Hanoi Etiquette and Dress Code: Temples, the Mausoleum, Dining and Customs (2026)

The short version

Hanoi is relaxed and visitors are warmly received – you will not cause offence by accident easily. A handful of customs are worth knowing, mostly around temples, meals and showing respect to older people.

• At temples and the Mausoleum: cover your shoulders and knees, take your shoes and hat off when you go inside, and keep your voice down.
• At the table: never stand your chopsticks upright in a bowl of rice, and pass things with two hands.
• With people: a smile goes a long way; stay calm if something goes wrong, as losing your temper makes everyone lose face.
• With your camera: ask before photographing people, especially older people and ethnic-minority villagers in Sapa.

Dressing for temples and pagodas

Several of our routes pass temples and pagodas, such as Tran Quoc Pagoda on West Lake. Vietnam’s official tourism guidance asks visitors to dress modestly at religious sites – cover shoulders and knees – and to remove shoes and hats when entering a temple building. Even where a tour only stops outside for photos, it is respectful, and easier, to dress this way from the start.

• Shoulders covered: a T-shirt, or a scarf or shirt you can throw on
• Knees covered: trousers, a midi skirt or long shorts
• Shoes you can slip off easily if you go inside
• Hat and sunglasses off indoors; speak quietly and don’t point your feet at an altar or a Buddha image

The Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum: stricter rules

The Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum in Ba Dinh Square is a place of national mourning, and its rules are stricter than at a pagoda. If you plan to visit on your own:

• Dress respectfully: cover shoulders and knees – no shorts, short skirts or vest tops.
• Be silent and orderly: stay in line, keep your hands out of your pockets and your hat off inside.
• Leave your things: bags, cameras and phones must be left at the security deposit, and photography is not allowed inside.
• Opening: it normally closes on Mondays and Fridays and opens only in the morning. In 2026 it is also closed for annual maintenance from 4 September to 2 November, reopening on 3 November.

More on what to pack for this in our what to wear guide.

Dining and chopstick etiquette

Meals are shared and sociable in Vietnam, and your guide will show you how each dish is eaten. A few customs are good to know:

• Don’t stand chopsticks upright in a bowl of rice – it resembles incense at a funeral. Rest them on the bowl’s edge or a chopstick rest.
• Don’t tap your bowl with chopsticks, and avoid pointing them at people.
• Use the serving spoon or the reverse end of your chopsticks for shared dishes where one is provided.
• Pass dishes with both hands or your right hand, and let older people start first.
• Slurping and a bit of noise are fine – they are not rude here.

Tipping is not expected in restaurants; see our money and tipping guide. For food safety and dietary needs, see food on Hanoi tours.

Greetings and showing respect

Vietnamese culture places great value on respect for elders and on “face” – keeping social harmony and not causing public embarrassment.

• A smile and a small nod are a warm greeting; a light handshake is common in cities.
• Give and receive with both hands – money, a business card, a gift or a document.
• Don’t point at people (especially older people) with your finger; gesture with an open hand.
• Avoid touching someone’s head, including children’s, and don’t point the soles of your feet at people or altars.
• Keep your cool. Raising your voice or getting angry in public rarely helps and makes everyone lose face; a calm, friendly manner gets much further.
• Dress modestly away from the beach, and keep public displays of affection low-key.

Taking your shoes off

It is normal to remove your shoes when entering someone’s home, many guesthouses and homestays, some shops and most temple buildings. Look for a pile of shoes at the door or a low step, and follow what your host or those around you do. Slip-on shoes make this painless – handy on a day that includes a temple or a village home in Sapa.

Photography etiquette

Hanoi and Sapa are wonderfully photogenic, but a little courtesy matters:

• Ask before photographing people, especially older people, monks and ethnic-minority villagers in Sapa. A smile and a gesture at your camera is enough; accept a no gracefully.
• Some will ask for a small sum to pose, or expect you to buy something from their stall – agree it first if you are happy to.
• Watch for signs banning photography inside temples, museums and the Mausoleum.
• Take care near traffic and on the Train Street – step well back when a train is due and follow your guide’s instructions.

Bargaining, markets and money manners

Gentle bargaining is normal at markets and with street vendors, and not done at shops, cafes and restaurants with fixed prices. Keep it good-humoured:

• Ask the price first; if it is a market, you can offer a bit less and meet in the middle.
• Stay smiling – it is a friendly exchange, not a battle. If you don’t want to buy, a polite “no, thank you” and walking on is fine.
• Agree a price before a cyclo ride, a photo with a fruit-seller’s pole, or any service, so there is no surprise at the end.
• Handle banknotes and anything given to you with a little care – count change and keep your 20,000 and 500,000 notes apart, as both are blue.

A few more things worth knowing

• Lunar New Year (Tet) is the biggest holiday; many shops close for several days and a tour surcharge may apply. It is a wonderful but quieter time to visit.
• Addressing people: a simple “xin chaào” (hello) and “cám ơn” (thank you) are always welcome.
• Drinking: toasts of “mọt, hai, ba, dô!” (one, two, three, cheers) are common; it is polite to wait for the host’s toast.
• Queues and crowds can be loose; a calm, patient approach works best.