People, Ho Chi Minh City

Hey! I thought I asked
for the check..

The next time when you're calling for the restaurant check in VN, write on an invisible piece of paper on your palm . Of course, make eye contact with a waiter when you do so or people will just think you're plain out of your mind. This really beats having to say something in unintelligible Vietnamese and getting more than just a check...

The same custom holds for Singapore. It doesn't seem to work for Korea and Japan though, I tried it and it cast serious doubts on my IQ level.

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	People: Friendly Vietnamese Drivers Tip Rating:

Updated By bpacker

on September 20, 2004

I know you're really rubbing your eyes when you see this. What, those speed demons are friendly? Well they are, to a certain extent.
The next time you're in VN, observe the drivers carefully. They seem to be waving to another driver occasionally.
You'd probably think that those drivers know one another but no, they don't . Those waves mean that a traffic police is cruising along and that the oncoming driver better slow down...
A 'O' shaped wave means that the common enemy is on a motorbike, another wave conveys another meaning so on and so forth.
Driving penalties are very severe in Vietnam and it could cost the driver's rice bowl, thus the strange stockmarket-like waves.

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	People: Masked riders Tip Rating:

Updated By bpacker

on August 20, 2004

Lady Zorros on the road

The first thing you'll notice on a busy Vietnam street are the mysterious masked riders on those zippy mopeds and scooters ( called an 'om' ) Upon a second look, you discover that these Zorro wannabes are actually ladies. Not only are they masked, they also wear long gloves, long sleeved shirts, hats, etc. in an attempt to block out all forms of UV light. Guess that makes them more Lestat than Zorro but fair skin is really prized over here. Never ever tell a lady over here that she has a lovely tan!

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	People: Why 3 million people in HCMC own scooters Tip Rating:

Updated By bpacker

on August 20, 2004

3 million oms in HCMC

According to a local chappie I talked to, there's about 6 to 7 million people in HCMC and half of the population here owns scooters or xe oms!
He added that it was especially essential for a guy to own one because it would literally be impossible to date a gal without one! A favourite outing is usually a cruise around town on one of those oms ( appropriately termed "hug" ) and a stop at the city park ( next to New World Hotel ) .

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	People: Etiquette in Walking Tip Rating:

By sailor_p

on September 6, 2005

A very beautiful etiquette I've learnt in HCMC: When walking up a flight of stairs, gentlemen would let the ladies to walk ahead. If case they fall, our knights in shining armour will be there to hold them. Now, when coming down the stairs, the men will normally walk ahead. Same logic, if we ladies fall, at least the guys can be our cushion! So, next time, if you meet a guy from Vietnam, don't think he's being bossy when he insists on walking ahead of you when coming down a flight of stairs!

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	People: Touchy-Feel-ly Folks Tip Rating:

Updated By xuessium

on July 25, 2006

From my own observations, the folks in Vietnam are very warm and are not restrained by the normal uptight Asian ways of expression, and if they like you, they will touch you (in appropriate places of course, such as on the shoulder and the arms) as a form of affection (which probably explains why so many guys fall for Vietnamese ladies but that's a different story). However, gentlemen, please do not let these signs mislead you unnecessarily, just in case you get a slap across your face for trying to get fresh!

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	People: Beggars! Tip Rating:

By machomikemd

on October 13, 2007

Be very discrete about giving anything to beggars frequently encountered in Ho Chi Minh City. If anyone is seen giving handouts to a beggar, he or she may end up being pursued by a mob of other beggars. This does not help create a good image for foreigners; it gives them instead the reputation of being easy to hit up for money.

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	People: "Uncle Ho" is everywhere Tip Rating:

Updated By shrimp56

on January 11, 2004

by shrimp56
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HoChi Minh, for whom Saigon was renamed after the end of "The American War, was reportedly a simple man who would have abhored the cult of personality that has arisen around him, especially in the north.
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Here our intrepid VT-er takes a look at "Uncle Ho" in statue form in a seminar room at the university in HCMC.

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	People: Don't Touch the Head! Tip Rating:

By machomikemd

on October 13, 2007

Never touch anyone on the head as this would be considered as a personal insult to the individual and perhaps even to his ancestors. Many Vietnamese believe the spirit resides there. Hence, the belief that if a person is beheaded, his spirit will roam forever without finding a resting place. Also, don’t touch anyone on the shoulder. Some people believe that a genie resides there and it is undesirable to disturb him. If you mistakenly touch one shoulder, you must also touch the other shoulder and this helps offset the bad luck.

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	People: Beauty faces Tip Rating:

By SirRichard

on October 14, 2003

by SirRichard
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A singing Girl

Vietnamese people have nice delicate aspect. I saw this little girl in a traditional music show during a Mekong Delta organised tour. She and her sister sang traditional vietnamese songs during a morning break for a tea at a local farm.