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Ho Chi Minh City Local Customs

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Ho Chi Minh City Travel Guide

Ho Chi Minh City Local Customs

Learn the local customs of Ho Chi Minh City. Tips and photos posted by real travelers and Ho Chi Minh City locals.
Local Time 10:26 pm Wednesday, July 9, 2008
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Ho Chi Minh City Local CustomsTips 61 - 70 of 105  
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People: Don't Touch the Head!
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  • By machomikemd on October 13, 2007
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  • 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: Hand Shake
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  • By machomikemd on October 13, 2007
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  • The custom of handshaking, formerly considered barbaric to the Vietnamese, is now achieving popularity due to the Western influence in the country. Men will generally shake hands and say the equivalent of "how are you" and tip their hats when greeting people.

    Women, especially those in the countryside, still shy away from shaking hands, especially with men from their own country. It is best not to offer to shake hands with a woman unless she offers her hand first.


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    People: Different Perspective of Vietnam War
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  • By machomikemd on October 13, 2007
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  • The immediate image in the minds of most people at the mention of Vietnam is that of the war fought against the United States some twenty years ago. Most people think of the country only in terms of the American conflict in Indochina. The war ended nearly twenty years ago, and today, despite lingering signs of past American involvement, the situation in Vietnam is markedly different. People have finally begun to look at the country from another perspective, now that travelers and tourists from the West are being welcomed into what was once a forbidden country. It may take a bit more effort and tenacity to plan an excursion into Vietnam than it would for another Southeast Asian country, but Vietnam has much to offer in terms of culture and sights. hence see all my Sai Gon Tips!


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    People: Vietnamese Smile
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  • By machomikemd on October 13, 2007
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  • The smile of a Vietnamese can be very confusing in Vietnam to an outsider and cause misunderstandings. In some Oriental countries, a smile can mean sorrow, worry, or embarrassment. In Vietnam, it may indicate a polite, but perhaps skeptical reaction to something, compliance or toleration of a blunder or misunderstanding, or on occasion represents submission to judgment that may be wrong or unfair. This is particularly true if the one making the judgment is at a superior level and perhaps has lost his temper.


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    Ho Chi Minh City Local Customs Tip (Untitled)
  • By Vladik on September 7, 2002
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  • Ho Chi Minh City Local Customs
    by Vladik
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    Use of Local Currency
  • By sailor_p on June 18, 2007
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  • I've visited different parts of Vietnam about 4 times between 2005 and 2007. In my personal opinion, it is better for tourist or visitor to use the local currency, vietnamese dong, for any cash transaction. It really helps to stretch the dollar further.

    In Ho Chi Minh City, you can find numerous banks, shops and money-changers. The rate is competitive and you can exchange currencies such as USD, UK Sterling, SGD, AUD etc for Vietnamese dong. Do compare the rates before you decide the do the exchange.

    One of the most interesting point to note - do not ignore the goldsmith shops in town. There are many goldsmith shops in HCMC and they also provide currency exchange services! Personally, the rates at the goldsmith shops are much better than the commercial banks or money changers.

    For your next visit to HCMC, do visit one of the goldsmith shops if you wish to exchange currency. There are numerous goldsmith shops in the vicinity of Ben Thanh Market!

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    People: Ao dai
  • By hassan_abu on May 3, 2006
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  • Ao dai - Ho Chi Minh City
    Ao dai
    by hassan_abu,
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    A lasting impression for any visitor to Vietnam is the beauty of the women dressed in their ao dais. Girls dressed in white pick their way through muddy streets going home from school or sail by in a graceful chatter on their bikes.

    Pronounced 'ao yai' in the south, but 'ao zai' in the north, the color is indicative of the wearer's age and status. Young girls wear pure white, fully lined outfits symbolizing their purity. As they grow older but are still unmarried they move into soft pastel shades. Only married women wear gowns in strong, rich colors, usually over white or black pants.

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    Tipping
  • By Audia on March 23, 2008
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  • According to my best friend who is Vietnamese, the common rate for tipping is around Dong 5,000 to 10,000. But in my opinion, tipping depends on the location. As USD is widely accepted so a 1 Dollar bill for a tip seems quite ok.

    1 USD is around Dong 15,000 to 16,000.

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    Traditional Dress
  • By Jim_Eliason on April 8, 2003
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  • Traditional Dress - Ho Chi Minh City
    Traditional Dress
    by Jim_Eliason
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    Another example of traditional dress

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    People: Colonialism returns in a new form
  • By cochinjew on June 23, 2005
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  • As you are leaving Saigon, you pass through a suburb built specially for wealthy foreigners. Mainly Koreans and Japanese with full service hospital and Korean, Japanese and French schools . well manicured streets.
    This french school in vietnam teaches nothing about VN culture! Viet/Mixed race children who go to school here grow up liek those viet/native children sent up to colonial schoools of the french and the british who thought the native culture and the native people as inferior

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