The book was written in the year of 1908 by Mr. Mai Vien Doan Trien (1854 - 1919) - a confucianist & high ranking mandarin who serving under administration of the Nguyen Dynasty (1802 - 1945) and French colonialism. The book is composed of 2 parts: 1 - Vietnamese village's key customs in a typical circle of one year. 2 - Every-day's customs & habits of a popular people. It is one of the most interesting and useful book for understanding Vietnam culture and many related aspects. The original copy of the book was written in Chinese script and its Vietnamese translation completed by Nguyen To Lan.
Contents: Part I: Lunar New Year (How to prepare, items - gifts, worshipping procedures, how the people treating each other, folk relaxing games). Festivals of Hàn thực, Đoan ngọ, Trung nguyên, Trung thu, Trùng thập.
Part II: Festivals in temple & pagoda, in long communal house, village's regulations, administrative structure / apparatus, death anniversary celebration, funeral rituals.... and many others