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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I was overweight when I first started traveling to VN years ago, and they never made me feel bad about it. The VN ladies use to laugh WITH ME when they were trying to find clothes to fit me in the shops, but I didn’t taker offense as I knew I was a lot bigger than they were used to servicing in the local shops. It was also hard sitting in the tiny chairs if you want to eat with the locals. Plus, I personally felt like a giant around the friends I made but I still enjoyed myself. Instead of touristy places, I sought out places that mostly locals frequented. Vietnam is my favorite place in the world to visit now; the food, culture and people are amazing.
Are you American by any chance?
In Vietnam, where only 2% of the population is obese, weight might be a sensitive topic. Btw if you choose being big then act like you own it why you have to care of what other people say????
Not at all. Wear a thong nobody says anything no judgment.
If you were family you will be call too fat or too skinny daily, strangers will do the same but not as much.
My dad and older generations like to compliment people that they look great and gained weight bc it’s prosperous. I keep telling him American standard is fat bad, skinny good but he still does it so be mindful they may mean well if they are older!
My husband and I (American) are definitely not skinny, but we work to keep healthy. I’m 5’5″ and 130lbs. He’s 5’10” & 190lbs. We went to a street food cart the other day and they doubled up the little kindergarten stools for us! 😆😅😂🤣
I spent three weeks in Vietnam and didn’t hear a single comment or have an interaction that made me uncomfortable. The people are very friendly. If they said anything it wouldnt be malicious and it would probably be in Vietnamese so you wouldn’t understand anyways. They tend to say things as they are. I never heard anything the whole time I was there. My inlaws are Vietnamese. We traveled as a big family group. We met with their friends. Traveled to various places. Had a wonderful trip.
I got called chubby big boy everywhere I went 😂🤣
You’ll likely not hear much said in your face. The judgements are mostly thoughts, or communicated in the local language.