Vietnamese Customs for Dining

Traditional banquet...

During your stay, at one point you might receive an invitation to a banquet. You might wonder what to do in that situation, especially if you are the guest of honor. There is nothing to worry about if you are the guest of honor.

When you arrive at the banquet, you can sit anywhere you like or if it is arranged seating then someone will show you to your seat. If you happen to be the guest of honor then sit back and relax because from here on you will be catered to. There might be someone who will serve you the food or the host will make sure you will be first to sample each dish.

During the course of the meal, do not linger on any dish for a long time since more will be coming out. This will prevent you from getting full too fast because you should try to sample at least a bit from every dish. Since you are the guest, the host probably will not touch a dish unless you touch it first. It is fine if you do not take a lot from each dish since you might know what it is made from.

Eat sparingly throughout the meal or try to even if you are on a diet. By denying the food, you might send a wrong message that you do not like the cook's skill in making the food or that the host has a lack of ability to pick the dishes. On the other hand if you like a dish and want seconds, by all mean go ahead and do so.

It will not be considered impolite to ask for seconds and it actually might be the best way to show the natives that you are satisfied with the food. To the Vietnamese, asking for more means you are enjoying the food. Complementing each dish as it comes out is not a bad thing to do. Be lively. Ask questions about the dish, how it is prepared and if it is a specialty in the region. Another way to put it is show interest in the food since it is part of the culture.

Usually there will seven courses such as soup (unlike a Chinese banquet), pickled vegetables and shrimp chips, deli meat, hot pot, fried vegetables, roasted pork or duck, fish (steamed or fried), and fruit to end the meal.

Thank you everybody for coming by. This is the work of my sister. Hopefully, we did not disappoint you. If you still have questions, feel free to contact us. From where we are and wherever you are, have a wonderful dining experience with your family.

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Raphita Tobing