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’m overweight and was fine in Vietnam. I think there was only one time a local patted my stomach or commented idk I forgot but it wasn’t like a rude type of way but everyone was friendly 🙂 I even took motorbike grabs no issue either
They will say it a lot in Vietnamese. If you don’t speak Vietnamese then don’t worry.
Vietnamese are generally judgemental on other people’s outward appearance, good or bad, and they will remark, typically behind your back unless they think you don’t understand them. This is just the nature of the culture, being without filters or sensitivity towards others’ feelings because “we” believe in tough love, at home and outside. Viet also use appearance as a reference when taking about each other, sometimes to their faces, and aren’t offended over it. Unfortunately, that spills over to visitors to the country, who are sensitive about their appearance. I’m a Viet-born American and my family still do this here in the US. It was quite an experience listening to overt comments about my blonde hair blue eyed wife before and after she had sun poisoning during one of our trips in VN.
Vietnamese in Vietnam and in the US are different. In the US, they are aware of American culture, they do not ask your weight, your age. However, in Vietnam, that is normal. They ask you about your weight, your salary, your age. They tell you straight your face that you are fat. They are not teasing you . They just tell as it is. Nobody is offended . If they do to you just smile.
Strangers have been kind, since manners are a big thing here
They may put their hand on your shoulder and say “oh so big/fat!” They won’t frown or look disgusted. They will say it with a smile. They do it to anyone who is bigger than average. They do it to me. I don’t take it to heart.
They will make those jokes. I got one at least once every 2 or 3 days. I stayed for a month. I’m half viet so I look like a “white” person to them but I always surprised them but speaking viet… they say it. In English or in Viet, doesn’t matter if you understand or not, it will happen.
Last time a size 10-12 and 5”7 my feet a size 9-10 and they were too big. Alway something. Husband was120kg 6”2 and big man theyswoon over him lol who knows
We were in Vietnam and looking for a tank top for my husband. This very sweet Vietnamese lady about 5 feet tall rubbed his stomach and said “You to fat” she did find a 5 x tank for my XL husband. We laughed so hard and tell that story all the time. So sweet but straightforward!
Thần Tài, the God of Prosperity in Vietnam.