Vietnam Etiquette and Customs: What Visitors Should Know

Vietnam is a forgiving country for visitors. People are curious, patient and quick to laugh at a clumsy attempt, and nobody expects a foreigner to know every convention. What they do notice is attitude: calm, courteous, unhurried. This guide covers what is and is not done, without turning it into a rulebook. Most of it comes down to a few habits that you can pick up in your first couple of days.

The short version of Vietnamese manners

If you remember only a handful of things, make it these:

• Dress modestly for religious and official places, with shoulders and knees covered.
• Take shoes off when others do, at temples, at homes and in some small guesthouses and shops.
• Greet older people first and hand things over with both hands, or with your right hand supported by your left.
• Keep your voice level. Visible anger is considered a loss of face for everybody involved, including you.
• Smile, pause, then ask. A smile is not always agreement; it can also mean embarrassment or “I would rather not say no”.
• Ask before photographing people, especially monks, older women in markets and anyone in a village or ethnic-minority community.

None of this is rigid. A traveller who is warm and attentive will be forgiven the occasional slip. If you want a quick refresher on the country before you go, the first-time visitor guide gives the broader picture.

Pagodas, temples and other religious places

Pagodas are working places of worship, not just sights, and you will often see locals lighting incense, praying or leaving fruit and flowers. Most Vietnamese practise a mix of Buddhism, ancestor veneration and folk belief, so the same site can be a temple, a family shrine and a tourist stop at once.

What to wear. Cover your shoulders and knees. Shorts, sleeveless tops and very short skirts are usually unwelcome at pagodas, at the royal tombs near Hue and at any site with an active altar. A light scarf, sarong or long-sleeved shirt in your bag takes care of it, and it is also useful against the sun. Our what to wear in Vietnam page goes through fabrics and layers by season.

Shoes. Take them off at the door when you see a rack, a row of sandals or a sign. Inside the main hall of a pagoda this is the norm; in the courtyard and gardens it is not. If in doubt, watch the person in front of you. Slip-on shoes make this much less awkward on a day with five or six stops.

How to move. Walk quietly, keep your voice low and do not touch statues, offerings or altars. Do not point your feet at a Buddha figure or sit with your soles facing the altar. Photography is usually fine outside, and often tolerated inside, but check for signs, never use flash on murals or statues, and do not photograph people who are praying.

Monks and nuns. Greet them with a slight bow and a palms-together gesture if you like. Women should avoid direct physical contact with monks, including handing them things; place the item on a table instead. If you are invited to join a ceremony or a vegetarian meal, accept simply and quietly.

Offerings and donations. A donation box is the usual place for a small contribution, and there is no set amount. You do not need to buy incense to be welcome, although you can if you want to take part.

If you want to see pagodas with context rather than alone, a guided visit such as this [Hanoi pagoda tour to Bac Giang’s Kham Lang pagoda](Hanoi pagoda tour to Bac Giang’s Kham Lang pagoda) explains the rituals as you go. For the capital’s older sites, see temples and heritage in Hanoi and the Hue imperial city tours for the royal tombs and the citadel.

Mausoleums, memorials and official sites

Some of the country’s most visited sites are also places of national memory. In Hanoi, the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum in the Ba Dinh district sits beside the Presidential Palace area and the Imperial Citadel of Thang Long. It is run with formal ceremony, and it follows different rules from a typical attraction.

• Dress. Shoulders and knees covered, and no shorts or sleeveless tops. Sandals are generally fine; flip-flops are not always welcome.
• Behaviour. Visitors walk in a quiet line, hands out of pockets, with no talking, no hats and no photography inside. Guards will signal you to keep moving, and that is simply the routine.
• Belongings. Bags, cameras and phones are usually left in a cloakroom at the entrance, so travel light.
• Timing. The mausoleum has limited opening hours and closes for annual maintenance for a period each year, so check the current schedule before planning your day around it.

The same reasoning applies at war memorials, museums and cemeteries: dress soberly, be quiet and avoid posed or joking photographs. Ba Dinh Square is also an everyday public space where families walk and children fly kites; behaving respectfully does not require solemnity, only awareness of where you are.

Respect for elders and the idea of family

Age matters in Vietnam. Older people are greeted first, served first and given the best seat, and this applies in families, at shared tables and in public life. The language reflects this: there are several words for “you”, chosen according to age and relationship, and a stranger may be addressed as “older sister”, “uncle” or “grandmother” as a courtesy.

In practice, for a visitor:

• Greet the oldest person in a group first, with a smile and a small nod.
• Give and receive money, cards, cups and gifts with both hands, or with the right hand supported at the elbow or wrist by the left.
• Do not pat adults or children on the head, and do not touch someone’s shoulder or back casually if you do not know them well.
• Avoid crossing your arms while listening, which can seem dismissive, and do not beckon someone with a finger. If you need to call a waiter, a raised hand and a smile work better than snapping fingers.
• Public displays of affection are modest in Vietnam. Holding hands is fine; passionate kissing in public will draw attention.

If you are invited into a home, which happens more often in smaller towns, in homestays and in ethnic-minority villages, arrive with a small gift such as fruit, sweets or tea, remove your shoes at the door, and expect to be offered tea or food more than once. Our homestays guide and the page on the ethnic minorities of northern Vietnam go into more detail on staying with families and visiting villages respectfully.

Eating and sharing a meal

Vietnamese meals are communal. Dishes arrive in the middle of the table, everyone has their own bowl of rice and the food is shared. It is a social act more than a transaction.

Who starts. Wait for the eldest or the host to begin, or to invite you to start. In a family setting, it is polite to offer food to elders before taking your own.

Chopsticks. Never stick them upright in a bowl of rice: it resembles incense sticks placed for the dead and carries strong associations with funerals. Rest them across the bowl or on the table. Do not pass food from chopstick to chopstick, and do not spear food with them. Spoons are used for soups and for noodles, and a fork may be offered to visitors without comment.

Sharing. Your host may place food in your bowl as a gesture of care. Accept it graciously, even if you do not finish it. Taking a little of everything is better than loading up on one dish.

Noise. Slurping noodles is normal. Blowing your nose at the table is less welcome; step away or use a tissue discreetly. Wiping tables, tossing used napkins on the floor and leaving bones beside the plate are all common in casual restaurants, so do not be surprised.

Drinking. At a lively table, you will hear a chorus of “one, two, three, yo” and a round of toasts. Beer is often served with ice, and refilling each other’s glasses is part of the rhythm. You can drink slowly, switch to tea or water, or simply say that you have had enough; pressing a guest to drink is generally good-natured, not insistent.

Paying. The person who invited usually pays, and splitting a bill is a Western habit that may feel awkward among Vietnamese friends. Among visitors in restaurants, the staff will happily divide it. Cash still matters for street food, markets and small cafés, as we explain on the do you need cash in Vietnam page.

Food varies by region, from Hanoi’s pho and bun cha to Hue’s spicy imperial cooking and the sweeter, herb-heavy dishes of the south. The Vietnamese food guide explains what to order. If you would like to learn at the table with a local, a [Hoi An cooking tour](Hoi An cooking tour) lets you cook and eat in the way a Vietnamese family would.

Tipping and bargaining without the stress

Tipping. There is no strong tipping culture. Locals rarely tip in street stalls or local restaurants, and many mid-range and upscale places add a service charge or include it in the price. Where it is appreciated, such as after a good day with a private guide or driver, at a spa, on an overnight cruise or in a hotel where a porter carried heavy bags, a small amount in cash is gratefully received. Rounding up the fare in a taxi is a nice gesture and nothing more. See how much to tip in Vietnam for current ranges in dong, and always check the year, since prices drift.

Bargaining. In open-air markets, from Hanoi’s Old Quarter to the stalls in Hoi An and Ben Thanh Market in Ho Chi Minh City, the first price quoted to a foreigner is usually a starting point. A short, smiling negotiation is expected. A few habits keep it friendly:

• Know roughly what you want to pay before you start, and do not begin bargaining unless you are interested in buying.
• Counter at around half, and expect to settle somewhere between.
• Hold the cash you are prepared to pay; “this is all I have” is an understood end to a negotiation.
• Do not bargain over a few thousand dong, which is trivial for you and meaningful for the seller.
• Do not bargain in shops with marked prices, in restaurants, on ride-hailing apps or in metered taxis.

If a price feels wrong, or a driver changes the deal at the end, that moves into scam territory, which is covered separately on Vietnam scams to avoid. Money practicalities, including ATMs and cards, are on the money in Vietnam page.

Traffic manners: the calm way to cross

Traffic in Vietnamese cities is dominated by motorbikes, and it follows a logic of its own. Drivers do not stop for pedestrians in the way many visitors expect; they flow around them. The polite thing, and the safe thing, is to be predictable.

• Wait for a gap, step off the kerb and walk at a slow, steady pace without stopping or changing direction.
• Do not run, and do not hesitate halfway; riders have already calculated where you will be.
• Make eye contact if you can, and keep your hands visible rather than waving frantically.
• On a pedestrian crossing with a light, wait for the green and still look, since turning bikes may not stop.

Horns are used as a signal (“I am here”), not as an insult. If you ride pillion on a motorbike taxi, sit still, keep your knees in, and follow the rider’s movement without leaning against it. Our full guide on how to cross the street in Vietnam gives step-by-step advice, and the safety side of traffic is covered in is Vietnam safe.

Tet and the calendar of closures

Tet, the lunar new year, is the most important holiday of the Vietnamese year. It falls between late January and mid-February, on a different date each year, because it follows the lunar calendar. Never plan around a fixed date; look it up for the year you travel.

What this means for visitors:

• Many shops, restaurants, markets and workshops close for several days, and some for a week or more, as owners go home to their families.
• Transport is heavily booked in the days before and after, and prices rise.
• Cities are decorated, flower markets and pagodas are busy, and the days around the holiday can be atmospheric if you are happy with fewer services.
• Greeting people with a Tet wish is welcomed, and you may be offered sweets or seeds as a sign of hospitality. Red envelopes with small money gifts are for family, children and employees, not for strangers.

Our Tet in Vietnam guide covers how to plan, what stays open and how to handle the surrounding weeks.

Language and small courtesies

Vietnamese is the official language, written in the Latin alphabet with diacritics, known as quoc ngu, not in Chinese characters. This is helpful for visitors: street names, menus and signs can be read aloud, even if getting the tones right takes practice. English is common in hotels, tour agencies and tourist restaurants in the main destinations and much less so in the countryside.

A few words go a long way, particularly “hello” and “thank you”, and a visitor who tries is always appreciated, even if the pronunciation is imperfect. The useful phrases, with pronunciation, are kept on the Vietnamese phrases for travellers page, and so are not repeated here.

Other small points:

• Names. Vietnamese names put the family name first. Address people by title plus given name, for example “Mr Minh” or “Ms Lan”, until invited otherwise.
• Hands and gestures. Pointing with one finger is considered a little rude; use an open hand. The “OK” sign and thumbs up are widely understood.
• Patience. Things may take longer than expected, and the answer “yes” can mean “I heard you”. Ask a question twice in different ways rather than pressing.
• Photography. Ask first. A smile and a raised camera are usually enough, and sharing the picture afterwards is a lovely gesture.
• Politics. Vietnam is a one-party state, and visitors are advised to be discreet about politics. History is discussed openly in museums and with guides, but there is no need to push for opinions.
• Shoes at home. Take your shoes off at the door of a home and of many small shops and guesthouses, whether or not you are told.

Putting it into practice on a trip

A day in Hoi An or Hanoi will bring most of these situations together: a morning at a pagoda, a market bargain, a shared lunch and a nervous crossing before dinner. An organised day can help you absorb conventions as you go. A [full-day guided tour in Da Nang](full-day guided city tour in Da Nang with lunch) is one gentle way to watch how a local guide greets elders, handles shoes and manages the table. If you stay in the capital, the Hanoi Old Quarter guide and the Hanoi destination page are good starting points for a first day.

Vietnam etiquette FAQ: common questions about customs

What should I wear in a Vietnamese pagoda?

Cover your shoulders and knees, and avoid see-through or very tight clothing. Take your shoes off if you see shoes lined up at the entrance, and keep your voice low. A light scarf or long-sleeved shirt in your day bag solves most situations.

Do I have to tip in Vietnam?

Tipping is not expected in the way it is in North America. Rounding up a bill, leaving a small amount for a guide or driver after a good day, or tipping at a spa or on a cruise is appreciated but never obligatory. Check whether a service charge is already added to your bill.

Is bargaining expected in Vietnam?

In open-air markets and with street sellers, a friendly negotiation is normal. In shops with displayed prices, restaurants, ride-hailing apps and metered taxis, it is not. Stay good-humoured, and walk away politely if you cannot agree.

Is it rude to point your feet or touch someone’s head?

Both are best avoided. The head is considered the most respected part of the body, so do not pat children or adults on the head, and the feet are the lowest, so do not point them at people, altars or Buddha statues when you sit.

Should I avoid doing business or travelling during Tet?

Plan around it. Tet, the lunar new year, falls between late January and mid-February on a different date every year. Many shops and restaurants close for several days, transport sells out and prices rise, although cities are atmospheric and festive.

Do people in Vietnam expect visitors to speak Vietnamese?

No, but a few words are warmly received. Vietnamese is written in the Latin alphabet with diacritics, which makes street signs easy to read even if the tones are hard to say. English is common in hotels and tourist restaurants in the main destinations, much less so in the countryside.