The Dialectical Thought of the Yin–Yang and Five Elements Theory in Vietnamese Culinary Culture

Vietnamese cuisine is not merely the art of food preparation but also a profound expression of Eastern philosophy, particularly the dialectical thought embodied in the Yin–Yang and Five Elements theory. This paper analyzes how this philosophical framework is reflected in Vietnamese culinary culture. In doing so, it clarifies the harmonious relationship between humans and nature, as well as between the material and the spiritual, within the national cultural context.