PART 1

Mẫu câu hỏi và câu trả lời:

 Are some parts of this city considered more dangerous than others?
In the USA, there is an element of crime in all major Cities. Generally this
occurs in the lower-income inner city areas yet is not limited to these
areas. I have lived in large Cities and had only 1 problem in all the years I
was a Big City Boy. Common sense is usually the key in having a good life
in the City!

 Are there any places you are afraid to visit because of the high crime
rate?
Yeah, it’s Venezuela. Venezuela has a crime index of 83.76, the highest
of any country in the world. The U.S. Department of State has issued a
Level 4 travel advisory for Venezuela, indicating that it is unsafe to travel
to the country, and that travelers should not travel there. Venezuela's high
crime rates have been attributed to reasons including
government corruption, a flawed judiciary system, and the breakdown
of the Rule of Law.

 Is the place where you are living a safe place?

Yes I feel very safe where I live. Of course it is in one of the most civilized
places on earth, Victoria, British Columbia. But I cannot remember too
many places that were very unsafe, and when I was younger I lived in
some pretty dodgy neighborhoods. But as has been pointed out,
situational awareness is a critical survival skill.

 Have you ever witnessed a crime?

 Are there problems with drugs where you live?

Từ vựng:

 Element (n.): yếu tố
 Lower-income (n.): thu nhập thấp
 Index of (n.): chỉ số
 Advisory (n.): tham mưu
 Corruption (n.): tham nhũng
 A flawed judiciary system: một hệ thống tư pháp

PART 2
Mẫu câu hỏi:

 Describe a crime you were involved in.

 Describe a good law in your country

Mẫu câu trả lời:

Question: Describe a memorable visit to a park or the countryside

You should say: 

 What is the law 

 How you came to know about this law 
 Whom does it affect 
 Why is it good

Well to be completely honest, I don’t know the first thing about any law
specifically, but if I have to think about one, I think it would be the restriction
on cellphone use while driving in my country. You know, answering phone calls
or texting while driving or riding motorbikes is a common sight in Vietnam
therefore the government has decided to impose this restriction. Under this
regulation, drivers using handheld phones while driving motorbikes have to pay
a fine of 600 to 800,000 VND. They also have their driving licenses revoked for 3
months. If a violator causes a fatal accident, they will face criminal charges.

In my opinion, I think this regulation is absolutely reasonable because with

technology growing rapidly, the cell phone becomes more dangerous as
it jeopardizes people’s life.

Drivers who use cell phones to text are most likely to look over their phones than
the road and can take away a life in the blink of an eye. Therefore they fail to
concentrate and reduce their vision of the road ahead.

In fact, there was this deadly accident in Hanoi’s Bac Tu Liem. It happened

because a truck driver was talking on a phone while driving and ran into a
motorbike, killing a woman and her son right on the spot.

There are also some people who argue that a hands-free mobile phone is not
dangerous because people can drive using both of their hands. This may even
worsen the situation by suggesting that the behavior is safe.
When a car swerves unexpectedly or pedestrians step into traffic, the mind
lacks the processing power to react on time.

Từ vựng:

 Restriction on (n.): sự hạn chế về

 Handheld (v.): cầm tay
 Revoke (v.): thu hồi
 Criminal charge: tội phạm hình sự
 Jeopardize (n.): gây nguy hiểm
 In the blink of an eye: trong nháy mắt
 Deadly (adj.): chết người
 On the spot: tại chỗ
 Hands-free (adj.): rảnh tay
 Pedestrian (n.): đi bộ

PART 3
Mẫu câu hỏi và câu trả lời:

 Do you think that young criminals should be sent to prison for

serious crimes?
No, I do not think that it is right to send young offenders to prison. In fact,
that seems to be the worst way to deal with them. In any advanced
society, juvenile delinquents should be dealt with through education,
with the intention of reforming them into law-abiding adults. Sending
them to jail or prison simply puts them in contact with other criminals and
makes them more likely to commit further offenses.

 Is there any situation wherein people may disobey some laws? Why
is so?
Basically, there are two different kinds of situations wherein people may
disobey the laws. First, if a situation comes when a person is not able to
meet his/her basic needs, such as food and medicines, in order to survive,
the chances are really high that he or she will disobey some laws, no
matter how harsh the punishment is. Secondly, if a person feels that some
laws are falling short of ensuring “justice” on a continuous basis, in the
name of ensuring some “vague rule of laws”, it is only to be expected that
people will disobey those laws. Interestingly, some people violate laws
just because they do not know them or take the laws very lightly.
  Do you think that people in your country obey the law all the time?
No, certainly not. Many crimes are reported on newspapers and television.
They appear very frequently. In fact, I see them every week.
Traffic violations, sexual harassment and school violence have
been on the news recently.

 Why do some people prefer to be a lawyer?

 What qualities should a police officer have?

Từ vựng:

 Offender (n.): người phạm tội

 Juvenile delinquent: thiếu niên phạm tội
 Law-abiding (adj.): tuân thủ luật pháp
 Offenses (v.): phạm tội
 Justice (n.): sự công bằng
 Vague rule of laws: luật lệ mơ hồ
 Violate (v.): xâm phạm
 Violation (n.): vi phạm
 Sexual harassment: quấy rối tình dục
 On the news: trên tin tức

PLACE
TiengAnhK12 sẽ cùng bạn tìm hiểu về mẫu câu hỏi cũng như từ vựng của chủ
đề Place. Đây là một chủ đề tương đối lạ, và xuất hiện rất nhiều gần đây trong
các đề thi thật IELTS Speaking.

PART 1
Mẫu câu hỏi và câu trả lời:

 What kind of places are crowded where you’re living now?

I’m living in Hanoi so the city seems to be hectic all the time, especially,
the old quarter area - the heart of the city where streets are often jam-
packed, and if you take a stroll in this area during the weekend, you’ll be
surprised by how large the crowd is.

 Where is your favorite place to meet with your friends?

Without a doubt, that would be my house or theirs. We usually chip
in and throw a party together whenever we get together and it’s more
 convenient that way, I guess.  But I must admit that we all juggle with a
hectic schedule so getting together is quite a luxury.

 Do you think there are some places more suitable for meeting with
others?
Absolutely. But I think it really depends on the type of meeting. If it’s
formal, for example, it has something to do with business, then a formal
restaurant or a function room in a hotel would be best. However, if it’s
not, I think any type of restaurant or cafe will do, especially if one is
just hanging out with his/her closest friends.

 Are there any differences between your favorite meeting places in the
present and in your childhood?
 Do you like crowded places?
 When was the last time you were in a crowded place?

Từ vựng:

 Hectic (adj.): đông đúc, náo nhiệt 

 Jam-packed (adj.): chật kín 
 To take a stroll: đi dạo
 Without a doubt: không phải bàn cãi 
 Chip in: hùn tiền 
 Throw a party: tổ chức một bữa tiệc 
 Juggle with a hectic schedule: quay cuồng trong công việc 
 Quite a luxury: là một thứ xa xỉ
 Function room: phòng chức năng 
 Hang out (phr.v.): đi chơi

PART 2
Mẫu câu hỏi:

 Describe a foreign country you want to know more about

 Describe a place you visited that has been affected by pollution.
 Describe a crowded place you have been to

Mẫu câu trả lời:

Question: Describe a crowded place you have been to

You should say: 

  Where the place is 
 What it is like 
 How do you spend time there 
 And explain why you think it is a good place for relaxation

I’m going to talk about the Citadel of the Nguyen Dynasty, which is a very

famous historical site and tourist destination in Vietnam. In summer of 2018,
my family decided to take a trip to escape from the daily routine and learn
some new things about our country’s history and culture. The place is located in
Hue city, which is more than 1000 km away from Ho Chi Minh City. I went to Hue
by plane, which took me just about 2 hours to get to the destination.

Looking from the outside, the place was surrounded by an old wall and was filled
with many green trees and beautiful flowers. There was a big main gate which
used to be for the king only and it is now closed. Tourists and staff must enter the
place by two side gates on the left and the right of the building. Above the gate,
there was an impressive pavilion that offered a breathtaking view. Walking
inside the place, I was impressed by how enormous the place was. I guess it was
about 1000 square meters and was divided into various parts with different
functions. There were buildings for courts, worshipping, entertaining, working
and sleeping. I even saw the real golden throne which was once seated by
the emperor in the past.

It's a tourist destination so most of the people there were tourists. And since it
was a well-known and beautiful place with great historical and cultural values, it
attracted hundreds of tourists visiting every day. At the time I explored the place,
it was really crowded and I couldn’t take a good photo of the landscape because
there were too many people around and they kept jumping into my photos. The
good thing was the place was really large, so it didn’t give me a breathless
feeling.

The place was really stunning and after the trip, I did learn a lot about the history
and culture of my country. I really wish to pay a visit to the place again in the
future.

Từ vựng:

 Citadel (n.): Đại nội (nơi vua ở) 

 Dynasty (n.): triều đại 
 Escape from the daily routine: thoát khỏi cuộc sống hằng ngày 
  Pavilion (n.): lầu/ Các 
 Court (n.): buổi chầu 
 Worship (v.): thờ cúng 
 Throne (n.): ngai vàng 
 Emperor (n.): vua
 Stunning (adj.): rất đẹp, ấn tượng

PART 3
Mẫu câu hỏi và câu trả lời:

 Are there any other quiet places?

The ultimate destination to find peace, quiet, and inspiration is being close
to nature. It can be in the jungle, by the beach, to name a few. It does stop
there. Parks, libraries, gardens, and churches are all popular places for
those seeking solitude.

 Which do you prefer, living in a new city or only visiting it as a

tourist?
Everyone has a place they call “home” and I am no exception. I was born
and raised in Ho Chi Minh city, and I am used to the weather, food as well
as people here. Being happy in a place isn’t always a quantifiable or
logical thing. A lot of it comes down to just, well, how a place makes you
feel. So even though I’m an avid traveler who has been to many cities
around the world, I would always come back here, instead of being
a tourist-turned-resident in a new place.

 Why do many people move to the city?

As mentioned previously, career chances is
the uppermost reason, without a doubt. Aside from that, the
availability and quality of education and healthcare services are other key
factors. Also, those who want amenities within reach wouldn’t even give
a second thought, I believe.

 What are the advantages of living close to the workplace?

 Is it hard to find quiet places in cities?
 Why do people like to spend time in quiet places?

Từ vựng:

 Solitue (n.): nơi quạnh hiu

 Quantifiable (adj.): có thể đong đếm được 
 Avid traveler: người đam mê du lịch 
  Tourist-turned resident: cư dân ban đầu là khách du lịch
 As mentioned previously: như đã nhắc đến trước đó 
 Uppermost (adj.): tiên quyết 
 Without a doubt: chắc chắn 
 Aside from that: bên cạnh đó; thêm vào đó 
 Amenity (n.): tiện ích 
 Give a second thought: đắn đo, do dự

BUILDING
Ở phần thi IELTS Speaking của kỳ thi IELTS, chủ đề Building là một trong số
chủ đề bạn có thể gặp phải, do đó bạn nên có sự chủ bị tốt về vốn từ vựng cũng
như cách trả lời câu hỏi ở 3 part để đạt được kết quả tốt nhất.

PART 1
Mẫu câu hỏi và câu trả lời:

 What types of building are there in your city?

Well, when it comes to my city, Ho Chi Minh City, the first thing
that comes to people’s minds will be a developing metropolis with
a mixture of historical and modern buildings. The historical buildings
consist of many temples, pagodas, and monuments, … meanwhile, the
modern ones include many high-rise apartments, commercial
complexes and office blocks, …

 Have you ever seen some old buildings in the city?

Well, I see them almost every day. Hoi An has made a name for itself with
the Hoi An ancient town, so, of course, I have seen many ancient
buildings that have been well preserved

 Do you think we should preserve old buildings in cities?

I reckon if it is for the purpose of tourism, or historical value, then yes,
old buildings should be kept around. Other than that, I don’t see any
reasons why we should leave them as they are.  

 What types of buildings are there where you live?

 Are there any monuments in your hometown?
 Do you like to visit historic buildings?

Từ vựng:

 Comes to one’s minds: nảy ra suy nghĩ

  Metropolis (n.): đô thị
 Mixture (n.): hỗn hợp
 Temples (n.): đền
 Pagodas (n.): chùa
 Monuments (n.): di tích
 High-rise apartments: chung cư cao tầng
 Commercial complexes: khu phức hợp thương mại
 Office blocks: khối văn phòng
 Ancient town: phố cổ
 Preserve (v.): bảo tồn, bảo vệ
 For the purpose of: với mục đích là 
 Keep around: được giữ lại xung quanh

PART 2
Mẫu câu hỏi:

 Describe a historical building

 Describe a style of architecture that you like.
 Describe a modern building

Mẫu câu trả lời:

Question: Describe a modern building

You should say: 

 Where it is what it looks like 

 What it is used for and explain 
 Why you like/dislike it.

Today I want to talk about Bitexco Financial Tower which is a skyscraper in Ho

Chi Minh City, Vietnam. At its completion in 2010, it was the tallest building in the
world, but now it no longer has that title. This building is quite unlike other
skyscrapers around the world, as it reflects Asian identity in its architecture.
Architects drew inspiration for this skyscraper’s unique shape from Vietnam’s
national flower, the Lotus, the strong but beautiful flower that grows across much
of Southeast Asia. This is not only an aesthetic choice; on the 52nd floor,
the blossoming lotus bud shape is a non-rooftop helipad.

Bitexco Financial Tower is a mixed-use project which includes office, retail, F&B,
and entertainment space so when I visit it, I usually hang out with my friends at
the bottom where there are famous retailers. Although many people have visited
the 49th floor, which is the observation deck where you can enjoy the view of
the whole city or just feel the wind, I have never had a chance to do it because of
its high price.

I really enjoy the leisure time I spent there due to not only its facilities but also its
location which is in the heart of Ho Chi Minh city. However, since it is claimed to
look like a blossoming lotus, it rather resembles corn. In fact, every citizen feels
the same; and that’s why I don’t really appreciate its architectural design.

Từ vựng:

 Skyscraper (n.): tòa nhà cao chọc trời 

 Title (n.): danh hiệu 
 Asian identity: bản sắc châu Á 
 Aesthetic (adj.): tính nghệ thuật 
 Retailers (n.): các cửa hiệu bán lẻ 
 Observation deck: đài quan sát 
 Facilities (n.): cơ sở vật chất 
 The heart of: trung tâm của
 Architectural design: phong cách kiến trúc

PART 3
Mẫu câu hỏi và câu trả lời:

 Do you think it is good to preserve old buildings?

It depends on whether the building is worth preserving. Historical
monuments, for example, need to be saved because of their cultural
significance. On the other hand, if a building is old, ugly and has no
importance then I don’t see why we should preserve it. plastic containers
or spoons instead of recycled ones, which adversely affects the
environment.

 Are historical buildings important? Why?

Definitely, ancient and old buildings are a manifestation of history and
traditional culture. They exude a pleasant feeling of nostalgia and teach
us a lot about the bygone eras, how life used to be. Also, they add a
great deal of charm and diversity to modern cities, and make
them distinctive from each other. Above all, they are well-
preferred tourist attractions, which means a lot to local economy.

 What is the most important for a public building: design, location, or

facilities?
 Well, everything has its price so they are all important. However, in my
opinion, the design and facilities should be paid more attention than the
other. When it comes to design, it’s the appearance, the architectural or
aesthetic style that should be discussed because it’s the first thing people
notice of a building. In other words, it’s important to be eye-catching to
make people have a good impression. Then, the facilities inside also play
a key role. If there is a lot of entertaining or artsy space in the building,
people would be drawn to be there even though the location is
inconvenient.

 What kinds of people like to visit historic buildings?

 Do you think it’s worth the money to preserve old buildings?
 How have buildings changed in the past few years?

Từ vựng:

 Historical monument: di tích lịch sử

 Cultural significance: ý nghĩa văn hóa
 Manifestation (n.): sự biểu lộ
 Exude (v.): toát ra
 The bygone eras: thời đại đã qua
 Distinctive (adj.): đặc biệt
 Well-preferred (adj.): được yêu thích
 Everything has its price (idioms): mọi thứ đều có giá trị của nó 
 The architectural or aesthetic style: phong cách kiến trúc hoặc phong
cách nghệ thuật
 Play a key role: đóng vai trò quan trọng 
 Entertaining or artsy space: không gian giải trí hoặc không gian mang
tính nghệ thuật

FESTIVALS
Chủ đề Festivals, một trong những chủ đề vô cùng thông dụng, thường xuyên
xuất hiện trong các đề thi IELTS Speaking. Trong bài viết này hãy
cùng TiengAnhK12 tìm hiểu bài mẫu và từ vựng chuẩn bị cho IELTS Speaking
nhé!

PART 1
Mẫu câu hỏi và câu trả lời:

 What’s your favorite holiday?

Okay so well besides the Tet holiday which I’m quite sure that every one of
 you is familiar with, Christmas is also one of my all-time favorite festive
occasions. Although it’s not a traditional holiday in Vietnam and non-
Christians like us would not attach any religious importance to it, I still
feel the joyful atmosphere prevailing everywhere from cafes to stores and
shopping malls whenever Christmas comes.

 How do you celebrate festivals in your country?

Woah, isn’t this tricky? Let’s see… Each festival is quite one of a kind, but
I always make a point of having outings or small dates with my extended
family and close-knit friends. We’d enjoy festival food and do some
common rituals that vary for each festival. So, take the Mid-autumn
festival as an example, every year I would go to the Old Quarter to see the
different toys specifically made for this holiday.

 How do you celebrate festivals in your country?

To be honest, I have lost count of the festivals in Vietnam because there
are so many. Depending on the occasion, Vietnamese people will have
their own celebration. Most of the time people usually celebrate festivals
by joining in the festivities with their friends and loved ones. Also, with
some festivals like the Hung King festival, people will take this time to pay
tribute to ancestors.

 What special food and activities do you have for these festivals?
 How do you celebrate spring Festivals?
 What do people do to celebrate this holiday in your country?

Từ vựng:

 Festive occasions: các dịp lễ hội 

 Attach any religious importance to: theo tín ngưỡng, tôn giáo
 One of a kind: độc nhất vô nhị 
 Outing (n.): họp mặt, gặp mặt 
 Extended family: đại gia đình 
 Close-knit friend: bạn thân 
 Ritual (n.): nghi thức
 Pay tribute to: tỏ lòng thành kính, tôn vinh
 Ancestor (n.): tổ tiên

PART 2
Mẫu câu hỏi:

 Describe an important festival in your country.

  Talk about the festival in Vietnam
 Describe a festival that is important in Vietnam

Mẫu câu trả lời:

Question: Describe a festival that is important in Vietnam

You should say: 

 What that festival is 

 When it is celebrated 
 How it is celebrated 
 And explain why it is so important in your country.

My favorite holiday is Tet – one of the most important national celebrations in

Vietnamese culture. We celebrate Tet annually in January or February in
the Gregorian calendar and it is considered the biggest occasion for family and
friends’ reunions.

While Lunar New Year can be regarded as quite a cliché event to describe, I

think there are still many intriguing facets of it to mention. As Tet is the biggest
celebration in Vietnam, schools and shops are often closed and workers would
get around 2 weeks of holiday. Vietnamese people usually return to their families
during Tết.

Some worship at the family altar or visit their ancestors’ graves in their

homeland. What I love the most about Tet is Tet food. We get to cook and make
very special dishes like banh chung, banh giay or nem ran. Thanks to
the exquisite taste of these dishes, after Lunar New Year, I often gain a lot of
weight. Other customs and traditions that my family usually practice during Tết
are quite exhilarating too.

We often exchange New Year’s greetings, decorate the house with apricot

flowers or peach blossoms, give lucky money to children and elderly people, or
simply hang out on the streets to immerse myself in the distinctive atmosphere
of Tet.

Tet is my favorite festival because it is one of the rare occasions where I get to
reunite with my relatives and visit my grandparents. As we often return to our
homeland during Tet holiday, it is a breath of fresh air from the hustle and
bustle of city life.

Tet is a break from work and an opportunity for us to forget our worries and
troubles of last year, bask in the warmth from friends and family’s company and
enjoy the cheery, festive spirit. Thus, Tet teaches me to appreciate the people
around me, as well as the traditional festivals that are indispensable.

Từ vựng:

 Gregorian calendar: lịch Dương 

 Cliché (adj.): rập khuôn 
 Intriguing (adj.): thú vị 
 Facet (n.): khía cạnh 
 Family altar (n.): bàn thờ gia đình 
 Ancestor (n.): tổ tiên 
 Exquisite (adj.): rất ngon, tuyệt hảo 
 Exhilarating (adj.): phấn khích 
 Immerse myself in: đắm chìm trong 
 Distinctive (adj.): đặc biệt, riêng có 
 Hustle and bustle: sự xô bồ 
 Bask in (v.): hưởng thụ 
 Company (n.): sự bầu bạn 
 Indispensable (adj.): không thể thiếu

PART 3
Mẫu câu hỏi và câu trả lời:

 Do you think festivals are important?

I would say yes with no hesitation. Festivals are extremely important in
any culture. They all provide us with brilliant opportunities to express our
gratitude to the country's forefathers and heroes. Furthermore, festivals
bring people time to get away from the hectic daily life and return to
themselves as well as their beloved ones, which, indeed, will bring a great
deal of inspiration to anyone.

 How do people in Vietnam value traditional festivals?

Oh, absolutely. In fact, I think we do take the word ‘value’ to a whole new
level. Our country has over 8000 festivals every year, some of which are
held at the national level, and some are only local celebrations. No matter
the scale, though, most Vietnamese go to great lengths to ensure that
the traditional customs are celebrated after meticulous planning and
 preparation. The elders also make a lot of effort in passing down the
meanings and ceremonies involved in these festivals to the young
generation.

 What’s the difference between the ways festivals are celebrated now
and in the past?
Well, the standard of living in Vietnam has improved dramatically over the
last decades so there have been drastic changes in festival celebrations.
I suppose the most obvious difference is that in the past, people put more
effort and time in celebrating such events so they used to be far more
elaborate and authentic. In recent years, however, the majority of local
traditions and festivals have been simplified or westernized to fit the
modern hectic lifestyle. For example, most Vietnamese people are no
longer wearing traditional clothes on Lunar New Year Holiday. Additionally,
today’s festive foods are often ordered from catering services rather than
be prepared by the family, which might indicate that local people place
somewhat less significance on such traditions.

 Do you think it is wrong for young people to not celebrate traditional

festivals?
 Do you think western festivals are replacing traditional festivals in
Vietnam?

Từ vựng:

 Hesitation (n.): sự do dự
 Scale (n.): cấp độ 
 Go to great lengths: cố gắng rất nhiều để làm điều gì đó 
 Meticulous (adj.): cẩn thận, kỹ càng 
 Pass down (v.): truyền lại
 Drastic (adj.): quyết liệt
 Westernize (v.): tây hóa
 The modern hectic lifestyle: lối sống bận rộn hiện đại
 Festive food: thức ăn lễ hội
 Significance (n.): ý nghĩa

TRADITIONS
Traditions là một chủ đề khá phổ biến trong bài thi IELTS Speaking trong thời
gian gần đây. TiengAnhK12 sẽ giới thiệu cho thí sinh các cụm từ liên quan đến
chủ đề Festival cũng như cách áp dụng những cụm từ này vào bài thi IELTS
Speaking, cụ thể ở cả 3 part nhé.

PART 1
Mẫu câu hỏi và câu trả lời

 Do you like to wear traditional costumes?

Occasionally, I think it’s a nice way to express my artistic side. But, you
know, Vietnam is hot and humid so wearing costumes can be quite
uncomfortable.

 Did you try any traditional costumes when you were young?
Yes. When I was very young, I went on a tour to Hue where the imperial
city was located. And the tour guide took me to a place where I dressed
up as a king and posed on a throne for a picture. I still have that picture.

 What are some forms of traditional dancing in your country?

Folk dancing is quite popular, even among young people, The dancers
wear traditional costume, which looks beautiful. My favourite is a circle
dance performed by women, but there’s also a marching dance and a
couple dance. I’m afraid I don’t know anything about the choreography of
these dances, I just know I like watching them  

 Do you ever buy special costumes?

 When was your last time to wear special costumes?

Từ vựng:

 Express (v.): thể hiện 

 Artistic (adj.): có tính mỹ thuật, nghệ sĩ 
 Humid (adj.): ẩm
 Dress up as: hóa thân thành 
 Pose (v.): tạo dáng chụp ảnh 
 Throne (n.): Ngai vàng
 Folk dancing: múa dân gian
 Choreography (n.): vũ đạo

PART 2
Mẫu câu hỏi:

 Describe an interesting tradition in your country

 Describe a traditional product in your country
Mẫu câu trả lời:

Question: Describe an interesting tradition in your country

You should say: 

 What that festival is 

 When it is celebrated 
 How it is celebrated 
 And explain why it is so important in your country.

Well, if I am to describe an interesting tradition in my country, I would talk

about ancestor veneration, a very popular tradition across Asia including
Vietnam. In my opinion, this tradition is obviously the most unifying aspect of
Vietnamese culture because it is easy to find an ancestor altar in nearly every
single Vietnamese household regardless of religious affiliation. There is also a
common belief that the deceased has an influence on the fortune of the living so
Vietnamese people usually carry out these ceremonies not only to show their
filial duty but also to ask for guidance, counsel, and sometimes protection from
their ancestors whenever they need.

Actually, I’ve known this practice since I was little when I saw my parents and
grandparents always celebrate the death anniversaries of our deceased
ancestors. During these occasions, as I remember, incense sticks and hell
notes are usually burnt, along with platters of food being served on the altars as
offerings. The reason why I think this is a very interesting tradition in Vietnam is
that women are traditionally allowed to participate in and co-officiate ancestral
rites, unlike in Chinese Confucian doctrine, which only lets the male
descendants perform such rituals. I firmly believe that traditions like this should
be passed onto the next generation in Vietnam so that young Vietnamese
citizens can know about them and preserve them as a way to show respect to
their ancestors.

Từ vựng:

 Ancestor veneration: thờ cúng tổ tiên 

 Unifying (adj.): thống nhất 
 Ancestor altar: bàn thờ tổ tiên 
 Religious affiliation: tôn giáo 
 Incense sticks: que hương 
  Ancestral rites: nghi thức tổ tiên 
 Chinese Confucian doctrine: học thuyết nho giáo Trung Quốc 
 Ritual (n.): nghi thức 

PART 3
Mẫu câu hỏi và câu trả lời:

 Why are traditional products important?

The reasons vary. Firstly, they represent the significant features of the
regions. By that I mean, they can be weather conditions, culture or history.
For example, green beans prefer warm weather, so they can be easily
seen in tropical countries like Vietnam. Secondly, traditional products
can be sold to visitors, which provides a source of income for the locals.
As mentioned, each region offers something different from what can be
found in the tourists’ home countries, so they’re likely to buy some
specialities when travelling.

 What are the traditional Vietnamese products?

Vietnam is very famous for its cuisine. Mid-Autumn festival is around the
corner, so Moon Cake has just come to my mind. It is a round-shaped
cake with various Vietnamese floral patterns on the surface. In addition,
Vietnamese dress is also something that appeals to me very much. It can
be seen in quite a lot of movies including some from Hollywood. I suppose
that the dress could be considered one of the symbols of Vietnamese
culture.

 Why is it important for children to learn about traditional products?

The way I see it, tradition needs to be preserved from generation to
generation. And one of the ways is to teach children about traditional
products. They’re gonna know where they come from, what specialties
they have within the country, partly contributing to their identity when they
become grown-ups. Additionally, some of the children are inclined to
take an interest in some traditional products which can be their future
careers. When they are able to earn big money from these, tradition, at
the same time, lives on.

 Do you think tradition is important for a country? Why?

Từ vựng:

 Tropical countries: các nước nhiệt đới 

 The locals: người địa phương 
 Home countries: nước sở tại
 Around the corner: cận kề 
 Appeal to sb (v.): hấp dẫn ai
 The way I see it: Theo cách tôi nhìn nhận 
 Grown-ups: lớn lên 
 Are inclined: có xu hướng 
 Take an interest in: quan tâm đến 
 Earn big money: kiếm được khoản tiền lớn