Things NOT to do in Vietnam (Part 2)

What The Pho

20 Oct 202214:31

Summary

TLDRIn this informative video, the host explores 15 cultural faux pas that might make Vietnamese people uncomfortable. From the significance of altars in Vietnamese homes to the taboo of crossing fingers, the video offers insights into local customs and etiquette. It also covers appropriate gestures, the importance of respecting seniority, and the cultural implications of certain behaviors like PDA and table manners. The host's collaboration with the waterproof shoe brand, Vessi, adds a practical tip for visitors during the rainy season, ensuring they can enter homes respectfully. The video is a must-watch for anyone looking to navigate Vietnamese culture with sensitivity and respect.

Takeaways

🙏 Respecting the altar is crucial in Vietnamese culture, as it is considered sacred and associated with good luck, health, and wealth.
👟 Removing shoes when entering a Vietnamese home is a sign of respect and cleanliness, especially important during the rainy season.
💏 Public displays of affection are generally frowned upon in Vietnam, reflecting traditional values and the importance of modesty.
👋 The 'come here' gesture varies by culture; in Vietnam, it's polite to move your hand up and down towards your body with a smiling face.
✋ Crossing fingers is seen as inappropriate in Vietnam, as it resembles an offensive gesture related to private parts.
🍽️ Using chopsticks improperly, such as sticking them直立 into a rice bowl, can be seen as a sign of death and is disrespectful.
💰 When dining out or on a date, it's customary to 'fight' to pay for the meal as a sign of generosity and respect.
👶 Vietnamese people are known to be fond of children and may touch them affectionately; if uncomfortable, it's best to say the child is unwell to avoid seeming rude.
🍲 Refusing food offered by Vietnamese hosts can be seen as a rejection of their hospitality and love.
😡 Avoiding conflict is valued in Vietnamese culture, but provoking someone may lead to a strong response, reflecting the country's history of resilience.

Q & A

Why is it inappropriate to point your feet directly at an altar in Vietnam?
-In Vietnam, an altar is a sacred place where people worship gods and ancestors. Pointing your feet directly at it is considered very disrespectful because feet are seen as the lowest and least important part of the body.
What is the cultural significance of taking off shoes when entering a Vietnamese home?
-Taking off shoes when entering a Vietnamese home shows respect for the host and the cleanliness of their home. It is also a reflection of the collectivist culture where people often gather on the floor for various activities.
How can wearing waterproof shoes benefit visitors during the rainy season in Vietnam?
-Wearing waterproof shoes like those from the Vessi brand can keep your feet dry during the rainy season, which is important when entering homes to avoid tracking in wetness and dirt.
What does PDA like french kissing or grabbing signify in Vietnamese culture?
-Public displays of affection such as french kissing or grabbing are considered inappropriate in Vietnam due to traditional Confucian values that discourage direct physical contact between men and women outside of certain relationships.
Why is it offensive to use a particular hand gesture to call someone over in Vietnam?
-In Vietnam, using the 'come here' gesture by curling one finger is offensive because it is used to call animals or challenge someone to a fight. The correct way is to move your hand up and down from the outside toward your body.
What is the cultural interpretation of crossing fingers in Vietnam?
-Crossing fingers in Vietnam is seen as inappropriate because it resembles the private part of the female body, which is considered vulgar. Sexual organs are generally taboo in Vietnamese culture.
Why is it disrespectful to give something with one hand to older people in Vietnam?
-In Vietnamese culture, giving something with one hand to older people is considered disrespectful. It shows a lack of respect for seniority and hierarchy, which are important aspects of Vietnamese society.
What does it mean to stick two chopsticks upright into a rice bowl in Vietnamese culture?
-Sticking two chopsticks upright into a rice bowl is a gesture used to honor the dead in Vietnam. It resembles the incense sticks burned at funerals and is considered a reminder of death.
Why is it important to 'fight to pay' when dining with a Vietnamese girl or her parents?
-In Vietnam, 'fighting to pay' for a meal is a way to show respect and the ability to take care of someone. It is a part of the saving face culture and is especially important when meeting potential in-laws or in business settings.
How should you respond if you are offered food in Vietnam, and you cannot eat it for personal reasons?
-If you are offered food in Vietnam and cannot eat it due to allergies or religious reasons, it is best to be honest and explain your situation politely. For example, if you are a vegetarian, you can simply state that you do not eat meat.
What is the cultural expectation regarding facial hair for men in Vietnam?
-In Vietnam, having a heavy beard may make some people, especially the older generation, feel uncomfortable as it can be seen as a sign of not caring about cleanliness or laziness. It is less common and can draw attention in a collectivist culture.

Outlines

00:00

🤝 Cultural Etiquette in Vietnam

The paragraph discusses various cultural practices in Vietnam that may be unfamiliar to foreigners. It highlights the importance of respecting local customs, such as not pointing feet towards an altar, removing shoes when entering a home to avoid bringing bad luck and dirt, and the significance of not engaging in public displays of affection (PDA). The video also touches on the concept of 'saving face' and the importance of hierarchy and seniority in Vietnamese culture. Additionally, it mentions the inappropriateness of certain gestures, like sticking chopsticks upright in a rice bowl, which is associated with funerals.

05:00

🍽️ Dining and Social Customs

This paragraph delves into Vietnamese dining customs, emphasizing the importance of offering and accepting food as a sign of hospitality and affection. It advises foreigners to be mindful of their eating habits when visiting Vietnamese homes, as refusing food can be seen as rude. The paragraph also addresses the cultural norms around paying for meals and the expectation to 'fight' for the bill as a sign of respect. Furthermore, it touches on the Vietnamese people's affection for children and the potential discomfort that can arise from their touchy interactions with foreign children.

10:03

🤝 Respectful Behavior and Communication

The final paragraph focuses on respectful behavior and communication in Vietnamese culture. It advises against criticizing or blaming Vietnamese people in public, as it can lead to a loss of face. The paragraph also discusses the importance of maintaining a clean appearance, particularly the expectation to be clean-shaven, which is less common in Asia. It mentions the unhygienic perception of having a beard while eating rice and noodles. The video concludes with a call for mutual understanding and respect for cultural differences, encouraging viewers to share their experiences and learn from one another.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Confucianism

Confucianism is a system of moral, social, and political thought that originated in ancient China. It is named after Confucius, who lived from 551 to 479 BCE. In the context of the video, Confucianism is mentioned as one of the influences on Vietnamese culture, particularly in the practice of worshipping gods and ancestors at altars to bring good luck, health, and wealth. This practice reflects the Confucian emphasis on respect for ancestors and the importance of rituals.

💡Taoism

Taoism is a Chinese religious and philosophical tradition that emphasizes living in harmony with the Tao, which can be translated as 'the Way' or 'the Path'. It is one of the three main philosophical schools in China, alongside Confucianism and Buddhism. In the video, Taoism is noted as another influence on Vietnamese culture, particularly in the belief in the power of worshipping gods and ancestors to bring positive outcomes, which aligns with Taoist principles of harmony and balance.

💡Buddhism

Buddhism is a religion and philosophy that originated in India and later spread to other parts of Asia, including Vietnam. It is based on the teachings of Siddhartha Gautama, known as the Buddha. The video mentions Buddhism as an influence on Vietnamese culture, particularly in the practice of worshipping at altars, which is a way to show respect and seek blessings, reflecting Buddhist values of reverence and mindfulness.

💡Altar

An altar is a sacred space or a piece of furniture where religious or spiritual rituals are performed. In Vietnamese culture, as described in the video, nearly every household, office, and business has a small altar for worshipping gods and ancestors. The altar is considered a sacred place, and pointing one's feet towards it is seen as highly disrespectful. This reflects the cultural importance of showing reverence to the spiritual realm.

💡Collectivist Culture

Collectivist culture refers to a cultural orientation where the needs and goals of the group take precedence over individual desires. The video discusses how Vietnamese culture is collectivist, which is evident in the practice of sharing activities on the floor due to limited space and the importance of community gatherings. This cultural aspect influences social behaviors, such as taking off shoes when entering a home to show respect and maintain cleanliness for communal activities.

💡PDA (Public Display of Affection)

Public Display of Affection (PDA) refers to physical affection between romantic partners in public. The video explains that PDA is considered inappropriate in Vietnam, especially from a traditional perspective where men and women are not supposed to directly touch each other in public. This is tied to cultural norms and values that prioritize modesty and privacy in romantic relationships.

💡Seniority and Hierarchy

Seniority and hierarchy refer to the relative rank or status of individuals within a social system, often based on age, experience, or position. In Vietnamese culture, as highlighted in the video, showing respect to older people and those of higher status is crucial. This is demonstrated through various behaviors, such as using different pronouns to indicate age difference and showing deference in greetings and conversations.

💡Vegetarianism

Vegetarianism is the practice of abstaining from eating meat, and sometimes other animal products, for health, ethical, or religious reasons. The video mentions vegetarianism in the context of food etiquette in Vietnam, where refusing food can be seen as refusing love or hospitality. It suggests that if one cannot eat certain foods due to being vegetarian, it is best to be honest about it to avoid causing offense.

💡Saving Face

Saving face is a cultural concept where individuals strive to maintain their dignity and reputation in front of others. In Vietnamese culture, as discussed in the video, it is important not to criticize or embarrass someone publicly to avoid causing them to lose face. This is particularly important in business and social interactions, where harmony and respect are highly valued.

💡Etiquette

Etiquette refers to the conventions and rules of polite behavior in society or among a specific group of people. The video provides several examples of Vietnamese etiquette, such as not pointing feet towards an altar, removing shoes when entering a home, and the appropriate ways to gesture for 'come here' or 'go away'. These etiquette rules are part of the cultural norms that govern social interactions and demonstrate respect and consideration for others.

Highlights

Crossing fingers in Vietnam is considered inappropriate as it resembles a vulgar gesture.

Playing with chopsticks in a restaurant might be frowned upon by Vietnamese people.

Vietnamese culture includes not pointing feet towards an altar, as it's considered disrespectful.

Removing shoes when entering a Vietnamese home shows respect and acknowledges cultural norms.

Wearing waterproof shoes, like those from the brand Vessi, can help maintain cleanliness and respect in Vietnamese homes during the rainy season.

Public displays of affection (PDA) are generally inappropriate in Vietnam due to traditional cultural norms.

In Vietnam, certain hand gestures can be offensive or lead to misunderstandings.

Crossing fingers is associated with bad luck and is considered vulgar in Vietnamese culture.

Giving something with one hand or touching an elder's head is seen as disrespectful in Vietnam.

Sticking chopsticks into a rice bowl is a symbol of death and is considered inauspicious.

When on a date in Vietnam, it's customary for the man to insist on paying to show he can provide.

Nudity on beaches may make some Vietnamese uncomfortable as it's not a common practice.

Vietnamese people are generally affectionate towards children, but some foreigners might find this overbearing.

Refusing food in Vietnam can be seen as a rejection of hospitality and love.

Vietnamese people value peace but will stand up against provocation.

Public criticism is seen as harmful to one's reputation and is avoided in Vietnamese culture.

Having a beard might be perceived as unhygienic or a sign of laziness in some Vietnamese circles.

Burping, blowing one's nose, or using a toothpick in public is considered rude in Vietnam.