Vietnamese people are well-known for their hospitality and enthusiasm. It reflects on how they act, how big their smile is and how they tell you these following proverbs: 

1. Đẹp trai/đẹp gái ghê (OMG so handsome/ pretty!)

Yes you will get to hear this very often. We as Vietnamese people especially people living in the countryside or old generations who don’t get very acquaintances or interactions with foreigners, they will absolutely make you feel like you should attend a beauty pageant

2. Có bồ chưa? (Do you have a boyfriend/ a girlfriend?)

*chỉ vào 1 anh trai chị gái đứng gần đó* nhỏ này đang kiếm chồng nè, thấy được hông? (*then point at a random girl/boy standing nearby* What do you think about him/her?) 

This is a very sensitive thing to ask you but in Vietnam, it is very popular and casual to ask someone about their marriage status. To some extent, the older generation think having a family is the most important goal of your life so they will ask almost all the adults that look single for their whole life they meet in a day about this. Plus, trying to set you up with a person you don’t even know their real name. I mean isn’t this the way dating apps work nowadays?

3. Ở bển làm nghề gì? (What do you do for a living?)

Besides your marriage status, of course we’re curious about how you can afford a wedding. This is a timeless topic and also a hard one to digest even with locals. We don’t think they want to give you advice about your career path, it just comes straight from their curiosity. Whatever job you say you’re having they will eventually nod their head and assume that you’re making a lot of money. 

4. Tới đây là phải đi chỗ này nha!!! (Recommending a boring touristy spot)

My people want you to know that Vietnam has a lot to offer especially when it comes to the city they’re growing up in. And for some of them, these spots are the only places they have been able to travel to in their entire life. So we highly recommend you to take their advice, give them a big hug and don’t go to that place. 

5. Đưa đây bày cho/Phải làm vầy nè (You’re doing it wrong! Lemme show you!)

No matter how old we are, we are still just a little kid in our parents or grandparents’ eyes. And you’re not exceptional especially when you’re not growing up with them so for sure you have no idea what you’re doing. It’s fun watching them showing you what they’ve been spending ages to master: a puff of thuoc lao, or how to roll a goi cuon. Little joy is all we need to get us through this stressful life right?