Vietnamese greetings in Mekong Delta, Vietnam

Abstract

From long time ago, the Vietnamese have had the saying: ‘L?i chào cao h?n mâm c?’. It implied that a greeting was highly respected than being invited to enjoy a big meal although food was very rare after the wars in Vietnam. It is likely to show that greeting culture in Vietnam is not only for communication, but also for the assessment of individuals’ behaviour background. Today, in the era of technology, a greeting may create a friendlier feeling to help people become closer. This qualitative study explored how residents in Mekong Delta of Vietnam greeted each other in daily life. Their greetings reflect their identities and the culture of the community.