So… You Guys Really Do That? My First Culture Shocks in the Philippines

Moving from Vietnam to the Philippines for college sounded exciting. New country, new school, new friends, new experiences. What I didn’t expect was how often I would find myself thinking, “Wait… you guys actually do that?”

Don’t get me wrong, I didn’t arrive in Manila expecting everything to be exactly like Vietnam. But there are some things you only notice when you’re suddenly living somewhere completely different. Little habits, words, foods, and social rules that seem completely normal to everyone around you can feel surprisingly unfamiliar when you’re seeing them for the first time.

As a student, I’ve become especially interested in how culture influences the way people communicate and interact. And living in the Philippines has basically turned everyday life into one giant cultural observation.

The little things that caught me off guard

One of the first things I noticed was how expressive Filipino communication can be. Conversations often feel warm and energetic, and people can be incredibly friendly even when you’ve only just met them. In Vietnam, I’m used to my own set of social cues and ways of showing politeness, so learning how Filipinos communicate has been an interesting adjustment.

Then there’s “po” and “opo.”

The first time I heard someone using them casually, I had absolutely no idea what was happening. Eventually, I learned that they’re commonly used to show respect, especially when speaking to older people. Vietnam has its own complicated system of pronouns and ways of expressing respect, so the concept wasn’t completely foreign to me, but the way it appears in everyday Filipino conversation was definitely something I had to get used to.

And don’t even get me started on Filipino food.

I’ve discovered that Filipino food has a personality of its own. Adobo, sinigang, lumpia, and halo-halo have slowly become part of my Manila experience. Of course, there are still moments when I crave a bowl of pho and suddenly feel like I’m emotionally teleporting back to Vietnam.

But food has also been one of the easiest ways for me to connect with people here.

🍜 Okay, but what would you find most shocking?

After experiencing some of these differences myself, I’m curious: what Filipino habit or tradition do you think would surprise someone from another country the most?

Different doesn’t mean weird

The funny thing about culture shock is that the things that initially seem strange eventually start becoming familiar.

I’ve started realizing that “normal” isn’t really a universal thing. What feels completely ordinary to me as a Vietnamese person might seem unusual to someone Filipino—and vice versa. Neither one is necessarily right or wrong. They’re simply shaped by different histories, traditions, environments, and ways of life.

If you want to know a little more about the person behind these observations, check out my About page. I’ll be sharing more stories about food, language, college life, traditions, and all the little moments that make living between Vietnamese and Filipino culture such an interesting experience.

So, am I still getting culture shocked?

Absolutely.

But now, instead of just thinking “What is happening?”, I’m starting to think:

“Okay… pho real?” 🍜

Thi My Chi Tran

Vietnamese girl + Manila college life = endless culture shocks. I’m a Communication Arts student exploring the funny, surprising, and sometimes confusing differences between Vietnam and the Philippines. Basically, I’m here to answer one question: Pho real? 🍜