In Vietnam,  a woman who is experiencing childbirth for the 1st time is a huge event. It changes the social status of the "Woman" to a "Mother". Postpartum is also consider a social and a personal milestone.

The postpartum care in Vietnam is mainly relying on taboos even as healthcare awareness are more easily available, the woman still follows their traditions. Generally, the duration of  postpartum period was 100 days. ( Vietnamese usually refer as 3 months plus 10 days). During confinement, the woman has to follow certain sets of prohibitions and prescriptions.

In rural Northern Vietnam, there were different postnatal practices among the mothers. The duration of confinement diet last between 25- 100 days. The duration of no bathing and shampooing last 7-30 days. The duration of confinement rest last 15-100 days and no intercourse is allowed for at least 2-6 months.

Food restrictions is one of the strictest practice. They believe that certain food will have bad effects physically and mentally to the mother and baby in the long run. If this was not followed, there is a risk of bad health conditions. They also believed in the balance of  "Am" and "Duong" which mean " cold" and "hot" . ( This is very similar to the "Yin" and "Yang" in the chinese belief). Woman after birth are considered "am" and food helps to warm the body is to be consumed. The food consumed in postpartum is to help restore the energy, replenish the blood , warm the body and improve circulation.

Common Confinement Foods :

• Lean Pork, Egg – To warm the body
• Sticky Rice with Turmeric – To heal the wound and replenish the blood
• Boiled "Raungot" water (Sauropus androgynus)- To help expel lochia after delivery
• Pig's trotters bone porridge -To warm the body and help to increase milk supply
• Boiled water – to be consumed in small quantity to prevent urinary infections
• Herbal tea -To make breastmilk fresh and cool
• Other traditional medicines-  to increase milk and aid in replenish the blood

Food that are not consumed

• Fish , Crab, Seafood , beef, duck, – These are consider "cold and poisonous" food and may cause diarrhea
• Spicy Food- affects the quality of breast milk
• vegetable  and fruits- they are believe to cause urine ailment when old
• tea, wine and coffee- believed to be too hot and may affect the quality of the milk

The confinement food were prepared simply. They were either boiled or cooked without any oil or fats. They will avoid any forms of fish, seafood, vegetables, fruits, spicy and fried food. They believe that if anyone consume these food early, they will get "Hau San" ( many symptoms of illness such as diarrhea, haemorrhage, nausea, headache and weaken of the body). Vietnamese consider drinking of plain water and herbal tea neutral and to cool the body, unlike many asia countries that consider drinking of wine to warm the body. The water are drank in limitations to tighten their intestine and prevent urine ailment when old. Many of them suffered from thirst.

Shampooing and bath was not allowed for 7-30 days. The hair was to be kept neat and tied up, combing of hair is to be avoided to prevent headache in future. To clear the lochia faster, they place a heated bag on their tummy to help get rid of wind and blood clots. They are required to follow the traditions as lochia "dirty blood" can bring bad luck to the family. They are also not allowed to visit the temples or sacred places.

Traditional postpartum beliefs are still dominant in the cultured rich Vietnam and perpetuated by  close female family members and embedded by social and cultured factors.