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“How can this hand gesture in Vietnam be unacceptable?”. Well, it’s mostly because of cultural differences, in which social norms may be expressed differently. To avoid such uncomfortable moments, keep reading this article by Asia King Travel - we’ve summed up a social etiquette guide in Vietnam just for you!
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Vietnam is a Southeast Asian country filled with cultural values
In Vietnamese culture, body language and non-verbal communication play an important role as much as spoken words. In which some gestures are acceptable, while others may be considered rude and disrespectful.
Doing a bit of research about hand gestures in Vietnam, as well as other popular social etiquette, will help you avoid offending the locals and unwanted arguments. Let’s check out these dos and don’ts below to keep your trip to Vietnam smooth and enjoyable.
This is the most common etiquette in Vietnam that even kids are acknowledged of from an early age. When giving or receiving a thing (like money, cards,...), especially from an older person or your senior, you should use both hands to show respect and politeness. To show a higher level of respect, you can also bow your head a little while giving out/receiving things with 2 hands.
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Use both hands to show respect
Vietnam’s markets have their own unique way of welcoming tourists. Especially in traditional markets, some vendors may call out or gesture with their hands to invite you to buy their goods. In general, if you don’t want to buy, you just need to shake your head and keep walking.
However, sometimes a pushy vendor may approach directly and make you uncomfortable. You can respond with a gentle wrist twist with your hand pointing up. Some people say this motion looks like unscrewing a light bulb but with loose fingers. It either means “No”, “I don’t understand”, or “I don’t know”.
Pro travel tip: To make it more effective, you can pair the wrist twist motion with walking straight past the person with no eye contact. That’s exactly a Vietnamese thing!
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These hand gestures in Vietnam mean the same as they do in Western culture. If you want to praise someone or say something is good, just thumbs up. And do the OK sign to show agreement or express that everything is fine.
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If you like something, thumbs up!
In some Western countries, crossed fingers mean good luck. However, this hand gesture in Vietnam has a totally different meaning. Actually, it’s considered as bad as the middle finger in Western cultures, and refers to a female body part. If you cross your fingers or raise your middle finger towards somebody, they’ll find it rude and disrespectful. So better not do that in Vietnam!
Like many other cultures, pointing at someone with just one finger is considered impolite in Vietnamese culture. Instead, you should use your whole hand to show respect.
Although you may see some Vietnamese use this gesture, it’s mostly among close friends to joke with each other. In a general situation, especially to a stranger, holding your palm up while calling someone over is inappropriate, as this action is often used to call for your pet. Therefore, to stay polite, you should point your palm face down instead.
Pro travel tip: In restaurants, it’s common for guests to raise their hands until the waiters notice. However, in Vietnam, a loud “Em oi” (pronounced like M oi) works better. And when the waiter responds, you can call them over with your palm down. In case your waiter is elderly, it’s better just to call “Bac oi” (pronounced like Bag oi) and raise your hand to show them which table you are at. Don’t use your hands to call someone over if they’re older than you.
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“Em oi” and raising your hand is the best way to call the waiter in Vietnamese diners
The Vietnamese formal way to greet each other is to say “Xin Chao”. It can be accompanied by a handshake, especially in a business meeting. However, in daily life, Vietnamese people rarely greet this way. Friends often smile and wave their hands instead of saying “hello”.
If you’re passing someone on the road and accidentally make eye contact with them, you may catch them nodding their head and smiling at you - it’s a friendly Vietnamese way to say hi. Another nod and smile is an appropriate reply in this case.
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Showing respect to the elderly or socially senior is considered one of the deeply rooted traditions in Vietnamese culture. This trait underlies much of the body language and social etiquette in Vietnam. For example, you bow slightly when greeting an elderly person, and use both hands when giving them something.
Interestingly, in a networking lunch or a party, when you make a personal toast with a respected person, or often when a younger woman toasts an older man, it’s considered polite to cradle your wrist lightly while toasting. And after drinking, you should initiate a handshake to show warmth and respect.
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Showing respect to the elderly is a deeply rooted tradition in Vietnamese culture
Another gesture in Vietnam that may cause misunderstandings is winking. For many foreigners, a wink can feel playful or lighthearted. But in Vietnam, if you wink at someone, especially the opposite sex, it’s very likely to be seen as a flirting signal. If you genuinely want to show interest in someone, a wink can be a subtle way to express it. In other situations, though, it’s better to think twice before winking.
One interesting thing about Vietnamese culture is that people love to share food. Sometimes it’s out of politeness, but mostly it’s because they want to enjoy the food together. So if a Vietnamese person offers you a meal or a snack, it’s perfectly fine to accept. Otherwise, if you don’t feel like eating, a gentle shake of the head paired with a smile is enough to decline.
Vietnamese girls love flowers, and giving them is a thoughtful way to leave a good impression on friends, hosts, or business partners. But remember: don’t buy yellow chrysanthemums for Vietnamese people. In Vietnamese culture, this flower is associated with altars and funerals. If you accidentally give it to a younger person, they may be more forgiving. However, the elderly could find it rude or uncomfortable, so it’s best to avoid.
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Don’t give Vietnamese people yellow chrysanthemums
How many of these hand gestures in Vietnam that you already know? In general, the Vietnamese are tolerant as they understand the struggles of foreign tourists when it comes to cultural differences. However, a little insight into the Vietnamese culture will make your trip smoother and avoid uncomfortable situations.
If you’re keeping all these travel tips in mind, why not plan a trip to Vietnam with Asia King Travel to fact-check and explore more interesting things about Vietnam’s culture and people? We’re waiting for you!
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