Basic Do ’ s and Dont ’ s
Culture
Basic Do ’ s and Dont ’ s
The people of Vietnam are kind , generous , compassionate and willing to make you welcome . As “ invited guests ” perhaps take a moment to understand that some things are different from home , there are some behavioral customs we need to be conscious of . Vietnam culture is drenched in behavioral etiquette , times have changed somewhat over the years however the basics still apply . We have come up with a few simple day to day things that you may want to take on board . If you make the effort , you will be rewarded .
DO
Dress well when visiting pagodas . No shorts or tacky beer t-shirts . Shoes are fine , and rarely will you have to remove them . If unsure , just follow what the locals do .
If invited into a home , always remove your shoes at the front door when entering .
Touching children on the head is only done by parents , grand parents , etc .
Elderly people always have the right of way in Vietnamese society and should be treated with great respect . Always address the eldest in a group first . As a form of respect to elderly or other esteemed people , such as monks , take off your hat and bow your head politely when addressing them . In Asia , the head is the symbolic highest point – never pat or touch an adult on the head .
Ask for permission when taking a photograph of someone . If they indicate that they do not want you to , then abide by their wishes .
Take a hotel business card from the reception desk before venturing out from your hotel . This will make your return to the hotel in a taxi or cyclo much easier .
Business cards are exchanged on initial meetings and should be presented with both hands . When receiving business cards ensure you show proper respect to it and do not simply glance at it and put it on the table .
how well intentioned may be taken as an insult . Your best bet in such a situation is to buy a small gift for the staff , such as flowers , pastry , candy - things you would buy for a friend at home .
Don ’ ts
Never carry more money than you need when walking around the streets . Do not wear large amounts of jewelry . There are two reasons for not doing this : ( 1 ) It is considered impolite to flaunt wealth in public ; ( 2 ) It is more likely that you may become a victim of a pickpocket or drive-by bag snatcher .
Three ’ s a crowd . It is considered bad luck to take a photo with only three people in . There is a saying in Vietnamese “ chụp ba ma bất một “ – translated roughly as “ photograph three and the devil will take one .”
Never lose your temper in public or when bargaining for a purchase . This is considered a serious loss of face for both parties . Always maintain a cool and happy demeanor and you will be reciprocated with the same .
Do not try to take photographs of military installations or anything to do with the military . This can be seen as a breach of national security .
Physical displays of affection between lovers in public are frowned upon . That ’ s why you may come across couples holding hands but not hugging or kissing .
Don ’ t do drugs . The punishments for being caught with , or using drugs in Vietnam are very harsh , indifferent of the amount and type of drug . You can be seen as guilty by association just being in the same room or bar as people using drugs .
Don ’ t cross your fingers for good luck , crossing your fingers in Vietnam is considered a rude , and disrespectful gesture that refers to part of the female anatomy .
Tipping has not been customary in Vietnam , but as the flow of tourists has increased in recent times , service charges and the expectation of a small tip has become more common . There are however times when it can be taken the wrong way . At small hotels , the staff frequently go out of their way to answer questions , reconfirm plane reservations , and look up addresses and so on . This is a great honor and their way of saying they consider you a friend . Remember , friends don ’ t tip friends . A tip , no matter
6 The MAG Vung Tau