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9 Vietnamese Superstitions That Still Exist
Because of Vietnam's ancient history and rich local folklore, some people believe that certain behaviors will bring good fortune, while others will bring bad luck or invite evil spirits to the home. Here are nine fascinating Vietnamese superstitions still practiced today.
The first visitor of the year denotes good fortune
Tet, or the Vietnamese Lunar New Year, is a time when Vietnamese families are extremely superstitious. Everyone wishes for good fortune for themselves and their loved ones in the coming year, and one factor that determines the family's fortune is the first visitor of the year. Some astute family members have devised a devious plan to ensure that the household's first visitor is a 'desirable' one; either a member of the family will step outside and return moments after the clock strikes 12, or they will arrange for a fortuitous friend to be the household's first guest.
Sweeping away good fortune
Another Tet superstition is that sweeping on the Lunar New Year will obliterate the family's good fortune for the year. Families usually do a thorough deep clean of the house a few days before Tet so that no one feels compelled to clean up on the most important day of the year and accidentally deprive the family of good fortune.
Ancestors' 'Ghost Money'
Ghost money is a term used to describe counterfeit bills used as symbolic offerings to deceased ancestors. Ghost money is printed on bamboo paper and can be made to look like Chinese yen, Vietnamese dong, Thai baht, or even US dollars before being burned and dedicated to the ancestors of the family. Some believe the ancestors can deposit this money in an afterlife bank, while others see ghost money as payment for the ancestors fulfilling the wishes of the living family.
Pregnancy taboos
In Vietnam, there is a lot of superstition surrounding pregnant women. Pregnant women are not supposed to attend weddings because they are considered 'bad luck' for the newly married couple; she should not attend funerals because her child will be a 'cry-baby'; she should not step over a hammock because her baby will be 'lazy'; and she should avoid temples and pagodas to avoid angering the spirits who reside there. When the baby is born, the new mother and other family members must resist coddling the child because spirits may become jealous and steal the child from the family. As a result, many Vietnamese people refrain from lavishing a newborn with compliments or adoration.
With a fertilized duck egg, you can reverse bad luck
In Vietnam, a fertilized duck embryo is known as ht vt ln and is a popular beer snack that can also be consumed to reverse bad luck. Ln loosely translates to'reverse,' which is where the idea of eating the egg to change your fortune comes from. However, these potent eggs should only be consumed in odd numbers; if you consume two, your bad luck will reverse twice, meaning your situation will remain unchanged and you will have chewed into two baby ducks for nothing.
Mirror faux-pas
Vietnamese families also place a high value on Feng Shui, also known as phong thu in Vietnamese. This ancient practice entails meticulously placing objects, furniture, and even an entire home to optimize the flow of chi, or energy, in order to create a harmonious environment. It is strongly discouraged in Vietnam to place a mirror on the opposite side of a doorway because as you enter the home, you may be startled by your own reflection and paranoia may creep into your conscience. Similarly, placing a mirror at the foot of the bed is a bad idea because it will cause nightmares as well as reflect twice as much energy onto the bed, resulting in a chi disaster. Mirrors, on the other hand, are frequently placed on front doors to frighten away a dragon or an evil spirit, as they will be terrified by their own reflection and will leave the house alone.
Before exams, no haircuts
Another intriguing superstition is that a bad haircut can cause memory loss, according to locals. This is especially problematic for students because if they get a haircut right before an important test or exam, they may forget everything they've learned. As a result, it may be best to schedule a new haircut after that important exam.
The first customer of the day predicts good business
Many Vietnamese shop owners believe that the first customer of the day will determine how profitable their store will be that day. If the first customer is a big spender, the day will be lucky, but if they don't buy anything, the day will be bad luck. If you want to buy souvenirs in Vietnam, consider buying them earlier in the day and browsing later, as entering a shop early just to peruse the selection could be a bad omen for the superstitious shop owner.
Helmets prevent children’s brains from growing
The number of small children riding motorbikes without helmets is one of the most perplexing sights on the congested Vietnamese city streets. In 2007, the government mandated helmets for all motorbike drivers and passengers on all Vietnamese roads, but you'll rarely see a helmet-clad child clinging to their parent while cruising down the busy roads. This could be due to the widespread belief that wearing a helmet will impair a child's brain development by preventing the brain from growing.
Parents have also stated that their child's ever-changing helmet size is one of the reasons they do not wear one at all, but in any case, this is one superstition that needs to be put to rest as soon as possible.
