Why Are SO FEW Tourists Returning To Vietnam? 6 POSSIBLE Reasons + Stories And Tips
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 26 มิ.ย. 2024
- E-Book Complete Guide For Road Trip In Vietnam perpetuallyabroad.gumroad.com...
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Timestamp
00:00 - 01:40 Intro & My Background
01:41- 03:43 1. First Impression
03:44 - 07:12 2. Overcharging/Scams
07:13 - 09:17 3. Trash/Rubbish Everywhere
09:18 - 12:55 4. Service Level
12:56 - 15:07 5. Pollution/Air Quality
15:08 - 17:42 6. Summary And Final Thoughts
References:
e.vnexpress.net/news/travel/g...
e.vnexpress.net/news/perspect...
hanoitimes.vn/why-few-foreign...
www.vietnam-briefing.com/news...
/ why-vietnam-is-not-rev...
e.vnexpress.net/news/readers-...
vietnamtourism.gov.vn/en/post...
e.vnexpress.net/news/perspect...
e.vnexpress.net/news/places/f...
e.vnexpress.net/news/places/u...
e.vnexpress.net/news/news/env...
e.vnexpress.net/news/travel/f...
e.vnexpress.net/news/places/v...
e.vnexpress.net/news/travel/f...
e.vnexpress.net/news/readers-...
e.vnexpress.net/news/news/env...
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#vietnam #vietnamese #vietnamesefood
Hi guys! I've been quite sick for 2 weeks now and I was also travelling intensively over the holidays, hence no new videos. I hope you will enjoy this video. Even though I mentioned it in the video, I'll say it again, some of the warmest and nicest moments I've ever experienced, have been with Vietnamese people in Vietnam. There is a lot of potential for the tourism industry but immense challenges as well. Please share your thoughts down below and I wish you a great weekend!
Sick from what? Food poisoning? I have seen (just like in India) waiters when serving food in restaurant, they stick their dirty thumb in the food on your plate, whiles holding it... Get well.
Thanks for asking man, I am not sure but I'm suspecting due to the pollution which was exceptionally bad lately. I actually cook 90% of my meals myself and rarely even go out so my risk is lower compared to most people.
@@perpetuallyabroad I once got some water splashed in my eye from speedboat in laos, took 3weeks and antibiotics to cure, hard to tell where some sickness originates, anyway, get well!
@@perpetuallyabroadBy the way, there is this group of youngsters called Saigon Xanh (Green Saigon) squad, they have been going around the city to clean up the trashes and clogged-up canals. ❤ They also go to different schools and give talks to students to advocate and encourage changes for a better and brighter future of the environment in Vietnam 😊 I think Vietnam will be much better in the next 10 to 20 years. Slowly and surely. 😊 😊
same for Malaysia, great place..and also similar problems you mentioned, except the metro.
A Vietnamese friend of mine in Canada who left after the war, said his brother opened a food cart where people thought it wouldn’t,t work because of the location. It was doing extremely well, then a police official kicked him out of the spot, and it was given to the policeman’s brother. Corruption to the bone.
I believe it lol
And it's everywhere at any level of government officials. The corruption in the country is systemic. It's aggravating. If we come back, it's for vacation and not living there nor buying any property there.
I visited HCMC in February, 2023. At Tan Sơn Nhất airport, an official at custom check point asked me for money. I told him it’s illegal. I just couldn’t believe that. What an embarrassment for Vietnam.
Hi thanks for sharing! They usually never ask Western tourists, mostly Viet kieu or Asian travellers. I guess you're overseas Vietnamese? Good that you told him as well. Have a great weekend
@@perpetuallyabroadyeah, I’m việt kiều who lives in US. I’ve seen an American you tuber talking about being asked for money too. Seriously, I have no respect for those corrupted officials
Thanks for sharing your story, yeah it's definitely not helping the image of the country
Vietnam is very corrupt and as a foreigner you are a target. It is not as bad as India or some parts of Africa, but in Asia, it is an embarrassment that a lot of Vietnamese are actually proud of.
@@bastiaan7777777 Nobody is proud of corruption!
I lived in Vietnam 8 years and during Covid all hell broke loose. Danang and many cities shut immigration without warning and no guidance what to do. At least 4-5 months went by, at least in Danang, before they reopened. While it was closed the local police routinely visited expats at night asking for Visas. Same with me. I had a business visa but it expired too and when immigration reopened, I was 3-4 months overstay. I thought it was no big deal since it wasn’t my fault. I was wrong. They demanded over $2000 to renew it for a week so I could leave. I told them it was their fault and anyway the fine by law is not $2000. This resulted in police monitoring and visits and me pushing back. Then they froze me for 3 months with more fees adding up. At that time I could not fly or book a hotel room because I had an expired visa. I tried to book a hotel room for a night to relax and was later kicked out. I had to hire an attorney because they refused to talk to me without a "paid" local representative. But even then, they played hard ball. I finally gave them an ultimatum. Renew my visa so I could leave or I was going to contact American media and go public with their illegal extortion. They renewed it but did so one day before the country shut down for Tet holiday and they gave me only 3 days to leave the country! I barely got out. I finally booked a prop plane to Cambodia and haven’t been back since. I heard that some young English teachers from Australia and New Zealand were also approached and extorted like this but they had no money to pay so had to go into hiding. Final thought: Communist is corrupt and they suck. Enter at your own risk. Keep your head low, and get the hell out soon after you vacation is up.
Vietnam calls itself a Socialist Republic. But it operates as a communist regime. It’s coercive control at so many levels. If you know how to play the game you can go far. That is until you meet your match and you loose everything. Go to visit and be prepared to pay bribes for you indiscretions to police or gov officials. C’est la vie! 👍💪🇨🇦
In Thailand during covid the Thai government extended all visa expiry dates to all travellors. Some young budget travellors who ran out of money got help by local Thai and some stayed with monks in Bhudist temples or school property.I felt sorry for the tourists but glad to see people helping them out.
Who said I didn't try to get help from the consulate? Actually, if you read closely I was in Danang not Saigon. I sought help from the embassy in Hanoi several tiems and got nothing. I finally got a little help from my congressional rep in Altanta but it was too slow. I paid $2000 to get out for my own safety@tranduy2668
That’s horrible and, unfortunately, unsurprising. Vietnam = corruption, scams and trash, on all levels.
I made my first and last trip to Vietnam.
1. There were officials openly taking bribes at Saigon Airport.
2. My mobile phone was stolen from my pocket within one hour of arriving in Vietnam.
3. A bar owner tried to break a bottle of beer over my friend's head.
4. A Saigon Tourist taxi had a high speed meter.
5. Prostitutes enter restaurants, sit down at your table and proposition you while you try to eat your meal.
6. Staff of tourist bus companies laugh at you, if you miss a bus and do not offer alternative arrangements.
7. There were used syringes in the gutters.
8. Traffic does not stop at crosswalks.
9. Motorcyclists ride on foot paths.
10. Stock at the Ben Thanh Market in Saigon was overpriced.
11. Drug smugglers openly discuss in English their plans in bars.
Thanks for sharing, I haven't experienced 2,3,5 and 11 but I don't doubt it.
You must have been dining in the Japanese district? That's the only place I ever saw prostitution. Don't try and vlog around there either, the girls that hang around there in groups can get a bit skittish or aggressive if they see your phone out lol
Yeah I've been there because I'm a fan of Japanese food lol. From my understanding and research, that industry is flourishing and is a big part of the economy, the difference is that it's more "hidden" than other countries and more exclusive to locals or people who can read Vietnamese. On a side note, that's usually how it works here, it's all "hidden" and an underground system, unless you know about it or have a way in, it's like it doesn't exist for the uninitiated
I am a Vietnamese. what you are doing is great. I hope the people and the government should look into this and clean up their acts.
Thanks for your comment! I hope things can improve, not for the sake of tourism but for the people
@@perpetuallyabroad How about for the sake of BOTH tourism AND the people?!! Someone (the government?) should motivate the people to avoid being thoughtless slobs, and to have a little pride in their environment!
I'm a Vietnamese who moved to Germany at age 16, I can understand both a local and a tourist. I have to agree with most of the articles/comments but I would also say, some locals are acting rude which a person from some countries are not used to. Thank you for the video, goodnight from a late Germany
Hi! You must have a unique perspective, kinda like myself. Yeah I know what you mean but that's a controversial topic for various reasons. Thanks for watching
Here are the reasons that I received from friends who visited Vietnam for the past 30 years:
a. luggages are often broken and valuable items are stolen.
b. crooked customs officers give foreign visitors and Viet Kieu a hard time in receiving bribe money.
c. overcharged taxi fees.
d. rude behavior of airport staff.
e. trash ... trash ... and trash.
f. petty thieves such as stolen phones and motorcycles.
g. pushy vendors.
h. (lawless) traffic laws.
Yeah that pretty much sums it up
and you think that's cool@@perpetuallyabroad
I think what is cool
Always good seeing you share your thoughts and feelings :)))
Hi Jess nice to see you again!
Visas, getting Thai, Cambodia, Malaysia, Laos, Philippines visa on arrival is easy & cheap mostly. With Vietnam you have to get Visa before hand, so the trip has to be planned & its only single entry; not like India where you can pay once get 10 yr visa. I think its inconvience more than anything else. Once Vietnam is checked off the bucket list, only reason to go back would be if you have some personal connection the land.
Hi Nate thanks for sharing your thoughts! Vietnam has tried to ease the visa requirements lately where they put more countries on the list for visa exemption. However, it doesn't seem to be as many countries as Thailand for example.
Precisely. I've been to Indonesia a couple of times, when there was no visa requirement for Australians. Now Indonesia requires a paid visa. I will probably never go back. There are plenty of other options.
A lady i chat with in Hai Phone 20 years ago told me her boyfriend had to wait in Bangkok for three days while his visa was being processed. Back then he had no idea he needed a visa. In three days in Bangkok he could have found a Thai girlfriend and skip Vietnam for good. Lol
yeah I found out the hard way with single entry lol. I though I could just duck off to Thailand for a week before my return flight. They refused me re-entry and I had to spend 18 hours at the airport departure terminal
It's a way for the govt. to make revenue. visa fees are huge revenue.
Great insights and thanks for posting.
Thanks for watching Tony, have a great day
Thank you for your great insights. Great channel and looking forward to more videos.
Thanks for watching!
Having visited my homeland 25 years ago, the scamming and price gouging hasn't changed from this video. Sad...........
How nice to see you again:):)
Welcome back!
Greetings from London. Great contents! Subscribed :)
Thanks I appreciate it!
Great topic
Hello my friend!! I really like your video, it's useful for anyone who wants to visit Vietnam. Keep up the good work!!
Thanks for your comment Daniel
RE: HCM - Immigration and airport are extremely difficult for foreign travelers. Checkpoint staffers are corrupted and they have every power to get you in trouble. Upon arrival, the minute you get out you are approached by hundreds of aggressive "drivers" who try to rip you off - NEVER LISTEN TO THEM. You just have to stick to your gut and pray to get on your GRAB. Unfortunately the arrival area is those crooks' territory, GRAB drivers are not allowed to standby there, they usually have to park farther away so be patient on that. 🙏
Thanks for sharing your thoughts! Very good advice, just ignore anyone who says "taxi sir" lol, thank god for Grab
Yes, grab drivers will pick you up in the parking lot 30 seconds past the taxis and crowd(just cross the crosswalk and find your car on the grab app/licence plate)
This is a good point. I travel extensively in S.E. Asia and whenever possible I avoid Ho Chi Minh City's airport. I had an 08:55 flight to Singapore last year. Arrived at Tan Son Nhat at 05:35, expecting to get through Security and hit a lounge for breakfast. Didn't happen. Guess it was "drag your feet day" at Security - TO LEAVE THE COUNTRY! Again, LEAVE! Finally got through Security at 08:05. No reason for that whatsoever. Wonder how many people completely missed their flights that day.
Lol!!!! I loled when you said the guy took your second blanket!! Funny and sad at the same time.
Haha I was stunned when it happened. Like why wasn't it okay to use another blanket from an empty seat? Lol!
As a Vietnamese myself, this is pretty spot on. I dont mind most of the things on the list, but most foreigners definitely wouldnt like it
Thanks for sharing. The articles are actually written by Vietnamese. But ofc many comments are made by foreigners.
Thank you for sharing
Thanks for watching!
Very good info
Thanks
Your video was a real eye opener - the kinds of things you usually don't find out about a place until you've been there for awhile! Thanks for being so forthright!
Thanks for your comment. I'm basically just reporting what their government articles are stating. These are just things related to tourism, it gets more intense if one would talk about living here long-term
@@perpetuallyabroad Please talk about living there long term, because I am giving serious thought to retiring there.
Thanks for the idea, that sounds good. I'll try and make a video about it soon
@@perpetuallyabroad Great! Thanks!
I'm Filipino and have visited Vietnam twice. I can’t wait to be back. Hanoi is easily one of my favorite cities in the world. Vietnam has many similarities with the Philippines. This familiarity helps me understand why some visitors perceive Vietnamese people as rude, which I believe is more about Westerners' perspectives.
Westerners often expect service industry workers to cater to their every need, but why should Vietnamese people do the same? They need business, sure, but these workers are also human with their own emotions. They're not obligated to be overly accommodating or insincere.
During a visit to Hanoi, while enjoying bun cha, a delicious Vietnamese dish, we encountered a server who seemed unfriendly, or "masungit" as we say in Filipino. However, we understood that her demeanor was due to being busy rather than any intention to be rude. True enough, the bun cha was excellent. There's a saying that if your server in an Asian restaurant looks unfriendly or stressed or rude, the food is likely to be good.
The point is, perhaps the issue isn't Vietnam or its people, but rather the expectations of visitors who anticipate others to conform to their cultural norms.
Hi Jan! Thanks a lot for your comment! I appreciate you sharing your thoughts and experiences like this. I tend to agree partially with what you're saying but for me I've heard many non-western people complain about that as well, such as Asians.
I personally think it's just the culture here, it's not about them being busy or not. You would understand if you have spent a few years here and spoke the language fluently. But I agree that they don't "intend" on being rude sometimes, it's just the way it works here
I'm old enough to remember when they were saying the same thing about Thailand. The pollution in Bangkok was 10 times worse than I have ever experienced in VN; touts and scams were commonplace too. VN is a n amazing place with a young , educated population with so much potential. I'm an Aussie married for thirty years to an amazing VN lady who is honest and extremely hardworking individual, like most Vietnamese.
Thailand is different, ofc scams, but less hate. Thai are very warm.
Hi Glenn thanks for your comment! I appreciate you taking time to share your thoughts. I am not sure when you last visited and where but the air in Hanoi and HCM is worse than BKK. Maybe it was the opposite before I am not sure. I agree on the fact that the country has a lot of potential though
@@perpetuallyabroad Hey where you plan going next?
@@perpetuallyabroad Make a trip to Kunming China, it is a nice experience.
I haven't been to Hanoi, but was in HCM February last year. Maybe Bkk has improved since I was last there (2000) But before that it was virtually unbreathable. Thank you so much for your kind reply.@@perpetuallyabroad
I agree 100% everything you said. I will never ever go back to Vietnam again.
Thanks for sharing your experience, sorry to hear that even though I understand how you feel
I arrived at the Hanoi airport in 2005. It was an intimidating experience - very stern, unfriendly and cold. Once I began my journey walking around Hanoi after a good night’s sleep I felt like I was in heaven. The vibe of the locals completely disarmed my nerves and by the weeks end I felt completely at home. I stayed for 3 months and I loved every minute of it. The most culturally enriching experience of my life. I plan on going back this summer !
Thanks for sharing Chris, cool that you visited so "early". I was there a few years later. Hope you'll have a great trip next time you visit
@@perpetuallyabroad Thanks ! May I just ask one question? I’m planning to rent out my condo for a year. Do you think I’ll be ok if I renew my 90 day tourist visa a few times? I know I’ll have to go to Cambodia or Laos to do it and I’m fine with that.
Based on the latest information I've heard, you can definitely renew the 90-day visa at least 2-3 times. Apparently now you have to leave Vietnam before you apply for the new visa which means that you will probably have to spend at least 4-5 days in another country before entering Vietnam again.
@@perpetuallyabroad That’s reasonable but I’m planning to rent a studio in Da Nang or Hanoi so I hope they let me back in the country ! 🤣🤣
Sounds great, I'm happy to answer any questions about Vietnam
It's a pity because Vietnam have so many gorgeous sites to see. Very useful video. You remind me a youtuber August from Sweden. That's right you are August the unique TH-camr who is speaking so well Vietnamese. Glad to see you back. Greetings from Paris, France and Happy New Year 2024.
Yes that's me :) I hope these things can improve because it's a fantastic place
“Gorgeous sites” only if you find garbage gorgeous.
I’m a Vietnamese American and sadly that I agree with you 110% of these issues. It’s so embarrassing and it needs to be fixed immediately!
If there is enough of pressures from the travel industry to the Vietnamese government maybe they will fix these problems. Thank you for your patience and your support.
Hey! Thanks for your comment! These are complex issues that I doubt will be fixed in the near future. However, I really hope not for the sake of tourism per se but for the local population. Have a great weekend
The reason why is because of the changes regarding visas Vietnam doesn’t want tourists staying long term.You used to could stay in Vietnam up to 90 days with getting tourist visa extension but they stopped that in 2023 so now if you want to stay in Vietnam longer than 30 days you need to get a residency permit.Which it’s a lot harder to get a residency permit in Vietnam.And I know why Vietnam did this so they won’t have an influx of foreigners just coming in.See I pay attention to what most people don’t I understand the complexity of things because I pay attention to the details and not the headlines.I don’t get into controversy like everyone on TH-cam seems to do it’s 2024 I mean it’s time to wake up n use yall brains think for yourself.
Vietnam can do fine without massive tourism and so will the Philippines and Thailand these developing countries need to utilize what they produce and utilize the agriculture and farming they have their to trade with other countries that also produce but that produce what they don’t.That’s what they need to go back to doing tool of barter with natural resources and raw materials instead of doing everything for profit.And they also need to develop and continue to improve there economy based on agriculture and farming and everything else they produce and not improve it to make everything so modernized they need to fight back against the corporations and modernization because they are coming for the eastern countries they are seeing how there economies are improving and Amazon and Walmart,google,Microsoft want to get in I already see sone Starbucks in the Philippines and Thailand they need to kick them out seriously.Have they not analyzed and learned nothing look at what they did here in the United States completely destroyed this economy.We cannot hardly get no fruits nor vegetables nothing on our own they fucked up all the soil n dirt in the ground on purpose so it’s just left for us to go to target,Walmart,Whole Foods all corporations.Because Walmart,target,Whole Foods,Amazon etc they aren’t produces they don’t produce food they are big retailer corporation merchants and they are expanding rapidly.Walmart isn’t just a grocery store and Amazon isn’t just a delivery company they are expanding dipping and dabbing themselves in multiple different industries 🤔.Africa is learning now letting Walmart and Starbucks in including amazon big mistake.
I appreciate you taking time to write a comment. But you are incorrect about the 30 days. Vietnam even made it easier than before because now almost any person on earth can apply for a multiple entry 90 day e-visa and when that expires, then can just reapply. So in theory anyone can stay easily in Vietnam for 6 months as of now but in reality more without getting a residency permit. You can check the official website from the government
@@jamalgreen3056 Not true. Vietnam is expanding rapidly. They like all the tourist dollars they can get. Good for the economy.
I agree with you and i like your video Saigon city needs some good ideas like your to make it better
Thanks for tuning in!
Agree completely, I can't stand the rubbish everywhere situation, I can't believe that you'll still see people unwrapping things and dumping the rubbish where they stand. The reactive service is another annoying feature of Vietnam. You have to demand service, if you don't they'll just take advantage and try to get away with anything they can. Vietnamese businesses and workers have very little business ethic. It's a shortcut cheat where you can culture. If I am not Vietnamese, I wouldn't return either.
Thanks for your comment, I appreciate you taking time to engage in today's discussion. Yes I completely agree and imagine doing business here and not just travelling ;) kinda gets to you after a while
I was one week in Ho Chi Minh City - 6 days too long. Teach the drivers to respect pedestrians then I will come again.
If that's your criteria ( which I understand) you won't be coming back for a long time lol
@@perpetuallyabroad Yes, I think so 😃
id rather not be killed again by lack of safety@@perpetuallyabroad
On the upside, it's a much much easier country to navigate these days, a lot has changed since the late 90s when I first passed through 😅 and by and large, the younger generations coming through are providing a lot to look forward to!
I’m American traveling throughout Asia and live in Thailand. We hated Hanoi, scams and bad experiences.
Ho Chi Minh was alright. We liked Da Nang and Hoi Ann, cheap and good food and coffee.
One big drawback is I have get Visa Online. I don’t want book everything, show them and wait for approval. Just do visa on arrival.
Hey! I appreciate you taking time to share your thoughts. I also like da Nang and hoi an better. Yeah VOA is more convenient in a way but before when they did VOA, I noticed that people sometimes had to wait for 1-2 hours to get the visa, then they had to wait in line again at immigration which could potentially take 1 hour
My wife was shopping at a mall and got yelled at for looking and not buying. I just started laughing and whipped out my phone to record the lady. My wife warned me that people in the north are just plain rude and are always out to scam you.
@@cloudbackup9173
Just read your commnet:
Beware of these:
@bastiaan7777777
9 minutes ago
@perpetuallyabroad
Motorbike Rental Scams.
Fake taxis.
Overcharging taxis.
Money switching.
Shoe shining.
Overcharging and confusing currency.
Restaurants that do not display prices.
Day trips and travel to another city scams, they take detours or force to stay at their hotel...
been 2x to vn, about 8 weeks altogether, all over.
@repeattravels1922
Any plans? Anywhere you want to go? Need advice?
They initially denied my visa because I forgot to list the address of my hotel in Hanoi, my first address in the Vietnam. I listed the hotel. Contrast that with Thailand where it is visa on arrival and I did not have to list what hotel I would be staying in upon arrival.
Having travelled much in SE Asia, I finally made it to Vietnam in 2018. I flew into Danang, visited Hue and Hoi An before heading south to Saigon/HCMC. I saw some nice scenery and ate some wonderful food. I would like to return but as you implied, travel is easier in other SE Asian countries.
Two times in my short Saigon visit different taxi drivers attempted to scam me. First time was upon arrival at train station. Second time on a busy city street. This never happens to me in other Asian countries (at least not in an obvious way that I would notice).
I found long distance train and bus travel to be uncomfortable and slow compared to Thailand, Malaysia or Indonesia. Maybe I just have a bad back but I found my overnight sleeper bus trip to be excruciating.
Between Hoi An and Danang, every possible rice paddy and beach seemed to be in the process of being torn up for vast golf compound resorts that I would never visit even if they were within my budget.
Finally, the traffic in Saigon was horrendous. I spent a couple nights near the airport and felt my life was in serious danger when I crossed the street.
Hi Gregory! I appreciate you taking the time to share your experience! Interesting, I have that feeling too, like they don't even try to hide the fact that they are ripping you off lol. I've travelled by train here too and i couldn't sleep even 1 minute lol. Anyway, again thanks for your comment! Have a great weekend
The golf courses are for the local rich Vietnamese, not for you lol
Most foreigners who play golf including myself, rather play in Thailand for example because it's cheaper than Vietnam and usually better quality courses as well. This is why you don't see that many foreigners playing except a few expats esp Koreans
They are all true. Thanks
Thanks for commenting! Have a nice weekend
We need more video of this to come out so it can reach the people in Vietnam so that they know and change. No sugarcoating. It’s the culture that needs to change.
Technically I'm just reporting on what dozens of articles discuss lol so my video don't have the reach as those articles. Having that said, not much will change since these problems are deeply rooted. Also I don't want this kind of video to reach the locals anyway. In Vietnam there's no point in explaining things in most situations Only action/consequences are counted for ,not words
@@perpetuallyabroad I think it would be good if more local people know and then the authorities so they can come up with some regulations. If you are ok, I would like to reference your source to other vlogs so something can be done?
Sure go ahead, I'm just reporting on existing articles anyway actually which are all public. You can find them in the description
Nice outfit! I think it's easier to get by as a traveler in vn when you have local relatives by your side. For a regular American tourist I guess they're more vulnerable. But ain't nobody escaping the experience of people cutting in line hahahha
Hi Cathy good to hear from you again! Yeah agree totally, when you have locals taking you around it's definitely a different experience compared to solo traveling. Haha yeah it happened to me as late as two days ago lol!
I totally agree with line cutting but I've seen people from other countries in Vietnam cut in line too. I'm also frustrated with the people behind the counter or booth. I feel the culture accepts these things. Years ago, I had a Visa on arrival. I was one of the first to leave the plane and had someone from a visa on arrival service waiting to help me. While waiting, I see foreigners form a line. Within minutes, I see people from different countries and races just bump into people and force their way to the window. The guy behind the counter had the dumbest look in the world. No offence but the guy just looked stupid. I see the faces of people who were in line and I can never forget their look of frustration. Felt so bad. In other cases, when waiting in line for tickets, I see young middle aged men, dressed really nice cut in line. I shouldn't have done this but I hip checked and elbowed people purposely. Luckily, no further altercations. There were 3 lines and hoped some type of rope would help keep people in order.
Thanks for sharing your experience. Waiting in "line" in vn sure is a great opportunity to practice meditation aka "Eckhart Tolle" style to get through it. Also I know exactly what you mean with the look on the guy's face behind the counter lol.
@@perpetuallyabroad hahaha! Isn't that the old spiritual guy I've seen all over TH-cam! I rolled my eyes a few times during my last visit when even the kids tried to cut in front of me, what the heck!?
I hate scams in this country. I visited vietnam once and have never wanted to come back. I used a tour company called Saigon Tourist, owned by vietnam government, going from HCM city to Danang and Hue. The female tour guide was terrible. She got jealous with me for getting along so well with other 3 guys in the tour group. So she splitted me up from the 3 guys to sit in a different table after the first two meal times, and then she took my spot to sit with those 3 guys in the tour . The female tour guide told us the wrong information about the Hue emperial palace. She said that China's imperial palace in Beijing copied Hue's imperial palace. I don't know if she was naive about history or nationalistic.
But I have never come back to vietnam again. Crossing the street is so unsafe, there is no sidewalk available, garbage is everywhere, they serve with dirty plates and utensils. Food sellers are lack of hygene, everything is so expensive, the service is bad, the hotel bed sheets are unclean. So many problems.
I appreciate you taking the time to share your experience and opinions. What you're describing is something I can relate to. The guide probably really believed what she said. Sorry to hear about your trip but I've heard it before unfortunately
I visited Vietnam in November last year and I am going back to Vietnam this November - love it ❤
Btw how can we get to know more of you? I love your videos 😊
Thanks for your comment! Glad to hear you're coming back! I am trying to change the direction of the channel to be a bit more personal so just hang on.
@@perpetuallyabroad looking forward to
It :-)
i got pickpocketed in Vietnam in Ho Chi mihn
Anecdote: I truly enjoyed my 3 days in Ninh Binh but Hanoi has so many irresponsible motorcycle drivers. I got bumped 6 times (5 nothing serious and 1 where both me and the driver knocked off balance) in 1 day while trying to cross streets and go somewhere. Once we were on the way from Noi Bai airport and I saw a middle-aged man using his phone while crossing the intersection with his motorcycle on one hand
I appreciate you sharing your experience! What you're describing are just normal everyday things here though lol
@@perpetuallyabroad Culture shock I know
Hi
I've been to Vietnam 5 times . All you have said is true ,that's why I'm always happy to home at the end of the trip. But I have to say Vietnam has an aura about itself. It's such an exciting place to visit and I guess it's a challenge, but I like it. People are lovely. It does have its positive too.thanks for listening
Thanks for sharing your thoughts, I appreciate it
With the exception of scooter touts and customs officers, I had only good experiences with Viet locals. But I just didn't rate Saigon like I do Bangkok. I moved around to different districts to see if any suited me, but ended up getting bored after a couple of weeks. It's just not there yet as a tourist destination. I saw the expat enclave in district 2, and it was fine. But as far as variety of food, world class train system to get around, and things to do, Bangkok is leaps and bounds ahead. I think Saigon is going places, they are starting to build a train network etc, but they've got a long way to go
Thanks for sharing! Yes Bangkok is on a different level compared to Saigon
I embarking on my 4th visit within 2 years. some points i stay with a family and having a local person makes life so much easier. the traffic ( especially Hanoi crazy but i found fun as i never witnessed road rules are made to broken) the food i had no problems ( except the half chicken embryo) the service even if was by myself i found friendly ( remember to smile) Da Nang is my go to city its 2 cities in 1 ( 1 side the old town 2nd side over the river the high rise tourist hotels) as yet i have not encountered rude people/ service, lastly the only thing is visual pollution its upsetting and i still cannot understand why rubbish is just dumped especially the village near Lang Co resort i wish the local authorities would open a refuge centre where they would clean up the rubbish and landfill it. apart from that i have flown in and out from DaNang airport and its always been a breeze with immigration and never been scammed by anyone.
Hi Gary! I really appreciate you taking time and effort to share your experience. I'm glad to hear you've had a good time so far. Da Nang is a little bit less rough than HCM and HN. You mentioned something interesting, "remember to smile", this is usually a great mindset. However, this is something that I've noticed some tourists do, they are overly friendly and "too nice" towards locals ( I think it stems from subconsciously feeling "sorry" for them for the war and that they are "poor" ) and they may get a smile back. As an experiment, you can test this theory by just keeping a stone face ( like locals usually do ) and enter any local restaurant/cafe outside the tourist area and see if they smile at you ( before you do it ) Unless you're in a very touristy area, ppl will not smile at you or greet you. It's not the typical culture here.
I understand I have a completely different perspective since I have entered and exiited the country 102 times, exclusively only speak Vietnamese with locals and I spoke fluently before my first visit, so I basically enter any venue as close to as a local as possible hence I get a more authentic treatment.
Hope it makes sense. Thanks again for your comment and I wish you the best of luck
I've been to Vietnam 3x never had any issues. Love the food.
Thanks for sharing your experience
im too agree!!!
Travel to Vietnam specifically Ho Chi Minh City in November 2023, didn’t have any issue. Use grab, same as Uber over there. Land and leave the airport in less than hour.
Thanks for sharing, glad you had a good experience
hcmc no issue. i only gt scam in Hanoi.been ti HCMC,hoi an, danang & hue
Greetings August,
I must agree with you wholeheartedly. You're just spot on. As a Vietnamese, although living abroad most of my life, I still regrettably get scammed every time during my visit to VN and inevitable sick from the food & water. Going to VN is like going to war... mentally of course. From the moment I arrive to the immigration area waiting for hours to face the officials with an attitude to the daily life dealing with Vietnamese people. My interaction with the locals is preferrably kept to the minimum and only when necessary. (However, to the contrary, I did have some very pleasant experiences with those in the southwest (miên` tây)). And Trash! The lack of self-respect are showcased by piles of trash everywhere! Shameful!. At one time I even entertained the thought of moving to VN but after several visits I realized that it would not be a possibility . The mentality is so different and the blatant demand for bribes is rather difficult to deal with. Recently I visited Japan for the first time and such a wonderful holiday it was. No trash! no worries about getting sick from the food and water or someone stealing my phone or snatch my purse. No incessant honking, no shouting/loud talking/phone ringing in public that would drive you bonkers. Public transportation was reliable and punctual. All prices are clearly marked. Now this is the place I would like to return again! Indeed it is a very civilized country in comparison. VN has a lot to learn and they better start asap.
Thanks a lot for your comment! I always appreciate you sharing your thoughts and opinions here on the channel. What you're describing is literally if I wrote it myself lol except I'd f*** up the grammar from time to time! :) I hope things can change but it has to come "from within" imo. But in reality it'll take a very long time I think because the mindset is so deeply ingrained. Btw I was also in Japan just a few weeks ago. I really love going there. Thanks again and I wish you the best
In Vietnam, food is sub-par (especially compared to Thailand) and the novelty wears off fast. Sidewalks for walking are practically non-existent. Streets are full of obstacles. Traffic is beyond horrendous and noise pollution is probably the worst in Asia. Airport taxi scams abundant. Trash everywhere. Small beach towns cater to local/Asian tourists more than westerners. English speaking is sub-par. Any government worker is a nightmare to deal with. Medical care is really bad. If you've seen one street in Vietnam, you've seen them all. Creativity is destroyed early on in the communist education system so basically all Vietnamese people and VN operated businesses are the same. There's a night-and-day difference in what you get compared to Thailand for the same money spent on a vacation and it's not even close.
Thanks for sharing your thoughts Anthony, I appreciate it
As a Vietnamese, it’s a shame to admit Vietnam is a third world slum country and will remain a third world slum for generations to come.
That is because of the culture; a culture of indiscriminate littering, scam and theft, that is.
Dân chúng mình chỉ cần thêm ý thức kg vứt rác bừa bãi, kg gian lận trộm cắp thì xã hội thành phố thoải mái hơn, thu hút khách du lịch nhìu hơn.
Chỉ vậy thôi, đâu có học thêm gì đâu. Chỉ thay đổi văn hóa sạch sẽ gọn gàn thôi.
I appreciate you taking time to share your thoughts! May I ask, how long have you lived overseas? It's hard to argue with your points and I do hope it will improve in the future. Not for tourist purposes but for the society in whole
@@perpetuallyabroad
Well said.
It’s all about the culture.
And the change begins from the parents at the dinner table.
Unfortunately, this slum and corrupt culture deeply rooted in the mind of the Vietnamese.
I went to America for a 4 year college.
corruption is systemic in vn. The elite ruling class of people enjoy all the good things. Everything is below the reasonable standard because the common people are left to fend for themselves, so they do whatever necessary to get by. Most businesses don't care much about customer retaining practice. Waste treatment facilities and infrastructure are inadequate or completely lacking, so people throw waste everywhere. It's sad because vn is a beautiful country.
@@olev1180 You are correct and this is so sad. I would love to see some type of tax on high incomes and property. With the elite ruling class owning so much property, I doubt this would ever come to fruition. I've experienced multiple experiences with corruption (high and low level) and basic extortion at the airport where they don't let you pass immigration. Hoping to see positive change in the future.
@nocancelcultureaccepted9316
How are Vietnamese people among themselves, are they behaving different towards foreigners or same cheating, scamming each other and theft, or is that a stereotype?
What would be a solution?
👍💛Get well soon 💛
Thank you!
From my return trip to Vietnam 2 years ago (lived there for 2 years a decade ago) where I entered through Hanoi.
1) Male Officer at Immigration pretended to not let me in. He looked me up and down, had a strained look on his face and then made three attempts at stamping my passport before acting as though I wasn't to be let in and then got a resigned look on his face and finally let me in. He was clearly trying to mess with me.
2) Same as above leaving Vietnam.
3) Guy at a coffee shop gave me a sneering look and made me pay 15k VND more than what he should have.
4) A guy on the street yelled at me and then pretended to spit at me.
5) A guy in Cao Bang charged me 20k more than asking price for a bowl of noodles.
Apart from that, most people were awesome, I had a great time and I'd love to return. It's a country of chancers, you have to accept that, see it as a game, and then enjoy your trip. There's heaps of scams in Thailand so it's not only Vietnam that can be challenging.
Thanks for sharing JC, I appreciate it
Great presentation! I remember trying to leave HCMC at the airport. My 90 day visa had expired the day before. I was sent to a customs official to stamp my visa with a correct date. He just stared at me for minutes until my Vietnamese friend said to me; he wants money. I said; how much? They talked. Then she said; make an offer. It ended up costing me 1M VND. or about $55. CAD. The amount was fair I thought and the I M VNÐ went into his jeans. No receipt. lol.
Thanks for sharing your experience!
Was in Danang Nov 2023. No visa on a arrival, which is a pain compared to most other SEA countries. The touts and scammers are a pain as they're very persistent. In general people are not as friendly when compared to Thailand, Myanmar (would not go at the moment), Malaysia or Indonesia. The entire place feels like a tourist trap. Danang is very nice, traffic is good for SEA and the streets are fairly clean. The locals in Danang warned of the street crime in HCMC and Hanoi.
Thanks for sharing! I like Da Nang too
What is a "tout"? Never heard that word used in the context in which you used it, I.e., "...the touts and scammers..."
@@Steevee14 touts are people who persistently harasses you on the street to come into a shop.
@@Steevee14 In Danang if you go to Marble Mountain, you'll be aggressively approached by ladies who will lead to you shops selling fake marble goods. None of it is marble or jade, all are resin based products. These ladies are the touts, looking for tourists to lure into their shops. Salespeople on the street who try to get you to visit their shop.
On the taxi drivers, I was discussing this with a friend of mine who travels a lot, as do I. Between the two of us we had been cheated by taxi drivers in about one third of the countries in the world. It varies on how bad the situation, but it happens everywhere, including the U.S.
Yeah it sure can happen in any places unfortunately
I'm currently in Vietnam, HCMC, and enjoy it very much, I agree with your content, found it dangerous crossing the roads even on a green walking sign. Visited Angkor watt, Cambodia,by bus from HCMC and was surprised by the air pollution and trash everywhere and over changing almost everything in USD, loved Angkor watt and Siem Reap, but not Cambodia at all, we will never return there.
Thanks for sharing your thoughts Lindsay
You forgot to mention pick pocket, grab jewelry, and backpack when the tourists unaware.
Yeah true there are many other reasons but I thought I'll keep it short and not too"negative" since there is a stigma about even remotely criticising this country
@@perpetuallyabroad One of the things why people do not like to go back... its the vn people...
anyway, where do you go next?
@@bastiaan7777777 I suggest you go to Singapore.
@perpetuallyabroad I was born and raised in South Vietnam, and I am still afraid to go back to Vietnam. I went back because I have family members still in Vietnam.
@@sandydremmel1506 4 times, nice place
I agree with your points. The trash was definitely a turn off for me, and the pollution in ho chi minh have gotten worse (I was there in Dec 2023 and within a few days of staying in HCM got really sick - coughing, hard to breath, plegm...). I visited Ha Noi for the first time this last visit, and every time I get a taxi and ready to pay the driver would said they got no change and I end up getting charge more (because they got no change). After this last time I would never come back if I don't have to, but unfortunately I still got family in Vietnam. I wouldn't go there for vacation though nor recommendations to friends or family. Oh yeah, this last time was also a woozy because I keep getting stomaches from the food/water (they put too much salt-msg in the food which got me sicker because I can't eat)
Hi! Thanks a lot for your comment. I appreciate you taking the time to share your thoughts. As I am writing this I feel sick in the exact same way you're describing. Have e great week
In the past when I get sick from the pollution in HCM, going to Nha Trang - Da Nang or Da Lat seem to help. It's less pollution, and there's sea breeze, and the weather is cooler and more temperate in Da Lat . (Not sure if that's still the case though)😊
The pollution is very bad in Vietnam. I use to live there and also kept getting sick. Which I never did in Thailand. Especially stomach and lung issues. I think there is still some bad chemicals in the food suppy from war in Vietnam. Apparently dioxin which is the main ingredients in agent orange takes centuries to break down. There must still be a lot of it in the soil there. Over all having lived in both Thailand and Vietnam I would say Thailand is the better experience. They do everything better in Thailand from food, service, culture, friendliness, cleanliness, more welcoming etc. I would only got back to Vietnam if I had to but I will always find a reason to go to Thailand.
I couldn't agree more. My original plan was to move to Thailand but stayed in Vietnam due to the pandemic and then just kept living here
As someone who got a really sensitive stomach (I get sick really easily, and my stomach would be upset right away if the food doesn't agree with me even in America). I don't think it's the dioxin issue. It's more likely that the level of pollutants and irritants are getting to such extreme level that it's becoming more and more toxic/unbearable (in the air, food, water...). While travelers who are not used to that type of environment, the exposure will lead to various symptoms right away. But the people who live there can 'cope' because they're exposed to it every day, that doesn't mean they're immune to it though. I know plenty of people who live in VN long term who get really sick (late stage cancer, incurable disease...) probably as an indirect result of long term exposure to toxic environment. As the saying go, if you take a little poison every day you might build up some sort of immunity doesn't mean a lethal dose won't kill you, or how a frog in a boiling pot doesn't know it getting cooked but then end up boil to death at some point. It's just sad for those who live there and don't have the option to get out, or those who marginalized to get the most exposure.
What's the source for the data on that non-return rate?
Various articles and governmental agencies, the links are in the description. Even though the numbers are not correct to 100%, the numbers for sure tell a story and show the reality
Visited Vietnam in 96 for a month travelling from Hanoi to HCM city by train. We had an absolute blast, meeting people and getting invited to peoples homes or to join them in partying. Scams were nothing we noticed and even the pickpocket gang returned our wallet intact, except for the money 😅. There were no ATMs at the time so cards were of no use to them. I really liked the attitude of the Vietnamese people so it's gonna be interesting to revisit and see if it has changed for the better or worse.
However comparing Thailand and Vietnam I guess Thailand is more familiar to tourists and easier to travel in, especially if you have kids with you, hence higher return rate.
Hi thanks for sharing your thoughts! Damn so you went here in 96 and haven't been back since? That's actually pretty cool! Back then, the tourism sector was incredibly small compared to now. Hope you can revisit someday and see how it is now
@@perpetuallyabroad yea it was a different time back then, if I remember correctly Vietnam open up for tourism in 92. I especially recall when we bought some food and the lady wanted 5000 but instantly lowered the price to 2000, and was embarrassed for trying to overcharge us. I just loved Hanoi but so much came in the way for a return trip. However it is travelling time again and Vietnam is on the list of countries to visit.😃
Very cool! All I can say is that ain't happening nowadays lol!
96 , what, so how old are you now, 198 😂😂😂
@@dennynisevic7848 I was in Thailand and Singapore in 1989😃, so yes it feels like 198 sometimes but I have not passed 50 yet😄 . I traveled a lot as a kid but Vietnam was straight after my national military service so I was pretty young back then .
You left out the convoluted thing called EVisa.
Yeah true but they have improved the conditions regarding visa exemption even though the list of countries is very small
Cam ơn bạn đã chia sẽ thật buồn khi nghe những việc này, hy vọng Vietnam có thể dần thay đổi để tốt hơn, vì tui đã du lich VN mùa hè năm ngoái và có quá nhiều vẻ đẹp của VN mà tôi mún chia sẽ🫶🏻
I see that this country is beautiful. If there are too much of a challenge to enjoy and explore a country, then it is not worth the time for me. Becauce life is too short as I am getting older in life and situation like that is not enjoyable.
Thanks a for commenting! It's a hit or miss I'd say, my perspective is very different from the average tourist, however I'd say that there are many great things to see here and experience. It can be a bit rough but it's also possible to have a flawless trip, I hope you can visit some day and have a great time
I have been to Vietnam twice. Not going back until they have visa on arrival.
Thanks for sharing
My first time at customs in Vietnam this fall I was held up while they tried to get me to give them money for some "violation" that was made up. After showing them I had almost no cash and repeatedly telling them I wasn't going to pay, they finally let me go. Took about 15-20 minutes to get through the nonsense. Have friends with similar experiences. Trying to get money from visitors is not a good first impression. But I still loved Vietnam and will definitely return.
Thanks for sharing your thoughts, interesting, this was upon exiting I assume? Glad to hear you want to return, I mean I returned for 15 years myself
@@perpetuallyabroad yes, when they scanned my luggage
Damn, interesting, yeah it was just a scam since all of a sudden you didn't have to pay! I know all about this lol. Good on you for standing your ground. That's why Vietnam is not for the weak and nice people, you'll get run over, I learnt the hard way
Let's say what if they refuse to let you go? (They probably won't do this to create more hassle for themselves but let's pretend.) Will calling the embassy make them back off? What would be a good option to make them back off?
Very good question. From my experience, I'd just stay persistent but at the same time kind of calm and do not scream or overreact like many westerners do. That unfortunately does not work here, they are just confused. I've learnt the hard way. Firm but call their bluff as long as it's possible is my suggestion
The low percentage is kind of surprising. I’ve absolutely enjoyed my visits to Vietnam, and can’t wait to return.
There’s still much more to see & experience .
Thanks for sharing! Yeah I mean I have 51 entries under my belt so ofc there are good things. I am not surprised however about the low return rate though
So true ! The gov should do more if they want tourism to thrive in VN.
Thanks for your comment
At 0.52 in your intro could be one reason . Vietnam needs to clean up its streets and Scenic attractions , litter is out of control in some places .
Haha yeah and funny enough, I didn't plan to have a shot with trash in the background, I just wanted the skyline lol but got trash as well
I visited Vietnam several times because I have some friends there. Even then, I feel that the whole tourism eco system there is geared towards making huge and unreasonable profits. It is as if the operators there want to get rich quick. I have not returned to Vietnam since my last trip to Phu Quoc in 2019. I don't feel I have a compelling reason to holiday there anytime soon! I do agree that the Thais make tourists feel more welcome and less like scam targets but one also needs to be careful there too.
Thanks for sharing your experience! Personally I agree with your points
Visited last year for 2 weeks and not in any rush to return, maybe next decade...
Thanks for sharing
I been there 6x i am the anomaly as always 😂. #7 maybe coming at some point in time ?
I mean I've entered vn 51 times myself so I understand you
@perpetuallyabroad thats next next next level 🙌
As a one time tourist to Vietnam, I agree with almost everything you said except that I didn't have a bad experience at the airport. But I did experience this "attitude" in various establishments including the post office where the lady behind the counter slammed a stack of postcards in front of me when I asked to have a look at them. Along with the scamming that I experience on the street, I find it difficult to justify returning to this country even though I've only been to one city - Saigon/ HCMC. I do not find it appealing to return or wanting to see the rest of the country because it wasn't a singular experience that shaped my experience. It was my entire trip.
Thanks for sharing! I appreciate it a lot. The "slamming the cards situation", imagine a similar attitude but literally everyday lol. Sometimes you do see an immigration officer that at least doesn't look angry, just a poker face which is good here
I’m viet and I’m just going to say, I absolutely *HATE* going to Saigon, Hanoi, or any of the big cities. I just have bad experiences and I prefer the city my family is in! Nha Trang! I respect what you’re saying though.
I have to chime in about the TRASH situation because from a quick glance at the comments, it looked like NONE of these commentors had ever worked in the sanitation business.
The KEY to a clean street is NOT telling people to bring trash outside their home back into their home (a health NO-NO). Nor telling people NOT to create trash when they're outside of their home (wishful thinking).
The KEY to a clean street is FREQUENT STREET SWEEPING/CLEANING service. For a busy street, at least ONCE-A-DAY street sweeping, if not more. For a less busy street, at least ONCE-A-WEEK.
Now Anh Tám Tây might not be in a position to criticize the GOVERNENT's dereliction of its duty. But for other Vietnamese, the key to a clean street is NOT BICKERING at other Vietnamese's so-called "littering" behavior. That's not how the streets in the West stay clean - because people don't litter. It's because of their FREQUENT STREET CLEANING service!
PS: Look for webcams of streets in the West, let's say the streets of New Orleans French Quarter. Pay attention to the street condition around midnight (FILTHY!). Pay attention to what happens during midnight to 6AM (STREET SWEEPING). By 6AM, the streets are SPOTLESS. That's how streets stay clean anywhere on Earth!
If there are trash bins around then people can use them. You will also be heavily fined if you get caught littering in Australia as well.
@@annavy7945 And you think that's the KEY to how the streets stay clean in Australia? NOT FREQUENT street sweeping? BTW. There are trash bins and a nationwide littering law in Vietnam also. The only thing that is lacking is FREQUENT STREET SWEEPING!
I'm a bit perplexed....what about people littering randomly everywhere outside the cities? Should we expect a team of street cleaners swiping the whole country? I don't see the need for swiping the streets constantly in Korea or Japan because....people just don't litter..?
Dear Vietnam….this is not the way to do business 😂😂
Thailand definitely more friendly than Vietnam. I believe it's due to the Buddhist culture. Visited Vietnam and currently live in Thailand. I will return to Vietnam but it's still step below Thailand until I see more and reevaluate.
Thanks for sharing your thoughts
the worst air pollution feeling I have experinced in the world has been so far in New Delhi, India when I passed there in 1996 and in Beijing in 1993. I lived in the Philippines fairly recently and Manila is not polluted at all compared to these two. It's all relative but Delhi was unbearable, unbelievable
Yes from what I've seen Dehli is the worst regarding air....thanks for sharing
Air quality in Metro Manila has improved a lot the last few years. they're phasing out the old jeeps so it will probably improve more.
I was in Da Nang and never ever seen any of these problems. Perhaps because it’s out of the big city. But if you ever drove through San Frans io or Tampa , you would see a shot show even worse.
Thanks for sharing. When did you visit da Nang? Da Nang is cleaner than HCM and Hanoi for sure but you must've seen some trash at least ? ;) yeah I mean compared to a place like SF then ....it's a different story. I mean Vietnam is an absolute utopia compared to Nigeria
In SE Asia, Thailand is the best country to visit. If you must go to more countries, may add Malaysia and Singapore. Those won’t beat Thailand though.
Personally I agree to this
I've been to Nha Trang three times and it was wonderful. The food was delicious. The cost of all was good. I stayed at a small hotel and was treated well. I was hit by a moter bike ounce and the driver after hitting me fell and held his leg crying hoping I would offer him money. Finally an officer came and told me to go so I hobbled back to my hotel. Usually the people are so kind. They appreciated a kind word. Viet poor are used to being treated poorly by Viet rich so treating them with respect is nice.
Thanks for sharing this wonderful story Rick, I appreciate it
Just came back from a month in Asia. My least favorite country was Vietnam, and I’m one of those who would not return because:
1. The airport is a disorganized cluster and they allow families to wait inside the terminal with travelers going through security. I’ve traveled to a lot of countries in the past two years and this is just unusual, unacceptable, and 3rd world. Forgetting the security concerns, trying to go through to your gate was incredibly stressful.
2. The rudeness and aggressiveness is really apparent. There’s an air between tourists and locals that feels resentful.
3. My nice hotel gave me a warning list for everything from potential crime to crossing the street.
4. I didn’t feel unsafe but I definitely didn’t feel safe either. Crossing streets and being a pedestrian isn’t the easiest.
5. My tour guide and driver used the street as their toilet.
Considering how much is 3rd world infrastructure they don’t have an Indian guest is god mentality or even a smiles Thai one.
My overall impression and experience wasn’t the best because the bad outweighed the good. Even many of the tourist sites I visited were neglected with garbage and debris. There seems to be little pride or care when it comes to that.
That said my own country and many of the larger cities can be very rude and display the same attitudes. But when I go on a vacation or to want to return someplace I want a better experience.
Hi Larry! Thanks for sharing your experience, I really appreciate you taking time to write extensively like this. It's sad to hear but ofc not surprising. I especially appreciate your honesty since there is a stigma of even remotely criticising anything here. Have a great day
No wonder they scared the septics off in '75!
I don't understand why locals are being rude and "resent" foreigners yet still open their doors to tourism. if you hate foreigners/tourists because they creates trouble or destroys your property/sites or doesn't respect your culture and people and that was the reason you're being rude to them, why don't you just close off your country? do it like China in the 90's. if VN don't like tourists, don't let tourists in.
This is a very logical approach but it's hard to apply this kind of perspective here. You're technically right but it's not that simple. The business mindset here is very unique and most people are in for the quick buck instead of thinking long-term. Coming from that perspective, it makes sense just to have a limited number of tourists but still gain a bit from it compared to closing the country or even opening up more and changing the approach to a more long-term strategy.
Your points are valid but again, Vietnam is a special place and you need to disregard your normal commonsense to be able to analyse what's going on
In my personal opinion another reason is that Vietnam does not seem to be as exotic as Thailand for example. Because it uses the Latin writing system that is used all over the Western world.
Thailand and many other Asian countries have their own writing system which contributes much to the experience of being abroad when walking through the city.
This is an subconscious effect so most people don't think about it. But I really feel much more exotic in Thailand than in Vietnam just because of that effect.
Thank you very much for your comment. I didn't expect this kind of comment. I actually think the same. I've literally thought about the same thing regarding the writing system. Even though it might be a small part of why people don't return, I think you are right about it being a subconscious thing
EVERYTHING on this list happened to me once....NEVER went back 😂 U can keep it
Damn sorry to hear that but nothing new since I've heard many ppl say the same :(
The government needs to enforce littering. And invest in a nationwide trash disposal program. Otherwise, no one will want to visit vietnam. On the other hand, it is one of the most unique and interesting country with the best food that I have ever experienced.
Yes I agree. It's a weird mix of things which also makes it interesting hence I've been coming back for 15 years myself
As a Vietnamese , i agree with all you said . Im leaving Vietnam next month . Its getting badder and badder ...
Low English skills + what you mentioned. In Indonesia, where they speak similarly poor English, they are always open to talk and many Indonesians try to acquire some basic English skills, even if they may not be good at it. Vietnamese are very shy and it's quite hard to ask for basic things, so as a foreigner, it is very difficult to travel in Vietnam. It's not a tourist-oriented country. In ID, TH, or PH, being inviting is practically part of the culture. It's how their economy makes money. It's not the mindset here. Even though I'm learning some Vietnamese now, it's 5x harder to interact with the locals than it is in Thailand or Indonesia.
Yes personally I agree with your perspective. Even for me speaking fluent Viet I'm sure I'd interact more with the locals in Thailand for example if I spoke Thai even anywhere close to the level of my Viet
i live in Vietnam, 30 years old, trade forex for living, never pay any taxes, everything is cheap except property and car. Great country
Glad you like it
I returned from Vietnam last week. One good thing you don't have to worry about violent crime. But you need to be aware of scamming. I bought a new pair of Nike sneakers. The next day a man approached me bend down then touch my shoes telling me they are dirty. And right away he is about to clean them. I stopped him. I told him these are brand new shoes. Even a blind person could see they are brand new. Another thing when it comes to service. I would eat a evening meal from a particular vendor. So one day while paying for my meal and banana shake I told the lady I wanted to try the soursop shake. So I paid for that too including my meal and the banana shake. I must have waited 15 minutes to get the soursop shake. Upon getting it I stood up to leave. The older lady started to shout at me to pay., I told her I already paid when I paid for my meal and the banana shake. She shake is about 30,0000 which is about $1.25. She insisted I had to pay. Eventually the lady whom I paid came out and said don't pay attention to her she is a bit crazy. No she is not crazy. She lacks the service skills how to deal with customers. I must have eaten by her at least three times before so now I want to rip her off by not paying for a shake? The other woman apologized. But it was too late. I said I'm not coming back to eat here anymore. There are other vendors. They can clean up their system as to know when one pays for service they give them a receipt. Had I had a receipt it would go a long way to assuage the conflict.
Contrast that with my stay in Thailand where during the breakfast buffet I bit down on something that I thought I lost a tooth. It was a hard plastic. I happen to have one of my Thai friends over for breakfast. She motioned over to the supervisor on the floor. He came over examined it and took a picture. He told me he will order me a fruit basket with freshly squeezed orange juice my choice. And if I need room service to let him know. I did not. But I think the Thais have mastered how to deal with issues in the hospitality industry. Vietnam is apparently in the infancy stage. It might help if they hire a foreigner who can produce a Power Point setting that can train people in the tourism industry. That way instead of slapping someone's leg to retrieve a blanket they can gently nod them and smile.
Many thanks for your comment. Really glad to see you share your experience in detail. First and foremost I have to say I'm sorry you had this experience. For me reading this it's ofc nothing surprising at all.
The situation with the first vendor is common and that's just how it works here. What some tourists might think is that this only happens to them, locals are definitely not more helpful or service minded towards their fellow locals, I'd say the attitude is harsher.
Lastly, your thinking is logically correct but it just doesn't work in practice here, I've done exactly that, trying to educate and explain in a business setting, it's not impossible but it's really hard I'll tell you that. And I did it solely in their own mother tongue as well.
The example in Thailand with them apologising and giving you a fruit basket. I'd say that's very very unlikely to happen in Vietnam, even at a 5 star hotel. They'll most likely just say "sorry"( if that even ) then remove your plate and then it's like it never happened. And you'll sit there perplexed about what just happened.
I think it stems from Thailand being a monarch based culture which teaches the basics of respect whereas Vietnam is heavily focused on Confucianism combined with a "system" ( please read between the lines ) where everyone has to fend for themselves and no one cares for "each other".
I have traveled to Vietnam one in every few years. Because I still have relatives there, otherwise, I wouldn't ...
I can relate to this! Thanks for sharing
I bet they always ask for money because they think you are rich since you live in the west.
Not my top choice, because few hotels have bed bugs. Not an issue in other parts of Asia. They can use DDT and it is effective, so why Vietnamese not use it ? Beaches have too many plastic rubbish washed up, but that is rapidly growing problem in Asia now. I never saw any scam in Vietnam. I took taxis everyday and maybe one out of 300 taxis took a bit longer route.
Thanks for sharing
Officially change the old capitol name back to Saigon and I bet more Americans will visit.
Fyi, most locals in Vietnam simply refer to the city as Saigon in everyday life. The name HCMC is basically only used for official purposes
Thanks for bringing me up to speed. I look forward to visiting.
Hope you'll have a great trip
It's an informative video. I'm going to skip Vietnam. Thank you.
Thanks for sharing
Yes , mee too
ya'll shouldn't skip, at least experience it once!
Why? Because Viets are different from Thais. Period. Return visitors to Thailand always say it is the people that makes them come back. People can find beautiful beaches/mountains, cheap food, cheap living expenses anywhere, but the locals that makes the holiday experience different. Veits need to change their mindset. It is doable. Good luck.
I appreciate you sharing your thoughts
Most of the problem mentioned here can be attributed to poverty or less financial well being and the lack of awareness of the global business practices. When you are struggling to survive with little opportunity to improve your lives things like trash and personal services and future benefits are of less importance. Although it would be beneficial for them if they have in their mindset to be neat and orderly and provide better service but those kind of things can only happen if they see any impacts that will improve their lives, or else it can be taught in schools or by foreigners setting examples. I believe things are a bit better in the touristy places and in richer neighborhoods
Thanks for sharing your thoughts
I visited Da Nang in 2022 and it was overwhelmed with S. Korean tourists. It seemed like they were colonizers destroying the local culture.
Yeah I feel the same
I went to a very good Japanese restaurant in Danang, a really nice Italian cuisine one in Hoi An and an Irish pub in Saigon. They just happened to be the nearest reasonably priced well-reviewed places near my hotels.
I thought this was quite strange.
Why bother with the stress when we can go to THE LAND OF SMILES!!!!?????
Fair point
I thought it was just me.... landed in Saigon , went to border officers and gave my passport. They said where is VISA ? I said I didn't know I needed one. Things went downhill quickly. He started yelling things at me which I didn't understand , then two what appeared to be soldiers marched over and escorted me to an office across the terminal. Long story short , they were very displeased with me and made me be sponsored in to the country by a nearby travel agent. I had to pay a fine ( bribe )of $300 US . They gave me an emergency VISA for 5 days and let me go.... I get I should have had a VISA , I just made a mistake and didn't realize I needed one.... But friendly ?? Most definitely they were not..... Vietnam itself was excellent , but the entry to the country needs a LOT of tweaking....
Thanks for sharing your story Mike. I appreciate it. Sorry that this happened to you.
@@perpetuallyabroad Vietnam , the people , the culture , the food , were excellent. They just need to tell the customs and border people to relax a bit.... Thanks for your video ...
First impression. Leave mobile phone on the table in cafe, just to go to toilet.
Not sure exactly what you're saying but that would definitely be a risky move to do here
@@perpetuallyabroad that is exactly what I did there. All gone.
Damn, sorry to hear that. Unfortunately here you need to guard all valuables at all times
My wife totally freaked out with the biggest rats roaming freely on the beaches in Vung Tao
Bottom line is that you don't go to Vietnam for tourism unless it's through a tour group, unlike Thailand and Bali, etc., with with well develped tourism industry.
Yup, Vietnam is definitely not for everyone
I took my own bike in 2014. LOL.
if you stay in Vietnam 183+ days you got taxed worldwide lol be careful
I guess it depends on the circumstances and many other things....