Shadowing Practice: Vietnam Cultural Heritage Highlights | Vietnam Today - Learn English Speaking with Video

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Hello and welcome to Culture Scene on Vietnam today.
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And you are watching with me, Vu Oanh.
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So once a bustling international trading pot in the 16th and 17th centuries, Pho Hien connected Vietnam with many countries around the world.
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Recognized as a special national heritage site more than a decade ago, its development potential remained significant.
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This morning, a major scientific workshop was held to explore new approaches to unlocking Pho Hien's heritage value in the context of today's development.
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The workshop attracted the participation of many scientists, experts and cultural managers from both central and local levels.
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Participants agreed that Fo Hien should be reawakened as a development resource rather than viewed solely as a historical memory.
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Before the provincial emergence, development conditions in Hương Yen were limited.
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Now, the province is ready to revive Fo Hien.
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Fo Hien will be gradually revived as a living heritage space, promoting historical, cultural, creative and community values.
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Heng Yen aims to leverage this foundation to develop tourism, services and creative industries, generating new growth drivers and improving local livelihoods.
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Linking Fohian's historical and cultural values with creative industries and tourism is an urgent and appropriate approach,
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turning the site into creative, cultural and experiential tours.
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For heritage dating back hundreds of years, restoration cannot rely solely on remaining artifacts, but requires digital technology for accurate and visual reconstruction.
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Before the province's emergence, development conditions in Hưng Yen were limited.
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Now the province is ready to revive Fohien.
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The workshop results will serve as a key scientific basis to develop concrete plans and restore Fohien's living heritage.
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Lacquer painting is one of Vietnam's most distinctive art forms, traditionally in spirit, yet open to contemporary creativity.
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The Golden Note invites the public to step into
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that process to appreciate the lasting beauty of lacquer
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and to honor a material often seen as the soul of Vietnamese fine art.
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At the exhibition, audiences are not only presented with refined lacquer artworks, but also witness a story of connection,
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one that preserves, continues and spreads artistic heritage across generations.
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The idea of organizing a series of events has been part of 84 Space Visions since the very beginning.
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We have always sought out folk and traditional art forms that reflect Vietnamese identity, and we hope to bring these art forms closer to the general public.
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For Nguyễn Thị Tiên, lacquer is not only a medium, but also a quiet philosophy, one that values restraint, depth and clarity.
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I am very fond of minimalism.
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When society becomes saturated with material abundance, naturally calls for simplicity.
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When I paint, I find great joy in conveying many intentions through a single simple idea."
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The exhibition also reveals a story of inheritance.
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Growing up surrounded by art, Nguyen Dingvan inherited not only skills, but also a sense of responsibility toward traditional culture.
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As a young artist, I believe that understanding traditional culture is essential.
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Only when young people truly understand their heritage can they continue and share it with the world.
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The exhibition also highlights contemporary voices, those who approach lacquer through personal experiences and new perspectives.
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My hearing impairment is not a major obstacle, but I have a strong support from dedicated teachers, and I work independently with complete focus from start to finish.
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Bringing together Vietnamese lacquer artists from across generations, the Golden Oat exhibition shows us exactly how traditions endure,
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how it finds its place even amidst the bustling rhythm of contemporary urban life.
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This is Mai Khanh reporting for Vietnam Today.
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The Hanoi Culinary Culture Festival 2025 opened on the evening of December 19 at Thông Nhất Park, highlighting the capital's rich culinary history.
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The event features seven culinary practices, recognized as national intangible cultural heritages,
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including Hanoi Pho, Meichi Green Rice Flakes, Quang An Lotus Tea, Phu Thượng Sticky Rice, Thanh Chi Steam Rice Rolls,
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and Bac Trang's knowledge of traditional banquets.
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At the opening ceremony, organizers also announced the inclusion of Chà-Cà-Là-Vọc, grilled fish, in the National Intangible Cultural Heritage List.
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The festival runs until December 21st. In Đắk Lạc remote villages,
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where the E-Date live in traditional longhouses, the matching archo system remains deeply respected.
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At the center of each home is the hearth, regarded as the soul of the longhouse, symbolizing daily life and the spiritual beliefs of the Central Highlands.
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In the more than 35-year-old long house of Heloi Bunzha family, this hearth has nurtured generations.
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Ede hearts are typically square or rectangle, built with a thick layer of packed earth to insulate heat from the floor, then fitted with simple supports for cooking.
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When building the house, we must build the hearth at the same time.
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The fire also helps the house last longer by preventing termites.
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We have to keep the heart clean.
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When guests visit, just by seeing a neat, tidy hearth, they can tell whether the woman of the house is hardworking.
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The hearth is the daily gathering place for the family, where they share stories, make decisions and stay connected.
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Above it hang dried gourds, seeds and tools for forest and farm work.
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For the Ede, the fire symbolizes life energy, warmth and the bond of family.
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Despite modern gas and electric stoves, the traditional hearth cannot be replaced.
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It is tied to childhood memories, and on cold and rainy days, sitting by the fire brings a deep sense of warmth and comfort.
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For the Ede people, the hearth is the soul of the house.
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Women, as the keepers of the fire, hold a central role in family life, preserving warmth, continuity and the spirit of the home.
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Many traditional dishes of the Ede people, such as yao leaf soup, only release their distinctive favors when cooked over an open fire.
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In the traditional longhouses, the heart continues to glow, preserving the cultural soul of the community through the many changes of modern life.

Why practice speaking with this video?

Engaging with the "Vietnam Cultural Heritage Highlights" video not only exposes you to the rich cultural narratives of Vietnam but also serves as a practical tool for enhancing your English speaking skills. By immersing yourself in the context of Vietnamese heritage, you can practice relevant vocabulary and expressions while gaining insights into cultural practices.

Speaking along with the video allows you to improve your English pronunciation and fluency through repetition and shadowing techniques. Using a shadowing site or a shadowing app, you can mirror the speaker's intonation, rhythm, and clarity, which is essential for effective communication. This method transforms passive listening into active speaking practice, making it more beneficial for learners of all levels.

Grammar & Expressions in Context

The speaker in the video employs several key grammatical structures that are useful for English learners:

  • Passive voice: “Pho Hien was recognized as a special national heritage site…” This structure emphasizes the action over the subject and is a vital element in describing historical events.
  • Present perfect tense: “The workshop has attracted the participation…” This tense is effective for discussing past events with ongoing relevance, making it ideal for speaking about cultural activities.
  • Modals of necessity: “participants agreed that Fo Hien should be reawakened…” This shows obligation and is important when expressing opinions or recommendations.

These expressions present an opportunity for learners to practice English speaking by constructing similar sentences related to their own experiences or opinions about cultural heritage.

Common Pronunciation Traps

While watching the video, pay attention to some challenging words and phrases:

  • “Pho Hien” - The distinctive pronunciation of this name may be difficult if you're not familiar with Vietnamese phonetics. Practice the nuances of each sound rather than relying on English pronunciation rules.
  • “artistry” - Ensure you stress the first syllable: ART-istry, as incorrect placement can alter understanding.
  • “cultural heritage” - This phrase may require attention, as linking sounds smoothly can enhance your overall pronunciation. Listen closely to how the speaker articulates it.

Learn English with YouTube to navigate through these pronunciation challenges by repeating phrases and focusing on clarity. This method of practice can significantly sharpen your English speaking abilities!

What is the Shadowing Technique?

Shadowing is a science-backed language learning technique originally developed for professional interpreter training and popularized by polyglot Dr. Alexander Arguelles. The method is simple but powerful: you listen to native English audio and immediately repeat it out loud — like a shadow following the speaker with just a 1–2 second delay. Unlike passive listening or grammar drills, shadowing forces your brain and mouth muscles to simultaneously process and reproduce real speech patterns. Research shows it significantly improves pronunciation accuracy, intonation, rhythm, connected speech, listening comprehension, and speaking fluency — making it one of the most effective methods for IELTS Speaking preparation and real-world English communication.