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Published On: Oct 30, 2006 02:27 PM
Total entries in this category:
Published On: Oct 30, 2006 02:27 PM
Vietnamese Etiquette Lesson #2
In western restaurants, it's considered rude
to yell out to the waiters and waitresses. Normally they keep an eye out for you
and you only need to nod or gesture to get what you
need.
In Vietnam, it's a bit different. If you want something in a restaurant, you yell out "em oi"... which is basically a big "OI!" with the "em" bit meaning that it's to someone of a lower level than you.
The thing is that because the wait-staff are expecting that if you want something, you will yell out, they don't really make an effort to look at the table to see what's happening. This means that if you come here as a westerner expecting waiters to be keeping tabs on the table at all times and appear instantly the minute your glass becomes empty, then you will be disappointed!
Don't worry about it, though. It's not always "bad service", but just a bit of confusion about expectations. If you yell out an "em oi" in the general direction of the nearest waiter, they'll come and serve you - no problem!
I still find it strange, though, to yell out in a restaurant! It just feels wrong! And I never know if it will be completely inappropriate in the more western cafes around Hanoi.
P.S. The "em oi" thing is really weird for me, with my name being Emma, and lots of people calling me Em. I still find myself looking up when someone says "em oi" - it just sounds like someone's calling me! Funnily enough, the Vietnamese staff where I work say "Emma oi" when they want to talk to me, and sometimes the training I have given myself not to respond to "em oi" makes me tune it out! It takes me a few seconds to realise that they do, indeed, mean moi!
In Vietnam, it's a bit different. If you want something in a restaurant, you yell out "em oi"... which is basically a big "OI!" with the "em" bit meaning that it's to someone of a lower level than you.
The thing is that because the wait-staff are expecting that if you want something, you will yell out, they don't really make an effort to look at the table to see what's happening. This means that if you come here as a westerner expecting waiters to be keeping tabs on the table at all times and appear instantly the minute your glass becomes empty, then you will be disappointed!
Don't worry about it, though. It's not always "bad service", but just a bit of confusion about expectations. If you yell out an "em oi" in the general direction of the nearest waiter, they'll come and serve you - no problem!
I still find it strange, though, to yell out in a restaurant! It just feels wrong! And I never know if it will be completely inappropriate in the more western cafes around Hanoi.
P.S. The "em oi" thing is really weird for me, with my name being Emma, and lots of people calling me Em. I still find myself looking up when someone says "em oi" - it just sounds like someone's calling me! Funnily enough, the Vietnamese staff where I work say "Emma oi" when they want to talk to me, and sometimes the training I have given myself not to respond to "em oi" makes me tune it out! It takes me a few seconds to realise that they do, indeed, mean moi!
Posted: Sun - September 25, 2005 at 09:36 AM