1. Avoid wearing a skimpy swimsuit in public
Wearing swimsuits that are too revealing when visiting beaches and rivers is not common in this country. Vietnam has a classy and luxurious beauty, not suitable for wearing clothes that lack fabric.
This is especially inappropriate when visiting temples and religious buildings. In 2016, a foreigner was once asked to leave the sacred space for wearing a bra and shorts. Locals won't directly criticize Western guests for dressing inappropriately but that's definitely not acceptable here. You may have to receive unsympathetic glances from passersby.
2. Don't worry about being crowded or in chaotic traffic
Coming to Vietnam, foreign tourists may encounter being interrupted when queuing or traffic users encroaching on the lane. This seems to be changing, but in general, queuing in Vietnam is not common, except at banks and airports. Tourists may feel frustrated or unfamiliar but in these cases, the locals do not perceive it as rude but simply see others benefiting from not queuing so they follow suit.
The same thing happens with traffic jams. Traffic in Vietnam is quite congested with 65 million motorcycles in circulation, according to 2020 statistics of Statista. If there is an opportunity to get ahead, someone will "seize this opportunity" and gradually create a traffic jam. Tourists should not feel uncomfortable or too bothered about this.
Photo: VNA
3. It is necessary to respect temples and places of worship
Like in other countries in Southeast Asia, private homes, restaurants, and workplaces all have small altars. Locals often offer food and drinks to pay their respects to their ancestors and consider this a sacred place.
Tourists visiting homes or inns, especially in the countryside, should be careful what they say when around these temples. Before entering these spaces, you should take off your shoes. In addition, although this may be a private space, foreign guests still need to avoid intimate behaviors such as hugging and kissing, if there is an altar in the room. Locals will feel disrespectful.
4. Beware of scams through dating apps or bars
Tourists should be careful if asked to meet at a nightclub on a first date. Recently, some warnings have been issued about tour guides and bar managers using dating apps like Tinder to find customers. Even a topic on the Reddit forum was discussed in November 2022, showing that this scam is becoming more and more popular. After pairing up on the app, these people will invite you to the bar where they work. This is a trick to attract customers and make them pay exorbitant bills with alcoholic beverages.
5. Don't be afraid to bargain with street vendors
Street vendors are popular in Vietnam, with more than 430,000 street food vendors across the country in 2018, according to statistics from Statista. Street vendors often have signs with the name of the dish and the price. In this case, you should not bargain. But some people, especially those who sell clothes and jewelry in popular tourist destinations, often charge very high prices for foreigners. When buying from these people, be bold and pay half the price.
Also, some vendors charge tourists for taking pictures of them. For example, in Hanoi, fruit sellers will invite tourists to take pictures with their hats and goods but will be required to pay about a dollar or more.
Photo: Culture Trip
6. Get out of the 'safe zone' of Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City and Da Nang
When visiting Vietnam, you should research the destinations between these major cities. Vietnam has an area equivalent to the state of New Mexico, not only Hanoi, Saigon or Da Nang but also many natural landscapes stretching from North to South. Some of the places not to be missed are the rice terraces in Mu Cang Chai, the majestic mountains in Ha Giang, the jungles and caves in Phong Nha and the ancient capital of Hue in central Vietnam.
7. Don't get upset if the locals don't plan
Being late or changing your plans at the last minute is not a big deal, so you shouldn't feel frustrated or angry. In Vietnam, flexibility is highly valued, so locals believe that in the end, everything will be sorted out one way or another.
Source: Inside