Eating and drinking not only sustain life but also a cultural feature called culinary culture. From the way of eating, it is possible to partly see the cultural level, the level of aesthetic awareness of an individual, a family, a region and a nation.

The meal of a Vietnamese family is imbued with traditional Eastern culture through the following characteristics:

First, the tray of rice. The old Vietnamese family meal was often a symbol of the whole family gathering around the tray of rice. Rich people have copper trays, poor people have wooden trays and even bamboo trays. Gathering around the tray of rice shows the care and solidarity of the family

In the meal, the whole family gathers, talks about life, and shares the joys and sorrows of the working day. The old rice tray, except for the family with a well-off economy, is simply laid out.

The arrangement of aesthetic dishes is often paid less attention, but still mainly pays attention to the quality and quantity of dishes. People often praise "the tray of full rice, fish and meat" but rarely compliment the beautiful rice tray.

Aesthetics is only invested when the family makes the tray. However, today, many families no longer use the tray but use the dining table. Aesthetics is also gradually focused. Another special thing is that in the Vietnamese family rice tray, all dishes are served at the same time, unlike some places, each dish is served gradually.

The dishes also indicate the culture of a family and a region. 

Second, the sitting position. In the meals, sitting position is a very important cultural behavior. The tray of rice in a family meal is round, symbolizing the spirit of equality because each position on the circle is equal, there is no upper, lower, front or back seat.

However, beside that rice tray, there are still solemn and convenient positions to eat. Therefore, when eating, these positions are often prioritized for grandparents, parents, etc., and children have to sit in other positions to stir rice and serve food. Consequently, a Vietnamese proverb has a saying: "Eat looking at the pot, sit looking at the direction".

In Vietnamese family meals, the elderly and children are often given special attention. When stirring rice to invite parents, the daughter-in-law in the family often chooses soft and flexible rice, never putting burnt pieces into the old people's bowls. Even in the past, grandparents and fathers were sometimes arranged to sit on a tray in the upper house, and mothers and children and grandchildren sat on a tray in the kitchen.

The sitting position of the members is also a cultural feature

Third, the invitation. Before and after eating, Vietnamese people often have "procedures" for inviting food, this shows etiquette and respect for seniors. According to the ancient custom, when sitting on the tray of rice, before holding the bowl and the chopsticks, they must "invite rice", the younger people invite the older people.

After inviting, the oldest person picks up the bowl, then the others pick up their chopsticks to eat. And when they finish eating, they invite each other, often imply: "Please everyone eat well, I ask for permission". The invitation procedure is almost the same, but each region has different and very diverse invitations. Therefore, many brides who have just come to their husband's house have to observe to be used to "joining the customary".

The invitation in the meal is a precious culture, but today, this culture is gradually being lost, and it is very important to maintain and develop.

Fourth, talk in the meals. The Vietnamese meal is an important occasion for family members to gather, discuss and express affection. Therefore, a lot of knowledge about life, family, and etiquette is taught to children by grandparents, parents through meals.

Many feelings among the members are also expressed at the meal. Consequently, many people near the end of life still remember the teachings and confiding of family members through the meals. This is a very unique culture. Nevertheless, according to the doctors' advice, during the meals, we should limit talking to ensure hygiene and good absorption of food.

On the other hand, during family meals, we must avoid reprimanding, reminding shortcomings, not arguing, not saying shocking, heavy things... but only talking about fun things, future plans, showing affection, sharing and encouragement with other family members.

In the meals, Vietnamese people always value fun and respect from all members. 

Fifth, the speed of eating and drinking. In a meal, Vietnamese people do not eat too fast or too slow, do not sit for too long and eat too much or too little, do not eat all the food or leave it unfinished. Unlike Westerners, Vietnamese people often do not eat all the dishes, but often leave a "polite" piece. Therefore, in Vietnamese folklore, there is a saying: "If you eat 

all, you will be beaten. If you don't eat at all, you lose your wife".

Sixth, the culture of using chopsticks. The custom of using chopsticks has made the Vietnamese form a philosophy: the philosophy of chopsticks. It is the couple philosophy and the philosophy of plurality. Folklore talks about the couple philosophy very well such as: “A husband and wife are like chopsticks; Now the husband is short and the wife is tall / Like deviated chopsticks”… and in the Le Dynasty, breaking the chopsticks was a sign of divorce..

Next is the philosophy of plurality. The bundle of chopsticks is a symbol of solidarity and community. "grab whole chopsticks" refers to the habit of jostling, no distinction between good and bad things... “The bundle of chopsticks chooses a Flagpole” is about choosing the person who stands out from the crowd...

The Vietnamese culture of using deviated chopsticks is very taboo. When serving food to others, you must turn your chopsticks or have a pair of shared chopsticks. The practice of using chopsticks to be beautiful, smart, to pick up food and rice to avoid falling, and making noises is also a sign of family culture education.

The use of chopsticks when eating is a couple philosophy and a plurality philosophy.

Seventh, drinks during and after meals. The drinks during and after the meal are not as abundant as some other ethnic groups, the Vietnamese usually only drink alcohol during the meal and drink green tea and tea after the meal.

For alcohol, families often have medicated wine to serve the elderly and middle-aged and each meal, each person only drinks a few cups in a tonic style. When they have a delicious snack, they can drink more but not too much. After a meal, they have green tea, "voi tea" or tea, depending on regional customs. Children and grandchildren often have to invite grandparents, parents to drink and eat before their turn.

Eighth, toothpicks. After a meal, Vietnamese people always use toothpicks. This is a custom that can be explained in many different ways, such as: symbolically showing fullness, or indicating to the opposite person that they have just finished their meal; or think that flossing is the result of women giving up the custom of eating betel nut and dyeing their teeth in the past…

However, the most accurate explanation is probably due to the way of preparing foods. Westerners do not use toothpicks because the food they frequently cook is very fine. Vietnamese people often eat foods high in fiber, a habit of chewing meat and bones, so they often get stuck and must use toothpicks. Cultural behavior after a meal is that children often take toothpicks and drinks to serve grandparents and parents.

Just trying to learn briefly about some of the main cultural features of the Vietnamese family meal above, we have found it really meaningful. Because, eating and drinking of Vietnamese people has become a way of life, a way of behavior, or more specifically, a way of being human. Going through the following ways of saying in Vietnamese folklore, we will see this clearly.

"Eating can overcome the Tao", reflecting the very practical way of thinking of the Vietnamese people: "The food is important". Vietnamese people take "The betel nut is the beginning of the story" and realize that eating has a sacred nature "Heaven avoids beating the meal".

Vietnamese people express their ways of being a human, reverence for ancestors through "the way of eating": "When eating fruit, remember who planted the tree," and through "the way of drinking": "Drink water, remember the source" and therefore hate and despise people: "Eating porridge but throwing bowl", "squeezing lemons but throwing skin", "not pay money for eating", "eating dirtily", "parasitic", "embezzlement", "eating bad things" "puissance", "Eating without doing", "Cheat and lie"...

Tags: Vietnamese culture, Vietnamese meals, Vietnamese tradition, Vietnamese food, Vietnamese family, travel Vietnam, Vietnamese behaviour, Vietnamese habits