What Colours should you avoid in Vietnam?

Gifts should be wrapped in colorful paper, but avoiding the colors yellow and black. Yellow and black are considered to be bad omens, so do not give any yellow or black gifts either.

What colors are bad luck in Vietnam?

Numbers: The Vietnamese believe the number 9 brings luck. 8 is also considered lucky. The 1 and 8 of 18, adding up to 9, are considered auspicious. Colours: White, black, purple and green have negative connotations of death, evil, sadness/fragility and jealousy, respectively.

What should you not wear in Vietnam?

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.

Which color symbolizes death in Vietnamese culture?

White, however, can also represent death and mourning – very much the same as black (màu đen). Traditionally, the family members of the person who has passed away wear white mourning clothes and cover their head with a white band on the day of a funeral.

What is considered disrespectful in Vietnam?

As a general rule, keep your cool and avoid loud arguments, making a scene, berating others for mistakes, or pointing out anything that may cause the locals to feel shamed. TIP: Vietnamese dislike public displays of affection, and men and women often do not touch in front of others.

10 Things You Should NOT Do in Vietnam

Is eye contact rude in Vietnam?

Vietnamese people typically avoid direct eye contact and may gaze downward when talking. Avoiding eye contact demonstrates respect to elders, people of higher status or of the opposite sex. Speaking in a loud tone with excessive gestures is considered rude, especially when done by women.

Do and don'ts in 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.

What is bad luck in Vietnamese culture?

To chase away bad luck, Vietnamese will burn incense or a piece of paper and fan the smoke. The sellers often do this when a customer comes and leaves without buying anything first thing in the morning as they believe the customer has brought bad spirits to the shop.

Is red good luck in Vietnam?

Superstition and belief are still large parts of daily Vietnamese life. Red is a symbol of luck and is used in most Vietnamese celebrations. It is used as a lucky color for wrapping gifts, including red envelopes. Red is considered a lucky color because demons and evil spirits of legends were afraid of the color red.

What does red mean in Vietnam?

Despite its historical connotations, nowadays, the red background (or red field) on the Vietnamese flag is commonly a symbol of bloodshed, struggle, and the success of revolution, inspired by communist symbolism.

What do girls wear in Vietnam?

The national traditional dress in Vietnam is the ao dai, a silk tunic with pants worn by women and men. Ao dài are worn for special occasions including Tet, the new year celebration. Since the twentieth century, Vietnamese people have also worn contemporary clothing that is popular in many places in the world.

Can I brush my teeth with tap water in Vietnam?

Yes, you can brush your teeth with the water in Vietnam. You can be sure that the tap water in urban areas is safe to brush your teeth and bathe. In most rural areas, the water is going to be safe as well for bathing and brushing your teeth.

Can I wear crop tops in Vietnam?

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.

What color is good luck in Vietnam?

In Vietnamese folk belief, people usually use red, pink, green or yellow as a lucky color. They are the symbol of good luck, happiness, power, wealth, prosperity and celebration!

What color is a bad omen?

In many cultures, black is thought to be unlucky and black cats, in particular, are said to bring bad luck to anyone that crosses their path. In China, white is generally seen as unlucky, while Brazil and Thailand consider purple to be a colour that can bring about misfortune to anyone who uses it outside of a funeral.

What does black mean in Vietnam?

Meaning in Vietnamese culture

Black. evil, professional, unlucky. White. purity, transparency, death.

Is crossing your fingers Offensive in Vietnam?

In Vietnam the gesture is considered rude, especially to another person. Referring to female genitals, it is comparable to the middle finger in American culture. In German-speaking countries and also Sweden and Latvia the gesture is a sign of lying. Instead, wishing for luck is gestured by holding thumbs.

What is the lucky charm in Vietnam?

Vietnamese gong (khánh) shaped amulets

These amulets are associated with wealth and good luck because of their shape bat shape, which is a homophonic puns in Mandarin Chinese, as the Mandarin Chinese word for "bat" (蝠, fú) sounds like "happiness" (福, fú).

What does yellow mean in Vietnamese culture?

Yellow. Yellow in Vietnamese and Chinese culture is royal color, only for kings. In Thailand or Africa, it also has the meaning of luck because this color reminds people of gold – a rare and expensive metal.

What are some weird laws in Vietnam?

How do you show respect to Vietnamese?

Are cats bad luck in Vietnam?

Cats hold unique spiritual and practical meaning in Vietnam. They are considered lucky, and help to ward off bad spirits.

What clothing should I wear in Vietnam?

Summer months can be incredibly hot and sticky, so loose, lightweight and breathable clothing is essential. While linen and cotton are good options, cotton in particular does not dry well in high humidity. Athletic wear designed to absorb sweat and stay dry is a better option for humid days.

Can we 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.

Should I wear jeans in Vietnam?

For men, casual jeans and shirts are the normal dress code, but they are advised not to take off their shirts in public places if it gets too hot. Especially in cities like Ho Chi Minh can be very hot in summer. You should be properly covered up and wear appropriate clothes. This is applicable to both women and men.