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Take your shoes off just outside the door

Remove your shoes before stepping into a Vietnamese home, even for a quick visit — check for a pile of shoes by the entrance and add yours to it, and expect the same at temples and some schools and small businesses.

Vietnam HomestrictUpdated September 2, 2026

Look for shoes lined up outside the door before you knock — if you see a pile, yours goes there too, no need to ask. Many households leave a pair of slippers by the entrance for guests to switch into.

The same applies at temples and pagodas, and in some kindergartens and small shops, so it’s worth treating any doorway with a shoe pile the same way rather than assuming it’s a home-only rule.

Greet the eldest person in the room the moment you’re inside — shoes off at the door and elders greeted first happen in the same few seconds of walking into a Vietnamese home.

Why it matters

Vietnamese homes historically centered on sitting, eating, and even sleeping at floor level, so keeping outside dirt off the floor wasn't optional the way it can feel in a house built around furniture. The habit has stuck even as living arrangements have changed, and it doubles as a mark of respect for the household, the same Confucian-rooted deference that shows up in how people greet each other by age.

Source: Vietnamese Etiquette Guide – Viet Nam National Authority of Tourism

Take your shoes off just outside the door

Why it matters

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Show up around 20 minutes late — showing up on time can catch your host off guard

Take off your shoes, wear the slippers you're given

Take your shoes off, and bring a small gift