I got the bad experience while I was in Vietnam . Last 3 years , me myself had a business trip to Ho Chi Minh City for a few days . Firstly the taxi driver over charged me triple time from the normal price , not double but triple ( my co-worker who stationed at Vietnam gave to me this info) . Secondly one of my wallet had been stolen while I walked by a side walk , I lost my credit cards and 1,300 USD , luckily I divided my sum into two separated wallets . When I was there , I always feel like people there tried to take advantage from me compared to the others cities in Southeast Asia , that why I told myself , no more Vietnam.
Scammer is everywhere in paris, london, newyork and some united states too,even some united states have high crime rate than vn and traffic concident in united states also higher than vn ,just western media dont show it (hide it)... So why people still go to paris , New York,london...???
My Thai friend got SALIVA split and shout from the seller eventhough he politely rejected to buy the product. That's his first trip experience in Vietnam and he never wants to go back again. That is so much far different from traveling in Thailand.
Sorry for the bad behaviors. I am Vietnamese. I faced to the similar situations twice. There is a part of low educated people in Vietnam whom I am very unpleasant to communicate with.
as a Vietnamese, I do agree with what you say, the environment needs to improve. I feel like the government didn't care much about it, also scammers and people lie to the tourists about the prices of the items. I feel embarrassed for those who did that
It would be good if the government did a campaign making people more environmentally aware etc. I think the economy is their no.1 priority right now however.
Having been to Vietnam about 10 times between 1996 and 2019 I have to say that your analysis is spot on. The constant horns, loud motorbikes and construction noise do not take long to grate on your nerves and make you wish for some peace and quiet. Another thing is that Vietnam can feel very crowded, especially because Vietnamese people don't have the same personal space expectation as people from other countries. Despite all of that, I do love going to Vietnam. One of the things that I tell people at home in the U.S. that shocks them is that I feel more free in VN than I do in America.
An interesting topic and video. Having only visited Thailand, (more than once) I asked my brother who has visited both countries how they compare. His reply was he felt the experience in Thailand was warmer and more welcoming. He had "done" Vietnam and didn't really feel a need to go back. He has so far been to Thailand 3 times compared to 1 trip to Vietnam. I will still visit Vietnam myself sometime and keep an open mind prior. No country is perfect.
Vietnam still has a lot to offer for sure and i'd definitely recommend it. Thailand's a great spot however, feels a bit more modern now but still holds all the charms of Asia imo.
As someone who is living in North-Vietnam I never experienced real scams. On a farmers market where everything is up to negotiations I might get charged higher prices due to my limited Vietnamese communication skills. But at the end of the day the price level is still quite low and in general I experience the people in Vietnam as authentically friendly and supportive. I am not familiar with South-Vietnam. Things might be different there.
I went to Thailand and got double charge as foreigner as well. Like less than 5 min taxi and he charged me $95. I am Asian and looks like Thai but I don’t speak Thai.
Thailand does seem to double charge more than Vietnam i think. I tend to avoid the taxis there and just use bolt or grab these days, or better yet the bts/mrt and walking.
As a Vietnamese working in the tourism industry (both hotels & TAs), most tourism practices here are just very predatory. Guides are pushing their clients to buy overpriced souvenirs, lots of travel destinations are just based on the initial shock or wow factor to get people excited to see the place for 5 minutes then leave (the golden bridge on Bana Hills is a great example), lots of unsustainable pratice & lots of scams. To be honest, travelling around in big cities got be very nervous, even though I'm native here, and that I speak the language as well as know the culture. So I can easily see why return rates are so low. The real gems are the hidden sights in the mountains, the beaches on the central coastline, and the amazing widelife in the Mekong Delta. Sadly, scammy sights like the train street or the golden bridge (if you're asking, yes that's the bridge with the hands) are the ones that get promoted the most.
I am malaysian. Even malaysians love thailand. Lol. Not because my country is not beautiful but it is economical to travel to south thailand eg phuket, koh lipe. Accommodation is good too. Basically it boils down to people(less scammers), varieties of food, personal safety, less noise, better traffic management. To be honest once you get over ban mi, coffee, pho, springrolls, thailand and malaysia have more varieties although our food is spicy. For malaysians, it is expensive to visit indochina. Malaysia gives 3 months visa at no charge to certain countries. Few wildlife in vietnam(exclude zoo and safari). Anyone documented their marine eco system? Also medical treatment is world class in malaysia at lower cost similar to thailand.
@@expatnam just stating facts. Not trying to put down anyone. Did you see anyone going underwater documenting marine life in vietnam (eg did the late french jacque cousteau do that?) I saw vlogs on marine life in thailand, malaysia, phillipines, indonesia. Minus out safari in phu quoc, did anyone document wildlife in the jungle? Eg rhino, elephants, tigers, pangolins, tapirs, birds, crocs, different monkey species, different snake species. They probably took the snakes for medicine (blood drinking). Tourists or travelers may want to experience this. Not riding around on motorbikes in the mountains(not everyone likes that). Varieties is what travelers want. I mean ninh binh is beautiful, i agree. Sapa is unique i agree. Most westerners already seen great cities in the world. So hcm and hanoi is nothing special to them. Except perhaps hoi an. Sometimes it is not the visa issue but other factors. To have repeat visits there must be varieties, genuinely good people not after your atm, low cost which i find indochina is not the case as things are in usd equivalent yet they are developing countries where labour cost is not high. So this puzzled me a lot. Did the statitstic on the newspaper determine why thailand and malaysia have high repeat visitors. I gave some points already as a malaysian.
The newspapers tend to allude to the reasons i mentioned such as trash, scamming and poor service. One of the bigger issues here is there tends to be a preference for money today and not the future, so things like repeat business and customer service is low.
@@expatnam trash is found everywhere in asia except singapore. Even some parts of malaysia has trash issue. Waste management and education is below western standard. What i worry most is sea trash washing ashore in remote islands. That is already a reality on our islands. That is why the ocean cleanup started their projects in south east asia, then central america. Latest is california. While the pacific garbage patch is being cleaned up.
It's worrying for sure. I know Europe used to send a lot of it's garbage to the philippines as well-not sure if they still do. They should def. ban plastic bags and plastic in general here, it's an easy move and would make a huge difference so i'm not sure why that doesn't get put into place.
Been to VN once and don't think I will ever go back. Negative experience from day one. Most of stuffs are not priced, you need to ask and bargain , which of course more expensive for tourist. Locals are not friendly don't know why.... sometime I felt that I had to ask to be served. When there was a problem, no one was trying to help. I checked into a small hotel, nothing near the advertised photos but I though it was only for 2 nights so, this won't hurt. The next day, when I walked back to the hotel I was approached by a staff who said I had to move to a different room. The reason was that they did me a favour by upgrading me to another room last night. According to them, the room I booked for was not available but the next day it was, so I had to move. Nothing was communicated to me whatsoever, except the staff at the counter said "You Move" to me repeatedly. He literally yelled at me. He even came up to the room and stood by the door to make sure I moved my stuffs. The room I moved to was exactly the same except there were 2 single beds instead of a queen one. That was just one example, but there were many more during my 2 days stay. Sorry VN, more need to be done if you want tourist to go back.
I’ve just come back from Ho Chi Ming and would never go back! The scammers are everywhere and you get hassle everywhere.. the pollution is awful and the traffic is the worst I’ve ever experienced. I found the people to be rude and aggressive. Don’t waste your time and money here and go to Thailand and Cambodia instead 😊
Sorry to hear that. I don't eat the street food often for that reason and cook at home mostly. People often tell me it's ok but there's no real food safety training here and a lot of the street sellers don't even have fridges so you can imagine the risk especially if you're not used to it.
I plan a solo visit to Vietnam early next year. Although I know online companies charge a fees incorporated in the price of tours for booking excursions, would this be more cost feasible to booking the tours at the hotels? I will be flying into Da Nang.
When my family visit they always tend to book tours from outside the country-it annoys me but they love the service and peace of mind of having everything laid out for them and having a nice guide waiting when they arrive etc. It depends a lot on you. You will save quite a bit booking stuff here locally but you'll have to walk around and bargain/find what you like etc. Horses for courses...
Those were all valid reasons for why I would be discouraged to visit Vietnam….thanks for addressing them….In order for change to happen, someone’s gotta talk about them and bring awareness to them
Changes and progress for vietnamese people not need for foreigners. Do you guys know there might be a big quantity of Africans and South Americans waiting for the 3 month visa to work illegally? Also a lot of Muslims. And native speakers who are drug Addicts, feminists, BLM woke gays murderers. It is good to keep away that for good!
I lived/worked in Sai Gon, Bien Hoa and Chon Thanh for several years; all of the points that you mentioned were on the money and are definitely factors in (especially) tourists not wanting to make a return journey. Those non-Viets who like the weather and the people of Viet Nam invariably adapt and adjust to the daily life there.
I've been twice to VN and hope to be back in December . It occurs to me that tourism seems to be a minor consideration there . Many of the attractions like cable cars and connected attractions are so well patronised by locals that I don't know that they care too much about the tourist factor . Also the language is really tricky ...lots of tones to learn as well as the words , unlike Thai for instance that a few basics can be learnt quite quickly . And last the present visa situation as mentioned , having to do visa runs every 30 days ! Ah well ...mustn' t grumble🐬
Ya whats the problem? Vietnamese is like Thai, both language are tonal and both use 5 tones. And 30 days for vacation are quite enough for average vacation since most people travelling around 3 weeks in southeast Asia. Unless you are jobless or retired
Thanks for the video, I've been to Vietnam twice and hoping the Vietnamese government changes the visas to 3 months or more. Thailand has 5 year and 10 year visas but you must be able to prove your financially able to live in Thailand
I think a retirement visa is on the horizon here, just a matter of when not if. I don't think the admin side of things is modern enough yet to facilitate it however. Each town has it's own wards/divisions/administration etc etc and i'm not sure in reality how interconnected the gov systems are. Once things become a bit more digitised and centralised then maybe we might see it here...
I'll be back for a 3rd visit very soon. I agree those issues are real. But the people and food keep me coming back. Question: Do you recommend the ferry, bus, or private car with driver to go from HCMC to Vung Tau for a few days?
Sure, i think the pros outweigh the cons but maybe not for everyone. It depends how you like to travel! The Greenlines ferry will take you to VT in about 2.5 hrs on a fast boat from the river in d1. I like this option as it's a good experience. The VIP minibuses are also good and very regular from d1, around $10 or so each way and nice seating etc/fast-but a little dangerous as they drive super fast. Private driver is also good, maybe $50 or so each way but convenient and comfortable. These days i tend to go by boat. greenlines-dp.com/
We moved into our neighborhood here in DaNang. Took me a month to get used to the caged barking dog next door, 2-3 roosters, people flying down the alley honking the whole way, karaoke, construction, drilling, metal work, so forth. But we love it. I'll take the noise over the stress any day. We live in Son Tra outside of the tourist area so not too many problems with scammers over here yet. Still haven't gotten used to the trash. You'll be in an absolute pristine area with mounds of garbage. I think there needs to be a cultural shift and perhaps they need to start educating the kids at an early age. Love your videos.
Noise here has been the biggest issue for me so far. I really wasn't expecting it to be noisier than Saigon but my current place just isn't peaceful at all. My friend has suggested Son Tra Ocean View as a quieter spot and good value so i'll check it out.
I also have a bad experience in Hanoi on my first day there. I met taxi scams at The Airport. A Vietnamese woman tried to prostitute me while I was walking on the street.
I have been planning to travel to Vietnam in a few months, and found this video interesting. Doesn't really put me off because there is nothing I heard about in this video that is not rampant in India where I am from. Hehe. I will come!
Only 5% of tourists to Vietnam return! I find that figure staggering. I wonder how accurate that figure is. The people I talk to here have a pretty positive attitude toward holidaying in Vietnam with the exception of one person who hated Vietnamese food. Takes all kinds I guess. Maybe I'm weird but I much prefer Vietnam to Thailand. Then again I don't do many touristy things. Vietnam's economy is doing pretty well so they don't have the same pressure to extend visas as say the Thais.
@@josh_hen_har3377 Japan is a lot more cleaner, civil and honest than it's neighbors and it isn't racist to point it out it's just reality. The one exception I found was it's treatment of dolphins and whales. That was appalling.
I must be in the 5% then. In fact I am looking forward to returning to Vietnam in June. I sometimes wonder if the major airline airfares put people off returning to Vietnam. Often it can be cheaper to fly to Bangkok or Kuala Lumpur than HCMC or Hanoi. With that in mind, people then tend to go to those countries to travel, even if they have been before. The National Park fees which charge foreigners more in Vietnam also applies in Thailand (which irks me) I also agree about the construction noise and eyesore pollution Vietnam has. I have been to Vietnam quite a few times and the construction industry baffles me whether it be building or road construction. You'll see mile after mile of deserted, partially completed building sites rather than concentrating on each one at at time. This also applies in road construction. Random bridges or half completed roads with not a worker in sight doesn't make for an aesthetically pleasing view.
Airlines have been slow to put on flights here and seem to be concentrating on busier hubs like Bangkok at the moment. The construction arena here is a mystery, but no doubt plagued with corruption and all sorts of antics resulting in unfinished projects and money running out etc.
I totally agree! I was scammed at the airport. We arrived at 10:45pm and didn’t get to leave until 12am so our ride didn’t show up so I asked a taxi driver and he charged $40. And asked for tip. Normally the ride to the airport is a little over $10 dollars. We was tired and didn’t have SIM card nor do we know any application for grab. I highly suggest a getting a SIM card and download grabs application. It’ll be very helpful when you arrive in late night. Happy New Year!!!!
Vietnamese earn less and I agree they should not have to pay as much to tour their own country. Here in Australia we can’t even afford to holiday in our own country. 5k in the same state (2 hour flight) for 3 people for 10 days. 2k for a house boat for 3 nights an hour and a half away. Will be the last time we holiday in our own country. Citizens should be given discounts.
It really what you want out of life there. I live there most of the year. It's not perfect but where is. The states doesn't have it. The visa issue is a nuisance but it gives you chances to explore. I much happier here than there.
Very true. On the balance of things i prefer it here but as i get older some things do start to bother me a bit more. The grass is always greener i suppose...
Will be going to vietnam in 2 weeks , due to the visa issue will only stay the one month and spend our time and money in adjacent countries for the other 3 months of our winter vacation.
Vietnam is not structured for tourists, in fact there is very little structure anywhere. It's like the wild west but all that artificial excitement gets old very fast. From the time tourists arrive at the International airport station where they are riddled with scammers, and there’s a complete lack of standardized ride services, whether it be taxis, Ubers, Grab or other such ride services. If you want a Grab Bike, you have to walk from the International Flight Station to the Domestic Flight Station which is a good 10 minutes walk if you know what you're doing. Most don't unless you have done it before. Grab Bikes are not allowed in the International Station. And it’s basically an absolute comedy trying to find your driver once you are in the Domestic area where you are allowed to order a Grab Bike. Especially if you do not speak Vietnamese. As I have said, there is a complete lack of structure. Vietnam is like the wild west where rules don't apply to anyone unless you upset the wrong person with power, then it gets really bad. Garbage is rampant, even in the nicer neighborhoods. My apartment building, which is a high-end building in District 7, does not even have a standardized garbage system. Oddly enough, they do for compost and recycling, but not for garbage. Tenants have been instructed to throw their garbage outside. Wonder what board members were smoking that day when they signed off on that imbecilic snippet of a regulation? Driving is an insanity journey into the crazy house of stupidity. This is where the wild west reaches way down into the chamber of nasty turbulent violence. It has its charm in the beginning, until you get hit by one the dwellers in the crazy house of stupidity. Oh, and if all this was not enough to charm the pants off of any tourist, well then, there is food poisoning. The most glamorous of all manner of disgusting irritants. I have lived all over the world, and nowhere have I experienced as much food poisoning as in Vietnam. Bravo Vietnam for being #1 at something. Aside from all this nonsense, what does Vietnam have to offer tourists? I mean what special or specific experience does Vietnam have that Thailand or Indonesia for that matter does not? I would not include China, because that’s like hell wrapped in a spurious smile. Vietnam has been notorious for enjoying its veneer of isolation, and pride in its country.
All good points and i can relate to them all. It's strange how many issues are not addressed, e.g banning plastic bags at shops would be a good start and easy to implement as the plastic issue is really bad here but it's just ignored. Unfortunately as you know due to the politics of the country there is no pressure from any opposition type party so there is a degree of omnipotence and lack of urgency to address things.
Yeah, I agree. I believe tourism is not a big interest for the government may take a huge part for this. There are a lot of discussion of how to improve it just like others tourist attraction but they all got turned down.
I love Vietnam but being one of the first returning tourists in May 2022 was a shock. So many chancers out to scam you simply because you were the first European they had seen on the streets since covid. Xe om's dying to get tips, price hikes for non locals on stalls, and a sense that things were more desperate than pre pandemic. Hoping for things to have calmed down a bit in the past year.
I loved the country and the people. I left a month before thet closed the country in 2020. I loved living in Phu My Hung. Quiet, less trash and traffic. Not many westerners but that can be a good thing.
From stats from back in 2019, it was found tourist that visited North VN first typically return to Vietnam.. Tll the fun is in the south though ha ha I have found personally andwith others i know after a decade in VN almost and growing up in a VNese culture MOST tourist do NOT see the bad or at most just accept it as part of the adventure. Those that live tend to feel these things, 7 years is that golden number MOST tend to leave as well Vietnam is a factory country, its culture is based about owning more than the guy next door and the gov at any means will take everything for themselves It was wild during CVD lock downs America and Austlira send millions to VN gov to help and out of all the people i know local and gov level that money never went out side a yellow building unless it was for a new car... Communism is fun
@@expatnam Yeah it does, but make the best of it, invest, build youtube, start a small business..The teacher business i saw burned out almost every one i knew..its crazy
Thank you for your video. first time I heard a lots from Vietnamese in social networks that Vietnam is the greatest country in SEA. Have a plan but will check again for sure. Thanks. ❤
I know what you are saying. The government actually acknowledges that fact - that they have low "return tourist visits." They are aware and finding ways how to address the issue. Vietnam is a very export oriented economy. Their 2022 exports have overtaken their neighbors (due to transfer of factories from China). Their economy is actually now more or less, larger or approximately the same as Philippines/ Malaysia/ Singapore. Their efforts are on how to grow their economy fast. The service sector (tourism) is not as developed compare to other ASEAN countries. I worked in Vietnam and stayed there for 7 years though this was around 8 years ago. It is not easy. At that time, technical skills have to be developed on the fly. I can imagine how it is in 2023. They are experiencing growth pains.
It's still similar in that advanced technical skills are still not common so there's reliance on 'foreign' expertise. It's a shame that's there's no apprenticeship type programmes here or things like that to train the local workforce. What i see is anyone with money or connections sends their kids to private school, said kids then depart overseas once they get to 16 or so. Brain drain is real.
@@expatnam When I read about Vietnam's fantastic trade growth, if you are an outsider, it will seem mind boggling and amazing. But for me who has worked there, I can visualize how things are behind the scenes. Skilled people may be are neck deep in work - and stress. Ha ha. And with explosive trade growth, maybe explosive growth also of ehem . . .inventory pilferage. 😆😉
Never been to VN and not interested to be honest. Why? I met young Vietnamese professionals here in Bkk and they are so arrogant. Also most of their tourist attractions can be found in other SEA so why bother risking ourselves to scam and humiliations.
I feel sorry for your bad experience. You know that it exists a part of low educated in Vietnam and they seem to make the people including Vietnamese feel unpleasant.
I enjoy your channel Chris. Good length of vlogs and packed with useful insights. I'm one of the 5 per cent and currently here on my seventh visit in eleven years and would have been more were it not for COVID. I'm recently retired and would like to spend a long time in Vietnam so right now the current visa policy is the greatest irritation for me. I've always been dismayed at the prevalence of garbage lying around all over the country and disappointed that after visiting over more than a decade nothing has changed in that regard. Traffic? Well yes, you definitely need your wits about you, especially driving/riding on county roads. Email sent.
🕵 Hawai'i has slightly cheaper local Kama'aina (residential) rates for some tours, activities, and attractions too but NOT usually for food though there are special occasions and exceptions. The idea is to encourage locals to do more things that tourists generally do. But *to qualify for these lower rates, you have to show a valid local ID* for verification. The same goes with colleges and universities who have almost always charged extra for non residents, out of state students.
My take on it, is Vietnam is the first place I visited which did not ring alarm bells, for me. I lived in China very early, but then left after just about a year (before meeting someone appropriate) After China I lived in and visited a number of countries, but all of them sort of rang alarm bells for me (including Thailand) But when I got to Vietnam, no alarms. At all. I met a nice girl and (blah blah blah). :) The thing is you need to be careful. But Vietnam has seemed about perfect for me. Just my .02
Thanks for the comment. I talk a lot about a 'feeling of freedom' here. I can't put my finger on it, but i do feel more like i'm left alone here compared to other places, so maybe similar to your observation about alarm bells..
There's no concept of reducing plastic waste in the country either. At the shops I always have my bag open and ready to take the item, yet every time they whip out a new plastic bag and try to give it to me. Most people automatically take whatever the cashier gives them too so there'd be a huge amount of waste that no one even wants or uses simply because of this culture of just always giving unnecessary plastics.
That's a bugbear of a lot of people here, sometimes i'll even get the same stuff put into 2 or 3 different bags! I think that's something Vietnam can address quite easily like most countries have now done, i.e stop using plastic bags.
Hi good 😊 afternoon liked your video. Learned the expensive way to see in vietnams nationality. These area of where they priced you high is not developed., Not organized just yet, maybelike that?? Anyway thanks andgodbless
I have been to Thailand 4 times for vacations and always enjoyed my time there and never had the desire to even visit Vietnam. It's just not on my bucket list. And I was born there
Thailand is always a great spot to visit. In fact it's a very popular holiday destination for Vietnamese now. I can see the hotels there are very busy for Tet in Jan already.
I've lived in USA for 30 years and yet only when I visit Vietnam that is when I can be my real self without worrying about what other people think about me. It's my motherland. I cannot get that feeling being anywhere else in the world.
I'm not sure you should label visiting a national part that has a price for the locals and a different one for the foreigners as a "scam". Don't know how it is in the U.K., but here in the U.S. we have different green fee prices for public municipal golf courses, one for locals and one for non-locals. Same with the tuition for State Universities. Why? It's likely because the locals pay taxes, so they should get a break when visiting/attending places that use their tax dollars for maintenance and upkeep. I'm not saying there are no scams, but your example of the national park visit shouldn't be labeled as such. The other things you'd listed like noise and pollution/trash as a possible turn-off factor for returning tourists doesn't compute, because I'd venture to guess both Bali and Thailand also have those issues as well. Certainly Vietnam should work on the noise and pollution/trash, but I don't think those are the factors impacting visitor return rate. If the return rate is really an issue and the government wants to solve it, then they'll need to conduct a study that will give them solid empirical data to act on.
It annoyed me as i'm a resident here paying taxes and insurance etc but when i showed them my card they just laughed and seemingly put me into the tourist category. It's not common here typically so i was quite surprised to see it.
After many trips over the past 10 years my two post Covid visits were a little disappointing. There is a new air of aggressiveness ( a little understandable I guess after two years of Covid) but the footpath traffic has got considerably worse. I feel sure if I get killed by a motorbike it will be on the footpath and not the road. I guess the lack of tourists has just taken away a lot of the atmosphere. But it’s still a wonder how the rudest people on two wheels can turn into the friendliest people on two feet.
It's something that drives me crazy, bikes on the pavement. I had an argument with someone recently when i blocked them on their bike. I had my elderly mother with me and it could've been a bad accident.
Just got back from my 2nd visit from Vietnam in the last 6 months. Started in Da Nang really enjoyed the city. People friendly. Stayed then in a village halfway to Hus ( near larguna resort) and then up to Hanoi. Good points . Friendly people .. The strong coffee ( although I prefer * a flat white) And the culture. Enjoyed the laud back lifestyle of the rural lifestyle. What I did not like. The visual pollution how the locals thinking dumping rubbish is a good thing I do not understand. Everything is just thrown on the ground it was such a major put off!. The traffic can be extreme. But they learn to ride motorbikes at young age. Smoking inside restaurants and the high rate of smoking .pre covid I travelled more to Thailand. But went to Vietnam for a wedding. And loved it. A Tip . Westerners tourists are very rude and demanding at the fake markets. I went as a bit of fun and really enjoyed the interaction with the stall holders . Those tourists who haggle over a saving off a few $ . Do not take it seriously . And million $ question...would I go back. YES .
Awesome review, thanks Gary. I think the pros outweigh the cons, my family always love it when they come here especially the people and the food. Plastic and general litter/pollution is an increasingly big problem though and needs looking at.
Double-charging in respect of gate-entry charges and separate restaurant menus for locals and foreigners are definite, clear turn-offs for me. One more thing. My family and I got scammed in HCMC by the trishaws. They showed us their cardboard prices in VND and we agreed. On alighting us off some 100m away, a people-less area, from where we were supposed to get off, they demanded their fees be paid in USD with a different cardboard depicting all in USD, and atrociously far from, originally, their pre-ride VND cardboard prices!
I guess this boils down to cultural difference - if you are a westerner (in the eyes of the locals) you are ‘rich’ and thus fair game to different prices - you can theoretically, at least, afford it. This grates with the (especially anglosphere) concept of ‘fairness’. Can you imagine charging ‘foreigner’ prices in England or Australia as an example? Ultimately it’s probably not good business practice to rip off foreigners - they don’t like it and it will eventually ruin that part of the economy so it’s better to try and stamp it out for long term sustainability.
Been to Hanoi once and will never go back. People are mean, impulsive, and blatantly rude. The city is scarily dirty 😅 the noise pollution from cars and bikes honking, the smokes everywhere, and trash everywhere are just horrendous, real nightmare! Got scammed, obviously. What’s the point of zebra crossing any way if we can’t use it lol. The only good thing about VN is a cheap price, that’s all. No wonder not so many tourists return to VN.
I don't think the overcharging is a scam per-se, it's just a blatant rip-off. I love Vietnam and lived there for several years but this is something which used to really annoy me. Thankfully I can speak enough Vietnamese to now challenge it, and always do when I feel I'm getting the "western" price
If I want to go to US at the USA embassy they ask me several questions. If I want to study at s university because I am foreigner I have to pay more. Those prices are not any problem to me.
I only agree with you about the scam, but it's up to you to let it happen, you always prepare and careful where ever you go, don't expect the government of the countries you visit make it completely safe for all tourists, travel with your common sense, open heart and open arm, you will enjoy wherever you go 😀
It's very true-have to keep your wits about you whenever you travel. It helps though if people can give good info. about stuff though, which i try to do here.
Just got back from VN. It is great country to visit. Can't agree more regarding Visa. Such a pain when you want to stay over a month. Since I wanted to travel to the far East for more than a month, I ended up went to Thailand for another 2 weeks before heading home. Fingers crossed, the GOV will change the Visa policy sooooon. As I saw lot of hotels are struggling to get filled up. Regarding food prices. I never saw it when i was over there. But it is good to know. Saying that, when I was in EU (some countries), I was charged €40.00 for 2 ice-creams. Might you, there was no price on the menu so got scammed badly. Looks like a common scam everywhere. At least in VN they tell you before hand. 🙂 Regarding traffic, I new it before I went so there was so surprises for me. Still would love to go back when Visa policy is changed, foods are so great, people are so friendly.
In Thailand, the prize for museum and temples for Thais especially Thai students is lower than that for foreigners because they want to encourage Thais to learn about their own history and culture. The prize for national park, hotel and restaurant will be the same between Thais and foreigners.
I’ve been living and working in Vietnam for 6 months and I have a on and off relationship to Vietnam 🇻🇳 Positives: very cheap cost of living, easy access for work and breathtaking natural beauty sites. Negatives: I find the people quite rude and stand-off ish, bad traffic in big cities, air pollution is terrible and the noise. I’m glad I’m currently experiencing Vietnam and my contract ends in January 2024 but my heart and love is with Thailand and Malaysia 🇲🇾 🇹🇭
Well said-i think most people would be similar. The ones that tend to stay either get married or really enjoy their work so stick it out. I've never really got used to the noise and up here in Da Nang it's even worse. It's like people shout at each other when they talk at all times, finding peace can be tricky.
I'm Malaysian why visitors revisit again to malaysia here few reasons, 1 ) mistake on plan, during the first visit time allocated too less time , many case 3 to 5 days after their here visitors find out morething to do. 2 ) KL is connect hud for airline n cheap flight like airasia , a lot them came n go . 3 ) food their enjoy the food here , chinese , malay n indian
Love Vietnam,I would love come more often and stay longer but the visa is a major bugbear,definitely not long enough 3 month visa for free would be perfect,come on guys paying for visas is long gone.
I think it'll return at some point in the near future. Not sure if the conditions will be the same as before though. Lots of audits at the moment apparently.
Vietnam is dangerous? You mean, the Vietnamese just don’t like Chinese people for a very good reason and 40% of Bangkok population are Chinese. Thats the reason but not that Vietnam is dangerous.
Is that a new platform for bashing on Vietnam and comparing apple with pears (Vietnam vs Thailand)? I love both countries, and i speak both language fluently and i can tell i get scammed in both countries as well. Thai people maybe sweeter or softer what makes them providing good hospitality but as mentioned many times before Vietnam is not much in need for international tourism like Thailand which tourism is around 65% of their total GDP. I don‘t say Vietnam don’t need tourism but i think we can’t compare both countries with total different histories. Vietnams economic is growing very fast in in all sections, for e.g Vietnam surpasses Philippines GDP per capita last year and soon will surpass the next Asean country, unlike Thailand which economy rely mostly on tourism and their political situation isn’t stable the past 15 years. That’s why i don’t agree with this Vietnam bashing comments on your page.
I agree there's a lot of negative comments here about VN. I try to paint a balanced picture of things here-VN isn't for everyone though, it's a unique place with both good and bad.
Noisy are both, Thailand and Vietnam. In Vietnamese traffic they always beep, in Thailand they have crazy loud tuned exhausts, especially motorcycles. Also many construction areas. Plus loud bars and parties. In Thailand foreigners pay up to 10 times higher entrance fees than Thais. Taxi scams and 2 price menus you also have often. In the city centers in both countries it´s clean. Outside often crazy dirty. In both countries they are driving like idiots. Perhaps more in Vietnam, but they are driving slowly. In Thailand they drive fast and they rarely wear helmets on their motorbikes. The statistics stated that in Thailand much more people die per capita in traffic than in Vietnam. Yes, the visa is imho the main reason not to come often. If you travel from far away Europe, you want to spend more than 15 days without annoying visa paperwork. Thai food is (for me) much much better. Me and my Thai wife think that Vietnamese food is bland. Thais speak a much better English. So often we had communication problems, even in hotels, when we travelled to Vietnam for 2 weeks last months. Thais are more friendly. The first what some Vietnamese said when they found out that we are living in Thailand (Chiang Mai) and they have been in Thailand: "The Thais are soooo friendly, always smiling. I loved that". Vietnamese are not unfriendly, but a few levels under Thai friendliness.
Some good points. I found the traffic overall quieter in Bangkok, i certainly didn't miss the incessant beeping that you get here, but i agree they drive really fast there.
Brother ,,,, forest are run by GOVT without any AID ,,,,,,forest keeping,,,rangers,,,and all kind of maintenance n salaries are paid through VISITOR'S MONEY ,,,, thats why they charge DOUBLE infact you can experience this here in INDIA 🇮🇳 love your videos 💖 ,,,i got scammed multiple times even by GOVERNMENT OFFICIALs 🙏JAY HIND
Yep-i wouldn't mind making a donation but when the it's dual pricing and other issues where there's no choice i think it sucks and gives a bad impression to visitors.
I'm Vietnamese. I've visited Tokyo twice, South Korea 6 times, and never in Vietnam. I plan on going visit the fatherland but very disappointing to hear how they double charge foreigners... and not mention animal cruelty.
I've been here for a while. But yesterday a moto guy convinced a friend of mine to take a ride with her. He took her to a restaurant where he compelled her to eat pork. Against her beliefs. Don't ask me. But then he took her to a dank neighborhood. She ended up paying for the restaurant and an exorbitant amount for the moto. Guy ruined her trip. She'll never return. She was real shook up. I don't ride motos so....but I definitely wouldn't advide riding unless you ordered rideshare. You see vendors selling grab jackets so unless you ordered a ride dude is a scammer. Compared to phnom penh it's pretty clean. They lay on the horns too much. But it's still a nice place. Just use common sense a take a car. Look at the mangled people around. A car is worth an extra buck or two. And yes the visa policy sucks. I'm leaving soon because I'm sick of it.
Vietnam is far better than Thailand for me. The #1 most important difference is that in Thailand 30% of vehicles have intentionally super loud mufflers. Thailand is three times louder than Vietnam everywhere and it's impossible to escape the cacophony of ghetto vehicles. #2 most coffee shops in Bangkok are Starbucks, the international culture destruction virus. #3 most Thai food is inedible without reducing the pepper spice. You have to remember to ask and at many places you simply can't get it mild. #4 Phuket Thailand is completely unnavigable by taxi which is a Mafia controlled scam that costs you $10-30 a day!!! and grab is no better. Vietnam has affordable and safe travel options. #5 Vietnam roads are three times more congested than Thailand but safer to drive on because Vietnamese aren't insecure and aggressive with their vehicles. Thai cars are commonly modified in poor taste with mag wheels, lowered suspension, and 100% tint even on windshields - so ghetto!
Interesting points. I think traffic is more polite in Thailand in that they tend to yield at junctions more, don't drive on the pavements and don't blast the horns as much. But they do drive very fast and like you said have a liking for the loud exhausts! I really like Samui & Ko Tao although haven't been for many years.
@@expatnam motorcycles drive on pedestrian paths in Thailand although maybe not as often. Thai motorcycle drivers completely ignore red lights and crosswalk signs even when people are crossing unless a traffic cop has a flag out directing traffic. The main difference is that Vietnamese have modest and practical motorbikes that look and sound appropriate. Thai love ghetto culture car and motorcycle mods that a 14 year old in the West would think was cool. They are purposefully obnoxious and disruptive - some 30% of motor vehicles are like this.
Personally i find it a bit discriminatory. I don't think people should be treated differently anywhere just because they are foreign or for whatever reason, sends a bad message. It was the Vietnamese group i was with that actually pointed it out, they were very annoyed about it and felt a bit embarrassed.
I hate stupid comments like this. The gap has NOTHING to do with my wallet and what I have earned and what I spend. My wallet is here to take on any GAP for any country. Just stupid comment.
why i can not return to Vietnam? because vietnam create a list of 80 country citizens who can apply for Evisa, non of them from Africa, the correct question is why vietnam is a racist country?
I got the bad experience while I was in Vietnam . Last 3 years , me myself had a business trip to Ho Chi Minh City for a few days . Firstly the taxi driver over charged me triple time from the normal price , not double but triple ( my co-worker who stationed at Vietnam gave to me this info) . Secondly one of my wallet had been stolen while I walked by a side walk , I lost my credit cards and 1,300 USD , luckily I divided my sum into two separated wallets . When I was there , I always feel like people there tried to take advantage from me compared to the others cities in Southeast Asia , that why I told myself , no more Vietnam.
Sorry to hear that Raj. I've not experienced that myself but i can see how it could happen.
Scammer is everywhere in paris, london, newyork and some united states too,even some united states have high crime rate than vn and traffic concident in united states also higher than vn ,just western media dont show it (hide it)... So why people still go to paris , New York,london...???
No welcome
My Thai friend got SALIVA split and shout from the seller eventhough he politely rejected to buy the product. That's his first trip experience in Vietnam and he never wants to go back again. That is so much far different from traveling in Thailand.
That doesn't sound good...
Sorry for the bad behaviors. I am Vietnamese. I faced to the similar situations twice. There is a part of low educated people in Vietnam whom I am very unpleasant to communicate with.
as a Vietnamese, I do agree with what you say, the environment needs to improve. I feel like the government didn't care much about it, also scammers and people lie to the tourists about the prices of the items. I feel embarrassed for those who did that
It would be good if the government did a campaign making people more environmentally aware etc. I think the economy is their no.1 priority right now however.
Having been to Vietnam about 10 times between 1996 and 2019 I have to say that your analysis is spot on. The constant horns, loud motorbikes and construction noise do not take long to grate on your nerves and make you wish for some peace and quiet. Another thing is that Vietnam can feel very crowded, especially because Vietnamese people don't have the same personal space expectation as people from other countries. Despite all of that, I do love going to Vietnam. One of the things that I tell people at home in the U.S. that shocks them is that I feel more free in VN than I do in America.
Before Covid, I traveled to Vietnam. Got scammed by locals 3 times and made me not want to go again.
Sorry to hear that
An interesting topic and video. Having only visited Thailand, (more than once) I asked my brother who has visited both countries how they compare. His reply was he felt the experience in Thailand was warmer and more welcoming. He had "done" Vietnam and didn't really feel a need to go back. He has so far been to Thailand 3 times compared to 1 trip to Vietnam. I will still visit Vietnam myself sometime and keep an open mind prior. No country is perfect.
Vietnam still has a lot to offer for sure and i'd definitely recommend it. Thailand's a great spot however, feels a bit more modern now but still holds all the charms of Asia imo.
@@expatnam Have you ever been to pai , Nakornpanom , chiang rai , Phangnga , Kanchanaburi , Ubonratchathani in Thailand?
As someone who is living in North-Vietnam I never experienced real scams. On a farmers market where everything is up to negotiations I might get charged higher prices due to my limited Vietnamese communication skills. But at the end of the day the price level is still quite low and in general I experience the people in Vietnam as authentically friendly and supportive. I am not familiar with South-Vietnam. Things might be different there.
I went to Thailand and got double charge as foreigner as well. Like less than 5 min taxi and he charged me $95. I am Asian and looks like Thai but I don’t speak Thai.
Thailand does seem to double charge more than Vietnam i think. I tend to avoid the taxis there and just use bolt or grab these days, or better yet the bts/mrt and walking.
I look Thai and i speak Thai and i got double charged too even tho i visit Thailand almost every year.
It is illegal not to use meter. If you call 1155 tourist police you will get 10% or 30% reward I can’t remember for that taxi’s fine.
Thanks for the video. It's helpful. I will visit next year for work.
Thanks, I'm sure you'll have a great time. 👍
As a Vietnamese working in the tourism industry (both hotels & TAs), most tourism practices here are just very predatory. Guides are pushing their clients to buy overpriced souvenirs, lots of travel destinations are just based on the initial shock or wow factor to get people excited to see the place for 5 minutes then leave (the golden bridge on Bana Hills is a great example), lots of unsustainable pratice & lots of scams. To be honest, travelling around in big cities got be very nervous, even though I'm native here, and that I speak the language as well as know the culture. So I can easily see why return rates are so low.
The real gems are the hidden sights in the mountains, the beaches on the central coastline, and the amazing widelife in the Mekong Delta. Sadly, scammy sights like the train street or the golden bridge (if you're asking, yes that's the bridge with the hands) are the ones that get promoted the most.
I am malaysian. Even malaysians love thailand. Lol. Not because my country is not beautiful but it is economical to travel to south thailand eg phuket, koh lipe. Accommodation is good too. Basically it boils down to people(less scammers), varieties of food, personal safety, less noise, better traffic management. To be honest once you get over ban mi, coffee, pho, springrolls, thailand and malaysia have more varieties although our food is spicy. For malaysians, it is expensive to visit indochina. Malaysia gives 3 months visa at no charge to certain countries. Few wildlife in vietnam(exclude zoo and safari). Anyone documented their marine eco system? Also medical treatment is world class in malaysia at lower cost similar to thailand.
some good points for sure.
@@expatnam just stating facts. Not trying to put down anyone. Did you see anyone going underwater documenting marine life in vietnam (eg did the late french jacque cousteau do that?) I saw vlogs on marine life in thailand, malaysia, phillipines, indonesia. Minus out safari in phu quoc, did anyone document wildlife in the jungle? Eg rhino, elephants, tigers, pangolins, tapirs, birds, crocs, different monkey species, different snake species. They probably took the snakes for medicine (blood drinking). Tourists or travelers may want to experience this. Not riding around on motorbikes in the mountains(not everyone likes that). Varieties is what travelers want. I mean ninh binh is beautiful, i agree. Sapa is unique i agree. Most westerners already seen great cities in the world. So hcm and hanoi is nothing special to them. Except perhaps hoi an. Sometimes it is not the visa issue but other factors. To have repeat visits there must be varieties, genuinely good people not after your atm, low cost which i find indochina is not the case as things are in usd equivalent yet they are developing countries where labour cost is not high. So this puzzled me a lot. Did the statitstic on the newspaper determine why thailand and malaysia have high repeat visitors. I gave some points already as a malaysian.
The newspapers tend to allude to the reasons i mentioned such as trash, scamming and poor service. One of the bigger issues here is there tends to be a preference for money today and not the future, so things like repeat business and customer service is low.
@@expatnam trash is found everywhere in asia except singapore. Even some parts of malaysia has trash issue. Waste management and education is below western standard. What i worry most is sea trash washing ashore in remote islands. That is already a reality on our islands. That is why the ocean cleanup started their projects in south east asia, then central america. Latest is california. While the pacific garbage patch is being cleaned up.
It's worrying for sure. I know Europe used to send a lot of it's garbage to the philippines as well-not sure if they still do. They should def. ban plastic bags and plastic in general here, it's an easy move and would make a huge difference so i'm not sure why that doesn't get put into place.
Been to VN once and don't think I will ever go back. Negative experience from day one. Most of stuffs are not priced, you need to ask and bargain , which of course more expensive for tourist. Locals are not friendly don't know why.... sometime I felt that I had to ask to be served. When there was a problem, no one was trying to help.
I checked into a small hotel, nothing near the advertised photos but I though it was only for 2 nights so, this won't hurt. The next day, when I walked back to the hotel I was approached by a staff who said I had to move to a different room. The reason was that they did me a favour by upgrading me to another room last night. According to them, the room I booked for was not available but the next day it was, so I had to move. Nothing was communicated to me whatsoever, except the staff at the counter said "You Move" to me repeatedly. He literally yelled at me. He even came up to the room and stood by the door to make sure I moved my stuffs. The room I moved to was exactly the same except there were 2 single beds instead of a queen one. That was just one example, but there were many more during my 2 days stay. Sorry VN, more need to be done if you want tourist to go back.
True and very sadly. Thank you for sharing.
I’ve just come back from Ho Chi Ming and would never go back! The scammers are everywhere and you get hassle everywhere.. the pollution is awful and the traffic is the worst I’ve ever experienced. I found the people to be rude and aggressive. Don’t waste your time and money here and go to Thailand and Cambodia instead 😊
food hygiene is also contributing why tourist not returning in numbers.On my last three trips to vietnam I had minor
food poisoning.
Sorry to hear that. I don't eat the street food often for that reason and cook at home mostly. People often tell me it's ok but there's no real food safety training here and a lot of the street sellers don't even have fridges so you can imagine the risk especially if you're not used to it.
I plan a solo visit to Vietnam early next year. Although I know online companies charge a fees incorporated in the price of tours for booking excursions, would this be more cost feasible to booking the tours at the hotels? I will be flying into Da Nang.
When my family visit they always tend to book tours from outside the country-it annoys me but they love the service and peace of mind of having everything laid out for them and having a nice guide waiting when they arrive etc. It depends a lot on you. You will save quite a bit booking stuff here locally but you'll have to walk around and bargain/find what you like etc. Horses for courses...
Those were all valid reasons for why I would be discouraged to visit Vietnam….thanks for addressing them….In order for change to happen, someone’s gotta talk about them and bring awareness to them
I agree. There does need to be some change but it seems that change can be very slow here sometimes.
Changes and progress for vietnamese people not need for foreigners. Do you guys know there might be a big quantity of Africans and South Americans waiting for the 3 month visa to work illegally? Also a lot of Muslims. And native speakers who are drug Addicts, feminists, BLM woke gays murderers. It is good to keep away that for good!
I lived/worked in Sai Gon, Bien Hoa and Chon Thanh for several years; all of the points that you mentioned were on the money and are definitely factors in (especially) tourists not wanting to make a return journey. Those non-Viets who like the weather and the people of Viet Nam invariably adapt and adjust to the daily life there.
Spot on. I think you can find your 'niche' long-term and a quieter place. But for tourists it's tricky.
@@expatnam I'll return early next year and hope the visa period extends while I'm looking for employment. Thanks!
@@eagleman1542 What employment do you hope to find there?
I've been twice to VN and hope to be back in December . It occurs to me that tourism seems to be a minor consideration there . Many of the attractions like cable cars and connected attractions are so well patronised by locals that I don't know that they care too much about the tourist factor . Also the language is really tricky ...lots of tones to learn as well as the words , unlike Thai for instance that a few basics can be learnt quite quickly . And last the present visa situation as mentioned , having to do visa runs every 30 days !
Ah well ...mustn' t grumble🐬
What's the problem with visa run? You have 30 days and then go to Cambodia. People want to work illegally in Vietnam teaching English.
@@pedrojulio1960 Then they aren’t tourists are they?
Ya whats the problem? Vietnamese is like Thai, both language are tonal and both use 5 tones. And 30 days for vacation are quite enough for average vacation since most people travelling around 3 weeks in southeast Asia. Unless you are jobless or retired
Thanks for the video, I've been to Vietnam twice and hoping the Vietnamese government changes the visas to 3 months or more.
Thailand has 5 year and 10 year visas but you must be able to prove your financially able to live in Thailand
I think a retirement visa is on the horizon here, just a matter of when not if. I don't think the admin side of things is modern enough yet to facilitate it however. Each town has it's own wards/divisions/administration etc etc and i'm not sure in reality how interconnected the gov systems are. Once things become a bit more digitised and centralised then maybe we might see it here...
I'll be back for a 3rd visit very soon. I agree those issues are real. But the people and food keep me coming back. Question: Do you recommend the ferry, bus, or private car with driver to go from HCMC to Vung Tau for a few days?
Sure, i think the pros outweigh the cons but maybe not for everyone. It depends how you like to travel! The Greenlines ferry will take you to VT in about 2.5 hrs on a fast boat from the river in d1. I like this option as it's a good experience. The VIP minibuses are also good and very regular from d1, around $10 or so each way and nice seating etc/fast-but a little dangerous as they drive super fast. Private driver is also good, maybe $50 or so each way but convenient and comfortable. These days i tend to go by boat. greenlines-dp.com/
We moved into our neighborhood here in DaNang. Took me a month to get used to the caged barking dog next door, 2-3 roosters, people flying down the alley honking the whole way, karaoke, construction, drilling, metal work, so forth. But we love it. I'll take the noise over the stress any day. We live in Son Tra outside of the tourist area so not too many problems with scammers over here yet. Still haven't gotten used to the trash. You'll be in an absolute pristine area with mounds of garbage. I think there needs to be a cultural shift and perhaps they need to start educating the kids at an early age. Love your videos.
Noise here has been the biggest issue for me so far. I really wasn't expecting it to be noisier than Saigon but my current place just isn't peaceful at all. My friend has suggested Son Tra Ocean View as a quieter spot and good value so i'll check it out.
I also have a bad experience in Hanoi on my first day there. I met taxi scams at The Airport. A Vietnamese woman tried to prostitute me while I was walking on the street.
Sorry to hear that
Went to Sapa, we had an interruption every 2 mins.asking taxi, taxi selling things and following us, it was so uncomfortable and annoyed.
I've heard it's gone a bit touristy and tacky in parts up there now. A real shame
I have been planning to travel to Vietnam in a few months, and found this video interesting. Doesn't really put me off because there is nothing I heard about in this video that is not rampant in India where I am from. Hehe. I will come!
Have fun!
The main reasons to attract tourists in Vietnam is political stability, no terrorism, shootings.
Yes, some good points for sure.
Only 5% of tourists to Vietnam return! I find that figure staggering. I wonder how accurate that figure is. The people I talk to here have a pretty positive attitude toward holidaying in Vietnam with the exception of one person who hated Vietnamese food. Takes all kinds I guess. Maybe I'm weird but I much prefer Vietnam to Thailand. Then again I don't do many touristy things. Vietnam's economy is doing pretty well so they don't have the same pressure to extend visas as say the Thais.
My family always love it here when they visit, but I can see why some people would get annoyed/frustrated with some of the things here.
Sory , VN not ready for travel
Vietnam in general just doesn't have any business or civic ethics. It's a free for all attitude that put people from civilised society off
Unfortunately there's a lot truth in what you're saying.
I mean I get what you‘re saying. But this civilised vs uncivilised society argument has such a colonial ring to it man
Maybe due to communist thinking
@@josh_hen_har3377 Japan is a lot more cleaner, civil and honest than it's neighbors and it isn't racist to point it out it's just reality. The one exception I found was it's treatment of dolphins and whales. That was appalling.
What an ignorant comment. Let me guess Viet-Kieu and now bashing on “Communist Vietnam” ?
I must be in the 5% then. In fact I am looking forward to returning to Vietnam in June. I sometimes wonder if the major airline airfares put people off returning to Vietnam. Often it can be cheaper to fly to Bangkok or Kuala Lumpur than HCMC or Hanoi. With that in mind, people then tend to go to those countries to travel, even if they have been before. The National Park fees which charge foreigners more in Vietnam also applies in Thailand (which irks me) I also agree about the construction noise and eyesore pollution Vietnam has. I have been to Vietnam quite a few times and the construction industry baffles me whether it be building or road construction. You'll see mile after mile of deserted, partially completed building sites rather than concentrating on each one at at time. This also applies in road construction. Random bridges or half completed roads with not a worker in sight doesn't make for an aesthetically pleasing view.
Airlines have been slow to put on flights here and seem to be concentrating on busier hubs like Bangkok at the moment. The construction arena here is a mystery, but no doubt plagued with corruption and all sorts of antics resulting in unfinished projects and money running out etc.
I totally agree! I was scammed at the airport. We arrived at 10:45pm and didn’t get to leave until 12am so our ride didn’t show up so I asked a taxi driver and he charged $40. And asked for tip. Normally the ride to the airport is a little over $10 dollars. We was tired and didn’t have SIM card nor do we know any application for grab. I highly suggest a getting a SIM card and download grabs application. It’ll be very helpful when you arrive in late night. Happy New Year!!!!
Juts flew back into Saigon last night, unfortunately the fake Grabs and taxis are still everywhere. When will they sort this out??
Vietnamese earn less and I agree they should not have to pay as much to tour their own country. Here in Australia we can’t even afford to holiday in our own country. 5k in the same state (2 hour flight) for 3 people for 10 days. 2k for a house boat for 3 nights an hour and a half away. Will be the last time we holiday in our own country. Citizens should be given discounts.
To be fair I have experienced and seen plenty of the same happen in London so its not new.
It really what you want out of life there. I live there most of the year. It's not perfect but where is. The states doesn't have it. The visa issue is a nuisance but it gives you chances to explore. I much happier here than there.
Very true. On the balance of things i prefer it here but as i get older some things do start to bother me a bit more. The grass is always greener i suppose...
Will be going to vietnam in 2 weeks , due to the visa issue will only stay the one month and spend our time and money in adjacent countries for the other 3 months of our winter vacation.
I'm sure you'll enjoy your time here. Hopefully they will improve the visa situation here soon.
And this is why Vietnam is missing out on those tourist dollars.
Vietnam is not structured for tourists, in fact there is very little structure anywhere. It's like the wild west but all that artificial excitement gets old very fast.
From the time tourists arrive at the International airport station where they are riddled with scammers, and there’s a complete lack of standardized ride services, whether it be taxis, Ubers, Grab or other such ride services. If you want a Grab Bike, you have to walk from the International Flight Station to the Domestic Flight Station which is a good 10 minutes walk if you know what you're doing. Most don't unless you have done it before. Grab Bikes are not allowed in the International Station. And it’s basically an absolute comedy trying to find your driver once you are in the Domestic area where you are allowed to order a Grab Bike. Especially if you do not speak Vietnamese. As I have said, there is a complete lack of structure.
Vietnam is like the wild west where rules don't apply to anyone unless you upset the wrong person with power, then it gets really bad.
Garbage is rampant, even in the nicer neighborhoods. My apartment building, which is a high-end building in District 7, does not even have a standardized garbage system. Oddly enough, they do for compost and recycling, but not for garbage. Tenants have been instructed to throw their garbage outside. Wonder what board members were smoking that day when they signed off on that imbecilic snippet of a regulation?
Driving is an insanity journey into the crazy house of stupidity. This is where the wild west reaches way down into the chamber of nasty turbulent violence. It has its charm in the beginning, until you get hit by one the dwellers in the crazy house of stupidity.
Oh, and if all this was not enough to charm the pants off of any tourist, well then, there is food poisoning. The most glamorous of all manner of disgusting irritants. I have lived all over the world, and nowhere have I experienced as much food poisoning as in Vietnam. Bravo Vietnam for being #1 at something.
Aside from all this nonsense, what does Vietnam have to offer tourists? I mean what special or specific experience does Vietnam have that Thailand or Indonesia for that matter does not? I would not include China, because that’s like hell wrapped in a spurious smile.
Vietnam has been notorious for enjoying its veneer of isolation, and pride in its country.
All good points and i can relate to them all. It's strange how many issues are not addressed, e.g banning plastic bags at shops would be a good start and easy to implement as the plastic issue is really bad here but it's just ignored. Unfortunately as you know due to the politics of the country there is no pressure from any opposition type party so there is a degree of omnipotence and lack of urgency to address things.
Yeah, I agree. I believe tourism is not a big interest for the government may take a huge part for this. There are a lot of discussion of how to improve it just like others tourist attraction but they all got turned down.
Very true. I just made a video talking a bit more about this and will post it soon.
Awesome channel bro!
Appreciate it!
Great video
Thanks
I love Vietnam but being one of the first returning tourists in May 2022 was a shock. So many chancers out to scam you simply because you were the first European they had seen on the streets since covid. Xe om's dying to get tips, price hikes for non locals on stalls, and a sense that things were more desperate than pre pandemic. Hoping for things to have calmed down a bit in the past year.
I loved the country and the people. I left a month before thet closed the country in 2020. I loved living in Phu My Hung. Quiet, less trash and traffic. Not many westerners but that can be a good thing.
It's a good spot for sure. Seems to be absolutely full of Koreans now however
From stats from back in 2019, it was found tourist that visited North VN first typically return to Vietnam.. Tll the fun is in the south though ha ha
I have found personally andwith others i know after a decade in VN almost and growing up in a VNese culture
MOST tourist do NOT see the bad or at most just accept it as part of the adventure. Those that live tend to feel these things, 7 years is that golden number MOST tend to leave as well
Vietnam is a factory country, its culture is based about owning more than the guy next door and the gov at any means will take everything for themselves
It was wild during CVD lock downs America and Austlira send millions to VN gov to help and out of all the people i know local and gov level that money never went out side a yellow building unless it was for a new car...
Communism is fun
Yes, yes and YES. It's actually bothering me more and more the longer i stay and contribute to the country.
@@expatnam Yeah it does, but make the best of it, invest, build youtube, start a small business..The teacher business i saw burned out almost every one i knew..its crazy
Thank you for your video. first time I heard a lots from Vietnamese in social networks that Vietnam is the greatest country in SEA. Have a plan but will check again for sure. Thanks. ❤
definitely worth a trip
I know what you are saying. The government actually acknowledges that fact - that they have low "return tourist visits." They are aware and finding ways how to address the issue. Vietnam is a very export oriented economy. Their 2022 exports have overtaken their neighbors (due to transfer of factories from China). Their economy is actually now more or less, larger or approximately the same as Philippines/ Malaysia/ Singapore. Their efforts are on how to grow their economy fast. The service sector (tourism) is not as developed compare to other ASEAN countries. I worked in Vietnam and stayed there for 7 years though this was around 8 years ago. It is not easy. At that time, technical skills have to be developed on the fly. I can imagine how it is in 2023. They are experiencing growth pains.
It's still similar in that advanced technical skills are still not common so there's reliance on 'foreign' expertise. It's a shame that's there's no apprenticeship type programmes here or things like that to train the local workforce. What i see is anyone with money or connections sends their kids to private school, said kids then depart overseas once they get to 16 or so. Brain drain is real.
@@expatnam When I read about Vietnam's fantastic trade growth, if you are an outsider, it will seem mind boggling and amazing. But for me who has worked there, I can visualize how things are behind the scenes. Skilled people may be are neck deep in work - and stress. Ha ha. And with explosive trade growth, maybe explosive growth also of ehem . . .inventory pilferage. 😆😉
I think the 30 day Visa will continue but there will be an option to extend (for a higher price), without doing a border run
It will be interesting to see how it plays out. Hopefully things won't take as long as the monorail!
Awesome video 🔥🔥🔥
Never been to VN and not interested to be honest. Why? I met young Vietnamese professionals here in Bkk and they are so arrogant. Also most of their tourist attractions can be found in other SEA so why bother risking ourselves to scam and humiliations.
I feel sorry for your bad experience. You know that it exists a part of low educated in Vietnam and they seem to make the people including Vietnamese feel unpleasant.
Is it the same in Thailand? You only take driving test at the DMV. That’s why people can drive quite shitty or super slow.
I enjoy your channel Chris. Good length of vlogs and packed with useful insights. I'm one of the 5 per cent and currently here on my seventh visit in eleven years and would have been more were it not for COVID. I'm recently retired and would like to spend a long time in Vietnam so right now the current visa policy is the greatest irritation for me. I've always been dismayed at the prevalence of garbage lying around all over the country and disappointed that after visiting over more than a decade nothing has changed in that regard. Traffic? Well yes, you definitely need your wits about you, especially driving/riding on county roads. Email sent.
Thanks Ed.
The air pollution and effect on my health I experienced in Hanoi has made me never want to visit that part again.
Hanoi is particularly bad for air quality unfortunately...
🕵 Hawai'i has slightly cheaper local Kama'aina (residential) rates for some tours, activities, and attractions too but NOT usually for food though there are special occasions and exceptions. The idea is to encourage locals to do more things that tourists generally do. But *to qualify for these lower rates, you have to show a valid local ID* for verification. The same goes with colleges and universities who have almost always charged extra for non residents, out of state students.
My take on it, is Vietnam is the first place I visited which did not ring alarm bells, for me. I lived in China very early, but then left after just about a year (before meeting someone appropriate) After China I lived in and visited a number of countries, but all of them sort of rang alarm bells for me (including Thailand) But when I got to Vietnam, no alarms. At all. I met a nice girl and (blah blah blah). :) The thing is you need to be careful. But Vietnam has seemed about perfect for me. Just my .02
Thanks for the comment. I talk a lot about a 'feeling of freedom' here. I can't put my finger on it, but i do feel more like i'm left alone here compared to other places, so maybe similar to your observation about alarm bells..
I am going to hcmc first time for 6 nights in May 2023. Hope its ok
You'll have a great time i'm sure
There's no concept of reducing plastic waste in the country either. At the shops I always have my bag open and ready to take the item, yet every time they whip out a new plastic bag and try to give it to me. Most people automatically take whatever the cashier gives them too so there'd be a huge amount of waste that no one even wants or uses simply because of this culture of just always giving unnecessary plastics.
That's a bugbear of a lot of people here, sometimes i'll even get the same stuff put into 2 or 3 different bags! I think that's something Vietnam can address quite easily like most countries have now done, i.e stop using plastic bags.
Hi good 😊 afternoon liked your video. Learned the expensive way to see in vietnams nationality. These area of where they priced you high is not developed., Not organized just yet, maybelike that?? Anyway thanks andgodbless
Thanks for sharing
Thanks for the info. Take care!
Thanks Steve
I have been to Thailand 4 times for vacations and always enjoyed my time there and never had the desire to even visit Vietnam. It's just not on my bucket list. And I was born there
Thailand is always a great spot to visit. In fact it's a very popular holiday destination for Vietnamese now. I can see the hotels there are very busy for Tet in Jan already.
I've lived in USA for 30 years and yet only when I visit Vietnam that is when I can be my real self without worrying about what other people think about me. It's my motherland. I cannot get that feeling being anywhere else in the world.
vietnam was never on my radar. somehow I visited vietnam twice.
@@expatnam Why don't you leave VN and live in Thailland. Maybe, you'll be more happier
I'm not sure you should label visiting a national part that has a price for the locals and a different one for the foreigners as a "scam". Don't know how it is in the U.K., but here in the U.S. we have different green fee prices for public municipal golf courses, one for locals and one for non-locals. Same with the tuition for State Universities. Why? It's likely because the locals pay taxes, so they should get a break when visiting/attending places that use their tax dollars for maintenance and upkeep. I'm not saying there are no scams, but your example of the national park visit shouldn't be labeled as such. The other things you'd listed like noise and pollution/trash as a possible turn-off factor for returning tourists doesn't compute, because I'd venture to guess both Bali and Thailand also have those issues as well. Certainly Vietnam should work on the noise and pollution/trash, but I don't think those are the factors impacting visitor return rate. If the return rate is really an issue and the government wants to solve it, then they'll need to conduct a study that will give them solid empirical data to act on.
It annoyed me as i'm a resident here paying taxes and insurance etc but when i showed them my card they just laughed and seemingly put me into the tourist category. It's not common here typically so i was quite surprised to see it.
How come my visa last 5 years?
Probably a visa exemption through nationality/relatives or by marriage?
Pretty much all those annoyances apply to Thailand as well, not so sure why there is such a discrepancy between repeat visitors.
IMO Vietnam is a bit more rough around the edges compared to Thailand so it can put more people off returning.
After many trips over the past 10 years my two post Covid visits were a little disappointing. There is a new air of aggressiveness ( a little understandable I guess after two years of Covid) but the footpath traffic has got considerably worse. I feel sure if I get killed by a motorbike it will be on the footpath and not the road. I guess the lack of tourists has just taken away a lot of the atmosphere. But it’s still a wonder how the rudest people on two wheels can turn into the friendliest people on two feet.
It's something that drives me crazy, bikes on the pavement. I had an argument with someone recently when i blocked them on their bike. I had my elderly mother with me and it could've been a bad accident.
Why?
Thailand is cheaper than Vietnam
Malaysia is cheaper than Vietnam
r
For long term visitors visa's are the major problem having to leave every month and nothing in the way of retirement visa's costly and stressful
Yes sure. No retirement visa in sight yet and not much sign of the 3 months returning as of late
Just got back from my 2nd visit from Vietnam in the last 6 months.
Started in Da Nang really enjoyed the city. People friendly. Stayed then in a village halfway to Hus ( near larguna resort) and then up to Hanoi.
Good points .
Friendly people ..
The strong coffee ( although I prefer * a flat white)
And the culture.
Enjoyed the laud back lifestyle of the rural lifestyle.
What I did not like.
The visual pollution how the locals thinking dumping rubbish is a good thing I do not understand. Everything is just thrown on the ground it was such a major put off!.
The traffic can be extreme. But they learn to ride motorbikes at young age.
Smoking inside restaurants and the high rate of smoking
.pre covid I travelled more to Thailand.
But went to Vietnam for a wedding. And loved it.
A Tip . Westerners tourists are very rude and demanding at the fake markets.
I went as a bit of fun and really enjoyed the interaction with the stall holders . Those tourists who haggle over a saving off a few $ . Do not take it seriously .
And million $ question...would I go back.
YES .
Awesome review, thanks Gary. I think the pros outweigh the cons, my family always love it when they come here especially the people and the food. Plastic and general litter/pollution is an increasingly big problem though and needs looking at.
thank you for sharing this video
Thank I don't live in Vietnam
nor am I interested in going there!!
I never experienced anything WORSE THAN THE DEADFUL PHILIPPINES when it came to NON STOP NOISE!
Can you elaborate a bit? I've never been to the Philippines so i'm interested in how it compares..🤔
Double-charging in respect of gate-entry charges and separate restaurant menus for locals and foreigners are definite, clear turn-offs for me. One more thing. My family and I got scammed in HCMC by the trishaws. They showed us their cardboard prices in VND and we agreed. On alighting us off some 100m away, a people-less area, from where we were supposed to get off, they demanded their fees be paid in USD with a different cardboard depicting all in USD, and atrociously far from, originally, their pre-ride VND cardboard prices!
Yes you have to be careful of the cyclos in D1 for sure. Double pricing sucks, i hope it doesn't become too common here like in Thailand.
I guess this boils down to cultural difference - if you are a westerner (in the eyes of the locals) you are ‘rich’ and thus fair game to different prices - you can theoretically, at least, afford it.
This grates with the (especially anglosphere) concept of ‘fairness’. Can you imagine charging ‘foreigner’ prices in England or Australia as an example?
Ultimately it’s probably not good business practice to rip off foreigners - they don’t like it and it will eventually ruin that part of the economy so it’s better to try and stamp it out for long term sustainability.
Agreed.
Been to Hanoi once and will never go back. People are mean, impulsive, and blatantly rude. The city is scarily dirty 😅 the noise pollution from cars and bikes honking, the smokes everywhere, and trash everywhere are just horrendous, real nightmare! Got scammed, obviously. What’s the point of zebra crossing any way if we can’t use it lol. The only good thing about VN is a cheap price, that’s all. No wonder not so many tourists return to VN.
I don't think the overcharging is a scam per-se, it's just a blatant rip-off. I love Vietnam and lived there for several years but this is something which used to really annoy me. Thankfully I can speak enough Vietnamese to now challenge it, and always do when I feel I'm getting the "western" price
It's not something that i've experienced all that often here but recently as a tourist i really noticed it.
If I want to go to US at the USA embassy they ask me several questions. If I want to study at s university because I am foreigner I have to pay more. Those prices are not any problem to me.
Thanks for sharing 👍
Thanks for watching
I only agree with you about the scam, but it's up to you to let it happen, you always prepare and careful where ever you go, don't expect the government of the countries you visit make it completely safe for all tourists, travel with your common sense, open heart and open arm, you will enjoy wherever you go 😀
It's very true-have to keep your wits about you whenever you travel. It helps though if people can give good info. about stuff though, which i try to do here.
Thailand is top
Your video has half a million views on Thai chanel, Thai people love to see foreigners talking bad about Vietnam,lol
Ye i saw that, crazy. That channel will make a lot of money from that.
Most scams are avoidable. Prices higher for foreigners, don't pay. Menus too.if you pay it you are supporting the practice.
It's true. Although where i was a few weeks ago in the countryside there was no alternatives..
Haven't mad shitty people in Da Nang, is Da Nang considered a very friendly city?
Just got back from VN. It is great country to visit.
Can't agree more regarding Visa. Such a pain when you want to stay over a month. Since I wanted to travel to the far East for more than a month, I ended up went to Thailand for another 2 weeks before heading home. Fingers crossed, the GOV will change the Visa policy sooooon. As I saw lot of hotels are struggling to get filled up.
Regarding food prices. I never saw it when i was over there. But it is good to know. Saying that, when I was in EU (some countries), I was charged €40.00 for 2 ice-creams. Might you, there was no price on the menu so got scammed badly. Looks like a common scam everywhere. At least in VN they tell you before hand. 🙂
Regarding traffic, I new it before I went so there was so surprises for me.
Still would love to go back when Visa policy is changed, foods are so great, people are so friendly.
Thanks for your comment Bill.
In Thailand, the prize for museum and temples for Thais especially Thai students is lower than that for foreigners because they want to encourage Thais to learn about their own history and culture. The prize for national park, hotel and restaurant will be the same between Thais and foreigners.
Scamming number 1 reason
I’ve been living and working in Vietnam for 6 months and I have a on and off relationship to Vietnam 🇻🇳
Positives: very cheap cost of living, easy access for work and breathtaking natural beauty sites.
Negatives: I find the people quite rude and stand-off ish, bad traffic in big cities, air pollution is terrible and the noise.
I’m glad I’m currently experiencing Vietnam and my contract ends in January 2024 but my heart and love is with Thailand and Malaysia 🇲🇾 🇹🇭
Well said-i think most people would be similar. The ones that tend to stay either get married or really enjoy their work so stick it out. I've never really got used to the noise and up here in Da Nang it's even worse. It's like people shout at each other when they talk at all times, finding peace can be tricky.
sorry for the trouble! maybe Vietnam is not ready for tourists.
I think things will take a while to get back to normal after covid
I'm Malaysian why visitors revisit again to malaysia here few reasons, 1 ) mistake on plan, during the first visit time allocated too less time , many case 3 to 5 days after their here visitors find out morething to do. 2 ) KL is connect hud for airline n cheap flight like airasia , a lot them came n go . 3 ) food their enjoy the food here , chinese , malay n indian
Good points, i like Malaysia an interesting place.
@@expatnam the value point of malaysia is The People , The Food n english speak country
Love Vietnam,I would love come more often and stay longer but the visa is a major bugbear,definitely not long enough 3 month visa for free would be perfect,come on guys paying for visas is long gone.
I think it'll return at some point in the near future. Not sure if the conditions will be the same as before though. Lots of audits at the moment apparently.
As a chinese i really love Bangkok because of the people and transportation .
Vietnam is dangerous and noise . Be careful scammer in vietnam.
I think there are scammers everywhere, but for sure BK has a better transportation network.
Vietnam is dangerous? You mean, the Vietnamese just don’t like Chinese people for a very good reason and 40% of Bangkok population are Chinese. Thats the reason but not that Vietnam is dangerous.
probably a combination of short term visas and extortionately high airline prices these days are probably most to blame!
Yes good point, i forgot to mention the ridiculous current flight costs!
Is that a new platform for bashing on Vietnam and comparing apple with pears (Vietnam vs Thailand)? I love both countries, and i speak both language fluently and i can tell i get scammed in both countries as well. Thai people maybe sweeter or softer what makes them providing good hospitality but as mentioned many times before Vietnam is not much in need for international tourism like Thailand which tourism is around 65% of their total GDP. I don‘t say Vietnam don’t need tourism but i think we can’t compare both countries with total different histories. Vietnams economic is growing very fast in in all sections, for e.g Vietnam surpasses Philippines GDP per capita last year and soon will surpass the next Asean country, unlike Thailand which economy rely mostly on tourism and their political situation isn’t stable the past 15 years. That’s why i don’t agree with this Vietnam bashing comments on your page.
I agree there's a lot of negative comments here about VN. I try to paint a balanced picture of things here-VN isn't for everyone though, it's a unique place with both good and bad.
Whatever the reasons are, I would like to buy you a drink or two next week in Saigon, Is It OK? Can I contact you via this post?
Hi Lam, sounds good. Drop me a message at namexpat@gmail.com and we can arrange it.
Noisy are both, Thailand and Vietnam. In Vietnamese traffic they always beep, in Thailand they have crazy loud tuned exhausts, especially motorcycles. Also many construction areas. Plus loud bars and parties.
In Thailand foreigners pay up to 10 times higher entrance fees than Thais. Taxi scams and 2 price menus you also have often.
In the city centers in both countries it´s clean. Outside often crazy dirty.
In both countries they are driving like idiots. Perhaps more in Vietnam, but they are driving slowly. In Thailand they drive fast and they rarely wear helmets on their motorbikes. The statistics stated that in Thailand much more people die per capita in traffic than in Vietnam.
Yes, the visa is imho the main reason not to come often. If you travel from far away Europe, you want to spend more than 15 days without annoying visa paperwork.
Thai food is (for me) much much better. Me and my Thai wife think that Vietnamese food is bland.
Thais speak a much better English. So often we had communication problems, even in hotels, when we travelled to Vietnam for 2 weeks last months.
Thais are more friendly. The first what some Vietnamese said when they found out that we are living in Thailand (Chiang Mai) and they have been in Thailand: "The Thais are soooo friendly, always smiling. I loved that". Vietnamese are not unfriendly, but a few levels under Thai friendliness.
Some good points. I found the traffic overall quieter in Bangkok, i certainly didn't miss the incessant beeping that you get here, but i agree they drive really fast there.
Noises trash dirty scams any where bicycles any where
THA🇹🇭 amesing 👌
Brother ,,,, forest are run by GOVT without any AID ,,,,,,forest keeping,,,rangers,,,and all kind of maintenance n salaries are paid through VISITOR'S MONEY ,,,,
thats why they charge DOUBLE
infact you can experience this here in INDIA 🇮🇳
love your videos 💖 ,,,i got scammed multiple times even by GOVERNMENT OFFICIALs
🙏JAY HIND
Yep-i wouldn't mind making a donation but when the it's dual pricing and other issues where there's no choice i think it sucks and gives a bad impression to visitors.
I'm Vietnamese. I've visited Tokyo twice, South Korea 6 times, and never in Vietnam. I plan on going visit the fatherland but very disappointing to hear how they double charge foreigners... and not mention animal cruelty.
I've been here for a while. But yesterday a moto guy convinced a friend of mine to take a ride with her. He took her to a restaurant where he compelled her to eat pork. Against her beliefs. Don't ask me. But then he took her to a dank neighborhood. She ended up paying for the restaurant and an exorbitant amount for the moto. Guy ruined her trip. She'll never return. She was real shook up. I don't ride motos so....but I definitely wouldn't advide riding unless you ordered rideshare. You see vendors selling grab jackets so unless you ordered a ride dude is a scammer. Compared to phnom penh it's pretty clean. They lay on the horns too much. But it's still a nice place. Just use common sense a take a car. Look at the mangled people around. A car is worth an extra buck or two. And yes the visa policy sucks. I'm leaving soon because I'm sick of it.
Sorry to hear that. Lots of fake Grab drivers around now-always book it through the app to be safe.
Watch the Taxi drivers they good at it
Better now that we have Grab.
Anyway Vietnam sometimes is cheap if you know how to spend your money on food or stay in a cheap room
That's true. You can live cheaply or in an expensive way here
Vietnam is far better than Thailand for me. The #1 most important difference is that in Thailand 30% of vehicles have intentionally super loud mufflers. Thailand is three times louder than Vietnam everywhere and it's impossible to escape the cacophony of ghetto vehicles. #2 most coffee shops in Bangkok are Starbucks, the international culture destruction virus. #3 most Thai food is inedible without reducing the pepper spice. You have to remember to ask and at many places you simply can't get it mild. #4 Phuket Thailand is completely unnavigable by taxi which is a Mafia controlled scam that costs you $10-30 a day!!! and grab is no better. Vietnam has affordable and safe travel options. #5 Vietnam roads are three times more congested than Thailand but safer to drive on because Vietnamese aren't insecure and aggressive with their vehicles. Thai cars are commonly modified in poor taste with mag wheels, lowered suspension, and 100% tint even on windshields - so ghetto!
Interesting points. I think traffic is more polite in Thailand in that they tend to yield at junctions more, don't drive on the pavements and don't blast the horns as much. But they do drive very fast and like you said have a liking for the loud exhausts! I really like Samui & Ko Tao although haven't been for many years.
@@expatnam motorcycles drive on pedestrian paths in Thailand although maybe not as often. Thai motorcycle drivers completely ignore red lights and crosswalk signs even when people are crossing unless a traffic cop has a flag out directing traffic. The main difference is that Vietnamese have modest and practical motorbikes that look and sound appropriate. Thai love ghetto culture car and motorcycle mods that a 14 year old in the West would think was cool. They are purposefully obnoxious and disruptive - some 30% of motor vehicles are like this.
With all due respect, your take on Thailand’s traffic noise vs VN is so against the majority of Vietnamese people on this topic! 🤣🤣🤣
Given the huge wealth gap between Westerners like yourself and the average Viet family - paying a few dollars more is really OK with me. I live here.
Personally i find it a bit discriminatory. I don't think people should be treated differently anywhere just because they are foreign or for whatever reason, sends a bad message. It was the Vietnamese group i was with that actually pointed it out, they were very annoyed about it and felt a bit embarrassed.
That not right, comparing tourist and their wealth. With that attitude, you really lose tourist fast, impression and honesty will get back customers.
I hate stupid comments like this. The gap has NOTHING to do with my wallet and what I have earned and what I spend. My wallet is here to take on any GAP for any country. Just stupid comment.
Bắp Xào Đây.........😉
Hot vit lon!
@@expatnam Touché 👍🏼
good one thank you but the visa is is the problem one month bull shit and nom is in bad dept to the usa enjoy keep going man
why i can not return to Vietnam? because vietnam create a list of 80 country citizens who can apply for Evisa, non of them from Africa, the correct question is why vietnam is a racist country?
It's a problem for sure that there's only 80 countries on the list. I think they will expand it soon but it's hard to know what will happen here
🛬🌏🧳
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