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Vietnamese culture is rich in traditions, and superstitions play a big part in daily life. These beliefs reflect history, spirituality, and values that have been passed down for generations. Let’s take a look at these 7 traditional superstitions that have lingered for a long time in Vietnamese society with Asia King Travel!
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Vietnamese culture is rich in tradition
Every culture has its own taboos, and so does Vietnam. Some superstitions in Vietnamese culture may sound strange to foreigners, but it’s the blend of influences from many traditions, like Confucianism, Buddhism, Taoism, and indigenous folk beliefs.
For centuries, people relied on spiritual explanations to make sense of natural events, luck, health, or success, especially in an agricultural society where weather and fortune were unpredictable. Superstitions also serve as a way to teach traditional values: respect for ancestors, harmony with nature, and caution in daily life.
Even as modern science grows, these beliefs remain deeply rooted, passed down through families as part of cultural identity. Therefore, doing some research about Vietnamese taboos in advance will help avoid misunderstanding and ensure the best experience during your Vietnam tour.
Taking a photo of 3 people is likely a Vietnamese taboo, because the locals believe that the one in the middle may attract misfortune or spiritual harm. Although this belief has faded in modern times, some people still hold on to it.
This custom may sound strange to many foreigners. In Vietnamese folk belief, the number three is considered unlucky. It even appears in sayings such as “Go in threes and the ghost will take the one in the middle” (Di 3, ma bat nguoi o giua).
Some explanations trace this belief to Buddhism, where the number three is linked with sacred figures such as the Three Worlds, the Triple Gem, or the Kitchen God tradition (which involves three deities). Because of this, ordinary people avoid using the number to prevent showing disrespect. In addition, three is sometimes viewed as a symbol of conflict and imbalance, making it an unlucky number in Vietnam.
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Don’t take a photo of 3 people
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Sometimes, you’ll catch a Vietnamese saying something like “I hate you” (thay ghet qua), or “ugly” (xau chua) to a baby. Stop a minute! They don’t really mean it!
In the Vietnamese culture, complimenting a baby with words like “you're cute” or “you're so well-behaved” will attract bad spirits, which will try to annoy the baby and make them misbehave, or even be sick. Therefore, Vietnamese people often use the opposite words, along with a cutesy tone of voice, to compliment a baby.
Otherwise, you can use normal compliments, along with the special phrase “trom via”. This phrase has a similar meaning to “Knock on wood” or “Touch wood”, which helps prevent the bad spirits from disturbing the baby. This is also a common expression when you want to compliment a Vietnamese person. The locals will be absolutely surprised if you know this Vietnam travel guide.
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Adding “Knock on wood/Touch wood” when complimenting a baby
The zodiac animal signs hold a strong cultural influence on Vietnamese superstitions. In Vietnamese culture, a zodiac sign is believed to shape a person’s personality traits and influence their destiny, as well as many other aspects.
Many Vietnamese consider the zodiac when choosing marriage partners, naming children, or planning important events. For example, people often avoid marrying someone whose animal sign is incompatible with theirs, such as a Cat-Year and a Mouse-Year one. They believe that such couples will easily have conflicts or get into trouble, leading to an unhappy marriage.
There are some Vietnamese taboos relating to eating etiquette that you should keep in mind to avoid offending the locals. One of those is not sticking chopsticks upright in a bowl of rice. This act is considered highly disrespectful and attracts bad luck, as it closely resembles the way incense sticks are placed during ancestral offerings or funeral rites.
Instead, chopsticks should always be placed neatly across the bowl or on a chopstick rest. For many Vietnamese, this simple dining etiquette reflects not only respect for tradition but also the belief that avoiding bad omens helps maintain harmony at the table.
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Don’t put your chopsticks upright in the bowl
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In Vietnamese culture, the seventh month of the lunar calendar is often seen as a month of bad luck, or the “ghost month.” According to tradition, this is when the gates of the underworld open and wandering spirits return to the human world.
During this period, many people avoid big events such as weddings, moving houses, or starting new businesses. Instead, families focus on making offerings to ancestors and hungry ghosts to bring peace and protection. Although younger generations may not strictly follow these rules, the idea of lunar July being an inauspicious month still holds a strong place in Vietnamese culture.
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July is the occasion to pay tribute to your ancestors
Vietnamese people believe that the way you start a lunar month can influence the rest of it. That’s why many people avoid spending money on the very first day, especially lending and paying a debt, fearing it might lead to financial loss or a lack of prosperity for the whole month.
Instead, they prefer to receive money or keep their wallet untouched, as a way to “set the tone” for good fortune ahead. This practice remains popular today, particularly among businesspeople. So, one tip when traveling to Vietnam is that, if you plan to borrow money or ask someone to settle a debt, check the lunar calendar first to avoid an awkward moment.
In Vietnamese culture, pregnant women and those in poor health are often advised not to attend a funeral, as it is considered to be filled with heavy, negative spiritual energy. Many Vietnamese believe that expectant mothers and ill individuals are more vulnerable to this energy, which could harm their health or, in the case of pregnancy, affect the baby.
If attendance is unavoidable, some people will carry protective charms, like a sprig of garlic or a piece of red thread, to ward off bad energy. After attending the funeral, Vietnamese people will go straight to their home and do this thing before going inside their house: dot via (burn away bad spirits). They will burn a little piece of paper and step over it several times, which is believed to get rid of bad things.
Protective charms that can be use to ward off bad energy
Whether you believe in them or not, these superstitions offer a unique glimpse into Vietnamese culture. They remind the locals of how traditions shape the way they live, celebrate, and seek good fortune, even in modern times. If you’re interested in broadening your horizons about a new culture, contact Asia King Travel now to plan a trip to Vietnam!
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