Photo: Freepik

Like other Asian countries, Vietnam values hierarchy and holds etiquette to high standards, as it normally shows how educated and well-behaved the person is. Therefore, it is crucial for international visitors to learn the customs and etiquette of Vietnam, especially handy in navigating social situations and impressing local people.

An overview

Vietnam, a Southeast Asian nation, has a rich tradition of agricultural production, which makes rice a staple in every meal throughout the day for its people. Vietnamese households prepare a diverse array of dishes, which encompass meat, vegetables, soups, stews, and more. Besides, Vietnamese cuisine is predominantly characterized by mild flavors, complemented by unique condiments like nuoc mam (fish sauce) or mam tom (shrimp purple paste).

A tradition Vietnamese meal displayed in a round tray (Source: Collected)

Utensils! You may have seen chopsticks before in a lot of Asian dining tables. Vietnamese people use chopsticks to pick up food from the common dishes. When it comes to dishes with a soup base, they also employ spoons to enjoy the rich and flavorful broth.

As working hours mostly in Vietnam start at 8 AM and end at 5 PM, Vietnamese locals often grab food on the road or bring lunch boxes to their work. Consequently, dinner is considered the most important meal of the day since family members can come together and share the details of their respective day with the others. 

Do’s and Don’ts on Vietnamese dining etiquette 

Do’s

• Serve the oldest people first and wait for them to start eating. Vietnamese people honor traditional customs in a way to show respect and care to their seniors.
• Eat after everyone is present at the table, this will make people feel included and welcomed especially when you are a host.
• Learn to invite people to eat by saying “Mời mọi người ăn cơm!” meaning “Bon appétit” in French/English.
• Use both hands when giving or receiving food to show politeness, mostly with people older than you.
• Even if you like any dish better than others, eat moderately and make sure that everyone can try it too.
• Place your utensils neatly on top of your bowl or utensil holder if any.
• Say thanks after the meal “Cảm ơn về bữa ăn” to show your appreciation to the host. You can also offer to help with cleaning or putting away the setting. 

Don'ts 

• Eat directly from shared dishes but pick up food one at a time in your separate bowl. People think this action is rude when you seem to not care about others. 
• Make loud sounds when eating even though you are just excited. This is because Vietnam is a reserved culture and open reaction is not widely welcomed. 
• Stick chopsticks against the bowl is deemed to bring bad luck according to Buddhism and Taoism because the scene is quite similar to incense pinning on an altar.   
• Point with chopsticks toward someone. Foreigners easily get carried away with the conversation and make this mistake so be careful!
• Flip fish on the plate, especially when you are eating in coastline provinces since this act resembles an unfortunate event - flipping a vessel.