Chopsticks have been used in Vietnam for centuries and are an integral part of Vietnamese culture. They are seen as a symbol of etiquette, respect, and harmony. Proper chopstick etiquette varies by culture and may include rules about how to hold them, how to pass food, and how to use them during formal occasions.
Different from Korean chopsticks which are often made of metal, Vietnamese chopsticks are often made from wood or bamboo. You might have used them in Chinese or Japanese restaurants elsewhere in the world. Or you must have seen it at least once or twice in some exotic magazines or TV shows. Whichever the case, you will get used to the culture of chopsticks in Vietnam.
Meaning of Chopstick in Vietnamese culture
Chopsticks in Vietnamese means Đũa, and Đôi Đũa is a pair of them. The chopsticks are used as a pair. One stick will stand steady while the other moves, proving the harmony of yin and vang between the passive and active elements
In the family, the education to use chopsticks is also an important thing. Vietnamese people believe that the style of managing chopsticks in meals or at parties also shows the educational level of a person. Specifically, the bunch of chopsticks is a symbol of the public community in Vietnamese culture because it is too hard to break all of a bunch at once.
A nice and fit pair of chopsticks also presents the good relationship between wife and husband in the family. Two people need to lean on each other to live, like a pair of chopsticks when we cannot use only one stick.
Chopsticks present in almost every meal of the Vietnamese. The chopsticks are like an outstretched arm used to grab food when there is only one big plate in the middle of the table for everyone.
Vietnamese chopsticks show family love because they are used to not only pick up food for themselves but also share food with their loved ones.
How to use chopstick
To use chopsticks, firstly, before holding the chopsticks, make sure that the two ends of the chopsticks are placed evenly. After that, using the 3 fingers, the thumb, the index finger, and the middle finger, to gently hold the chopsticks. The middle finger is placed under and between the chopsticks to close or make a gap between them. The thumb and index finger clamp the chopsticks to hold them firmly, and you can balance the chopsticks using your ring finger.
Most food, including rice, noodle or savory pastry involves the use of chopsticks. Some people find it hard and awkward. Some people get it first time. It is a cultural experience but do not hesitate to ask for knife and fork if you could not manage to master them. Even for Vietnamese people, chopsticks are not used until they get to 7 or 8 years old.
Rule when using chopsticks in Vietnam
- It is not good to use unfit chopsticks because the wrong chopsticks refer to the disproportionate family. The husband and wife are not getting along.
- Do not put the chopsticks diagonally, it’s better if they are parallel.
- Do not suck the chopsticks because it is impolite.
- Do not move the chopsticks around or point to other eaters,
- When picking up the food, don’t mix the food plate to find something you like. Take from the top to the bottom.
- Do not put chopsticks upright in a bowl of rice, because this is equivalent to getting incense into an urn to make offerings to the deceased.
- Do not touch the chopsticks into the dipping sauce or stir into the soup bowl.
- Their children learn not to knock chopsticks on the bowl, which can create the sound of calling a hungry ghost to come home.
Chopsticks are essential for eating Vietnamese cuisine. Many Vietnamese dishes are served in bowls and shared among family and friends. Chopsticks make it easy to pick up and eat small pieces of food, and they also help to prevent the spread of germs. Vietnam Amazing hope this post will help you free your mind about using chopsticks to enjoy all the delicious cuisines in Vietnam like Pho, Beef noodle, spring rolls,…
Vietnamese chopsticks can also make great souvenirs for those who want to bring an essense of the country back with them. These gifts are often wrapped nicely in bamboo-made cover and tied together with a bow or colorful string.
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Source: vietnamdrive.com