Top Vietnam hotels
People Ho Chi Minh City
54 Reviews If you are eating at a semi-outdoor /streetside place and you are set upon by beggar children, its best not to give them anything. If you do, it can start a frenzy and cause trouble for the...
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Politics Ho Chi Minh City
4 Reviews Though Vietnam seems like any thriving capitalist city in asia, it is still a communist country by heart. You'll see propaganda pictures and policemen everywhere, even in places like Apocalypse Now (...
See All 123 Local Customs in Ho Chi Minh City
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I stood in line for 30 minutes trying to catch a flight. People kept cutting in front of me. I talked to a local who said there concept of lines is this...."if you are not at the front of the line, you don't deserve to be at the front of the line".Just smile and push them out of the way...otherwise, you will stand in line forever.
I don't know why, but all over Vietnam, the people I saw carrying heavy loads all seemed to be old women. I can't recall once ever seeing a young man carrying anything heavier than a pack of cigarettes or a cell phone.
Ho Chi Minh is still very much a cult figure in Vietnam. It's hard to believe that he died as long ago as 1969. His picture is in public buildings everywhere as is the Vietnamese flag and the flag of the Communist party which, with its hammer and sickle, bears an uncanny resemblance to the old flag of the Soviet Union.I was told that during Tet it was obligatory for every building, including family homes, to hang out a flag.
The main religion of Vietnam is Buddhism, which was intoduced to the country from China in the second century AD. Although it is theoretically still an atheistic Communist country, the majority of the people still practise their religion. It is estimated that prior to the Communist era, 70% of the population were practising Buddhists. Now that figure is little-diminished at 60%. Pagodas are found throughout the country, in both urban and rural areas. You see a few Buddhist monks, but they are not so much in evidence as in Cambodia. The pagodas are busiest during Tet.Christianity was introduced by French and Portuguese missionaries as far back as the sixteenth century, and grand churches and cathedrals, such as Notre Dame in Ho Chi Minh City, are to be found in all the major cities. But fewer than 10% of the population are Christians.
Vietnamese coffee is nothing like the cappuccinos and lattes I'm used to back home! It is served black unless you ask for milk, which is usually a dollop of sweetened condensed milk at the bottom of your cup. Servings are small, very strong, and never boiling hot!The coffee is served in a tin individual coffee maker that sits on top of your cup. Ground coffee is placed inside and hot water boiled over the top, which then runs through into the cup (hence the coffee normally being small and cool). The correct way of using the coffee maker is to take the lid off and place it upside down on the table. You then move the actual coffee maker to sit in the lid. It was about a week before someone showed us this - it's very messy business otherwise!
In Vietnam, what Westerners generally refer to as the "Vietnam War" is actually called the "American War". One thing interesting about the history of Vietnam is their wars, and the American War was just one of many in the latter half of the 20th century; Vietnam fought the French, the Chinese, the Khmer Rouge (Cambodia) and the Americans.Because of this broad history, there is not any open hostility specifically towards Americans. The past is the past, and Vietnam has definitely moved forward since its last war. Still, it is fascinating to travel in Vietnam as an American.
After traveling around Southeast Asia a bit, I was surprised to come to Vietnam to find that the shopkeepers don't really bargain all that much. The price is what it is. It was frustrating attempting to haggle only to have the original price repeated as the shopkeeper stood firm.
One thing I love to do when traveling in another country is to get my hair cut. As most of the places I travel to are inexpensive by western standards, even this simple act can be a money saver. But aside from the monetary gain, I find it a fascinating glimpse into local life and a way to interact with the locals. I was in dire need of a trim when traveling south down the Vietnamese coast and was happy to find when strolling from the Natrang train station back to the beach area, a host of enterprising young barbers that had set up shop under a simple homemade awning. I sheepishly asked how much and was happy to hear 15,000 dong (about a buck) emanate from his lips, quickly seating myself before he changed his mind. There was some confusion as to how I wanted it cut but we sorted it out with some hand signals and pantomime. Soon he was clipping away with both scissor and an interesting...
Bierre LarRue was one of Vietnam’s more interesting bottled brews and clocked in at 4.5% alcohol. Golden with a nice lasting head, it had an interesting mix of hops and grain in the palate. There was also a weaker verion of 3.6% that sold for the same price in bigger bottles. It was more popular though not as tasty. Festival Beer was a Hue attempt at luring the up market beer drinker with its small green bottle ala Heineken though it was the least tasty of the beers I sampled there.
Joss sticks are slender rods of incense that are burned at both home and temple shrines to bring good luck. This custom is integral to many Eastern religions, especially the predominant one of Buddhism in Vietnam.
Park Hyatt Saigon Ho Chi Minh City
5 Reviews and 438 Opinions All rooms offer pool of City views with full luxury amenities. As true sense 5- Star hotel, it is...
Hanoi Elegance 2 Hanoi
5 Reviews and 712 Opinions I booked our family sized room for 2 adults and our teenage daughter direct with the hotel from...
Victoria Hoi An Resort Hoi An
4 Reviews and 444 Opinions It's worth the money to stay and enjoy the beach like in Victoria Hoi An. Price from 150$++ public...
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Q: could someone please help? where can i buy ao dai (preferably well made and silk) for my grand-daughters, they are only 2-3...
A: Loads of places in both cities to buy Ao Dai either already made or to measure. For the small extra cost, have them made to measure and take the mesurements before going...
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