Things NOT to do in Vietnam (Part 2)
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
- đ Respecting the altar is crucial in Vietnamese culture, as it is considered sacred and associated with good luck, health, and wealth.
- đ Removing shoes when entering a Vietnamese home is a sign of respect and cleanliness, especially important during the rainy season.
- đ Public displays of affection are generally frowned upon in Vietnam, reflecting traditional values and the importance of modesty.
- đ 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.
- â Crossing fingers is seen as inappropriate in Vietnam, as it resembles an offensive gesture related to private parts.
- đœïž Using chopsticks improperly, such as sticking themçŽç« into a rice bowl, can be seen as a sign of death and is disrespectful.
- đ° When dining out or on a date, it's customary to 'fight' to pay for the meal as a sign of generosity and respect.
- đ¶ 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.
- đČ Refusing food offered by Vietnamese hosts can be seen as a rejection of their hospitality and love.
- đĄ 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
đ€ 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.
đœïž 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.
đ€ 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
đĄConfucianism
đĄTaoism
đĄBuddhism
đĄAltar
đĄCollectivist Culture
đĄPDA (Public Display of Affection)
đĄSeniority and Hierarchy
đĄVegetarianism
đĄSaving Face
đĄEtiquette
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.
Transcripts
did you know if you crossed your fingers
in Vietnam it's inappropriate or if you
play with Chopstick in the restaurant
Vietnamese people might roll their eyes
at you so in today's video I'm gonna
save you some trouble by showing you 15
things that most foreigners do that make
Vietnamese people uncomfortable if you
want to learn more about Vietnamese
culture local food and hidden gems don't
forget to follow my social media at Van
Boo from Vietnam and my website at
whatthefallvn.com and now let's dive
into the number one most common mistake
nearly every house office and business
in Vietnam has a small altar to worship
Gods being influenced by Confucianism
taoism and Buddhism Vietnamese people
believe that worshiping gods and their
ancestors can bring them good luck good
health and wealth therefore an altar is
a sacred place and very important to
Vietnamese people putting your feet
directly to the altar is very
disrespectful because feet are
considered the lowest and the least
important part of the body so if you
have to sit down to have a hot pot or
you have to take a siesta on the floor
make sure that you don't Point your feet
directly to the family's altar
you will drive Vietnamese people crazy
if you bring your shoes to their house
spiritually you're bringing bad luck
from the outside to the house culturally
you're bringing dirt to the floor where
Vietnamese people usually gather due to
the collectivist culture if a Vietnamese
person has a party you know that there
will be a lot people coming over like
their friends the whole relatives of 50
people or even the hairdresser and of
course there's not enough room for
everyone and that's the reason why
Vietnamese people share a lot of
activities on the floor such as eating
playing cards or even sleeping therefore
we don't want our floor to be dirty when
you enter someone's house taking off
your shoes show that you care enough
about the host and the cleanliness of
their home unfortunately this time is
the rainy season in Ho Chi Minh City so
it's not a good idea to enter someone's
house with wet socks that's the reason
why I partner with Bessie the Canadian
waterproof shoe brand to make sure that
your sock will stay dry thank you vessi
for partnering with me on this video
today what I love the most about vessi
is that their shoes are 100 waterproof
it's perfect to wear them during the
rainy or snow season I was very
surprised when I stepped in puddles my
shoes and my socks were still dry it's
because their shoes are made from
dymatics a neat material with millions
of pores small enough to prevent water
from entering and large enough to allow
heat and moisture to escape from your
feet that means you can wear them all
seasons and participate in many
activities but still feel very
comfortable lightweight and breathable
vessi are 100 vegan and creature free so
no worry about leaving too much carbon
footprint on Earth vessi was kind enough
to give my audience a discount so visit
the link in the description and use my
coat for 25 of each pair of the Vesti
adult shoes so now you never have to
worry about entering someone's house
with wet socks
PDA like french kissing or grabbing is
inappropriate in Vietnam from the
traditional confusion perspective women
and men are not supposed to directly
touch each other that's why we have a
saying
if you go on a date with a Vietnamese
Girl Most Likely she's gonna go home
early or avoid PDA at all cost at least
on the first date because she was being
taught that if she crossed the line she
spoiled however Vietnamese culture more
open to the concept of friendly skinship
with the same genders it's very common
to see men sit pressed up against each
other during Hot Pot due to the small
space you can also see two girls holding
hands on the street arms linked or even
arms around each other and you might be
confused about their sexuality right
it's okay they're just close friends
[Music]
if you do this to indicate come here in
Vietnam you're likely going to get into
a fight this gesture is used to call
animals or challenge someone to start a
fight in Vietnam so the correct way to
tell people to come here is to do this
so basically you're moving your hand up
and down from the outside toward your
body and with the smiling face so it's
like this come here lightly if you want
to tell people to go away You're gonna
do like this
so you move your hand away from your
body down and up like this and with
frowning face like go away
when I first came to the US when I tell
people to come here like this they were
super confused and now I learned the
difference
[Music]
I remember when I was a kid I did this
after watching Disney Channel and my mom
scolded me for being a bad kid in the
west people cross their fingers when
they're hoping for good luck but in
Vietnam cross fingers equal to the
middle finger overlapping fingers look
like the private part of the female and
it's not that it's specifically the
woman's private parts are insulting as
all sexual organs are taboo and vulgar
in Vietnam
if you give something with one hand to
older people it disrespectful or if you
pet someone who is older than you on the
back or touch the head it's
disrespectful seniority and hierarchy
are very important in Vietnam and when I
say older people it doesn't only refer
to the elders but also the people who
are older than you that's why in
Vietnamese language we have different
pronouns to indicate that we are younger
and the other person is older when we
greet older people we slightly vow to
show respect and when we answer their
questions we usually have the word ah at
the end of the sentence to be more
polite
[Music]
have you ever seen this picture and do
you know what it is Vietnamese people
stick two chopsticks with an egg into
the rice bowl to honor dead people so
sticking your Chopstick Into The Rice
Bowl remind Vietnamese people a funeral
or death so don't do that also I see a
lot of foreigners knock their Chopstick
on a bowl and it would make Vietnamese
people very uncomfortable too because
you might break the bowl or you might
accidentally invite wandering Spirits or
goats that are bringing bad luck to
their family this custom and believe are
heavily applied in the north because I'm
from Hanoi so if you form different
parts of Vietnam don't hesitate to
comment down below so we can all learn
from each other
my friend went on a date with a foreign
guide last week and she was very upset
and disappointed because he didn't fight
to pay excuse me can I have a bill
please oh it's okay I can pay for this
date are you sure uh yeah
okay
if you go on a date with a Vietnamese
girl or you visit your future parents in
law make sure that you fight to pay and
the rule of thumb is to fight three
times
excuse me can I have a bill please oh no
no no it's honest oh it's my honor to
pay let me pay no it's our treat oh no
no I can pay no no we can pay are you
sure I can pay no no we can pay give us
a bill okay you win next time next time
then again I'm from the northern part of
Vietnam so there's more rules and
traditions to explain this kind of
behavior it's all about saving face
culture if you can pay for a meal you
show the parents that you can take care
of their daughter
you can still go skinny dipping at some
places in Vietnam however you might make
some Vietnamese people feel
uncomfortable if you go naked at the
beach because it's not very common in
Vietnam just yet Vietnamese women are
taught to be Juan Tang meaning we need
to dress appropriately and
conservatively this culture is less
strict in the South though because it's
more International and diverse there
if you're traveling with children be
aware that Vietnamese people love kids
and they love to touch them especially
those little round eye Western kids who
are very rare in Vietnam they stand out
as extra cute and irresistible so if you
tell people not to touch your child it
might seem rude because people might
think that you are overprotective or
arrogant the best way to deal with the
random stranger touch overload is to
tell people that your child is not well
is a phrase to say as you Shield your
child from touches this will be
understood without its seemingly that
you don't approve for their kind
touching if you are okay with people to
hold your baby it's a perk for you
because Vietnamese people are willing to
take care and hold your baby so that you
can finish your meal at the restaurant
foreign
[Music]
so if you refuse food you refuse love
period there's a friendly question and
it's like a greeting in Vietnam that
goes and the Chua and translate to have
you eaten yet it's kind of like asking
how are you to show that they care about
you if you are offered food that you
cannot eat due to your allergies or
spiritual religious reasons the best is
just to be honest for example if you are
vegetarian and you're offered meat just
tell them that you're a vegetarian or if
you are sincerely being invited to come
over for dinner and you don't want to
come just make up an excuse for example
you can say you're full you already ate
or you're not free but if you are
already in the table with the whole
Vietnamese family refuse to eat the
whole food is considered very rude
foreign
experienced a period of prolonged
Warfare Vietnamese people love peace and
they would avoid fighting at all costs
however if you provoke a Vietnamese
person by raising your voice or
insulting them they have a whole gang to
fight you back just like how Vietnamese
people fight China for 1 000 years
France for 100 years and American for 20
years so learn the history lower your
voice and don't get into the fight with
the local people
thank you
never ever criticize or blame a
Vietnamese person in public because it
can cause people to lose Faith Saving
Face culture is crucial to Vietnamese
people especially people from the
northern part of Vietnam who were
heavily influenced by Chinese culture in
the book called the culture map Aaron
Meyer said the Chinese manager learns
never to criticize a colleague openly or
in front of others while the Dutch
manager learns always to be honest and
to give the message straight Americans
are trained to wrap positive messages
around negative ones while the French
are trained to criticize passionately
and provide positive feedback sparingly
since working with Multicultural teams I
confirmed that this is 80 true and if
you want me to do a separate video
talking about the Vietnamese culture and
business let me know in the comment down
below
if you visit your Vietnamese girlfriend
family or you meet with your business
partner here in Vietnam having heavy
beard will make some people especially
the older generation feel uncomfortable
people might think that you don't care
about your cleanliness or you're just
lazy to shave having heavy facial hair
is not very common in many Asian
countries such as Japan Korea or
Singapore I'm not sure if it's because
of genetic or Diet reason that make it
hard for Asian men to grow beard
compared to Western man I've heard a lot
of my male friends said that it's very
hard to grow a full face of beard
because there are some parts that have
hair some parts don't so it's easier for
them to just shave with a collectivist
culture if you have a full phase of
beard and others don't you might draw
attention also in Vietnam we eat a lot
of Rice and Noodles so having a full
beard will be considered unhygienic
because because the food might drop on
your beard but if it's your style or you
feel comfortable with yourself there's
nothing wrong with it
[Music]
please blow your nose in public burping
out loud or using toothpick without
covering your mouth are considered rude
in Vietnam as well and as a Vietnamese
person I'm aware that there are a lot of
Vietnamese gestures and behaviors that
make other people feel uncomfortable too
like speaking loudly or covering sneezes
with their hands so let's just roast
each other in the comments down below
because I feel like the more we
understand each other culture the better
this type of content usually consume a
lot of my time and my effort to do
research and find the right information
about the culture so make sure if you
like this video don't forget to share
and follow my channel thank you everyone
for watching and I'll see you in the
next video bye
yourself
oh my gosh I can't think of words right
now
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