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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Listen out for “beo” and “mot cham kilo”
Oh hell yeah. And trust me. A lot of times it isnt jokes. They are blunt no filter. Especially family. Lol
Yes
Generally in S E Asia people do not have the same filters we have in the west. Living and teaching in Vietnam questions about age (partly because they need to assess how to address you) salary, cost of things you were wearing etc were common. Haven’t heard too many comments about size except when trying on t shirts once. However it is important to realize this is more about innocrnt curiosity then neing rude as we might see it.
Vietnamese people are somewhat rude in terms of making honest comments about your weight, your height, your skin color. They would often make some mean remarks. I myself Vietnamese have confronted with many funny remarks about my skin color. “ why are you so black?” Do you have problems to find a husband? Most Asian men prefer women with white skin-the whiter the better. I always tell them that my mother had drunk so much coffee while she was pregnant with me.
All the comments will be in Vietnamese so no worries, unless you understand Vietnamese.
FIRST IMPRESSIONS ARE WHY VIETNAMESE ARE SO REAL
Yes, they will joke with/tease you with the assumption that you are aware of your weight. They will find it odd that you take an offense to it, as if “I didn’t know he doesn’t know he’s overweight”! Growing up we all get a kick name like “Fatty”, “Shorty”, etc. I’d just laugh along and be done with it.
Every one will call you big in a nice way they think if you are big and fat you must be wealthy. Only family call you fat in a negative manner
You’re going to stand out, like it or not. There are no fat people in Vietnam.