Trường Đại học Ngoại ngữ - Tin học Thành phố Hồ Chí Minh

Ho Chi Minh City University of Foreign Languages – Information Technology

PUBLIC SPEAKING
Topic 5: CUSTOM OF BETEL
CHEWING IN VIETNAM
Lecturer: DINH THI TRA NHI
Student: TRAN LE TAM ANH
ID: 19DH170567
 TABLE OF
CONTENTS
1. Introduction
2. Vietnamese custom of betel chewing
2.1. The first legend is the story of the betel leaf and
areca nut
2.2. The vietnamese custom of eating betel nut has a
profound influence on the national spiritual life

3. The meaning of the custom of eating

betel nut
1. INTRODUCTION
The customs and habits of
the ethnic groups in
Vietnam are extremely
rich. 54 ethnic brothers
spread across all parts of
the S-shaped country,
each ethnic group has
different cultures and
customs.
Since ancient times,
every Vietnamese
person has been
closely attached to
the village and
homeland on the
basis of consensus
and agreement with
each other. Therefore,
the customs and
habits of Vietnam are
so diverse, but they
have never lost their
rituals until now.
2. Vietnamese custom of betel chewing

In the Vietnamese people’s spiritual life, chewing

betel custom is not only a daily habit and a long-
time custom but also an important part of the
traditional cultural values. “Betel leaves and areca
nuts were offered as a first conversation starter to
guests”... The proverb has somewhat reflected the
important custom of betel chewing, one of the
thousand-year-old traditions of  Vietnamese
 2.1. The first legend is The story of the betel
leaf and areca nut
In the treasure of Vietnamese
fairy tales, there is the legend
of betel nut. This story
personifies the origin of the
betel nut, the betel nut, and
the limestone rock that were
used to eat betel nut and
explains the custom of using
betel nut in weddings.
The story is that in the reign of
the fourth King Hung Vuong,
there were two brothers, Tan
and Lang, who loved each
other very much. After Tan got
married, he no longer took
care of me as before. Lang got
upset and ran away from
home. When he reached the
stream, Lang was so tired, he
collapsed to death and turned
into a limestone rock. Tan, I
didn't see you back, because I
loved you, I decided to look for
it.
Going to the stream bank, Tan was exhausted and
died, turning into a areca tree next to the limestone
rock. Tan's wife did not see her husband and left to
look. She found the river bank, sat down on the
areca body and died, turning into betel nut. Betel,
areca, and lime when mixed together create a
blood red color, so King Hung Vuong walked over
there, heard the story above, and taught the
Vietnamese people to use the three types of lime,
areca and betel as a symbol of love. the meaning
of brother and wife, husband and wife.
 To this day, betel nut is still an indispensable thing
for the filial piety, friendship and marriage of
Vietnamese people.
2.2. The Vietnamese custom of eating betel nut
has a profound influence on the national spiritual
life
The image of betel nut becomes extremely familiar to
the daily life as well as the spiritual life of Vietnamese
people. It can be mentioned such as: betel nut is used
to invite guests to visit the house, betel nut is used to
worship the ancestors, betel is also a symbol of love for
a couple; cooperation for couples and is the link that
ties the love of boys and girls so that they become
husband and wife.
There are many Vietnamese folk songs and folk
songs about love between men and women
through the images of areca berries and betel
leaves, such as:
“Love each other with six for three.
Hate each other and split six into ten"
3. The meaning of the custom of eating betel
nut
Pieces of betel, make people closer, more open to
each other. Betel nut multiplies joy, guests are
invited to be betel nut; wedding parties have betel
nut plates to share the joy; holidays, New Year,
betel nut festival with strangers to get acquainted,
make friends; with people who know a piece of
betel nut is gratitude. Betel nut also warms people
up in cold winter days, eases sadness when there
is mourning, sadness is shared by relatives,
friends and neighbors. Betel nut is also a show of
respect from the next generation to the previous
generations, so on the tray of worshiping
ancestors of the Vietnamese people are betel nut.
THANKS FOR
WATCHING