Learn About Vietnamese History
Research topics such as Tết Nguyên Đán, the Mid-Autumn Festival, Hùng Kings Commemoration Day, the Hùng Kings, the Dragon Lord Lạc Long Quân, the Fairy Âu Cơ, the Kitchen Gods, and the legend of Sơn Tinh and Thủy Tinh. Learning about Vietnamese legends, historical figures, dynasties, and Holidays, and other important events can provide context to Vietnamese traditions, customs, and beliefs.
Incorporate Vietnamese Values Into Your Own Beliefs
Many Vietnamese cultural values emphasize modesty, hard work, adaptability, hospitality, perseverance, and maintaining harmony within families and communities. Paying attention to these themes may help you develop a deeper understanding of Vietnamese culture beyond food, clothing, or holidays.
Family is often considered one of the most important aspects of Vietnamese life. One of the biggest example for this is respect for parents, grandparents, elders, and ancestors.
Learn Basic Vietnamese Etiquette
Simple customs such as removing your shoes before entering a home, greeting elders first, using respectful pronouns and language, presenting gifts with both hands, and avoiding actions that may embarrass others are important parts of everyday Vietnamese social life may help lessen dysphoria!
Tips for Transitioning Online
If you're interested, listen to Vietnamese music genres! Some genres I recommend are traditional folk music, cải lương, bolero, nhạc vàng, V-pop, rap, indie music, and other contemporary artists.
Watch Vietnamese films, television programs, documentaries, artists, musicians, YouTube channels, or reading Vietnamese literature to help familiarize you with both contemporary culture and traditional customs. It may also help you understand any references to famous Vietnamese figures, historical events, and social issues.
Browse Vietnamese forums, communities, Discord channels, social media pages, etc. and observe their conversations! You may even want to use or follow any memes and trends that are currently popular right now!
Tips For Transitioning In Person/Socially
Learn Traditional Vietnamese Cooking
Vietnamese cuisine and food are some of the most important and varying parts of Vietnamese culture. Northern Vietnamese dishes often emphasize a balance between subtle flavors, while central cuisine can be spicier or more elaborate, and southern cuisine frequently incorporates sweeter flavors and tropical ingredients. Learning how to prepare traditional dishes such as phở, bún bò Huế, bánh xèo, gỏi cuốn, or chè can help you better understand regional traditions and family customs. You can even share the food you’ve made to your friends and family if you want.
Decorate Your Space with Vietnamese Influences
Consider incorporating flowers, bamboo (items), traditional artwork, Đông Hồ folk prints, lanterns, ceramic tea sets, photos of landscapes, folklore references, calligraphy or other Vietnamese-related decorations into your room, living space or online profiles if you are able to. Many Vietnamese homes place importance on cleanliness, organization, and creating a welcoming environment for guests, so try to make everything as tidy as possible aswell!
Practice In Vietnamese Traditions And Events
Many cities host Tet celebrations, Mid-Autumn Festival events, cultural fairs, lion dances, and community gatherings. Participating in these events can provide opportunities to learn about traditions, food, performances, and community life.
Research or even visit Buddhist temples, Cao Đài temples, and other well known Vietnamese religious sites! If appropriate, I also recommend learning about and wearing traditional clothing such as the áo dài during events like Tet, weddings, graduations, and cultural celebrations.
Tea plays an important role in Vietnamese hospitality and family gatherings. Serving tea to guests, sharing tea with relatives, or simply developing a habit of drinking tea mindfully can help you appreciate an everyday cultural tradition. Green tea, lotus tea, and jasmine tea are especially common.
If you aren’t really a big tea drinker, coffee is also quite big in Vietnamese culture. Try to learn how to use a phin filter to make Cà phê sữa đá or Cà phê đen đá if you can!
Learn Traditional Arts and Crafts
If possible, try out Vietnamese calligraphy, lantern making, embroidery, pottery, folk painting, or traditional musical instruments! You might be able to show-off the crafts you made too if your school or workplace holds any cultural events, showcases or competitions!
