110+ Vietnamese Proverbs: A Treasure Trove of Cultural Insights and Life Lessons

Vietnamese Proverbs is not a person, but rather a collection of traditional sayings that reflect the wisdom, culture, and values of the Vietnamese people. These proverbs are like a mirror, reflecting the lifestyle, spirit, and social customs of this Southeast Asian nation. Reading these quotes is important because they offer a unique perspective on life, teach valuable lessons, and provide insight into a rich and vibrant culture that is often overlooked. Following is our collection on famous quotes by Vietnamese Proverbs on life, friendship, love.

Top 10 Vietnamese Proverbs Quotes

1. If near ink, you will be black; if near light, you will shine.
2. We fence the tree that gives us fruits.
3. Eat as small as a cat.
4. When husband and wife live in harmony, they can dry up the ocean without a bucket.
5. When the pain has passed one forgets the medicine.
6. Old foxes want no tutor.
7. Many dishes make many diseases.
8. Eating is much but accommodating is little.
9. The teacher found out. The student says: Oh forgive me.
10. When the father’s generation eats salt, the child’s generation thirsts for water.

Vietnamese Proverbs Short Quotes

• Never forget benefits done you, regardless how small.
• The dog will always attack the one with torn trousers.
• Man is the flower of the earth.
• Courtesy costs nothing.
• A day of traveling will bring a basketful of learning.
• People say that time goes by; time says that the people go by.
• I just opened the fish container.
• When having a party, go first; when walking in the water, go after.
• Looks as monkey eats ginger.
• Words don’t match with actions.

Vietnamese Proverbs Quotes About Consequence

If you won’t work, you shan’t eat. — Vietnamese Proverbs

If you want to eat pickled herring, think about the thirst you will have. — Vietnamese Proverbs

When the father has eaten too much salt in his lifetime, then his son thereafter will have a great thirst. — Vietnamese Proverbs

The crane was killed by the fishhook. — Vietnamese Proverbs

He wanted to cure a healthy pig and ended up with a sick one. — Vietnamese Proverbs

The buffalo that arrive late will have to drink muddy water and eat dried grass. — Vietnamese Proverbs

One worm may damage the whole cooking soup. — Vietnamese Proverbs

The student tried to steal the cooking fish. — Vietnamese Proverbs

The higher you climb, the heavier you fall. — Vietnamese Proverbs

Vietnamese Proverbs Quotes About Influence

Though he eats alone, he calls the whole village to help launch his boat. — Vietnamese Proverbs

The boat follows the helm, the woman follows her husband. — Vietnamese Proverbs

The army is the poison and the people are the water in which the poison is mixed. — Vietnamese Proverbs

The fat buffalo will attract the lean buffalo. — Vietnamese Proverbs

If you hold high office, the whole village will share your fame. — Vietnamese Proverbs

Vietnamese Proverbs Quotes About Opportunity

When the tree falls, any child can climb it. — Vietnamese Proverbs

If you were a bit later, I would have taken the whole fish container. — Vietnamese Proverbs

Cross the stream where it is shallowest. — Vietnamese Proverbs

Venture all; see what fate brings. — Vietnamese Proverbs

When the cat’s away the mouse sits on its throne. — Vietnamese Proverbs

Vietnamese Proverbs Quotes About Communication

Nice words are free, so choose ones that please another’s ears. — Vietnamese Proverbs

When eating chew well, think before speaking. — Vietnamese Proverbs

Chewing, one eats. Reflecting, one speaks. — Vietnamese Proverbs

Tell me where it itches if you want me to scratch you. — Vietnamese Proverbs

Vietnamese Proverbs Famous Quotes And Sayings

When you eat, check the pots and pans; when you sit, check the direction. — Vietnamese Proverbs

Young bamboo trees are easy to bend. — Vietnamese Proverbs

There is one fish in the pond, and ten anglers on the bank. — Vietnamese Proverbs

The rich become deaf and the mighty blind. — Vietnamese Proverbs

The bird that escapes from its cage never wants to come back. — Vietnamese Proverbs

Eating as in the North; clothing as in the South. — Vietnamese Proverbs

Eating and sitting without labor. — Vietnamese Proverbs

Stolen foods are the best. — Vietnamese Proverbs

The educated man precedes the farmer. But when the rice begins to run short, it’s the farmer who comes first. — Vietnamese Proverbs

You cannot breathe through another man’s nose. — Vietnamese Proverbs

Elephants are killed for their ivory, birds for their feathers. — Vietnamese Proverbs

Strong wood is worth more than painted wood. — Vietnamese Proverbs

Cheapest is the dearest. — Vietnamese Proverbs

Better to die than to live on with a bad reputation. — Vietnamese Proverbs

Good wine must drink together with a good friend. — Vietnamese Proverbs

What is good for the buffalo is good for the cow. — Vietnamese Proverbs

Men made money; money never made men. — Vietnamese Proverbs

Better a wise man’s servant than an idiot’s master. — Vietnamese Proverbs

Eat to see the bowl, go to see the way. — Vietnamese Proverbs

You catch fish with two hands. — Vietnamese Proverbs

The good leaves protect the worn-out leaves. — Vietnamese Proverbs

Receive a plum, return a peach. — Vietnamese Proverbs

When you eat, it’s vegetable, when you are sick, it’s medicine. — Vietnamese Proverbs

Feeding boys without teaching them: we raise asses. Feeding girls without teaching them: we raise pigs. — Vietnamese Proverbs

Enter alcohol, exit words. — Vietnamese Proverbs

Victory makes you into an emperor, defeat into a rebel. — Vietnamese Proverbs

The man shows a pig leg; the woman shows a bottle of wine. — Vietnamese Proverbs

It’s better to sleep on the floor in an incense shop than in a bed in a fish market. — Vietnamese Proverbs

The mouth prays to Buddha, but the heart is full of evil. — Vietnamese Proverbs

Better a lean peace than a fat victory. — Vietnamese Proverbs

It depends on how much rice you eat with the sauce. — Vietnamese Proverbs

Making peace is treasured. — Vietnamese Proverbs

Blood is much thicker than water. — Vietnamese Proverbs

You eat slowly, that is good for the stomach; you plow deeply, that is good for fields. — Vietnamese Proverbs

Don’t spurn cold rice; hunger helps you eat even food that has gone bad. — Vietnamese Proverbs

A good name is better than good habits. — Vietnamese Proverbs

Hunger finds no fault with cookery. — Vietnamese Proverbs

Comfort is better than pride. — Vietnamese Proverbs

If you go out a lot at night, you will probably meet ghosts. — Vietnamese Proverbs

However sharp it is, the knife will never cut its own handle. — Vietnamese Proverbs

The hand works, the mouth chews. — Vietnamese Proverbs

Try to seize the bowl of rice but forget the whole table of food. — Vietnamese Proverbs

Women are like raindrops: some fall on palaces, others on rice fields. — Vietnamese Proverbs

It is no disgrace to move out of the way of the elephant. — Vietnamese Proverbs

It’s better to eat salty food and speak the truth than to eat vegetarian and tell lies. — Vietnamese Proverbs

You can’t kill someone’s habit. — Vietnamese Proverbs

The human tongue is more poisonous than a bee’s sting. — Vietnamese Proverbs

Water flows, rock erodes. — Vietnamese Proverbs

Sun is for cucumbers, rain for rice. — Vietnamese Proverbs

If you want to travel fast use the old roads. — Vietnamese Proverbs

Like money, like stuff. — Vietnamese Proverbs

Pay first and then get what you have paid for. — Vietnamese Proverbs

A day in prison is longer than a thousand years at large. — Vietnamese Proverbs

All chili is hot; all women are jealous. — Vietnamese Proverbs

No rain without clouds. — Vietnamese Proverbs

When eating fruit, remember who planted the tree; when drinking clear water, remember who dug the well. — Vietnamese Proverbs

Because the caterpillar exists, there exists also a bird to eat it. — Vietnamese Proverbs

When a cat steals a piece of meat, we chase it. But when a tiger takes a pig we stare wide-eyed and say nothing. — Vietnamese Proverbs

Where life is exhausted, death comes. — Vietnamese Proverbs

If you put in the work to sharpen the steel, it will eventually turn into needles. — Vietnamese Proverbs

The chained buffalo doesn’t enjoy grazing. — Vietnamese Proverbs

Laughs at others today, tomorrow others will laugh at you. — Vietnamese Proverbs

One piece of food while hungry equals a big box of food while full. — Vietnamese Proverbs

Giving just a crumb to the hungry is worth more than giving lunch to the satisfied. — Vietnamese Proverbs

The husband eats hamburger; the wife eats spring roll. — Vietnamese Proverbs

If you want to gather a lot of knowledge, act as if you are ignorant. — Vietnamese Proverbs

Life is a temporary stop, death is the journey home. — Vietnamese Proverbs

Life Lessons by Vietnamese Proverbs

1. "When drinking water, remember its source" teaches us to never forget our roots and always appreciate the people and circumstances that have contributed to our growth and success.
2. "A day of travelling will bring a basketful of learning" enlightens us on the importance of exploration and adventure, urging us to step out of our comfort zones to gain new perspectives and wisdom.
3. "The taller the bamboo grows, the lower it bends" imparts humility in our hearts, reminding us that the higher we rise in life, the more humble we should become.