It turns out that Vietnamese people also have this strict ‘chopstick rule’ on the table

Chopsticks are not only everyday items but also contain many cultural beauties of the Vietnamese people.
Unlike Western countries that often use knives and forks in meals, chopsticks are familiar tools associated with culinary life in many Asian countries.

Chopsticks date from around 1,800 BC. At first, large chopsticks were often used for cooking. By about 200 BC, chopsticks began to become common utensils in Eastern meals. Traditional Vietnamese chopsticks Traditional Vietnamese chopsticks are mainly made of wood, have a round body for carpentry, are not painted or decorated, and the tip of the chopsticks is usually not too small, but somewhat longer than Japanese and Korean chopsticks. And in Vietnam alone, chopsticks also have certain differences between regions because of cultural characteristics. The northern countryside is associated with the image of the bamboo ramparts at the top of the village, so people often use old bamboo stalks to make chopsticks. Usually chopsticks in the North are somewhat shorter than in the South. In the South, where there are many rivers and rows of coconut trees, chopsticks are also made from coconut. More than an everyday item, chopsticks contain many cultural meanings Chopsticks are not only a permanent item in every daily meal, but also contain deep values ​​about Vietnamese people’s thoughts, feelings and culture. In the past, grandparents used to use the phrase “Learn to eat, learn to speak, learn to pack, learn to open” to teach children the basics of life. Accordingly, eating does not just stop at the instinctual aspect but also contains the rules people need to learn. At the beginning of the meal, it is necessary to compare the chopsticks and pay attention to whether the tip of the chopsticks is placed in the correct direction. Besides, in traditional meals, to show care and share in a subtle way, people use clean chopsticks to pick up the inviting food “a round” around the tray. During a meal, when you want to pick up food for someone else, it is usually polite to turn the end of the chopsticks to pick it up with the other end. After a meal, chopsticks should be put down neatly, should not be staggered or skewed. If you can’t hold the chopsticks properly, also pay attention to your fingers, don’t straighten your index finger when holding the chopsticks because it looks like you’re pointing directly at the opposite person. Besides, children are also taught not to suck and suck on chopsticks because this shows impoliteness on the table. When picking up food, don’t rummage through the whole plate to find something you like. When conversing during meals, do not talk while chewing, holding chopsticks while dancing and telling stories. When dipping food, you should also pay attention not to let your chopsticks touch the dipping sauce and do not let the dipping sauce get dirty on the table, nor should you use your chopsticks to stir the sauce or stir it into the soup bowl. These things are small but show the sophistication and culinary culture of the Vietnamese people. In addition, according to folklore, Vietnamese people believe that knocking chopsticks during a meal will cause hungry ghosts to come and disturb them. For a country with a long history and diverse cuisine like ours, chopsticks no longer stop at the aspect of serving food, but above all, it contains many cultural stories. hereditary life.