“How come you can speak Vietnamese so well?”
“You’re Vietnamese?”
“Do you have Vietnamese grandparents?”
I still find it amusing when people are surprised when I tell them that I’m Vietnamese / Viet Kieu.
I love it when people ask me if I’m from Saigon or tell others I’m a Southerner because it makes me feel like I’ve successfully fooled them into thinking I’m one of them.
We can lie at the beach undisturbed as noone even tries to sell us things.
“Is he your husband?”
I lie and say yes, just because it’s easier than getting into a discussion about it.
“How many children do you have?”
“None.”
“Oh, you must be newly married?” (My favourite alternative to “Why not?”)
“Yes.”
Sometimes I wear my mask when walking on the street just so I can blend in more and feel like a local.
I should get myself a pair of pyjamas.
“Have you eaten yet?”
The number one favourite question in Vietnam. I feel like people say this at the start of a phone conversation more than ‘hello’.
“Turn the air conditioning on.”
“No, it’s ok, I’m not hot.”
“Turn the air conditioning on or the mosquitoes will bite you.”