Honest question: my wife and I are overweight and not thick-skinned. Are comments or jokes about body weight common in Vietnam? Just want to know what to expect and how to react.Thanks.Honest question: my wife and I are overweight and not thick-skinned. Are comments or jokes about body weight common in Vietnam? Just want to know what to expect and how to react.Thanks.
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When we travelled to Vietnam recently I did try to buy clothes, none fit, the shop owners in Hoi Ann were honest and friendly, yes they acknowledge the size difference but not in a way that was offensive.
Seems like most have had a similar experience to me. So yes, you likely will get comments on your weight. However not many people were specific about how often – I was there 2 weeks and can count on one hand how many times a comment was made (at least directly to me in English) about my size, and most of the times were while trying on/getting fitted for clothing. I also can feel sensitive about comments like that; while they took me aback at first, I realized they were never said with any kind of rudeness or malice, and sometimes I think might have been almost sort of a compliment, especially when making a “bubble” hand motion when measuring my hips. 😂 Also as others have pointed out, most foreigners are just overall larger than most Vietnamese people. I’m almost 6′ and wear a USA 2XL (veryyy different from a Vietnamese 2XL 😂), often I just felt overall “big,” but not specifically in a weight way. It was good for me to experience a few objective or neutral comments about my weight and examine the fact that I’m the one assigning negativity to them. I had a great experience there, and the few comments I received did not take away from it at all.
Westerners are expected to be obese anywhere in the world.
Sometimes it is a complement since being overweight has been viewed as a sign of prosperity, wealth, and good health in various parts of Asia including Viet Nam
Oh, they definitely speak about your weight. Some say it in Vietnamese and others will outright make references to it. If you dont have thick skin, it can truly hurt. I had men talking about my weight when I went to do the rainbow slide in Hanoi but I didn’t know it until I went back to watch the video and translated it to them calling me huge. If you don’t have thick skin, maybe consider somewhere else to land because it can be brutal to your spirit.
Oh my hat, you all very funny. You should understand Vietnamese are honestly that way. They tell you to eat less and look healthy .
Just smile 🥰🥰
I’m a bit chubby and the only thing I noticed was a couple of ladies patted my bottom but they did it in a way that was super cute, not inappropriate. They just giggled and I just thought it was funny 🍑🍑
Just apply more body lotion to thicken your skin. Most SoutheastAsian countries have little filter on their comment on body weight. Vietnamese are no exception, unless they are well versed in western etiquette.
Yup – common. Be mentally prepared.