Black teeth in Vietnam: the history of teeth blackening

Black teeth in Vietnam are usually the result of teeth blackening, a custom in which a dark dye was applied to the teeth on purpose. For centuries it was seen as a sign of beauty, adulthood and civilisation, and in the early 20th century most women in Hanoi reportedly had blackened teeth. The custom faded through the 20th century, so today you're most likely to see black teeth among some older people and in some ethnic minority communities.

If you're visiting Vietnam for dental treatment, you may notice it, especially in the north and in the countryside. This guide explains what teeth blackening was, how far back it goes, how it was done, and what it meant for dental health.

What teeth blackening was

Teeth blackening was a deliberate cosmetic practice. A dye was applied to the teeth, often over days or weeks, until they turned a deep, glossy black. It was usually done around puberty, as a sign of the move into adulthood.

The custom wasn't unique to Vietnam. Archaeology magazine notes that blackened teeth were seen as beautiful in parts of Asia, Africa, Oceania and the Americas. In Vietnam it was especially widespread: a colonial medical report from the 1930s, cited in Nguyễn Đình Hoà's 1999 book about Hanoi, From the City Inside the Red River, said 80 percent of farmers in Tonkin, the north of the country, had darkened teeth.

How old the practice is

For a long time it wasn't clear when teeth blackening began in Vietnam. Dark stains on old teeth can also come from diet, especially from chewing betel.

A study published in 2026 in Archaeological and Anthropological Sciences settled part of the question. Researchers examined discoloured teeth from people buried at Dong Xa, a late Dong Son period site in northern Vietnam. Chemical analysis of the enamel found iron and sulfur, the signature of iron salts. That points to deliberate blackening at least 2,000 years ago, in the Iron Age, when people had more access to iron.

Period	What sources say
About 2,000 years ago	Evidence of deliberate blackening at Dong Xa, northern Vietnam
Early 20th century	Most women in Hanoi reportedly had blackened teeth in the 1920s
1930s	A colonial report said 80 percent of farmers in Tonkin had darkened teeth
20th century	The custom declined generation by generation
Today	Seen mainly among some older people and some ethnic minority groups

How teeth were blackened

Methods varied between regions, families and periods, and the sources describe several.

• Iron and tannin. The method found at Dong Xa matches more recent practice: iron salts heated with tannin-rich plant extracts to make a black paste, applied to the teeth again and again over several weeks.
• Red, then black. One Vietnamese account, from Đoàn Triển's book on Vietnamese customs, describes applying a shellac mixture with betel leaves, which first turned the teeth red. Black alum was then applied several times to turn them black. Men dyed their teeth lightly, while women preferred a deep black.
• Soot from plants. The Kammu people of Laos and Vietnam burned the nuts or wood of three plants and applied the soot to the teeth with a finger, according to a 2006 study.

Preparation could be uncomfortable. One account describes rinsing with a mixture of rice wine and lemon juice before the dye, which often made the gums swell. Dyeing began after the baby teeth had fallen out, at around age ten or older.

Why people blackened their teeth

The sources give several reasons, and they overlap.

• Beauty. Black teeth were considered attractive, and for many women a deep, even black was the aim.
• Adulthood. Blackening around puberty marked the move from childhood to adulthood.
• Being human. A Vietnamese belief held that white teeth belonged to animals, savages and evil spirits, so blackened teeth were a mark of a civilised person.
• Healthy teeth. The Kammu people told researchers they blackened their teeth to be beautiful and free of decay.

Why the custom faded

Teeth blackening declined through the 20th century, generation by generation. Western influence during the French colonial period played a part.

You may still see black teeth among some older Vietnamese women, especially those from the north. Some ethnic minority groups have kept related customs. Among the Si La, for example, men have painted their teeth red and women black. The 2006 Kammu study found the practice was known only among elderly people in the villages the researchers visited.

Is teeth blackening good for your teeth?

The evidence is thin. The 2006 Kammu study tested soot from the three plants in the laboratory. Soot from one of them, Dracontomelon dao nuts, inhibited mutans streptococci, a bacterium linked to tooth decay, in saliva samples. It had no effect on the bacteria on agar plates.

That is a small laboratory result. It doesn't show that blackened teeth decay less in real life, and nobody should blacken their teeth for health reasons. If you're worried about decay, ask a dentist.

Seeing it on your trip

If you travel to Vietnam for dental treatment, you may notice black teeth among older people, especially in rural areas of the north. It's a personal and traditional choice, often made decades ago. Treat it as you would any other part of someone's appearance, and ask before taking photos of people.

If you want to learn more, our Hanoi guide and Northern Vietnam guide cover the region where the custom was most widespread. For the modern side of dental care in Vietnam, start with what dental tourism is.