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 | Hanoi Local Customs | Tips 11 - 20 of 62 |  |
Popular Local Customs | Miscellaneous Local Customs Tips | All Tips (62) You will encounter many interesting people in the streets of Hanoi. For example, we came across this group of men who were playing some kind of board game right on the side walk itself.
As I didn't know what game it was, I figured it to be some kind of street chess.
I've been experimenting with the pics so it turned out kind of funny. Ooops- sorry about that! Leave a Comment
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There are several traditions in Vietnam how to be lucky in the future. One of the nicest is to go to Van Mieu, the Temple of Literature, and pray for good luck for your exams. You can do that by patting the tortoises' heads. They are already patted blank, so I guess it really works... If you've got a more important exam to pass you may consider planting a poinsettia (a flower that usually flourishes in December so that it is also called "Christmas Star"). In December, Van Mieu's lawns are full of these flowers. However, I don't know whether planting them is legal. Don't sue me if it's not! Leave a Comment
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Vietnamese people are very tough at bargaining, a lot more than chinese people for instance.
If you happen to buy souvenirs and stuff, here are a couple of advice:
1/ learn a bit of vietnamese, not much but a little and especially the figures, greeting expressions.
They will smile and the atmosphere will be lighter.
2/ Always use humour, don' t get annoyed.
3/ Go late in the evening, they will have had a good day already, they'll be tired and if you insist a little the prices will go down as far as 50-60%
Be wide awake yourself. take a nap in the afternoon!!!! a little trired and you yield easily, they know it !!
3/ Pretend (if it is not true) that you've been there several times and yes you know this is way too much.
4/ If you are not desparate for buying an item and you see you can't lower the price significantly, then, drop it, and go away. they may run after you.
In a nut shell,: always look as if you have all your wits under control, always try to appear that you dominate the situation.
But don't forget, Vietnamese people are tough but fun to bargain with if you know how to keep your temper.
Never forget this is a game. Leave a Comment
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In Hang Bac street, in the Old Quarter, you will find many little shops where artisans carve handmade gravestones with images of the deceased in it.
I found it rather peculiar, as we only use to put names and dates in our gravestones in Spain. Leave a Comment
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This is the conclusion of a Swiss expat living in Hanoi, which was on the Pathfinder 2005. Enjoy!
HONEY'S HORROR
5. "HELLO MOTO"
The prennial hoohoo-ing of xe om drivers is as much a part of Vietnamese life as Pho. Is there anything more annouing that the strange mating call of the sadly unendangered species that greets you every morning as you walk down the same road? Admittedly now I find the noise a pretty accurate modd swing barometer.
4. Why did the chicken cross the road...
Because he had a death wish. Timidly stepping forwards like young chicks, edging slowly across, between the never-ending stream of motorbikes, to the safe-haven of the adjacent pavement, only to find it cluttered with food stalls. Mind you sitting at a good advantage point cafe watching fresh travellers trying to negociate their way through the motorbikes is a valid of top 5 experience.
3. Whingeing Poms
Whingeing certainly ismt confined to the sceptred isle. What is worse than hearing a fellow expat slagging of the the Vietnamese, from the comforts of a western cafe or air conditioned house overlooking the West Lake. And if I never hear another " he called me fat " conversation well it still will to be many. If you dont like it why stay.
2. Pennies from heaven
This really should be number one, but I've only heard of it through the grapevine. Sitting on a motorbike and having a bag of vomit, chucked from a passing bus, land on your lap, or worse still smack into your motorbike helmet. Yuck!
1. Xe om smells
" I love the smell of a xe om drivers shirt in the morning". Not really, but still, as bad as their mating call is, it's that ditinctive, higly toxic smell that gets my number one award. It's almost enough to make you wear a motorbike helmet.
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