Vietnam Table Manners & Traditions: 10 Tips on Dining in Vietnam

In Vietnamese culture, dinner is the most important time for family members to gather, eat, and talk about their day. For travelers, learning table manners in Vietnam is one of the simplest ways to show respect — especially if you join a local family meal.

This guide explains table manners in Vietnam and practical do’s and don’ts so you feel confident at the table — whether you dine in a city restaurant or share a home-cooked meal in the countryside. If you also want a broader overview of what to eat (and how meals vary by region), read our Vietnamese food guide for travelers.

Table manners in Vietnam: what a typical Vietnamese meal includes

Vietnamese people usually eat breakfast, lunch, and dinner without a formal tea/coffee break between meals. Breakfast can be quick and carb-focused (pho, banh mi, xoi, bun, banh cuon), while lunch is often eaten at small eateries or brought from home due to busy work and school schedules. That’s why dinner is still the main meal where you can best observe table manners in Vietnam and traditional family-style dining.

Find out more: What Vietnamese have for breakfast?

So, here are the most common elements you’ll see in a Vietnamese family dinner:

Rice plays an irreplaceable role in daily meals

Many first-time visitors are surprised that rice (or rice-based dishes) appears in almost every meal when they travel to Vietnam. As a wet-rice farming country, rice is the staple food. In fact, the Vietnamese phrase for “having a meal” is ăn cơm — literally “eating rice.”

Rice is typically cooked in an electric rice cooker and eaten with meat, fish, vegetables, and soup. It is also processed into rice paper, rice noodles, and even fermented into rice wine. You’ll also see many “cơm” eateries (cơm bình dân) across the country. If you want a deeper picture of how rice shapes everyday dishes, our Vietnamese food guide for travelers is a helpful next read.

Vegetables and meat (or fish) are included

A typical dinner often includes one or two main dishes such as braised pork, boiled chicken, or fried fish, plus one vegetable dish (boiled rau luộc or stir-fried rau xào) and a bowl of soup. Thanks to Vietnam’s tropical climate, fresh vegetables are available year-round. Common vegetables include water spinach (rau muống), cabbage, chayote, and cucumber.

Dishes are placed on a round tray (shared family-style)

If you’re looking for traditional Vietnamese table setting habits, this is one of the most recognizable features: shared dishes are placed in the center so everyone can reach them. Meals can be unhurried, and in many homes dishes may come out of the kitchen in succession. Soup is often served in a larger bowl, and braised fish (cá kho tộ) may arrive in a clay pot.

All dishes are typically placed on a round tray. In many Vietnamese households, the round shape symbolizes togetherness and harmony — everyone sits in a circle and shares food. Each person has a small rice bowl, and you eat rice with shared dishes using chopsticks. Large spoons are used for soup, and fruit and tea may be served after the meal.

Food tastes vary between regions (north, central, south)

Vietnamese cuisine changes significantly by region, which also influences meal style and flavors. Northern food is often lighter and slightly saltier, Central Vietnam is known for spicier dishes, and Southern cooking tends to be sweeter. If you travel from north to south, you’ll taste these differences even in simple home meals.

Some Important Vietnam Table Manners to Note

If you join a meal with local families (common on eco trips and countryside stays), the safest approach is to follow table manners in Vietnam that show respect for elders and the group. Below are practical rules travelers can follow without overthinking.

1. Wait for the table arrangement before sitting down

In many homes, seating reflects age hierarchy. Do not rush to sit or start eating. The host will guide you, and the oldest person usually sits first.

2. Wait for the oldest people to start first

Respect for seniors is a key part of Vietnamese dining etiquette. In multi-generation households, it is polite to wait until elders begin eating. A common Vietnamese saying, “Ăn trông nồi ngồi trông hướng,” reminds people to be mindful of their actions at the table.

3. Pass your bowl with both hands

When asking for more rice or receiving a bowl, use both hands as a sign of respect. If you’d like to say thank you in Vietnamese, “Cám ơn” is always appreciated.

4. Do not stick the chopsticks upright in the bowl

This is one of the most well-known Vietnam table manners rules. Chopsticks placed vertically in a rice bowl resemble incense used for offerings, so it can feel inappropriate at a family meal. Also avoid tapping chopsticks on bowls or plates.

If you are not comfortable using chopsticks, politely ask for a spoon or fork — most hosts will happily provide one.

5. Do not flip the fish on the plate

If you eat with families in coastal areas, this tradition may come up. Flipping the fish can be associated with bad luck (like turning over a fishing boat). A simple alternative is to remove bones and eat the remaining meat without flipping.

6. Do not point your chopsticks at anyone

Pointing chopsticks at others is considered rude and confrontational in table manners in Vietnam. If you need to gesture, put chopsticks down first.

7. Do not dig into shared dishes for the “best parts”

Many travelers ask: what are some things I should know about Vietnamese table manners when dishes are shared? One key rule is to avoid “searching” for the best pieces (like chicken thighs) in a communal plate. It can be seen as selfish. If the host wants you to try something special, they will usually offer it directly.

8. Do not eat directly from shared dishes

This is a core part of Vietnamese dining etiquette: transfer food from shared dishes into your own bowl first, then eat. Avoid putting food straight from a communal dish into your mouth.

9. Stay until other people finish

Leaving immediately after you finish eating can be interpreted as distancing yourself from the group. In many homes, conversation continues after the meal, and guests often stay seated to chat or enjoy fruit and tea.

10. Say thanks to the host after the meal

A simple thank you is always appropriate. Many Vietnamese hosts show hospitality through food, so acknowledging their effort is a polite gesture. Offering to help with cleaning is also a kind sign, even if they decline.

Drinking customs in Vietnam (tea, coffee, beer, and alcohol)

Vietnam has a wide variety of drinks, from herbal tea and iced tea (trà đá) to coffee, craft beer, and rice alcohol. Understanding drinking norms helps you stay comfortable and polite, especially in family meals and group gatherings.

Green tea is the most common drink served in Vietnamese households. There is no strict tea ceremony like in Japan or China, but one simple habit is worth remembering: if you pour tea for yourself, pour for others first. Hosts may refill your cup when it is nearly empty. If you are sensitive to caffeine or have trouble sleeping, it’s best to avoid strong green tea late in the evening.

Vietnam is also famous for coffee grown in the Central Highlands. You can try “cà phê sữa đá” (iced coffee with condensed milk) in both Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City — often in small street cafés. Coffee is usually enjoyed separately from dinner, but it’s a major part of daily life. If you want to explore popular Vietnamese dishes and drinks in one place, our Vietnamese food guide for travelers is a useful companion article.

Vietnamese people also enjoy beer and alcohol, especially in social settings. You may hear common toasts like “Một Hai Ba Dzô!” (One, two, three, cheers) or “Chúc sức khỏe” (Wishing you good health).

If you don’t want to drink, it is acceptable to refuse politely. In fact, Vietnam has officially introduced regulations prohibiting the act of forcing others to drink alcohol, reflecting growing awareness of personal choice and public safety in social gatherings.

Be cautious about alcohol quality in informal eateries, and never drink and drive.