Interesting to observe that most women in America cover up when breast feeding their child, however most are not so shy in showing their cleavage. Vietnamese women on the other hand does not cover up when breast feeding their child but barely ever show their cleavage. So I wonder which side of the earth atmosphere is shyer?
Vietnam and majority of other Asian countries are considered a high-context society. That is our culture, “referred to as collectivistic, or interdependent… and are hierarchical and traditional societies in which the concepts of shame and honor are much more important than they are in low-context societies.” The Vietnamese dislike direct confrontation and for the most part avoid expressing a clear “no.” Evasion and inaccuracy are preferred in order to keep appearances pleasant. There is a danger of losing face simply by not reaching an agreement with another person or group, if that was the goal.
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It is perfectly acceptable for the children to stay home with their parents until they’re married. That is to say, if you’re in your late 30’s and going on forty and you’re single… it’s okay to stay home with your parents even though you have a job and you can manage perfectly on your own. Mom & dad would be perfectly happy to make all the decisions for you even though you’re the one who’s actually the bread and butter. Want to live on your own?That’s a big no no. Mom & dad will pestering you about how supportive is Auntie Z’s son and how happy Auntie Z is having her son staying at home. If you’re a girl and single, it would take an act of God for you to actually leave home and live on your own. Mom & dad will first attempt to scare and threaten you, and if all else fail… they might try to reason with you.
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It is common in most Asian countries to fight for who’s paying the bill in restaurant. It is even more so for Vietnamese. Auntie Z and her family are in town and everybody is at the restaurant, once the meals are consumed… auntie Z will dash to the waitress and attempt to settle the bill only to be stopped by mom who is watching auntie’s every moves. Auntie Z will insisted on paying the bill while mom will said that auntie Z is not in town often and paying for this bill would really make mom feels bad. Mom will usually win and auntie Z will said that next time when mom and dad are visiting auntie Z, auntie Z will settle the bill (which will often be the case).
It’s a common sense that one must compliments the food regardless of how good or bad it is… especially if it is your friend’s mom, girlfriend’s or boyfriend’s mom, or you’re being invited over for dinner. You must eat everything that you’re given to and usually it’s a lot of it. Peculiarly enough, if you’re going out to a restaurant with your girlfriend or boyfriend… you must not eat everything that’s on your plate. It will be interpreted as a sign of being barbaric. Always remember to leave some food on your plate even though you’re hungry as hell.
Public displays of affection are generally prohibited, but same sex can hold hands in public, walk arm-in-arm, or just take a stroll down around the town with with their hand on a friend’s shoulder. Same sex can do almost everything that a typical couple would do except kissing, and that’s just the norms. Men in particular will find that people will touch you, squeeze your arm, pat your back and put their arm around your shoulder. This includes men, boys and young girls, but never women! Do not be alarmed, this is considered perfectly normal.
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Vietnamese Women! On average, Vietnamese women are much better looking than our countries’ neighbors. Chinese women? Those tiny almond eyes is not all that attractive. Japanese women? Um, those funny legs are not very impressive. Cambodian and Lao? Yeah, but too dark and unsophisticated. Thailand’s? Aren’t they all sluts or prostitutes or something? Korean? Err… they’re too submissive and those fake nose/eyes/boobs job would not withstand the standard abusive husband.
Now that the Koreans, Taiwanese, Chinese, the white-men and everywhere else have figure this… they can’t keep their hands off of our women.
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Vietnamese are very practical, hence the following breakdown:
For guys: IT, technical degrees, engineering (computer science, electrical engineer, etc), doctor, and lawyer.
For the ladies: nursing, business degree (finance and accounting), and cosmetic.
For both sexes: NAIL! We pretty much dominate this industry and that’s a fact.
Studying something that does not make money or unable to get a job would be queer. Interested in psychology and art? Forget it, it doesn’t make money and it’s unpractical. Career in acting/stage/show/singing? Don’t even think about it, those professions are for gay and lesbian. How about joining Peace Corps and do some good? What? Are you nuts?
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Dad is a funny creature in many ways. Dad reads newspaper, but only war and politic sections. Dad discusses mostly about war and politics. Dad talks to dad’s friend mostly about war and politics. Dad is a walking and living war and politics encyclopedia. Dad can recite exactly every pre-75 war events with exact dates and who’s who, but when ask dad about kid’s birthday and mom’s anniversary… dad’s clueless. Dad’s food groups include: coffee, cigarettes, and Pho. Dad’s values and beliefs are in need of few upgrades. Dad still values virginity as a #1 indication of a good wife. Dad still believes that with a lot of political non-sense oversea will somehow turn the tide of communism. That’s our dad!
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1. Clean cut with hair parted in the middle.
2. Drive a two-door Japanese sport car.
3. Smoke heavily.
4. Speak very broken English or pretend you can’t speak Vietnamese at all.
5. Frequent Vietnamese coffee shops.
6. Godlike in billiard.
7. Always play latest crappy Vietnamese/hip-hop/rap music.
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The Peculiar Vietnamese 