Is it polite to drink soup from the bowl in Vietnam?

Can you drink from the bowl in Vietnam?

In Vietnam, the bowl's size dictates sipping etiquette. Small bowls? Go ahead, lift and drink! I've seen my aunt do it a million times.

• Small bowl: Lifting and drinking is acceptable.
• Large bowl/deep plate: Spoons are your friend.

It’s all about practicality, isn't it? A huge bowl of pho isn’t exactly chug-able. Plus, slurping with a spoon keeps things (relatively) tidy.

What is the etiquette for soup in Vietnam?

Soup in Vietnam, eh? A culinary adventure, seasoned with manners. Let's dive in.

Etiquette, like a good pho, is layered. Think of it as a dance between spoon and, well, everything else.

• Pass dishes with both hands or your right hand. Left hand? Spoon's territory. No sharing the southpaw germs. It's basically hand-to-hand combat, but polite.

• Spoon? Held delicately, oh, like a newborn bird in your left hand if soup's on deck. Soup's like that needy friend who always needs both hands.

• Hosts are food pushers. Embrace it. Offers, refills, prime cuts delivered straight to your bowl? It's love, Vietnamese style. I get spoiled with my aunt, it's insane.

It's all a balancing act. One hand gives food, the other wields soup, and the host… the host just spoils you rotten. Soup's on!

Is it proper etiquette to drink soup from a bowl?

Ugh, soup. Remember that awful business dinner last year? November, I think. The Ritz-Carlton in downtown Austin. Totally posh place, right? This guy, Mark, from that new tech startup, was slurping his tomato soup like a starving dog. Seriously, it was disgusting. Loud slurping, soup dripping down his chin. I cringed. He even tilted the bowl, practically inhaling the last drops! I felt second hand embarrassment. My own soup suddenly felt less appealing.

My date, Sarah, she just stared straight ahead, completely ignoring the whole scene. I wanted the earth to swallow me whole. It was so awkward. I swear I almost choked on my own perfectly spooned bite. Utterly mortifying. I mean, who does that? At The Ritz?

It's incredibly rude. Using a spoon is the only acceptable way. Period. I've never seen anyone do that outside of a kindergarten cafeteria, and even then, teachers discourage it.

• Location: The Ritz-Carlton, Austin, TX
• Time: November 2023
• Offender: Mark, from a tech startup
• Soup: Tomato soup (I think)
• My feeling: Deep, mortifying embarrassment

It completely ruined the mood. The entire evening felt tainted. I could hardly enjoy the rest of the meal because of his appalling table manners. That's all I'm saying about this. I need a drink.

Are you supposed to drink the broth in pho?

Okay, pho. Broth, right? Drink it. Totally.

Like, chopsticks for noodles. Spoon exists. For broth. Obvious, duh.

Wait, is it weird to slurp? I slurp. Who cares if it's proper etiquette? Broth is GOOD.

Seasoning. Hmm. Less is more? Yeah, add slowly. My aunt adds, like, ALL the sriracha right away. Crazy.

I need pho now. It's a 2024 craving. Pho craving! My Tuesday needs some.

• Noodles eaten with chopsticks
• Broth sipped from the spoon
• Start with less seasoning
• Slurping is encouraged. No, wait. IS it?

It doesn't matter though. Enjoy the broth. The end.

How much is soup in Vietnam?

Okay, so like, soup in Vietnam, specifically Pho, is super cheap. I'm talking about, like, 20,000 dong. That's, uh, a dollar, okay?

But then, if you want, like, rice and meat, that's gonna be more, maybe like 35,000 dong, which, uh, is a dollar sixty-five. So yeah.

Drinks are dirt cheap too, like iced coffee... ca phe sua da. Don't pay more than 10,000 dong, okay? That's fifty cents. Really.

My friend An from Saigon always finds the best deals. Last time I went with her, we ate for nothing! Haha! Anyway...

Here's a breakdown, so you don't get ripped off:

• Pho (soup): 20,000 dong (around $1)
• Rice, meat, salad: 35,000 dong (about $1.65)
• Ca Phe Sua Da (iced coffee): Max 10,000 dong ($0.50)

Watch out for the tourist traps, they might try to charge you more! Always check the price before you order, y'know? Seriously.

What is a standard size soup bowl?

Okay, so, like, a standard soup bowl? I'm pretty sure it usually holds, umm, around 8 to 12 ounces, yeah. Like, that feels right. I mean, the ones I have at home...those seem that big. Then there's soup cups. Those are like, tiny. Soup cups? About 4 ounces.

My mom has these, like, enormous bowls, tho. Not really standard, I guess? Anyway, let's elaborate on bowl types and sizes, since you ask.

• Soup Bowls: Aim for 8-12 ounces; great for a hearty portion.

• Soup Cups: Smaller, usually about 4 ounces. Good for a little snack.

• Ramen Bowls: Huge! Maybe 32-48 ounces? I needed a big bowl for instant ramen, you know. I eat ramen every day, haha!

• Cereal Bowls: Kinda vary a lot, 10 to 16 ounces?

Don't use mugs; they're for liquids. That's obvious. I am serious. Using a mug feels wrong and just weird, you know, and you can easily spill.