{"id":8094,"date":"2021-07-10T12:46:34","date_gmt":"2021-07-10T04:46:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/thesmartlocal.com\/vietnam\/?p=8094"},"modified":"2022-10-05T22:08:04","modified_gmt":"2022-10-05T14:08:04","slug":"vietnamese-superstitions","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/thesmartlocal.com\/vietnam\/vietnamese-superstitions\/","title":{"rendered":"10 Vietnamese Superstitions To Know To Wow Your Friends & Keep Your Luck Going"},"content":{"rendered":"

Vietnamese superstitions to know<\/h2>\n
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You\u2019ve probably heard sayings such as \u201c13 is an unlucky number\u201d or \u201cdon\u2019t walk under a ladder or you\u2019ll face bad luck\u201d before. Every country has its own superstitions, and here are <\/span>10 common superstitions in Vietnam <\/b>that every Vietnamese person has been told at least once.<\/span><\/p>\n

Most often, these are small, harmless acts that we might as well do to hope for good luck, but at the end of the day, it\u2019s important to remember not to get too obsessed with them to the point where they affect our lives in a negative way.<\/p>\n


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1. No sweeping the house or taking out the trash on the first day of the lunar new year<\/h3>\n
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\"Vietnamese
\n<\/span><\/i>Image credit:<\/span> @mimikelly<\/span><\/a><\/em><\/p>\n

The biggest festival of the year in Vietnam, <\/span>T\u1ebft<\/span><\/em> is a time when we bid goodbye to a lunar year and usher in the next. On this joyous occasion, everyone is hopeful that the upcoming year will bring them good fortune. Thus certain traditions are observed to ward off bad luck.<\/span><\/p>\n

One of the taboos that people <\/span>abstain from is sweeping their houses or taking out the trash<\/b> on the first day of the lunar new year. It is believed that by doing so, you\u2019d sweep out the good luck that the new year brings.<\/span><\/p>\n

Also, while it is customary for people to visit their friends and relatives during <\/span>T\u1ebft<\/span><\/em> to catch up, those who just lost a family member will refrain from doing so. Again, this is to avoid bringing bad luck into other people\u2019s houses.<\/span><\/p>\n

If you wish to learn more about Vietnamese <\/span>T\u1ebft<\/span><\/em> traditions and customs, check out our previous article<\/span> here<\/span><\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n

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2. Dining-related superstitions<\/h3>\n
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\"Vietnamese
\n<\/span><\/i>A bowl of rice filled to the brim is said to be for the dead and should not be served to the living<\/span>
\n<\/span>Image credit: <\/span>ststanislausparish.com<\/span><\/a><\/em><\/p>\n

As with many other Asian countries, rice is an indispensable part of a typical Vietnamese meal, to the point where we commonly refer to having lunch or dinner as \u201c\u0103n c\u01a1m\u201d, or \u201cto eat rice.\u201d And as you \u201ceat rice\u201d, there are certain rules that must be followed. These are now considered a part of our dining etiquette, but they stem from traditional superstitions.<\/span><\/p>\n

First of all, we <\/span>do not fill our bowl to the brim with only one big scoop of rice<\/b>, and it is also frowned upon to <\/span>plunge chopsticks straight down into the rice bowl<\/b>. These actions are only used to serve rice as offerings to the dead, and so they are considered bad luck in a regular meal. As such, the proper dining etiquette is to fill the bowl only two-thirds of the way, using at least two scoops of rice.<\/span><\/p>\n

Moreover, kids are often taught <\/span>not to use chopsticks to hit their rice bowls<\/b>. Some believe the ringing sound attracts hungry ghosts.<\/span><\/p>\n

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3. No eating eggs before exams<\/h3>\n
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\"Vietnamese
\n<\/span><\/i>Image credit:<\/span><\/i> @thichbaybua<\/span><\/i><\/a><\/p>\n

Speaking of superstitions related to eating, in Vietnam, a lot of students <\/span>avoid having eggs in their diet in the days leading up to a big exam<\/b>. Reasons? Quite silly, actually. Eggs look like the number 0, implying that they\u2019d get a bad score.<\/span><\/p>\n

Instead, they prefer eating beans, especially red beans, as red is the color of good luck and beans in Vietnamese are called \u201c\u0111\u1eadu\u201d or \u201c\u0111\u1ed7\u201d, which are homophones for the word for \u201cpassing an exam\u201d.<\/span><\/p>\n

Of course, this is often taken lightheartedly as a simple little act to hope for good luck on the big day. Some people also avoid cutting or washing their hair before the exam for fear of washing all their knowledge away.<\/span><\/p>\n

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4. Children wearing hats indoors will not grow tall<\/h3>\n
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\"Vietnamese
\n<\/span><\/i>Image credit:<\/span> @tiger.channel<\/span><\/a><\/em><\/p>\n

Every parent wants their child to grow up strong and tall, and thus many tell their <\/span>kids not to wear hats indoors<\/b>. It is believed that doing so will inhibit the child\u2019s growth.<\/span><\/p>\n

It is unclear how this belief came to be and none can actually testify if that\u2019s actually the case. Still, when it comes to their children\u2019s well-being, it\u2019s understandable that a lot of parents would rather be safe than sorry.<\/span><\/p>\n

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5. If a dragonfly bites your belly button, you learn how to swim<\/h3>\n
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\"Vietnamese
\n<\/span><\/i>Image credit:<\/span> @aaricnguyen<\/span><\/a><\/em><\/p>\n

Swimming is a useful and, in many situations, a life-saving skill that\u2019s best learnt at a young age. So for kids who are afraid of going into deep water, Vietnamese parents will sometimes<\/span> have a dragonfly bite their belly buttons<\/b>, telling them it\u2019s a gift that\u2019ll help them learn how to swim.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"Vietnamese
\n<\/span><\/i>Image credit:<\/span> @sophiechocomint<\/span><\/a><\/em><\/p>\n

There isn\u2019t any scientific proof to back up this claim, but it\u2019s still a story passed down from one generation to the next, especially in rural areas near rivers. Most likely, it\u2019s just a random act our forefathers came up with as a placebo to help boost our confidence and alleviate our fear of water.<\/span><\/p>\n

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6. Throwing children\u2019s baby teeth onto the rooftop or under the bed<\/h3>\n
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\"Vietnamese
\n<\/span><\/i>Image credit:<\/span> @milo_minhkhoi<\/span><\/a><\/em><\/p>\n

Just as people from other countries have their own tales of tooth fairies, we Vietnamese also have our own way to deal with our baby teeth when they come off.<\/span><\/p>\n

According to traditional Vietnamese beliefs, once removed, <\/span>baby teeth from the upper jaw should be placed under the bed<\/b>. On the other hand, <\/span>those from the lower jaw should be thrown onto the rooftop<\/b>. That way, the permanent teeth will grow straight and even, resulting in a beautiful smile.<\/span><\/p>\n

Again, this is just wishful thinking from parents, hoping that their kids will have all the best in life. Nowadays, though, a lot of dentists are recommending that these baby teeth are preserved. They contain stem cells that can be used to fix damage caused by cancer or other diseases later on in the kid\u2019s life should he or she need it.<\/span><\/p>\n

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7. Dogs bring good luck, cats bring bad luck<\/h3>\n
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\"Vietnamese
\n<\/span><\/i>Image credit:<\/span> Ph\u00fac V\u0169<\/span><\/a><\/em><\/p>\n

As an old Vietnamese saying put it, <\/span>a dog coming into your house signifies good fortune. On the other hand, a cat can bring bad luck<\/b>.<\/span><\/p>\n

A possible explanation for this belief is that the barking of dogs is often interpreted as \u201cg\u00e2u g\u00e2u\u201d in Vietnamese, which sounds similar to \u201cgi\u00e0u gi\u00e0u\u201d, where \u201cgi\u00e0u\u201d means \u201crich\u201d. On the other hand, the meowing of cats sounds similar to \u201cngh\u00e8o\u201d, which means \u201cpoor\u201d in Vietnamese.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"Vietnamese
\n<\/span><\/i>Image credit:<\/span> @andy_vu_2103<\/span><\/a><\/em><\/p>\n

Another way to look at it is that the saying might have come from the two species\u2019 behaviors. Dogs are known for their absolute loyalty and love toward their hooman<\/em>s, and thus their arrival is associated with positive things coming. Meanwhile, cats are\u2026you know, cats. They come as they please and leave as they see fit, so their presence is often linked to loss and misfortune.<\/span><\/p>\n

Of course, this is nothing more than an old belief. Today, both dogs and cats are well-loved by thousands of pet owners. In fact, some people prefer having cats as they don\u2019t need as much attention as dogs, making them perfect for the busy lives we\u2019re now leading.<\/span><\/p>\n

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8. Couples going to \u0110\u00e0 L\u1ea1t together will break up<\/h3>\n
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\"Vietnamese
\n<\/span><\/i>Image credit:<\/span> @t9nkt9<\/span><\/a><\/em><\/p>\n

A tourist hotspot of South Central Vietnam, \u0110\u00e0 L\u1ea1t is famous for its pleasant atmosphere and stunning mountainous views. Yet, it is also known for a rumor: <\/span>any couple who come here together will break up<\/b>.<\/span><\/p>\n

It is unclear where the rumor comes from. Perhaps it’s because the city has a melancholic vibe to it that makes people think of sadness, or perhaps because there are many supposedly haunted places around associated with tragic love stories and ghosts of young girls betrayed by their lovers who don’t want anyone else to be happy.<\/span><\/p>\n

Still, while you can easily find people online who claim that they themselves have fallen victims to this “curse”, even more will tell you that they’re still perfectly happy with their partners despite having been to \u0110\u00e0 L\u1ea1t together.<\/span><\/p>\n

As such, don’t let the rumors stop you from visiting this beautiful city with your significant other. If you’re in need of suggestions for what to do and where to go when you’re there, check out our detailed guide<\/span> here<\/span><\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n

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9. No taking pictures with 3 people in the frame<\/h3>\n
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\"Vietnamese
\n<\/span><\/i>Vietnamese people often avoid taking pictures in a group of 3, believing it\u2019s bad luck<\/span>
\n<\/span>Image credit:<\/span> @ng10_11<\/span><\/a><\/em><\/p>\n

A lot of people in Vietnam would shy away from <\/span>taking group pictures in which there are three people in the frame<\/b>. They say doing so would bring misfortune upon the person at the center.<\/span><\/p>\n

There are several explanations as to why the number 3 is avoided. Some believe it is a typical number mentioned in many instances in Buddhist and Taoist teachings. As such, it is holy and shouldn\u2019t be used by mere mortals. Meanwhile, others say 3 is an unlucky number in <\/span>fengshui<\/span><\/em>.<\/span><\/p>\n

In any case, avoiding pictures with 3 people has become a common superstition in Vietnam, even in our modern society. That said, as with all other superstitions, there is no scientific evidence for it, so don\u2019t let it stop you from capturing shots of memorable moments with your squad.<\/span><\/p>\n

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10. \u201c\u0110\u1ed1t v\u00eda\u201d \u2013 a common ritual for shop owners to shoo away bad luck<\/h3>\n
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\"Vietnamese
\n<\/span><\/i>Image credit:<\/span> Ph\u1ee5 N\u1eef & Gia \u0110\u00ecnh<\/span><\/a><\/em><\/p>\n

Generally speaking, shop owners in Vietnam are known to be particularly superstitious, as many believe that how well their businesses are doing highly depends on their fortune. And when things are not going well, <\/span>\u0111\u1ed1t v\u00eda<\/em>, <\/i>also called \u0111\u1ed1t phong long<\/em><\/b> is a common ritual that they often perform to shoo bad luck off.<\/span><\/p>\n

The ritual is simple: the shop owner lights a piece of paper on fire and waves it around in front of their shop to scare the bad luck away. Sometimes, people can also <\/span>\u0111\u1ed1t v\u00eda<\/span><\/em> after returning from a funeral to prevent the gloomy aura from clinging onto them.<\/span><\/p>\n

In certain cases, some shop owners perform the ritual if the first customer of the day leaves their shop without buying anything, as they believe the act is a sign that they won\u2019t get many more customers that day.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

If you visit a shop early in the morning in Vietnam, it\u2019s considered common courtesy to buy something even if you don\u2019t really need it \u2013 it needn\u2019t be a big purchase, a small item will do.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Superstitions in Vietnam<\/h3>\n
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Many of these Vietnamese superstitions are old beliefs passed down from previous generations that you can choose to follow or not as you see fit.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

However, some have roots deeply integrated in our culture that they\u2019ve become a part of Vietnamese social etiquette. It is important to learn about them so as to avoid upsetting people by mistake.<\/span><\/p>\n

If you\u2019re interested in learning more about Vietnamese culture, check out:<\/span><\/p>\n