ALCOHOL IN VIETNAMESE FOLK LITERATURE

Đặng Quốc Minh Dương

doi:10.34238/tnu-jst.12388

ALCOHOL IN VIETNAMESE FOLK LITERATURE

About this article

Received: 25/03/25 Revised: 11/06/25 Published: 11/06/25

Authors

Dang Quoc Minh Duong , Van Hien University

Abstract

Alcoholic beverages, produced by fermenting starches or sugars or by diluting food-grade ethanol, are prominent in Vietnamese folklore. This study applies statistical, analytical, and interdisciplinary approaches to examine the significant role of alcohol in Vietnamese customs, rituals, and social interactions, especially in ancestral worship, weddings, and festivals. Alcohol symbolizes unity and harmony in marriage, serving both as a ceremonial gift and a social binder. Folk literature praises refined drinking etiquette while critiquing excessive consumption and related moral decline, extending these critiques to figures of authority such as officials and monks. Alcohol is also linked to traditional craft villages like Ke Mo, Van Van, Bau Da, and Go Den, highlighting its role in regional identity and culinary culture. Under French colonial rule, alcohol production was a political-economic concern, with controls imposed on traditional practices. Through folk poetry, proverbs, and humorous tales, this study reveals popular perceptions of alcohol, offering insights into Vietnamese cultural values and social conduct.

Keywords

Alcohol; Folk literature; Customs and traditions; Behavior; Trademark

Full Text:

PDF (Tiếng Việt)

References

[1] M. T. Pham, Behavioral culture of Vietnamese people past and present. Ho Chi Minh city, Hong Duc Publishing House, 2021.

[2] L. Gia, Wine culture. Hanoi: Culture and Information Publishing House, 2009.

[3] B. N. Luu, T. T. Nguyen, and I. M. Newman, “Traditional alcohol production and use in three provinces in Vietnam: An ethnographic exploration of health benefits and risks,” BMC Public Health, June 2014. [Online]. Available: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41599-020-00697-3. [Accessed July 20, 2024].

[4] T. K. N. Nguyen, “Identity of the Vietnamese narrative culture: Archetypal journeys from folk narratives to fantasy short stories,” January 2021. [Online]. Available: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41599-020-00697-3. [Accessed January 2025].

[5] T. Q. Ngo, “Vietnamese Proverbs and Culinary Culture,” Folklore Magazine, no. 1, pp. 63-70, 2007.

[6] Q. M. D. Dang, “Vietnamese Food Culture Reflected in Folk Jokes” Journal of Vietnamese Cultural Studies, vol. 3, no. 207, pp. 59-68, 2023.

[7] Q. A. Phan and L. T. Truong, “Some traditional dishes of the Cham Brahman people, Ninh Thuan province,” Folklore Magazine, no. 5, pp. 14-20, 2006.

[8] M. T. Ha, “Culinary culture of the Ede people in Dak Lak province today,” Folklore Magazine, no. 6, pp. 60-65, 2015.

[9] K. V. Bui, “Developing tourism through culinary culture in Long Tong festival in Tuyen Quang,” Folklore Magazine, no. 4, pp. 75-79, 2016.

[10] T. Nhat and V. K. Vu, Land and customs. Dai Nam Publishing House, 1968.

[11] T. Luong, Alcohol Culture. Hanoi: Culture and Information Publishing House, 2003.

[12] V. H. Phan, Initial understanding of Vietnamese culinary culture. Hanoi: Social Sciences Publishing House, 2015.

[13] C. T. Phan, Material civilization of Vietnamese people. Hanoi: World Publishing House, 2018.

[14] D. N. Tran, Vietnamese Folk Tales, vol. 1. Hanoi: Kim Dong Publishing House, 2010.

[15] C. B. Nguyen, Vietnamese Folk Tales, vol. 3. Hanoi: Social Sciences Publishing House, 2014.

[16] C. B. Nguyen, Vietnamese Folk Tales, vol. 1. Hanoi: Social Sciences Publishing House, 2014.

[17] K. N. Vu, Treasure of Vietnamese jokes. Hanoi: Culture Publishing House, 1995.

[18] X. K. Nguyen, “Vietnamese cuisine through the eyes of Westerners,” Folk Light Source Magazine, no. 1, pp. 6-14, 2023.

[19] N. N. Nguyen, Some Vietnamese institutional and legal documents - volume II: from the 15th to the 18th century. Hanoi: Social Sciences Publishing House, 2009.

[20] T. K. Tran, Brief History of Vietnam. Hanoi: Literature Publishing House, 2022.

[21] A. Hoan, Treasure trove of Vietnamese mandarin stories. Ho Chi Minh City General Publishing House, 2012.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.34238/tnu-jst.12388

Refbacks

There are currently no refbacks.



Remember me