What Are Vietnamese Exam Traditions and Beliefs Students Follow?

According to Vietnamese folk beliefs, students must avoid eating bananas (fear of "slipping on banana peels"), eggs (round shape resembles zero), black bean pudding (symbolizes bad luck), and should not cut hair or bathe for fear of losing knowledge.

University entrance exams represent the most crucial turning point in every student's academic journey. Vietnamese exam traditions and beliefs, alongside knowledge preparation, have become an essential part of life for millions of Vietnamese families. Hundreds of generations of students have passed down numerous taboos during exam periods, especially for important tests like high school graduation and university entrance exams.

Although lacking scientific foundation, these customs deeply reflect Vietnamese psychology and culture in seeking good fortune for their children.

University entrance exams - a critical phase every student must go through.

Which Foods Are Most Commonly Avoided?

Why Do Students Avoid Eating Bananas Before Exams?

Avoiding bananas due to fear of "slipping" in exams is the most widespread Vietnamese exam tradition. According to folk belief, the word "banana" (chuối) is associated with "slipping" (trượt), signaling misfortune during exams. Many families completely eliminate bananas from their diet during the final month before exams.

Is It True That Eating Eggs Will Result in Zero Points?

The exam belief against eating eggs because their round shape resembles a zero is widely followed by students. Phuong Anh, a student from Bui Thi Xuan School in Ho Chi Minh City, shares: "Even though I love eggs, I won't eat them the week before exams because I'm afraid of getting zero points."

Why Are Black Bean Pudding and Black Colors Avoided?

Avoiding black bean pudding and wearing black clothes because black beans are dark in color - similar in sound to "bad luck" (vận đen) - is another concern for many families. The color black is often associated with misfortune in folk psychology.

What Other Foods Are Also Banned?

Students avoid squid because of the phrase "black as ink." They avoid peanuts because it sounds like "going off-topic." They avoid squash because it sounds like being "stuck" and unable to complete the exam. Additionally, duck meat, snakehead fish, and dog meat are avoided as these foods don't bring good luck to exam takers. These Vietnamese exam traditions about food have been passed down through many generations.

Many familiar dishes unexpectedly become "forbidden" during exam season.

What Behaviors Are Considered Taboo Before Exams?

Should Students Cut Hair and Bathe Before Exam Day?

Students shouldn't wash their hair before exams. According to some traditional beliefs, washing hair means washing away intelligence and wisdom. Some even avoid bathing altogether, fearing it will wash away all knowledge; they avoid cutting hair or wearing new clothes to exams for fear of bad luck.

Which Foot Should Step Out of the House First?

One of the Vietnamese exam traditions is absolutely not stepping out with the left foot first. Some places have different beliefs, such as not stepping with the left foot when leaving the alley or getting out of bed on exam morning. Students must step out the gate with their right foot first, left foot second. The person accompanying them to the exam must be compatible in age.

Vietnamese Exam Traditions: What Other Things Should Be Avoided?

Students avoid the number 13 as it's considered unlucky in folk belief. When going to exams, they mustn't look back after leaving the gate. On exam day, families avoid breaking cups, bowls, or plates, fearing these are "omens" of failure.

Some other beliefs suggest that encountering unexpected situations when leaving home can affect psychology, though these beliefs are subjective and may create unnecessary discrimination.

From how to step to hair cutting, everything has specific rules.

Why Do These Superstitions Exist?

What Effect Do Superstitions Have on Student Psychology?

From a psychological perspective, following Vietnamese exam traditions and beliefs can provide feelings of safety and confidence for students. Many psychological studies show that exam traditions actually have positive effects on student morale. Because these beliefs are deeply ingrained in many generations, students who don't follow enough criteria or encounter situations considered unlucky will develop anxiety and fear, greatly affecting their exam performance.

How Do Folk Culture Experts Explain This?

Folk culture experts believe that when people worry about issues, they create taboos to avoid those problems, calm their spirits, or have something to blame later.

Student and family psychology during exam season is always very sensitive.

What Should Be Done for Good Luck Instead of Following Superstitions?

Which Foods Are Recommended?

Opposite to taboos, people do things that express their desire to achieve their goals. For example, hoping to pass exams, students eat red sticky rice with mung beans or red sticky rice with gac fruit for good luck. These Vietnamese exam traditions are balanced by lucky foods.

Recommended foods:

• Gac sticky rice: With the red color of gac fruit, this dish symbolizes good luck, helping students encounter many favorable things.
• Red bean pudding: Except for black beans, all other bean types bring luck and success to students, especially red beans. It has both the red color of luck and symbolizes passing and achieving high scores.

Besides superstitions, lucky foods are also popular.

Should Spiritual Rituals Be Performed?

Before each important exam, not only students but parents often visit temples to pray for peace. In Vietnam, students often visit the Temple of Literature to pray for success in their studies and exams.

According to Vietnamese beliefs, ancestors always protect and bless their descendants' studies and exams to be smooth, successful, and prosperous.

What Does Science Say About These Superstitions?

Foods That Are "Unfairly Blamed"

Modern nutritional research shows that many foods considered taboo are actually "superfoods" for the brain during stressful exam periods. In fact, many Vietnamese exam traditions about food go completely against modern nutritional science.

Eggs - The Perfect "Protein Warehouse": Contains all 20 essential amino acids, especially choline which enhances memory and concentration. One egg provides stable energy for 3-4 hours, ideal for long exam sessions.

Bananas - Natural "Energy Pills": Quickly provide glucose to the brain, potassium helps stabilize nerves, and tryptophan supports stress reduction. 100g of bananas contain 100 Kcal - twice that of oranges and three times that of papaya in energy.

Black Bean Pudding - "Treasure" Against Stress: Rich in anthocyanins - powerful antioxidants that protect brain cells. Magnesium in black beans also helps relax muscles and reduce anxiety.

Many foods on the Vietnamese exam traditions list are actually "superfoods"

The Truth About "No Bathing, No Hair Cutting"

Medical experts recommend the complete opposite. During the peak hot weather conditions of exam season, maintaining personal hygiene is not only necessary but crucial for academic performance.

When the body isn't kept clean, an overly oily scalp will cause itching and discomfort - the last thing students want to experience in the exam room.

Modern science has a different view of these "forbidden foods."

How Should Students Apply These Appropriately?

Should Folk Superstitions Be Completely Trusted?

Although lacking scientific basis, Vietnamese exam traditions and beliefs can still help students feel more confident. However, the most important thing remains adequate knowledge preparation and proper health care.

From a psychological perspective, believing in things that bring feelings of luck can create positive placebo effects - helping people feel more confident and calm. However, experts advise not becoming too dependent on these beliefs while neglecting knowledge preparation and health maintenance.

What Really Determines Success in Exams?

What truly determines students' exam performance is their ability and determination, not traditional taboos. Instead of worrying excessively about violating Vietnamese exam traditions, students should focus on:

• Systematic review and scientific study planning
• Maintaining a balanced, nutritious diet
• Getting enough sleep and light exercise
• Keeping a relaxed, positive mindset

Balancing psychology and science is the key to success.

Frequently Asked Questions

What If You Accidentally Eat a Forbidden Food?

According to folk belief, if you accidentally violate taboos, you can perform some "remedies" like visiting temples or burning incense to ancestors. However, from a scientific perspective, this doesn't affect exam results at all.

Do Traditions Differ Between Regions?

Yes, each region has its own beliefs. For example, the North often avoids bananas more, while the South has additional traditions about crossing bridges before exam day. However, the common purpose is to bring good luck to students.

Should These Traditions Be Completely Trusted?

In reality, there's no scientific verification that eating gac sticky rice leads to high scores or accidentally eating bananas causes exam failure. These beliefs should only be viewed as part of spiritual culture, helping create positive psychology. The determining factor for success remains thorough preparation of knowledge and exam-taking skills.

Knowledge and skills remain the determining factors for success in all exams.

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Wrap it up

We hope this article has helped you better understand Vietnamese exam traditions and beliefs according to folk culture - from the most avoided foods to how to balance psychology with science.

Now you have complete answers to the question "what should be avoided before exams?" and can confidently apply knowledge about Vietnamese exam traditions reasonably for important exams.

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