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THINGS TO KNOW
Etiquette
Vietnamese people are
very friendly, polite and
generous in general and will
make every effort to have
foreign guests feel comfortable.
In the cities and country towns
alike, do not be surprised to be
invited home to meet the family
of someone you have just met,
these are the experiences that
will enrich your visit to
Vietnam.
We are conservative in our
dress. Wearing shorts are
tolerated, unless you enter a
culturally sensitive area such
as a temple or pagoda. Keep in
mind that, although tolerant,
people may be judgmental.
Unfortunately, there are still
some problems with petty theft
and pickpockets. This is more
prevalent in Ho Chi Minh City
(Saigon) and Nha Trang. You
should not be paranoid about
this but just be aware of your
surroundings. Below is a list of
Do’s and Don’ts to help you
avoid some of the social taboos
during your visit. Take these
into consideration and you will
be rewarded with a culturally
and socially enriching
experience.
Do's;
ALWAYS drink plenty of
bottled water. During the summer
months you should be drinking a
minimum of 2 litters per day. If
you drink tea, coffee & alcohol
you should increase you water
intake accordingly as these will
help to dehydrate you.
Before venturing out from your
hotel, ensure you have a hotel
business card from the reception
desk. This will make your return
to the hotel in a taxi or cyclo
a lot easier.
For longer excursions from your
base hotel, it is always a good
idea to carry a roll of toilet
paper in your daypack. You never
know when you will need it.
ALWAYS dress appropriately. Not
only for the prevailing climatic
conditions, but also not to
cause offence to the local
people. Vietnamese have
conservative dress codes and it
is only in larger cities that
these codes are relaxed a
little. Do not wear revealing
clothing.
ALWAYS leave your excess cash,
airline tickets, passports and
valuables with the hotels safety
deposit facility.
ALWAYS notice when entering
someone’s house, at some houses
it is a must to remove your
shoes at the front door.
ALWAYS ask his or her permission
first when taking a photograph
of someone. If they indicate
that they do not want you to,
then abide by their wishes. DO
NOT push the issue or offer
money.
Don'ts;
NEVER wear singlets, shorts,
dresses or skirts, or tops with
low-neck lines and bare
shoulders to Temples and
Pagodas. To do this is
considered extremely rude and
offensive.
NEVER give your empty water
bottles, sweets and candies to
the local people when trekking
through ethnic minority
villages. You cannot guarantee
that the empty bottles will be
disposed of in a correct manner
and most of these people do not
have access to dental health. If
you would like to give
pens/paper, ask your guide to
introduce you to the local
teacher and hand them to the
teacher for distribution.
NEVER sleep or sit with the
soles of your feet pointing
towards the family altar in
someone’s house.
NEVER venture out from your
hotel with more cash than you
really need for that day. It is
NOT something to be paranoid
about, simply do not make
yourself a target for
pickpockets or drive-by bag
snatchers in the big cities. Ho
Chi Minh City seems to be a
little worse than anywhere else
in Vietnam is. On the whole it
is one of the safest countries
you could wish to travel in.
NEVER lose your temper in public
or when bargaining for a
purchase. This is considered a
serious loss of face for both
parties. Always maintain a cool
and happy demeanor and you will
be reciprocated with the same.
NEVER try and take photographs
of military installations or
anything to do with the
military. This can be seen as a
breach of national security.
NEVER take video cameras into
the ethnic minority villages.
They are considered to be too
intrusive by many local people.
What to
bring
It is best to travel light in
Vietnam. One medium sized bag
and a day pack will provide more
than enough room to carry
everything you'll need to
survive, and enough space for
the things you'll buy in
Vietnam.
There is extensive black market
for smuggled consumer goods in
Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, so
do not worry about running out
of something.
Before you
leave home complete the
following checklist:
• Lightweight and quick dry
clothing is most appropriate for
the summer months and warmer
clothing for the winter months;
sun hat; swimming costume.
• Travel Documents: Passport,
visa, Travel Insurance, Air
Tickets.
• Health requirements and travel
insurance arranged.
• Flashlight/Torch, alarm clock,
sunglasses, sunscreen, insect
repellent, personal first aid
kit, personal toiletries.
• Money: Us dollars or travelers
cheques and/or credit card.
• Raincoat or umbrella, good
hiking shoes.
• Cable locks or padlock for
luggage
What to
wear
The main thing to consider is
the weather, as it can be
freezing cold in the mountainous
North, and at the same time hot
and humid on the Central Coast.
If you are traveling in the
North or the Central Highlands
during the winter months
definitely bring jeans and a
warm coat or sweater. It seems
that it is always raining
somewhere in Vietnam, so
lightweight rain gear is
essential.
In the hot months, dress cool
but conservative. Many
Vietnamese cannot understand why
foreigners insist on wearing
shorts, tank tops and sleeveless
T-shirts when they have the
money to dress well. For the
Vietnamese, appearance is very
important, so if you are dealing
with an official of any rank,
make sure you are dressed
appropriately
Tipping
Tipping for good service is not
expected but is always
appreciated in these developing
nations. It is customary, though
not compulsory, to tip tour
guides and drivers at the end of
a tour. Hotel and station
porters should also be tipped |
