Comments on: Vietnam: Love it or Hate it

By: Curious Person

Curious Person — Sun, 19 Jan 2025 07:44:47 +0000

I found this very interesting article that may help put into context of the many negative encounters many tourists who are on the decent side of humanity have had to experience with the vietnamese locals while on their honeymoon, holiday or backpacking trip.

https://annamitestudy.wordpress.com/2018/03/11/the-reason-why-the-vietnamese-are-cunning-greedy-selfish-thief-minded-scammer-minded-deceitful-and-opportunistic/

By: VM Car

VM Car — Wed, 20 Nov 2024 02:39:33 +0000

You can’t hate Vietnam. It’s peaceful, the people are gentle and friendly. You can see beautiful scenery anywhere in this country. Vietnam is now very different from before, tourism has been promoted much more than before. If you have the chance, come and experience it again.

By: gus

gus — Mon, 13 May 2024 19:16:14 +0000

In reply to Alex. after ten years in vietnam, and on my way out, alex is actually going easy on vietnam. the reality is far more disturbing.

By: gus

gus — Mon, 13 May 2024 19:01:51 +0000

In reply to Johnny. they treat everyone, including one another, the same way, which is to say in an incredibly crude and grotesque manner. the classic story, the tale of kieu, sums it up. as do several other old vietnamese poets who are banned or mocked out of existence. i've lived in vietnam ten years. not proud to admit that and hopefully on my way out. im tired of seeing mothers pimp their own daughters to foot their gambling habits and gucci bags. initially you turn a blind eye and / or make excuses such as poverty. but eventually you see the wealthy are the biggest offenders, and then it's just nauseating.

By: Jey

Jey — Tue, 12 Dec 2023 11:16:50 +0000

Very interesting piece. I am American and live in Thailand but am in HCMC for a month. I have been to Ha Noi as well. I find many people here to be kind and helpful and a few to be remarkably hostile — this is often food sellers I am trying to buy food from. I don’t understand it. I make an effort to learn some of the language and am very respectful. I think it isn’t personal at all — the people just seem much more willing to be confrontational (as compared to Thais and Malaysians, for example). Then again, this is a big city (Ha Noi seemed a little more relaxed) and I suppose that is what all / mansy cities are like.

I am definitely fed up with all the posters who say Vietnam is all friendly and nice. My guess is these are often people who go to high end restaurants not food stalls and markets and stay in more tourist areas. I prefer to learn the culture and the food, but sometimes it gets a little exhausting.

I appreciate the honesty in this discussion. It is easy to flame people who are candid about their experiences if they are negative experiences. It’s harder to look at the complexities of culture and history and the baggage and attitudes we all carry with us.

By: Alex

Alex — Sun, 09 Jul 2023 19:43:58 +0000

In reply to Yulia. I'm sorry to hear you had the same experience, Yulia...

By: Yulia

Yulia — Mon, 15 May 2023 12:26:37 +0000

I’m currently in Hanoi, confirming these scams are still happening in 2023.. such as taxi drivers to restaurants charging me extra from the agreed price. I know the scams are low-level, targeting extra 5-10 euros per scam, but I left this country feeling unfair. I had never experienced tourist scams before, even when I travelled to the poorest countries in Asia and Europe, so there’s no excuse for dishonesty, even poverty.

As a person from ASEAN neighbouring countries with around the same GDP/per capita as Vietnamese, I cannot relate to why people around here don’t save ‘face’ — which is supposedly our culture. They scam and duplicate established stores with confusing similar names, and no one cares to enforce this to defend our customer’s rights, even the police.

These scams are systemic.

I feel bad for Ho Chi Minh, all the fighters and good Vietnamese people. Those scammers could have tainted the tourist’s perception towards this great nation.

By: Alex

Alex — Tue, 20 Dec 2022 08:55:45 +0000

In reply to Ron Le. I'm sure there's a major learning curve, as with anywhere! Thanks Ron!

By: Ron Le

Ron Le — Wed, 05 Oct 2022 02:38:27 +0000

I admit that there are many scams for expats in Vietnam. I also have already experienced about this on my frist month living here. But now after a little bit problem now I feel really happy here as I know how to avoid all that traps. Thank for sharing

By: Alex

Alex — Mon, 22 Mar 2021 18:31:32 +0000

In reply to Cohen. I know that I certainly look forward to returning to Vietnam someday and seeing if my opinion is changed!