(VOVworld) – The custom of chewing betel and areca nut is one of Vietnamese people's fine traditional cultural features in the past. Areca splitting knife, pots of slaked lime, cylindrical lime holders, and betel-trays are among indispensable tools for chewing betel leaf and areca nut. Visiting the Vietnam National History Museum these days, you can see these tools which are gradually fading out in Vietnamese people’s life.
A betel-tray intricately incrusted with mother-of-pearl holding areca nuts and green betel leaves placed on the altar relived a cultural space of ancient Vietnamese people. This image replicates a worshiping compartment of the Vietnamese people in the 18th century helping visitors learn about the importance of betel and areca in the Vietnamese cultural and religious life. Nguyen Van Cuong is Director of the Vietnam National History Museum ‘Regardless Kings or ordinary people, the betel and areca culture was originated from people’s ordinary life. This culture is closely associated with Vietnamese people's social and cultural life appearing in funerals, weddings, betrothal ceremonies, and some kinds of art forms creating a unique characteristics for Vietnamese culture"

More than 100 ancient exhibits including areca splitting knife, pots of slaked lime, cylindrical lime holders, spittoons, and betel-trays of various patterns, sizes, and materials have helped viewers imagine about the practice of chewing betel and areca nut in Vietnam. Most of the exhibits are sets of utensils betel leaf and areca nut of royal families of the Nguyen Dynasty. They are made of gold, silver and precious stones and exquisitely designed. The highlight of the exhibition is an ancient lime-pot of the Ly dynasty with simple patterns but the material made its beauty. Sets of toots made of bamboo, ceramic and bronze, used by ordinary people are also on the display. Besides, there are unique tools used by ethnic minority people. The betel and areca cultural space has become more lively thanks to women in four-panel traditional dresses making a quid of betel while singing Quan ho folk songs. A foreign visitor to the exhibition shared his feeling ‘The exhibition is very interesting and helps me better understand one of your typical cultural features. Items on display look fine. This is the first time I have seen such things and how a quid of betel is made. ’

The event also attracted several young people. ‘My grandmother chews betel and areca nut, so I’m familiar with betel mortar, pots of slaked lime, and cylindrical lime holders. But in this exhibition, I see the tools in various shapes and materials. The old tools look very eye-catching’, said Pham Thuy Anh, a visitor.

At present, chewing betel and areca nut is not as popular as in the past. But betel and areca nut quids are indispensable in exchanges, rituals, and weddings. Collector Thanh Hai Duong contributes 40 sets of betel and areca nut tools to the exhibition ‘Each item in the exhibition conveys a message from our ancestors. Maybe in the future, we’ll not chew betel and areca nuts any more, and the custom will lose in oblivion. But the culture of chewing betel and areca nuts will be imprinted in the minds of Vietnamese people forever’.

Items displayed at the National History Museum have reflected a lively picture of a cultural aspect of Vietnamese people. It has encouraged the public to uphold and promote national cultural values.

Le Phuong