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Gifts · Vietnam

Skip knives, clocks, and handkerchiefs as gifts

Avoid giving anything sharp (knives, scissors), timepieces (clocks, watches), or handkerchiefs — and wrap whatever you do give in red, gold, or yellow paper rather than black or white.

VietnamGiftsstrictUpdated September 2, 2026

If you’re picking a gift blind, food, tea, or something small from your home country is a safe default. Steer clear of anything bladed, anything that tells time, and handkerchiefs specifically, even as a small add-on to a bigger gift.

Present the gift with both hands, and don’t be surprised if the recipient sets it aside without opening it in front of you — that’s normal, not a sign the gift landed badly.

  • Present it the same way you’d present a business card — both hands, unhurried, is the default way anything formal changes hands in Vietnam.

Why it matters

Each taboo gift carries its own specific bad omen rather than being a vague superstition: sharp objects are read as symbolically cutting the relationship, a clock or watch (especially given to an elder) suggests you're counting down someone's remaining time, and a handkerchief is associated with wiping away tears at a farewell. Black and white wrapping paper compounds the problem, since both colors are reserved for funerals, while red and gold are the colors of good fortune used for celebrations.

Source: Gift-giving in Vietnam: what to bring, what to avoid – Vietnam Tourism

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