckless áo dài looked too sexual.
1960s and 1970’s
In the 1960’s Dzung, a tailor in Saigon, designed a new structure for the áo dài. The
sleeves of these new áo dài were based on Western fashion techniques and helped to
reduce the clumping of material under the wearer’s arms. The result was the raglan and
mini raglan áo dài. These áo dài were intended for female students. The knee-length panel
design and the looser pants were also popular in this period.
1975 - Today
Áo dài in the period between 1975 and 1990 were richly decorated with embroideries,
paintings and drawings along the front flap. The beauty of Vietnamese women is honored
thanks to áo dài, so it is hard to think of any outfit better-suited for them than the áo dài
itself. Therefore, an áo dài is an ideal souvenir for foreign tourists who visit Vietnam. It
can remind them of the beautiful country that they have been to.
4. Read the text again and answer the questions below
1. When did the first áo dài appear? 18th century

Page | 59
 2. Who designed the first modern áo dài? Ng Phuc Khoat
3. What did people think about the boat – neck aó dài?
4. Who designed a new structure for áo dài during the 1960s and 1970s? What
was the innovation?
5. Why is áo dài an ideal souvenir for the foreign tourists?

USEFUL LANGUAGE

► Asking and answering about traditional clothes

Questions Answers

What / clothes / your country?  Aó dài is ……

When / it/ made?  It can be designed with several colors,
patterns such as: flower, nature and
What / traditional colors? different kind of fabrics.
What / like?  Aó dài symbolizes many personalities of
What / symbolize? Vietnamese women: gentleness, diligence,
kindness and bravery.
When / people wear it?  It represents ………..
 Traditionally, long, wide- legged trousers
are worn under a high-necked, long-
sleeved, fitted tunic with slits along each
side.
 Áo Dài is worn on such special occasions
like

LISTENING
1. What is your favorite traditional clothes?
2. Label the photos below.

a. _________________ b. ________________ c. _________________

Page | 60
3. Listen to a talk about some Vietnamese traditional clothes. Fill in the missing
information to complete the extract.

Brief Description
Áo tứ thân It is the dress of (1)______________ women
It was often made with (2)___________ fabric in _______ colors,
except on special occasions.
The most basic style consists of:
 A flowing outer (3)________, reaching almost to the floor. At
the waist the tunic splits into two (4)__________: a full flap in
the back and the two flaps in the front.
 A long (4)________, worn under the tunic
 (6)__________
 A silk sash which is tied at the waist as a belt
Yếm It is used primarily as an (7)______________.
It is a simple garment with many (8)__________ which is usually
diamond or (9)_________ __________ of cloth draped over a
woman's chest with strings to tie at the neck and back.

The material and colors used varied widely based upon the person's
(10) ____________ and the occasion.
For daily use: yếm in simple (11) ________ and _________.
For special occasions: they could opt for more festive, (12)
__________ colors such as red and pink.
Áo bà ba It is the typical clothing companion with rural southern women in
(13)_____________ from long ago
It is typically a (14)__________, button-down silk shirt with a
scooped neck paired with (15) __________ _________. The shirt
is long and split at the sides of the waist, forming two flaps,
customarily with two pockets

It represents for the warm-hearted, natural and tender beauty of the

rural women.

It clings to the body and often combines with long black or white
(16)________ to emphasize the beautiful curves of the Vietnamese
women

Page | 61
SPEAKING

Describing traditional clothes

Role play

Choose a traditional clothes. Use the words and ideas in GET IDEAS and USEFUL
LANGUAGE to describe it/them.

Student A: You are a foreign tourist. You would like to know more about Vietnamese
traditional clothes. Ask the tour guide.

Student B: You are a tour guide. Answer your tourist’s questions about traditional
clothes

Page | 62
GET IDEAS
1. Look at the photos of some well-known World Heritage Sites around the world
then answer the following questions:
 What are they?
 Where is the World Heritage Site located? Is it a natural, cultural or mixed site?
 Are there any threats to the site?

1 2 3

india- d china e i

4 5 6

f h b

7 8
9

g c a Page | 63
2. Label the photos (1-9) with the name and the country in the box.

India China United State Australia

Turkey England Egypt

a. Cappadocia b. Stonehenge c. The Pyramid of Giza d. Taj Mahal

e. Great Wall f. Grand Canyon g. Statue of Liberty
h. Yellowstone National Park i. Great Barrier Reef

3. Match the terms with definitions

1. Tangible a. is a property valued for both cultural and natural
Cultural attributes.
Heritage
2. Intangible b. is valued for geographical and geological features,
Cultural ecosystems, magnificent scenery and endangered
Heritage c species
3. Natural c. is that which exists intellectually in the culture. It
Heritage is not a physical or tangible item. Including songs,
myths, beliefs, superstitions, oral poetry.
4. Cultural and d. is one that can be stored and physically touched.
Natural Including great monuments such as temples,
heritage (Mixed pyramids, and public monuments; landscapes,
Heritage) books, works of art, artifacts.
e. is “that which records something with a deliberate
5. Documentary intellectual purpose”. A document is considered
Heritage to have two components: the informational
content and the support in which it is recorded.
READING
Discussing in groups
1. In your own words, describe what a World Heritage Site is.
2. Name three World Heritage Sites.
3. Give some reasons why some places are put on the World Heritage list.
4. UNESCO is part of which organization?
5. How many World Heritage Sites are there in the world?
a. 781 b. 881 c. 981
6. How many sites does Vietnam have?
Page | 64
7. Do you think it’s important to protect World Heritage Sites? Why?
8. Think about what the words ‘heritage’, ‘conservation’, ‘preserve’ and ‘protect’
mean
World Heritages and UNESCO

World Heritage is a treasure of the Earth.

Natural sites and historic buildings when left alone can

deteriorate. People can change these places too, just as the
wind and rain can. For these reasons, these places must be
protected. "World Heritage" is the title given to places that
have been chosen from natural sites as well as buildings
around the world that are considered special and that
everyone should help to protect. They may be places of
nature or cultural assets that are the pride of the people in
the country or region where the site is located. They may
also be homes to endangered species. Every one of them is
a treasure of our planet that must be handed down to the
next generation, without regard to different ethnicities or
national borders.

What does UNESCO do?

UNESCO stands for: United Nations Educational,

Scientific and Cultural Organization. As of October
2007, UNESCO has 199 member countries and regions.
This specialized organization belongs to the United
Nations and aims to promote activities for international
peace and human welfare through cooperation and
exchanges in education, science and culture.
It encourages countries to sign the World Heritage Convention, which protects World
Heritage Sites, and it also solicits help from people around the world who can assist
in protecting these places. Since some places including buildings are particularly in
danger of destruction, UNESCO also offers emergency support for their protection.
Its headquarters are in Paris, France.

Are there different kinds of World Heritage? And how many sites are there?

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Cultural Heritage includes monuments, ancient ruins and
buildings that are considered especially valuable and
require protection so that they can be passed on to future
generations. On the other hand, Natural Heritage is valued
for geographical and geological features, ecosystems,
magnificent scenery and endangered species. The third
type of World Heritage is called Mixed Heritage, which
is a property valued for both cultural and natural
attributes.
Around the world, there are now 936 World Heritage Sites (183 Natural Heritage sites,
725 Cultural Heritage sites and 28 Mixed Heritage sites). As you can see, Mixed
Heritage sites represent the smallest number. Spain’s Ibiza Island and Turkey’s
Cappadocia region are Mixed Heritage sites, as well as the Chinese mountains Taishan
and Huangshan, and recently is Trang An Relics Complex in Vietnam.

How are World Heritage sites chosen?

Becoming a World Heritage site means meeting at least one of 10 selection

criteria.
Sites are chosen as World Heritage if they meet at least
one of 10 selection criteria. There must also be a reliable
system in place for site protection and management. Of the
10 criteria, 6 are for culture and 4 are for nature. Only
when both cultural and natural criteria are met can a site
be called Mixed Heritage.
For a building to become a Cultural Heritage site it must
be historically important, a cultural asset, or of
outstanding value as a work of art.
Natural Heritage sites must include a unique natural phenomenon or an area of
outstanding natural beauty. They may also have geographical and geological features
or animals that have played a significant role in the planet’s history or evolution. Or
they may be untouched natural environments that are rich in biodiversity and, in some
cases, are home to endangered species. All selection criteria are very demanding, and
famous places including buildings can only be registered as World Heritage Sites after
passing a difficult test to determine whether they meet any of the criteria.

Natural Heritage sites around the world

Today there are 183 registered Natural Heritage sites around the world, and the United
States and Australia have the most. The United States alone has 10, which include the
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Grand Canyon and Yosemite national parks. It actually has 12 if you include 2 that slip
over the Canadian border. Australia has 11, which include the Great Barrier Reef and
Shark Bay. Australia is also home to 4 Mixed Heritage sites, which shows how rich this
country is with nature. Other countries with multiple Natural Heritage sites are Russia
with 7 sites, Brazil with 7, Congo with 5, China with 7, and Vietnam with 3. The Natural
Heritage site with the most area is the Great Barrier Reef, which is covered with coral
reefs. In contrast, the Valée de Mai Nature Reserve is the smallest, with a registered area
of merely 0.18 square meters. This reserve is in the Seychelles, a group of islands in the
Indian Ocean.
(Adapted from UNESCO.2014)

1. Answer the following questions

1. What is World Heritage?
2. Can natural sites and historic buildings deteriorate?
3. What does UNESCO stand for?
4. Does UNESCO belong to United Nation?
5. What does UNESCO aim to do?
6. When some places like buildings are particularly in danger of destruction, what
does UNESCO do?
7. Are there different kinds of World Heritage? How many sites are there?
8. What is Cultural Heritage?
9. What is Natural Heritage?
10.What is Mixed Heritage?
11.How are World Heritage sites chosen?
12.How does a building become a Cultural Heritage site?
13.Which countries have the most Natural Heritage sites in the world?
14.Which is the biggest Natural Heritage site in the world? And which is the
smallest?
2. What does each number mean?
a. 199 e. 936 i. 183
b. 3 f. 725 j. 4
c. 21 g. 28 k. 11
d. 1 h. 10
3. Name
a. two American Natural Heritage sites
b. two Australian World Heritage sites

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 LISTENING
Great Barrier Reef

You are going to watch a documentary

film about Great Barrier Reef.

1. Watch and listen and tick the

things/ words mentioned in the film.

1. The location of Great Barrier Reef

2. its length
3. Pacific Ocean
4. breaking waves
5. marine life
6. coral reef
7. creatures
8. ecosystem
9. the number of breeds
10. the number of coral reef
11. the preservation of Great Barrier Reef

2. Watch the film again and decide the statements are true or false
1. Great Barrier Reef is off the southeast coast of Australia.
2. Great Barrier Reef is the world largest coral reef ecosystem.
3. It has the most extensive amount of diverse marine life
4. It’s the only one world natural wonder.
5. It’s the largest living structure on the planet.
6. It’s made up of almost 4,000 different breeds.
7. Many of the creatures here are beautiful, unique, and out of science.

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SPEAKING
Role-play

World Heritage Sites around the world

1. Think of 5 well-known World Heritage sites (not in Vietnam)

2. Each student finds out each site and fills in information about each World
Heritage sites. The first one is done for you.
3. Answer the three questions at the end of this activity.

Name of site Great Barrier Reef

Location Off the northeast coast of Australia
Type of heritage Natural Heritage site
What year did it become 1981
a heritage site?
Briefly describe this The Great Barrier Reef is the world’s largest collection
heritage site of coral reefs. It includes 400 types of coral, 1,500
species of fish, and 4,000 types of mollusk

Name of site
Location
Type of heritage
What year did it become a
heritage site?
Briefly describe this
heritage site

Answer these questions:

1. Which World Heritage site is your favorite?
2. Why is it your favorite? Explain in three or four sentences.
3. Think of one place that you think should be added to this list. Explain your choice in
three or four sentences.

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WRITING
World Best Attractions Review
1. Work in groups.
2. Make a list of the best attractions in the world and vote for FIVE.
3. Discuss in your group and then write down the reasons why your group think
that they are of special importance
Example Sydney Opera House, Australia
Great Wall, China
Old City, Croatia
Taj Mahal, India
Stone Henge, UK etc

Attraction Reasons why it is of special importance

1.

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 UNIT 14
WORLD HERITAGES IN VIETNAM

GET IDEAS
1. How many things in Vietnam that have been recognized by UNESCO as
World Heritages? Can you name some? Discuss with your partner.
2. Look at the photos of the World Heritage in Vietnam and label them with
their names.
a) Nha Nhac, Hue Royal Court i) Hoi An Ancient Town 12
Music 14 j) Xoan Singing 11
6
b) Tay Nguyen Gong Music k) Bac Ninh Alternate Singing 10
c) Phong Nha Ke Bang National l) Thang Long Imperial Citadel 5
Park 8
m) Ho Dynasty Citadel 1
d) Ca Tru Singing 15
n) Trang An Relic Complex 2
e) Hue Complex of Monuments 4
o) The Beliefs in the Mother 7
f) Halong Bay 13
Goddesses of Three Realms
g) My Son Sanctuary 9
h) Nguyen Dynasty woodblocks 3
moc ban
3. Categorize these World Heritages into the correct column. Then add some
more.
CRITERIA OF HERITAGES
Tangible Cultural Heritage

Intangible Natural World Cultural Cultural and Documentary

Cultural Heritage (3) Heritage (5) Natural heritages (4)
Heritage (11) heritage (1)

a,b,d,j, k, o, c, f, n e, m, i ,f c. n, l, h

(Source: vovworld.vn. UNESCO-recognized heritages in Vietnam)

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 1

15 2

14 3

13 4

World
12 Heritages 5
in
Vietnam
11 6

10 7

9 8

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READING
1. How much do you know about Tràng An Landscape Complex?
Where is it in Vietnam?
What type of heritage is it?
2. Read the Tourist Information extract from website www.vietnamtourism.com and
answer the questions.

(TITC) – The Trang An Landscape Complex covers an area of 6,172ha in districts of

Hoa Lu, Gia Vien, Nho Quan, Tam Diep Town and Ninh Binh City. It is located about
90km to the southeast of Ha Noi. The complex is surrounded by a buffer zone of
6,268ha, mostly comprising paddy rice fields and villages. As a mixed cultural and
natural property, The Trang An Landscape Complex contains three protected areas:
the Hoa Lu Ancient Citadel Cultural-Historical Area, the Trang An-Tam Coc-Bich
Dong Scenic Area, and the Hoa Lu Special-Use Primary Forest.
Located in a humid tropical region, the Trang An Landscape Complex is a
mountainous area that extends in a northwest-southeast direction. The River network
in Trang An is well developed with Hoang Long River to the north, Chanh River to
the east, He River to the south, Ben Dang River to the west and the river systems of
Sao Khe, Ngo Dong and Den Voi in the middle of the complex. Trang An Area has
been reshaped by the sea many times in the recent geological past.

Landform development over a period of more than five million years has produced
landscapes of extraordinary beauty - a blend of towering cliff-bounded mountains
draped in natural rain forests, surrounded by huge and deeply developed
internal basins whose clear and quietly flowing waters are connected through a
myriad of underground streams and caverns, many of which are navigable by small
sampans carrying tourists.
Outstanding values
Cultural value

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Trang An is a prominent place in Southeast Asia and the
world which contains abundant archaeological artifacts such as shells, animal bones,
pottery, stone tools, and human remains. This is an extremely valuable treasure
demonstrating the way that prehistoric humans interacted with the natural landscape
and adapted to major changes of environment over more than 30,000 years, since the
late Ice Age. Besides the cultural and historical relics such as pagodas, temples, and
palaces, Trang An also has contributed to the process of consolidating many
archaeological documents.
Aesthetic value
The Karst Tower Landscape of Trang An is among the most beautiful and awe-
inspiring places of its kind anywhere in the world. Dominating the landscape is a
spectacular array of cone-shaped rock towers whose sheer vertical walls rise abruptly
200m above the surrounding land and water.
Narrow interconnecting ridges, which have been likened to mythical giant swords,
enclose circular and linear depressions whose expansive waterways are linked by
gently flowing streams winding through subterranean caverns up to one kilometer in
length. Visitors, carried through these passages in small traditional sampans, can
enjoy a multitude of carbonate stalactites and other decorations that adorn the ceilings.
Several historic temples and pagodas, some perched high on the valley walls and
peaks, signify the important spiritual and religious associations with the landscape.
The countryside of the surrounding buffer zone presents a picture of traditional rural
life with gardens and fields among small villages linked by simple tracks, narrow
roads and a network of streams and canals.
On 23 June 2014, in Doha (Qatar), the World Heritage Committee of the United
Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) officially
recognized the Trang An Landscape Complex as a World Cultural and Natural
Heritage Site based on three criteria: culture, aestheticism and geology-
geomorphology.

Answer the following questions

1. How large is Trang An Complex?

2. What are three protected areas that Trang An Landscape Complex contains?
3. What are the three values that Trang An Landscape Complex has?
4. When was Trang An Landscape Complex recognized officially as World
Cultural and Natural Heritage Site by UNESCO?
Pair-work: Talk with a friend. Ask and answer about Trang An Landscape Complex.

 Where is it?
 Outstanding values
 When was it recognized as World Heritage?

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 Did you know

TIME TO LISTEN

Hoi An Ancient Town

You are going to listen to Mark
Bowyer from the USA talking
about his experience and feeling
when he was in Hoi An.
1. Tick the attractions he
mentioned in the video

Tan Ky House Thu Bon river Cantonese Assembly

Hall
Duc An House Fujian Assembly Hall Japanese Bridge
Hoi An market Ba Buoi chicken rice Minh An Ward
store

2. Listen again and decide the following statements are true or false
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 a) Hoi An used to be a busy port in the past.
b) Hoi An is recognized as Cultural Heritage Site in 1999.
c) Tan Ky Old House was mentioned in the video
d) Duc An’s Old House was built in the 6th century.
e) Hoi An market is not local and authentic nowadays.
f) The barber shop in the video has been run by a family since 1905.

TIME TO SPEAK
1. Choose one of the World Heritages in your country that you like or you
know well and find out the information about it.
2. Role play
Student A is the Tourist Information Officer. Based on the information you have
prepared, answer the questions from the tourist.
Student B is a foreign tourist. You ask some questions to get information about the
heritage.

Photo

Name of World Heritage: ______________________

Opening/Closing Layout History Significant
time features

Further information

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 TIME TO WRITE
Write a letter for the World Heritage
Education Program

1. Imagine that you joined The World

Heritage Education Program by
UNESCO in Vietnam.
2. Choose a World Heritage Site in
Vietnam that you think being in danger
or need to be preserved.

3. Write a letter to UNESCO to show

your understanding of that heritage,
your concern and expectation to join in
the heritage conservation.

HOMEWORK
I. Reading Comprehension

1. Where is Hoi An? Have you ever been to Hoi An?

2. What impresses you most when you visit Hoi An?
3. What type of heritage is Hoi An Ancient Town?

Hoi An is an old town next to the Thu Bon River, on the coastal plain of Quang Nam
Province, about 30 km south of Da Nang City. Hoi An used to be known on the
international market by many different names such as Lam Ap, Faifo, Hoai Pho and
Hoi An.

What is special about Hoi An is that, while it is a small port town, it has been
incredibly well preserved. It offers some of the most densely-concentrated sights in
Viet Nam with its old streets bordered with ancient houses and assembly halls, its
pagodas, temples, ancient wells and tombs. In total, there are more than a thousand
places of interest. The architecture of Hoi An is characterised by its blend of
Vietnamese, Chinese and Japanese influences. After many centuries, Hoi An is still
respectful of its traditions, folk festivals, beliefs and of its sophisticated culinary art.

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Set in a quiet environment, Hoi An is surrounded by peaceful villages that have crafts
such as carpentry, bronze making, ceramic...

Most of the buildings in Hoi An underwent restoration at the beginning of the 19th
century, although they were built long before that. The ancient architecture shown
most clearly is in the Ancient Town, located in Minh An Ward. It covers about 2
square kilometres and almost of all the famous relics in Hoi An are gathered there.
The streets are very short and narrow, criss-crossing each other like a chessboard. The
topography of the ancient town tilts gradually from north to south. The buildings in
the old town are usually not taller than two floors and are built mostly with traditional
materials such as brick and wood. One can see the passage of time, not only on the
architectural design of each building, but also on the yin-yang roof tiles covered with
moss and plants, the mold on the gray walls, and carved pictures of strange animals.
When looking at the multi-cultural architecture so varied and sophisticated, it is safe
to assume that in the past Hoi An attracted numerous and talented workers in
carpentry, ceramics, and woodcarving from China, Japan and other regions of Viet
Nam.

For centuries, Hoi An had developed into a melting pot of various nationalities who
came to the area, bringing along their own cultures. Accordingly, Hoi An features the
co-existence of indigenous customs and habits and those imported by foreign settlers.

The architectural significance of Hoi An was recognized by UNESCO in 1999. Since

then, the town has been officially listed as a World Cultural Heritage Site.
1. Read the article and decide the statements are true or false. Correct the
false ones.

1. Hoi An is about 30 km north of Da Nang City.

2. Hoi An used to be known on the international market with many different
names.
3. Hoi An offers some of the most densely-concentrated sights in the North of
Viet Nam.
4. Visitors can see many pagodas, temples, ancient wells and tombs in Hoi An.
5. The architecture of Hoi An is characterized by a harmonious blend of
Vietnamese, Chinese influences.
6. Visitors can attend folk festivals in Hoi An.
7. Almost of all famous relics in Hoi An are gathered in Minh An Ward.
8. Hoi An ancient town covers about 2 square kilometers.
9. The buildings in the old town are built with traditional materials
10.The buildings in the old town are usually high.
11.Visitors can find the traces of time on everywhere such as the architectural
design, the yin-yang roof tiles, and the old gray mold walls.
12. Hoi An hasn’t been undergone restoration since then.

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