subject: Tips for eating in Vietnam [print this page] Tips for eating in Vietnam Tips for eating in Vietnam
Restaurants, Bars, & Cafes in Vietnam
When eating with chopsticks, do not leave the chopsticks in the rice bowl at the end ofyour meal. This resembles the incense sticks used to commemorate a death and isconsidered insulting. Place the used chopsticks side by side either on the table or morecommonly, on top of the bowl.Do not tap the edge of your rice bowl with your chopsticks: The older believe that if youdo such thing, next life you will not have enough rice to eat (But in fact, because tappingchopsticks to the bowl will cause chipping to the bowl hence dangerous if you swallow itaccidental when eating your rice -)Do finish until last grain of rice in the bowl. Sometime you can see people hold thechopsticks (lay the chopsticks paraleil to the ground) and slightly bowed. That' s thegesture to thank God - Heaven and Earth - and people who work hard to produce thegrain of rice to feed them.If you are invite to a family meal, wait until the oldest member of the family eat, then youcan follow after that: That' s the gesture to show your respect to them. And eat all thingsthey put into your bowl: Your host chose the best bit to his/her guest. Is you had enoughfood , slightly cover your hand over your bowl and refuse politely and they will stopadding food into your bowl.
