How can I communicate with hearing impaired staff?

It is important to find out how they communicate. Not all hearing impaired people study the same sign language. And if you do not know sign language, some hearing impaired people can read lips (although some of our staff can lip-read in Vietnamese only). The service team at Blanc. uses Ho Chi Minh City Sign Language which is one of the three Vietnamese Sign Languages, which is influenced by American Sign Language or ASL and French Sign Language (Langue des SignesFrançaise) or LSF.

In the guide book at the table and in the menu you will find signs that are useful to give sign language a try.

How can I order my food and drink?

In addition to English and Vietnamese, our menus will have the hand signs of our drinks and dishes as well. We encourage our guests to try their hand(s) at signing with their server. If there are communication issues, remember that some of our servers can read lips. As a last resort, pointing to the items you wish to order is an option as well, or write down your request with pen on paper.

What happens if the staff cannot understand my signs?

If there is an issue with ordering, please point to menu items to assist in this communication. If there is a larger misunderstanding, please contact our staff who will be able to help interpret. There is pen and paper at the tables to write your request down.

Why are your servers hearing impaired?

In short, we want to give the hearing impaired a new career choice in Vietnam. Approximately 65-70% of deaf and hearing impaired people in Vietnam are unemployed. If they do work, hearing impaired people are often confined to factory work, tailoring or hair and makeup. We wanted to give the hearing impaired another option for their career.

What kind of food do you serve?

We serve international fusion food.

How often does the menu change?

Our menu changes one or two times per year, depending on the season and available ingredients.

What if I have food allergies or other dietary restrictions?

We always have vegetarian options available. If you have other allergies or dietary restrictions, please inform our staff or your server before you order.

Can “junior diners” join us?

Yes, of course! Younger guests are always welcome. They may learn the signs to order even faster than the adults!

Should we make reservations in advance?

Reservations are always encouraged. To avoid disappointment, please contact us in advance to reserve your table.

Should I turn my mobile phone on silent?

Yes, please turn your mobile phone on silent so as to be considerate and not disturb the other guests. This should be a practise in any restaurant!

Should we remain quiet during the meal?

No, you do not have to remain quiet during your meal. Due to the atmosphere and interactions with our wait staff, you may find yourself lowering your voice, but you do not have to remain silent during your meal.

Is sign language over the world the same?

No, it is not. It is a common misconception that all sign languages are the same worldwide or that sign language is international. There is an International Sign Language, although each country generally has its own, native sign language. Some have more than one, like the three Vietnamese Sign Languages. Sign languages may share similarities to each other, whether in the same country or another one.

It is not clear how many sign languages there are. The 2013 edition of Ethnologue (a web-based publication that contains statistics for 7,457 languages) lists 137 sign languages. Whilst other sources claim there are up to 156 sign languages, or even up to 300. Some sign languages have obtained some form of legal recognition, while others have no status at all.

What sign language do the staff use?

Our staff is fluent in Ho Chi Minh City Sign Language, which is used in the southern part of Vietnam.

In Vietnam there are three sign languages; Hanoi Sign Language, Hai Phong Sign Language and Ho Chi Minh City Sign Language. These languages are similar in many ways, however there are some differences too. The sign languages of Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi share about 58% in basic vocabulary, while the sign languages of Ho Chi Minh City and Hai Phong have about 54% in common, just as with dialects in spoken languages. The Vietnamese Sign Languages are part of a sign language area that includes indigenous sign languages of Laos and the four sign languages of Thailand. There is some influence of American Sign Language (ASL) and French Sign Language (LSF).

A national Vietnamese Sign Language does not exist yet, although there are attempts to develop a national standard language, Vietnamese Sign Language (VSL).

See here the link to the Vietnamese sign alphabet, in order to learn finger spelling.

How do you call a deaf person by name?

Besides the (written) name, deaf people have also a special sign that is uniquely identifies one person; the sign name or face name.

There are a few rules within the deaf community around sign names; for example, they must be agreed upon by you and people in the deaf community to ensure that no one else in the community already has the same sign name. Secondly, the face name sign should not have a different meaning.

Sign names are divided in two naming systems. The first system is descriptive; it is a sign showing a typical physical or facial feature, unique to one person. The second system is a combination of the first letter of the name (sometimes even two letters, with addition of the first letter of the middle name) by pointing at a typical physical or facial feature. Typical features can vary from dimples, scars, freckles, moles to glasses or hair styles.

Until a person receives a sign name, the person's name is usually fingerspelled.

 

Do come with an open mind to explore this exciting dining experience.

Do come prepared to use sign language to order your meal.

Do not forget to make reservations beforehand to ensure seating availability.