[Cecil Terwilliger]

Stupid question.

Vietnamese restaurants in calgary. Most times I've ever gone we order individually. However it is my understanding that traditionally in vietnam food is eaten communally, the way we'd eat chinese food. Rice in a bowl and then place some of the meat from each communal dish on top.

Normally we order vermicelli or pho and eat it ourselves.

So how do most vietnamese places in calgary operate? For an uncultured caveman like myself, is there some way to tell which dishes are meant to be communal and which aren't? I can't recall anyone ever sharing pho but I could see how vermicelli, stir fry or rice dishes could be ordered for a whole table.

I know that at the end of the day I can just eat and order whatever I want. I'm just curious as which dishes are which from an etiquette perspective. What is the "right" way.

To be clear, I mean how is it done in Calgary, not vietnam. If I go to essence of saigon or the little place in Beacon Hill, I've always been under the impression that all (most?) dishes are individual. Or am I wrong?