What is considered offensive in Vietnam?

What is an offensive gesture in Vietnam?

The head. Untouchable.

Pointing? Rude.

• Head touching: A violation. Sacred space.
• Pointing fingers: An insult. Disrespectful.
• Consider: Touching anyone’s head. A no-no. My uncle learned that in ’98. Oof.
• Respect.
• Politeness matters.
• Or does it?

More to consider:

• Vietnamese cultural values: Rooted in Confucianism. Hierarchy is key.
• Family relationships: Central to society. Respect elders. Obvious, right?
• Gestures speak volumes. Especially there.
• Facial expressions also carry meaning. Keep control.
• Nonverbal communication is critical. So watch out.
• Bowing is common. It’s polite. Try it.

Think about it. It’s not rocket science. Or maybe it is.

What is not allowed in Vietnam?

Alright, listen up! Vietnam ain’t exactly the Wild West.

Think you can stroll down the street packin’ heat? Nah, guns and knives are a big no-no. Unless you’re aiming for a free vacay courtesy of the state, leave the weapons at home, capiche? And uh, skip the TNT too, unless you wanna star in an action flick… starring you getting arrested.

• Weapons: Keep it PG, folks.
• Explosives: Not for picnics.
• Flammables: Unless you wanna be a human torch.

Next up: let’s just say Hanoi isn’t Vegas. Gambling and prostitution? Fuhgeddaboudit! My aunt Carol tried to run a bingo night back in ’08 and got deported! Okay, maybe not deported, but definitely yelled at.

• Gambling: Unless it’s mahjong with your grandma.
• Prostitution: Nope, no dice.

And listen, I know some folks think travel means “party time, all the time!” but…drugs are a HUGE no-no. Like, seriously. Don’t even THINK about it, especially that distrubution part.

• Drugs: Not even once! And if anyone tries to sell you somethin’? Run the other way. Fast.

And oh yeah, that “other stuff.” You know… pornography and indecent acts. Keep it classy, kids! Nobody wants to see that.

• Pornography: My eyes! The humanity!

Basically, use your head. Think before you do something and you probably won’t end up in a Vietnamese jail. Is that too much to ask? Geez!

What is considered bad manners in Vietnam?

Touching someone’s head? Don’t do it! Especially kids. It’s like poking a grumpy badger with a stick—pure chaos. Passing things over someone’s head? That’s like throwing a wrench into a perfectly good relationship. Avoid it.

Women and cigarettes in public? Yeah, that’s a big no-no. Think of it as a fashion faux pas of epic proportions, like wearing Crocs to a wedding.

Key No-Nos in Vietnam (2024 Edition):

• Head-Touching: Absolutely verboten. You’ll be wishing you’d stayed home and watched reruns of your favorite sitcom. Seriously.

• Overhead Passing: Causes more drama than a reality TV show finale. Just hand it to them, mate.

• Public Smoking (women): As stylish as a beige bucket. Avoid, avoid, avoid.

Bonus bad manners (because why not):

• Pointing your feet at someone. It’s about as welcome as a case of the Mondays.

• Eating with your left hand. Trust me on this one. My Uncle Barry learned this the hard way in Hanoi.

• Not removing your shoes. Prepare for some serious side-eye.

Is crossing your fingers rude in Vietnam?

Ugh, Vietnam. Fingers crossed? Totally rude. Seriously offensive, like showing someone the bird here. It’s about female genitalia, apparently. Crazy, right?

Germany? Sweden? Latvia? Completely different. Lying, that’s what it means there. Weird how one gesture, so simple, can be so wildly different. Makes you think, huh? I mean, it’s just fingers!

My friend, Minh, told me. He was livid when some tourist did it. Said he wanted to punch the guy. I get it.

• Vietnam: Rude gesture, extremely offensive
• Germany, Sweden, Latvia: Sign of lying
• Cultural differences are wild. Makes me wonder about other gestures too. What’s universally offensive?

Remember that trip to Berlin in 2023? Someone crossed their fingers during a negotiation, then lied about the price. I almost choked. The whole thing was hilarious. Seriously, people are weird.

This cultural variation is bonkers. Next time I’m in Hanoi, I’ll keep my hands in my pockets. Just to be safe, you know? Avoid that drama completely. Hands behind back works too.

I read something online recently about hand gestures. Really fascinating, actually. It mentioned similar things for other countries as well. I wish I’d bookmarked it. It was a great site, with loads of info. Ah, whatever.

What is frowned upon in Vietnam?

Loudness screams disrespect. Keep voices down, movements minimal. It’s sharper, especially if you’re female. Silence observes respect.

Respect elders, authority. Period. No backtalk. Nod. Obey.

Direct eye contact? Nope. Public confrontation? Think twice. Seriously.

• Loud public behavior: Viewed as uncouth, breaching social etiquette.
• Disrespect towards elders/authority: Major offense. Questioning betrays ingrained hierarchies.
• Excessive gesturing/outward displays: Draws unwanted attention, seen as disruptive. I think I hate those behaviors.
• Direct eye contact (in certain contexts): Can signal challenge, aggression.
• Public confrontation/criticism: Airs dirty laundry, shames involved parties. Seriously, avoid it.
• Showing the soles of your feet: Insulting; the foot is considered the lowest part of the body.
• Touching someone’s head: The head is considered sacred. Is it?
• Loss of temper: Always look at the problem, not at people.