In the UK we eat around the dining table We follow lots of table manners Firstly, we use cutlery – you know, knives, forks and spoons – to eat most of the food We hold the fork in the left hand and the knife in the right You should hold the handle of the knife in your palm and your fork in the other hand with the prongs pointing downwards There is also a spoon and a fork for dessert When you fi nish eating, you should place your knife and fork with the prongs upwards on your plate Secondly, you should never use your own cutlery to take more food from the serving dish – use the serving spoon Now if there’s bread on the table, you can use your hands to take a piece Then break off a small piece of bread and butter it Thirdly, if you are a guest, you have to wait until the host or hostess starts eating and you should ask another person to pass the food Next, never chew with your mouth open and don’t talk with food in your mouth… Today I’m going to tell you about the xoe dance, a traditional dance of the Thai ethnic group in Viet Nam Thai people have followed this spiritual tradition for generations The xoe dance expresses people’s working life and wishes for a happy and wealthy life It is performed in both public and private gatherings such as celebrations, festivals or family reunions The xoe dance has more than 30 forms based on the fi rst six ancient forms The most popular form is the xoe vong or ‘circle dance’ because it expresses social unity People, young or old alike, join hands to make a circle around the fi re and dance to the music Besides the circle dance, there are dances with conical hats, paper fans or scarves Old people say they shouldn’t break with this tradition because it refl ects Thai culture and lifestyle As a Thai folk song goes, without the xoe dance, the rice won’t grow and people won’t get married A: Good morning Can I ask you some questions about this festival? B: Yes, of course A: What is the festival called? B: Ooc bom boc It’s held by our ethnic group in Soc Trang on the 14th and 15th evenings of the 10th lunar month A: Who you worship at the festival? B: Our Moon God We thank him for giving us a good harvest and plenty of fish in the rivers A: What you during the festival? B: First, we have a worshipping ceremony at home, under the bamboo archway or at the pagoda When the moon appears, the old pray to the Moon God and the children raise their clasped hands to the moon A: Sounds great! So what are the off erings? B: Green rice flakes, coconuts, potatoes and pia cakes A: Do you any other activities after that? B: Sure Then we fl oat beautiful paper lanterns on the river, and the next evening, we hold thrilling The Giong Festival is celebrated every year in Phu Linh Commune, Soc Son District, Ha Noi This festival commemorates the hero, Saint Giong He is considered a mythical hero because he grew from a three-year-old child into a giant overnight He is worshipped for defending the country from foreign invaders - the An Although this festival is held from the 6th to the 12th day of the 4th lunar month, people start preparing traditional clothing for the procession and for various festival performances one month beforehand During the festival, the procession starts at the Mother Temple and goes to Thuong Temple where a religious ceremony is performed When night falls, a cheo play is performed Then the festivities end with a thanksgiving procession on the 12th This festival shows our love for the motherland and the preservation of our cultural heritage