Okay guys, so I've just finished my workout,
And it was the good one.
You know like, I'm sweating like crazy right now.
But as you guys can see,
It is so hot even though it's in the morning.
But it's like super sunny... over there.
And~
I think I'm just gonna walk home now
And while walking home, I'm gonna answer your questions
About Vietnamese culture that you guys sent me on...
Ah, Instagram and Facebook
So if you haven't follow my social media,
Please make sure you follow them to see what I do on a daily basics.
Alright, so, let's just walk home!
But first, lemme put me mask on really quick.
Okay, LET'S GO!
Okay, so the first question is...
Is there a tipping culture in Vietnam do the service provider expected tip?
So the short answer is NO
We...
Sorry, quite loud.
Yeah, no. We don't have tipping culture
However, if you want to leave the tips
You can still do so.
It's not offensive at all.
Um, for example you go into a restaurant,
And your waiter is super friendly and helpful
You can certainly give tips
However just give it directly to that person,
Don't leave it on the table
Or don't give it to the owner or something.
Because they might take it, you know
Yeah, so just make sure you give it directly
To the person who provide you the service.
Number two,
Vietnamese people don't accept gifts from foreigners, Especially money, Why?
Ah... I don't think so
I think we still accept gifts from foreigners.
And, especially money, you know
'Coz we love money actually
But I think, it's because Vietnamese people have very high context
Meaning that we don't say or do what we think,
Ah, even though that person really wants the gift,
But he/ she doesn't want to accepted the first time.
So maybe just ask that person 3 times.
You know, like
"No no no"
"Không được, mình cần giữ thể diện"
And then the 2nd-time: No, I mean it. Take it!
"Khá là muốn, bảo lần nữa đi"
And then the 3rd-time, put it in their pocket or something.
Have you ever seen like Asian fight iin the restaurant?
Yeah, it's like the saving face culture,
And the high context culture.
So, make sure you just insist
On giving them the gifts or the money.
Okay, so my hand is getting sore from holding the gimbal.
So, I'm just gonna set it right here,
To answer the 3rd-question.
So... what is the most beautiful thing of Vietnamese people?
For me, what I like the most about Vietnamese people
And I have heard a lot of people talk about it
Is that Vietnamese people are very hard working.
And they can adapt very quickly.
They can survive and thrive in any environment.
So, I think that's the trait that I like the most about Vietnamese people.
Okay, what do mainland Viets think of Viet Kieu?
Viet Kieu is an indepensable part of Vietnam.
Alright, let's keep going!
Is there a gift culture in Vietnam?
Yes, Vietnamese people love gifts actually.
Ah, we give gifts to people on like
House Warming, Valentine's Day,
Ah, Birthday, Weddings,
Vietnamese Lunar New Year event.
You know, so we love gifts
If you are invited by a Vietnamese host,
Make sure that you know if they have children
Or the elderly living with them,
Because It's gonna easier for you to choose the gifts.
I'm just gonna stand here because it's quite sunny.
Wait, it's still sunny
There we go
But yeah, so if they have children,
You can certainly buy them candies or a box of chocolate.
And if they have the elderly who live with them,
You can buy them vitamins supplements,
Or anything that good for their health like tea and stuff like that.
And when in doubt,
You can just buy regular of gifts like tea, alcohol, flowers
Ah, speaking of flowers,
So you shouldn't buy Chrysanthemum.
Because we use Mum flowers to honor the dead people.
So just avoid buying those.
Okay guys, so I just got home
And it's so much cooler inside.
The outside is just too hot.
And I just love in here.
Alright, so let's move on to the next question,
Why Vietnamese people nhậu a lot?
Well, it's a very good question!
Nhậu in Vietnamese means
Drinking, eating and talking.
And nhậu place is an important part in our culture.
And you can see others countries like
Japan, Korea, Mexico and... other countries
They share the drinking culture as well.
The reason why we nhậu a lot
It's because of the collectivist culture.
Meaning we value group and community over an individual.
So, maintain social harmony,
Getting along to each other,
And meeting others' expectations
Are very important in collectivist culture.
Yeah, also nhậu is very important if you wanna do business in Vietnam.
Because we value relationship-based over work-based.
So for example,
If you do business in Vietnam,
It's very important for you to know that partner in person.
Ah, to see if you guys can trust each other, can get along well.
Because if you have a good relationship,
It means work will come easily.
Okay, next question,
I find that the people that I met are friendly and helpful.
My question is: Are Vietnamese people born to be like that,
Or they're taught by their family and in school to be friendly and helpful?
Aw~ Thank you so much. You're so kind <3
For me, everyone was born to be kind.
And through education,
We... we were taught to maintain and develop our kindness.
And, to be honest,
Vietnamese people are very kind and warm-hearted.
You know,
They're willing to help you under any circumstances.
And expect nothing in return.
That's what I love, LOVE about Vietnamese people.
But you're right.
We're being taught in school.
And... our family teach us to be kind too.
So for example, when I was a kid,
My parents told me to respect others.
Especially older people.
I - the oldest in the family,
So I have to yelled my brother,
And care for my brother.
And I feel like religion
Place an important part culture as well.
Because majority of Vietnamese people
Are practice Buddhism and Confucianism.
Which focus on personal ethic and morality.
So yeah, I think we was born that way.
And we're taught to be helpful and friendly.
But thank you so much for your compliment!
Why Vietnamese eat on the ground at home,
Especially with good friends during holiday?
Okay, so...
It's because the collectivist culture as well.
We love gathering,
Love inviting good friends and family to have dinner.
And just drinking, talking and eating.
We love literal time.
And the reason why we sit on the floor,
Is that we invite too many people.
And, usually the Asian house is not very big.
So, that's why we don't have enough room on the table.
And, really, people don't want to be separated.
They want to like sit together and talk together.
So yeah, that's the reason why we sit on the floor,
Having hot pot or just like putting the food on the floor.
So we can just enjoy it together
And talking together like a whole.
You know, so...
Nobody has to be alone, I guess.
But yeah, that's the reason why you can't wear shoes
In Asian household.
Because people do many activities on the floor!
Will someone from Northern Vietnam
Really have hard time understanding someone from Southern Vietnam?
And vice versa.
How did Vietnam develop 2 different dialects?
Ah, well, we not only have 2 different dialects.
We actually have 3:
The Northern dialect, Central and The Southern dialect.
So yeah, your first question is,
Northern Vietnamese people have hard time understanding Southern Vietnamese people.
Yes, sometimes!
Because we have different vocabularies,
And... the tone, the voice, the accent
Are very different.
And the reason why we develop many different dialects,
It's because Vietnamese is a part
Of huge Austro-Asiatic Language street.
That means it comes from a similar root.
As Khmer in Cambodia.
And other languages spoken by majority groups.
So over time,
People might greeted to different part of Vietnam.
So, that's why we develop many different dialects.
So, The Northern part of Vietnam was influenced by Chinese.
And The Viet Muong language.
And in The South,
The language was influenced by The Cham
And Khmer language.
Because in the past,
The Southern part of Vietnam
Belong to The Champa Kingdom.
Not to mention that Vietnamese language was influenced by
Many other countries like China, America and France.
Due to the fact that we were being colonized in the past.
For about more tham 1000 years by Chinese people,
More than 90 years by French,
And more than 20 years by American people.
Do your home has "bàn thờ tổ tiên", meaning altar
Almost every Vietnamese has an altar in their home. Why?
You mean this?
Yes, we do have an altar in our house.
And I believe every Vietnamese household has... an altar.
Ah, it can be big, it can be small.
It really depends on the family.
But the reason why is because we worship ancestors.
And... on a new or full moon,
Or the dead of the ancestors,
We usually burn incense
And burn the votive money and everything.
Because we do believe that they live in the afterlife.
And whenever we have something important in our lives.
Like moving or taking exam and stuff like that.
We usually kinda like
Ask for our ancestors blessing and advice and stuff.
Yeah
So, we can pass the exam or we're gonna have good luck.
So yeah, worshiping ancestors is a big part in Vietnamese culture.
Okay, so last question.
In Vietnamese restaurant, hotel, often I see the altar on the corner.
I supposed it is for chance abundance Phước - Lộc,
Or something else.
Is it in superstition thing?
I know the Chinese do the same thing.
Yeah, China and Vietnam share some similar cultures.
You know, because we were colonized by China for more than 1000 years.
So, there are a lot of evidence about Chinese culture here.
So yeah, Phúc - Lộc - Thọ means
Okay, I'm just gonna explain individual one.
So, Phúc means fortune,
Lộc means wealth and Thọ means longevity.
When you come to Vietnam, you will see
Businesses place those three statues on the corner of the business,
To wish for good luck and successful for the business.
And for Chinese people, they also place a lucky cat
Like waving at you.
That means like: hey, bring customers, bring good luck and success to our business.
Alright, so that's it for our Q&A today!
I'm so glad you guys sent me those questions.
And I hope you got some good inside about Vietnamese culture today.
And if you still have any comments or questions,
Please leave it down on the comment section below.
Or you cam DM me via my social media at Vanvufromvietnam.
And I'm happy to answer any questions.
Alright, I'll see you guys in the next video.
BYEEEEE <3