Vietnam Customs (2024)

FAQs

What are the customs and traditions of Vietnam? ›

The Vietnamese people value humility, restraint, and modesty. Avoid being boastful or showing off wealth. Public displays of affection are generally frowned upon so try to avoid touching people of the opposite sex. Dress conservatively and keep your body covered.

Ancestor Worship

A small altar is placed in almost every house in Vietnam; it is used to commune with the departed loved ones. The rites consist of making offerings of fruits, food, wine, votive paper, lighting candles and burning incense before praying in front of the altar.

Items that you cannot bring into Vietnam include weapons, munitions, explosives and inflammables, firecracker of all kinds, opium and drugs, toxic chemicals, and cultural materials unsuitable to Vietnamese society (p*rnographic seditious publications, films and photos), harmful child toys.

Traditions can include what most people in a country do on holidays. For example: “Sharing a meal with turkey is a Thanksgiving tradition in the United States.” Or: “Fireworks are part of America's July 4th holiday tradition.” Customs are also usual ways of behaving.

Some elements considered to be characteristic of Vietnamese culture include ancestor veneration, respect for community and family, and living in harmony with nature.

To summon a person, the entire hand with the fingers facing down is the only appropriate hand signal. Using the middle finger to point, with other fingers closed is a common gesture and is not a sign of disrespect. Pointing to other people while talking is considered disrespectful.

Lunar New Year, or Tet, is considered the most important festival and holiday in Vietnam.

When greeting an older family member, Vietnamese bow their heads to show their respect. This gesture is practiced with older family members who are recognized and greeted first in social settings. Obedience is important within the Vietnamese family culture.

Remember that short shorts, crop tops and tank tops are not considered appropriate in Vietnam. Loose, long clothing is both respectful and tends to keep you cooler in hot climates.

How much usd can i carry to Vietnam? ›

CURRENCY RESTRICTIONS FOR ENTRY: None. However, Vietnamese Dong in excess of VND 150,000,000 or foreign currency in excess of 5,000 U.S. dollars or equivalent must be declared.

How much cash can I carry into Vietnam? Currently, there is no legal limit on the amount of cash you can bring to Vietnam (either for Vietnamese Dong or any other foreign currency).

Officials at customs and immigration are checking travelers for things like whether they have the right documents to be in the country, whether they're legally allowed to be there, and whether they're bringing anything illegal with them.

Most countries require travellers to complete a customs declaration form when bringing notified goods (alcoholic drinks, tobacco products, animals, fresh food, plant material, seeds, soils, meats, and animal products) across international borders.

Shake with both hands, and bow your head slightly to show respect. Bow to the elderly who do not extend their hand. Vietnamese women are more inclined to bow their head slightly than to shake hands. When greeting someone, say “xin chao” (seen chow) + given name + title.

Public displays of affection are frowned upon. As a whole, Vietnamese are still quite reserved when it comes to showing affection for the opposite sex. While kiss or a hug with your partner is considered acceptable in the main cities of Hanoi and Saigon it is a social taboo elsewhere.

In Vietnam it is customary to bring a small gift for the host, to be presented as you part ways. Expense is not important when giving gifts, but try to give something that is unique and wouldn't normally be something they would buy for themself.

What is the Vietnamese rude finger? ›

As in many places, it's rude to point with your index finger in Vietnam. To be polite, use your pinky finger when you want to point to something. Pointing with an open hand, palm facing down, is even more polite, but it's a bit overboard for most situations.

Some examples include: Put mirrors in front of doors to scare away dragons. If the first person you see on your way to do business is a woman, you will have bad luck on your business trip and should try another day. Praising a newborn too much can cause the devils to steal it for its desirability.

The Vietnam smile is a proper response in most situations to saying anything not appropriate. When Vietnamese smile, they can show happiness, agreement, acceptance, desire, and tolerance. But the same smile can show disagreement, embarrassment, confusion, anger and even contempt.

Avoid public displays of affection with a person of the opposite sex. Do not wear revealing swimwear such as bikinis. Do not take photos of three people. Do not take photos of military installations or anything to do with the military or the police.

Vietnam is known for being a popular tourist destination because of its beautiful beaches, it's culture, amazing food (like pho), and friendly people. Vietnam is also famous for the Vietnam War, motorbikes (86% of households have one), Vietnamese coffee, floating markets and rice terraces.

Vietnamese Arranged Marriages

Today, although arranged marriages are technically against the law many marriages are still arranged by parents, often with the help of matchmakers and sometimes before their children have reached puberty.

Vietnamese cultural values emphasize the importance of family and community. Its core values, which embrace the principles of Confucianism, are harmony, duty, honor, respect, education and allegiance to the family.

Gender Roles

In Vietnam, tasks were divided along gender lines: fathers typically worked outside the home while mothers were responsible for domestic duties such as homemaking and raising children. Vietnamese culture is based on a patriarchal system, meaning the husband acts as the head of the family.

Vietnamese - Ngay Day Thang

It is known for the first 100 days after the baby is born that the mother should rest, and on the 100th day, the celebration and feast should commence celebrating the baby. They eat boiled chicken, crabs, pork belly, hard-boiled eggs, sticky rice, and sweet bean dessert at the celebration.

Red áo dài are worn during Tết for luck and prosperity. Brides and grooms may also wear red on their wedding day, so it's a good idea to come in a different colour if you're a guest. White symbolizes purity and innocence, as seen in the white dresses of highschool students, and black is most often worn at funerals.

Can ladies wear shorts in Vietnam? ›

Wearing shorts is acceptable in most situations for both men and women. However, Vietnam's traditional culture is somewhat conservative, so avoiding sleeveless shirts, tank tops, or short shorts—especially while visiting Buddhist temples—shows the greatest respect for it.

And it's considered impolite if you leave the table when others have finished their meal. Show your respect by talking with them or helping to serve dessert if you have finished your meal. Vietnamese style of dining is similar to other Asian countries.

While cash is used for small purchases and street vendors in Vietnam, most establishments accept payments from major credit card providers such as Visa. Hotels, tour operators, boutiques, restaurants, grocery stores, and spas all generally accept international debit and credit cards.

In short, when traveling to Vietnam, you should carry cash and VISA cards, this's the best choice. Vietnam Dong and USD are preferred to use in Vietnam. And, it is very easy to change USD into Dong at the banks in Vietnam.

It depends on what kind of travelling you like to do; you will spend from just 600,000VND (~30 USD) for local style to over 1,400,000VND (~70USD) for luxury travel for 2 of you. It means that you should take 8,400,000VND (~420USD) to 19,600,000VND (~980USD) for spending during 2 weeks in Vietnam for food and drinks.

Passengers arriving in Vietnam are allowed to freely carry a second mobile phone for personal use. They, however, must pay a tax if it is worth more than VND10 million ($429).

Do United States Citizens Need a Visa to Vietnam? Yes. All US citizens need a visa to enter Vietnam for business or leisure trips.

Shipments will typically be inspected by customs to ensure that the contents match what is being declared and the value of the goods is also declared correctly. There's not much you can do to speed up these customs inspections so it's often the best idea to wait.

Does customs go through your luggage? ›

If you're chosen for a search, customs agents will search your bags by hand or X-ray and ask you more questions about your trip.

If you do not declare something that should have been declared, you risk forfeiting the item. If in doubt, declare it.

Travelers should declare all items being brought from abroad that will remain in the United States. This includes gifts and duty-free purchases.

You must declare all food products. Failure to declare food products can result in up to $10,000 in fines and penalties. The following are generally admissible: Condiments: ketchup (catsup), mustard, mayonnaise, Marmite and Vegemite and prepared sauces that do not contain meat products.

Solid food items (not liquids or gels) can be transported in either your carry-on or checked bags. Liquid or gel food items larger than 3.4 oz are not allowed in carry-on bags and should be placed in your checked bags if possible.

In most cases, the personal exemption is $800, but there are some exceptions to this rule, which are explained below. Depending on the countries you have visited, your personal exemption will be $200, $800, or $1,600.

In Vietnam, the family is patriarchal, patrilineal, and patrilocal, often with two to four generations under one roof. There is the immediate family (nha) and the extended family (ho). In Vietnam, the immediate family is the nuclear family plus the husband's parents and the grown sons' spouses and children.

Traditional houses in Vietnam were characterized by wooden structures topped by steep roofs. The roofs would be covered with fish-scale tiles and curve outwards, while beams and rafters held up the main building. In some places, stilt houses were built and the houses usually had an odd number of rooms.

The lifestyle of Vietnamese people varies from region to region and between the young and old. there are, However, some aspects that remain unchanged tat have been passed down for generations. Vietnamese people have generally had a reputation for being kind, hospitable and hard-working.

What are some family customs? ›

Tipping isn't mandatory or customary in Vietnam, but it is always appreciated. If you're happy with the services provided by waiters, drivers and other service workers, leaving a small tip is a good way to show your appreciation.

Vietnamese folk dances are a vital part of the country's culture and heritage. The most popular dances include the Fan Dance, Lantern Dance, Lotus Dance, Flag Dance, Platter Dance, Candle Dance, Incense Dance, Hat Dance, Scarf Dance, Lion Dance, Ribbon Dance, and Water Puppetry.

If it is for children, chocolate, candies, toys, or lucky money are the best. If you visit someone's house, bring along fruits, liquids, or a box of confectionery. For charitable organizations, it is better to donate clothes, books, food, and other necessities.

Half of the dowry will be given back to the groom family. This represents the bride's family showing humility and gratefulness for the groom's generosity. If chosen to do so, a reception is held before the next part of the ceremony. The groom will now bring the bride back to his home.

Some examples include: Put mirrors in front of doors to scare away dragons. If the first person you see on your way to do business is a woman, you will have bad luck on your business trip and should try another day. Praising a newborn too much can cause the devils to steal it for its desirability.