I agree with you that alcohol drinking culture for ‘strengthening’ relationships needs to undergo some major changes. Maybe someone has to reveal true statistics related to the diseases and cancers directly related to too frequent alcohol consumptions. On the list of cancers, it would be cancers of the colorectal, female breast, larynx, liver, esophagus, oral cavity, and pharynx, AND the most common, liver cirrhosis and pancreatitis. Talking about the problem is a STRENGTH, not a WEAKNESS, so thank you for sharing this and please stay healthy and beautiful.
Although I’m sure the traffic is stressful for the Vietnamese, it flows much better compared to where I come from. I used to drive from the airport to D7 nearly every day, but it still wasn’t as stressful as the traffic in Orlando.
Well, as a Vietnamese in the middle part, I don’t really agree with your number 7. Tet is so special and as a 26 year-old girl, I always wait for Tet to unite with my family and prepare things with them. For those people who are distant to family, Tet is always a motivation for them to come back.
Thôi đi bà ơi. Chắc người giúp việc phụ bà dọn dẹp? Phụ bà nấu đồ ăn? Rửa chén dùm bà? Chồng bà chắc best phụ giúp ko để bà động tay động chân. Mỗi dịp Tết đến mẹ tôi phải dọn dẹp nấu 1 bữa cúng ĐƠN GIẢN (nghĩa đen) mà tôi còn thấy cực. Chị tôi làm dâu, đi làm cả năm, mong ngày nghỉ được nghỉ ngơi, mẹ chồng thì ở nhà cả CẢ NĂM RẢNH RỖI, Tết nào cũng lồng làm lộn, chị tui phụ lòi bản họng. Cái này là thực tế, THỰC TẾ! Chị vlogger ko hề chê bai Tết, chị nói Tết khá stress. Chứ chẳng ai không mong tụ hội với gia đình. Tết là truyền thống cần được giữ gìn. Đừng hành xác nhau là được.
Im learning vietnamese and ive been to Vietnam, I absolutely love the people, so incredibly kind and helpful. One thing I have learnt is that I cant make crass or dirty jokes or even send some adult themed memes to them, they dont like it, they are far too graceful and modest for that , but I love that about them! Here in the US everything is Ultra sexualized and maybe I need to unlearn a lot!
Vietnamese women do not like crass or sex jokes, even in the US. We generally are slightly more conservative in that regard compared to women in other countries.
I lived in vietnam for almost 2 years and the bum gun cured an chronic itchy wound on my asshoe that had been there for a decade. Every time I wipe the wound would reopen, and it was too embarrassing to go to the doctor about it. When I went back home I immediately installed a bum-gun 😆
When I first went to Vietnam, I also found the 10,000 and 100,000 notes look similar. Yes the traffic is intense but I'd call it organized chaos: somehow it seems to work. What was most disappointing for me were cluttered footpaths and the lack of them altogether. I like to walk around the cities that I visit, but in Vietnam this was especially difficult. Sometimes I had to cross bridges with no footpaths and I was basically walking on the road with lots of busy traffic rushing past me. People were probably thinking "stupid foreigner, why doesn't he get a taxi" lol
Your take on the weather is so accurate. My brain doesn't work well from 11-2.00 pm, the nap culture is quite helpful for beating the soaring heat! Great video, Van!
7 things I hate in Vietnam, as a tourist air pollution: white dust air may cause asthma and lung cancer noise: midnight karaoke doesn't let me sleep, beep sound also so noisy unleashed dogs: If I were bitten, I might get rabies. traffic: even if pedestrians walking on the crosswalk, cars and motorcycles are running through. sidewalks are full of parked cars and motorcycles so where can they walk? transportation: few option. bus, motorcycle, taxi. Indeed, metro exists but there is only 1 line in limited area of Hanoi garbage: everybody throw garbage everywhere on the street tout: annoying motorcycle and taxi drivers
I visited HCM City in 2018. It was a great city to visit but the traffic chaos was quite shocking. I was trying to cross a huge expressway dividing the Ho Chi Minth Square and the Dong Nai riverbank. Suffice to say, that was perhaps the most harrowing road crossing experience in my life 😀
For me, I always ignore the last 3 zeros of the notes. I also dislike sharing the sidewalks with motorbikes. MSG is also widely used in HCMC especially Pho.
Prevalence of MSG isn't just a Vietnam thing. In the UK you find it in most savory processed snacks and premade foods. The weather thing can be a serious issue. When I went to Egypt there were signs in the hotel warning tourists not to go out at mid day and they closed all outdoor activities at mid day to prevent sun stroke.
Hi! Thank you for sharing so many cool and helpful things! My spouse and I are thinking about making the big move to Vietnam and your videos are awesome! I had a question, foreigners wearing traditional dress for the purpose of learning the culture and to immerse themselves in the culture, thoughts and opinions?
0:59 You're Vietnamese-American, all American money's the same color & I don't get $1 bills & $100 bills, etc confused & I doubt you do either. I think it's the designs, not the colors. You have the same guy in the same drawing on each bill (I assume that's Ho Chi Minh), they should mix up the designs. In the US each bill has a different president or historical figure on each different bill, as you know. It makes a lot more sense.
I think the Bum-Gun should be regarded as the eighth wonder of the world, a giant leap for mankind. I have saved millions by not buying toilet paper because of the Bum-Gun!
I would add: trash & pollution, cutting in line…no respect or courtesy for others, nosy relatives, lot of scammers, and most of all…corrupt officials & cops.
Drinking beer and homemade wine; I was sober 21 years until my first Tet where I was so pressured to drink with the men I finally had a beer. 10 + years ago, now I drink daily. So much pressure to drink the whole glass all at once. CRAZY I don't do that anymore. Bum Gun; Love em, they actually clean your bum much better than just paper. Bum gun first then paper to dry. My 2 cents worth #ILOVEVIETNAM
Definitely DO NOT underestimate the traffic and heat in HCM!! I tried this while riding scooters in the WINTER and within a few a hours I had bought a full ninja outfit!! The sun, heat and the heat reflecting from the pavement combined with dust, horns and traffic everywhere will definitely give you a workout as a westerner!!
As a Vietnamese I don't agree with 7 at all tet is a particular time where I got to experience my culture as a Vietnamese/Chinese since I'm adopted I don't really know abt Vietnamese culture I am more educated in Chinese culture when my adoptive mom lets me prepare for tet i feel more connected to my roots where i am from
Thank you so much for your video, it's help me a lot to improve my English everyday. Hope you have a good health and alway keep your energy to bring more valueble contents for expats and other English learners like me. Love
Actually, MSG is neither good nor bad for your health. I admit that some people are allergic to MSG, but MSG naturally occurs in Asian cooking. Soy sauce, fish sauce, seaweed, kimchi, cured meat, and pickled vegetable.
MSG (monosodium glutamate) is a flavor enhancer. The FDA classified it as a "generally safe food ingredient" and is usually listed in all snack products in the USA.
Yes but if you put too much of MSG you will feel very thirsty afterward. I know which stores put too much MSG after I eat their food if I feel very thirsty then I know they have put too much MSG and I never go to that place again
All those are culture. If you are not Vietnamese, you are not obligated to hold the culture. Who told you that when you are in Rome that you have to follow the Romans? They lied to you. Maybe during the war, to blend on in is a must but we are not at war here. When I'm in another country, I'd make sure to show people that I'm from America and I'm sure that the locals there are expecting to see a foreigner to act like a foreigner. I mean they may raises them prices because you show your tourists with money card but still though, if you go eat with me and you don't know how to use a chopstick, I'll provide you with a fork. If people look at you funny, I'll remind them that you are from America, the land of the impolite people. Now if you are not a Vietnamese but lives in Vietnam long enough to call it your residency then I'm expecting you to uphold your new adopted culture. If tourist, be a tourist is what I'm saying. Culture is beautiful but only if you know how to do culture instead of faking the funk with said culture.
Personally, I would agree with most of your point beside the number 6 (Im a bum gun guy XD) and 7. About the 7, Tet in VietNam is similar to Christmas / Thanksgiving in America (and some others western country). Its the time where family (and sometime friends) gathering, having some traditional hearty meal. Ofc the preparation would require time and effort (Cleaning up your house, making meals, shopping for stuffs, etc) but its worth the effort after all. And about the lucky money stuff, just consider it as "Chrismas gift".
Pro tip- for Americans traveling to VN- pack your own toilet paper in your suitcase. The hotels and guess houses will have paper- but it’s nothing like you are used to Use the bum gun - then a few pats with your paper is all you need. The bathroom situation in VN was a little surprise for me. No one warned me. And if you are in the country side. It’s even more of a shock at first.
A Canadian penny and an American penny are almost identical when it comes to weight and material that they use to make it although Canada I think has done away with the penny altogether. And there is a Korean coin that is the exact same shape and weight as an American 25 cent piece. And in Britain there is I think a three pence old piece that is about the same size as an American dime although using different material. And in Canada they put a particular character on their $5 bill people have been drawing that in so that it looks like Leonard nimoy or Spock from the Star Trek series. And everybody writes on the Canadian $5 bill live long and prosper
Vietnamese lunar new year Tet tradition is similar to Japanese new year tradition. 1. In Japan osechi ryori an ornate variety of traditional food bento box is prepared to last several days so that cooking is not required 2. Business typically shut down for several days however convenience stores and fast food remain open 3. The little cash envelope for kids is also here 4. In a way the Asian New Year reminds me of the western Christmas family gathering dinner/gifts fyi : 1. In Japan the Christmas food includes chicken due to KFC successful marketing, even in the year of the great tsunami 2011 people lined up in front of the KFC 2. bum gun is another form of what is called washlet, I bet Japanese tourist would stay at Vietnamese hotel advertising washlet over one without.
You make a good video, but please don't exaggerate Vietnam and disparage the US and other capitalist countries that are not as bad as Vietnam and so bad that people will misunderstand the US and Western countries. . Looking at the picture of your father smoking in the house in the New Year's video 2019 is enough to know that your family is communist and how selfish and bad the communists' consciousness is. Later, when the communist regime that the whole world hates turns its back on your family, then don't go to America. At that time, when you come, people will curse and throw rotten eggs to you like red bull Dam Vinh Hung singer
I love MSG which is the king of flavour and has no obviously proven health issues and has not been scientifically proven. I don't like fastfood, frozen food, and bacon as they definitely lead to heart diseases and cancers.
My biggest frustration in Hanoi is that the sidewalk is impossible to walk on because of parked motorcycles, restaurant tables and goods for sale. This forces you to walk on the street which is very dangerous.
Feel ya, but then I realised that I absolutely love the ‘street culture’ of VN, which monopolises those spaces. It’s a trade-off, I suppose. Was far worse when I lived in a desert city in Arabia - no street culture, land cruisers and other massive vehicles everywhere, no side-walks, and scores of really psycho drivers who would rather run you down than damage their precious vehicles. Much prefer VN
Wealthy people and certain businesses may not like cash but many others do. Cash means instant liquidity which a huge percentage of locals in a developing country need for their daily lives.
I feel number 5 so much...!!! I had to deal with so many drinking business meetings here in Vietnam, even if I am not that much into alchool. Always so hard to refuse it politely without looking weak or weird!
@SKIP ROCHE 🇻🇳 do it, and keep your rule, and tell them in advance before you accept to go to the party. Acctually, drinking habit of Vietnamese changed a lot since last 20 years, 20 years ago, you can't reject once you sit at the table, now people are more respect other choice and not mụch kind of "forced to drink" but becarefull when you attend a party in rural area 😁
Been watching your videos from the last six months and i always wanted to visit Vietnam. I’m happy i finally get to visit next month. Already made a list of places to go. Looking forward to exploring the beautiful country ❤
Video hay lắm cô Vân ơi! That sucks about money looking so much alike. Is Uncle Ho on every denomination? And I have a friend who lives in Nha Trang who is a non-drinker and it is very stressful for her when she is expected to drink with her co-workers at after-work gatherings, which is very often. And totally understandable about all the stress around Tết. Very similar to the stress we feel around Christmas time. I'm an atheist, so it's even worse when people ask me what I'm doing "to celebrate Christmas this year." Ugh...
I’m amerasian traumatized by Vietnamese cuisine. Yes, Viet food is the bully in a playground of user friendly, easy to eat American food like burgers and pizza you can even eat while driving. Here are the worst culprits. Pho: It leaves a stinky oniony beefy odor on your clothes. You can’t just go back to work like that. Bun thit nuong: I gotta stir it?? Seriously? It’ll all fall out of the bowl! Banh mi: For years I’ve tried to like this, but the hard baguette leaves my mouth sore and bruised for days. Bun mam: I’ll just say its pungent and leave it at that… Banh xeo: how do I cut this with chopsticks? Now I gotta wrap this in a piece of lettuce , and dip it without letting the nouc mam run down my elbow. Che: are you supposed to chew the ice? Bo nhung dam: this is very very yummy But I always sheepishly warn my guests about the stinky sauce… we sniff , giggle, and, enjoy.
Great info on the weather + drinking😵🍺!. I resigned from my job here in Adelaide, Australia and I'm heading to Guyana in South America first. Then probably Vietnam (which is slowly opening up again) to chill out😎. Saving a home building deposit ('downpayment') has killed me!. Cheers 👍
To further explain the drinking burden, business dealings in VN mostly revolve around connections (tạo dựng mối quan hệ) & serving your managers (từ đó tạo dựng tâm lý vua tôi trong cty, và vua thì phải có lính hầu, rót rượu, cũng như phi tần), and less about meritocratic talents, so vietnamese people sorta put themselves in a dilemma. You know drinking is bad, but at the same time you cannot refuse drinking because you will lose your place in the hierarchy, similar phenomenon in Japan with hierarchical mindset. Plus, one phenonmenon that is very taboo is prostitution, and sex solicits among people up the food chain (quan chức). Comes from this "vua-tôi" mentality, residual of the feudal system, and this is more evident in the North, for obvious reasons.
I get confused with all the 0s on money. I did have to use the water spray in the public barhroom at the zoo. 😂 I don't drink, bad heart and kidney i tell them, so do they still think I'm disrespectful and weak? Overall, I love my time in Vietnam, especially in Ho Chi Minh. People in vietnam are great. ❤
Washroom spray gun is the best invention. Ever. I'm surprised you don't carry around toilet paper in your handbag. You can remove the cardboard tube and compress it, by the way. Anyway, westerners who return home after spending a fair bit of time in Thailand, Cambodia or Vietnam, always miss the spray gun. I hate going back to Canada, even for a month, because we don't have that washroom feature. Strangely enough, some malls and markets in SEA often do not install the spray gun or even toilet paper -- for those emergencies. Ahem. Another great presentation, Van.
Love the 'what the pho' name! Maybe pulling American facial expressions when doing a TH-cam video should be added to your list - LOL? Anyway, WRT cash, in the USA (the land of the super-intelligent) all the cash notes are the same colour and same size... DUH!!
Yes..There was one Grab driver did returned me the VND 500,000 bill back when we overpaid. That was very honest of him... Though this was an exceptional case , best to give small bills instead. Still kudo to that grab driver...for being honest Traffic is understandable ...it is damned common in Southeast Asia except Spore where the laws prevailed at leaat to the point of 99%.... The best weather is still up north in Hanoi... MSG is always got the bad rap... Cant blame the Hanoians for using MSG. Go to Hanoi...Cant take MSG then just eat grass lah.... Drinking is not just for Vietnamese ...Drinking culture is pervasive in Asia...Though the good reason is to get you closer with your partners but actually it is a TOTAL Misconception... Drinking till tipsy usually is used to open up to see your vulnerabilities and so if you cant drink then dont drink or even pressurized They would say if you dont drink.. you are not a good business partner...blah blah blah...So what??... When it comes to biz meeting ...feel presurrized that you gonna lost the deal ..most likely you are already lost because if they want you ..they would talk and be respective of each other...simple as that... IF not prepared mentally to walk away...seriously just go find other biz to do or other venues
When I lived in Texas the Vietnamese people were the most wonderful tradespeople. In all trades….medical,food etc.I miss bahn mi! I can’t find a decent one in NW RURAL GA.
Regarding Tet... I am visiting Vietnam (for the first time) and arriving in Hanoi during Tet... ...this was not by plan, but rather by an oversight in my own planning. My question: Beyond all the possible logistical challenges... -- (that a whole different issue)-- ...what are some things that a first-time visitor (esp. an American) should be aware of so that I don't unintentionally behave in a manner that would be seen as disrespectful to this sacred tradition?
When I go to Vietnam, the first thing is get money from ATM which is basically all 500k bills. and the next thing is get a grab bike or car.... so hopefully those drivers around the airports expect to receive the large bills haha.
Also, they are big on using plastics. Plastic bags for anything and everything... (my observation from when I went there) Beautiful country, but also big on pollution
No way in hell am I living somewhere with unbearable heat and humidity at length like there or somewhere with constant cold weather but with cold weather where I live, we have comfortable indoor heat!!
I would think having paper money that STARTS at 2,000 an goes to 500,000 is by far the DUMBEST thing ever...that's what I would hate more than the color
Oh yeah , talking about money by the way The cost of 100 United States Dollars in Vietnamese Dong today is ₫2,275.150.00. It reminds me how valuable of Our Money compare to Usd , just because 2,275,150 > 100 it is common sense right ?! :)). We are the best yeahhh! Beside Headaches , Some sensitive individuals experience unpleasant side-effects after consuming MSG which can include insomnia-inducing , fatigue and muscle pain. Anyway Be Aware of anything you put in your body!🙂
Sitting in traffic in Saigon or hanoi during rush hour is no joke at all my little friend bc the fumes from motor bike oh oh oh OMG , here in California traffic is bad but u sitting in the car not motor bike ok ... what the flip3 .... phở Chào. Mong vanvu nói được nhiều tiếng Việt Nam hơn nửa... come on girl 👧 u can do it 💪 👏 🙌
Golly, your English is lovely to listen to thank you so much for trying so hard I appreciate its difficult for you people consequently it's obvious you've worked at it hard thank you miss❤️
Taxi drivers in Mexico always say, "no cambio," which means no change if all you have to pay are big bills. It's BS, of course. They just want a big tip from the stupid visitor.
I agree with you that alcohol drinking culture for ‘strengthening’ relationships needs to undergo some major changes. Maybe someone has to reveal true statistics related to the diseases and cancers directly related to too frequent alcohol consumptions. On the list of cancers, it would be cancers of the colorectal, female breast, larynx, liver, esophagus, oral cavity, and pharynx, AND the most common, liver cirrhosis and pancreatitis. Talking about the problem is a STRENGTH, not a WEAKNESS, so thank you for sharing this and please stay healthy and beautiful.
Thank you :))
@@WhatThePho I never drink
well I only drink vodka on 1 day of the year 30th December
If you know what that’s mean
Although I’m sure the traffic is stressful for the Vietnamese, it flows much better compared to where I come from. I used to drive from the airport to D7 nearly every day, but it still wasn’t as stressful as the traffic in Orlando.
Man, tell me. Try driving through London. That place may as well be the size of the US the amount of time it takes to drive around it 😅
Phuc Map, my man! Here in Southern CA, we sleep at home but live in traffic.
Yes but without 20.thousand deaths per year
interesting, well noted.
Do you not understand Boston?
Well, as a Vietnamese in the middle part, I don’t really agree with your number 7. Tet is so special and as a 26 year-old girl, I always wait for Tet to unite with my family and prepare things with them. For those people who are distant to family, Tet is always a motivation for them to come back.
Thôi đi bà ơi. Chắc người giúp việc phụ bà dọn dẹp? Phụ bà nấu đồ ăn? Rửa chén dùm bà? Chồng bà chắc best phụ giúp ko để bà động tay động chân. Mỗi dịp Tết đến mẹ tôi phải dọn dẹp nấu 1 bữa cúng ĐƠN GIẢN (nghĩa đen) mà tôi còn thấy cực. Chị tôi làm dâu, đi làm cả năm, mong ngày nghỉ được nghỉ ngơi, mẹ chồng thì ở nhà cả CẢ NĂM RẢNH RỖI, Tết nào cũng lồng làm lộn, chị tui phụ lòi bản họng. Cái này là thực tế, THỰC TẾ! Chị vlogger ko hề chê bai Tết, chị nói Tết khá stress. Chứ chẳng ai không mong tụ hội với gia đình. Tết là truyền thống cần được giữ gìn. Đừng hành xác nhau là được.
@@amorulluii5912 thật ra thì t thấy những bạn nào mà ở xa tết về nhà, mà ko phải con trưởng các thứ, thì thường có thể ít phải lo nhiều chuyện
So Tet is the Vietnamese Christmas yeah?
@@ThePhantom712 Tet is the Vietnamese New Year
But is also Chinese New Year
Im learning vietnamese and ive been to Vietnam, I absolutely love the people, so incredibly kind and helpful. One thing I have learnt is that I cant make crass or dirty jokes or even send some adult themed memes to them, they dont like it, they are far too graceful and modest for that , but I love that about them! Here in the US everything is Ultra sexualized and maybe I need to unlearn a lot!
Dirty jokes or some adult themed memes, we still do it but with friends or old mans 😁
Vietnamese women do not like crass or sex jokes, even in the US. We generally are slightly more conservative in that regard compared to women in other countries.
yeah you can make dirty jokes, but only between men. Women usually don't share the same humor.
6:15 - the solution is so simple! We just need to carry toilet paper to dry... there's no better way to clean yourself than the bum gun 😜
The bidet is way more hygienic especially in a tropical/humid climate - Besides, 🧻 and the bidet do not have to be mutually exclusive. 🤷
Use paper towel afterward, not toilet paper if you don't want to pick off scraps of tissues from your hand.
@@prcr8tion Only possible at home or hotel.
I lived in vietnam for almost 2 years and the bum gun cured an chronic itchy wound on my asshoe that had been there for a decade. Every time I wipe the wound would reopen, and it was too embarrassing to go to the doctor about it. When I went back home I immediately installed a bum-gun 😆
@@tigeruppercut2000 funny but not really - It’s an important health message….
When I first went to Vietnam, I also found the 10,000 and 100,000 notes look similar. Yes the traffic is intense but I'd call it organized chaos: somehow it seems to work. What was most disappointing for me were cluttered footpaths and the lack of them altogether. I like to walk around the cities that I visit, but in Vietnam this was especially difficult. Sometimes I had to cross bridges with no footpaths and I was basically walking on the road with lots of busy traffic rushing past me. People were probably thinking "stupid foreigner, why doesn't he get a taxi" lol
Nobody cares what you think.
I think you mean the 10k and 200k, both being a similar off-yellow shade.
Your take on the weather is so accurate. My brain doesn't work well from 11-2.00 pm, the nap culture is quite helpful for beating the soaring heat! Great video, Van!
7 things I hate in Vietnam, as a tourist
air pollution: white dust air may cause asthma and lung cancer
noise: midnight karaoke doesn't let me sleep, beep sound also so noisy
unleashed dogs: If I were bitten, I might get rabies.
traffic: even if pedestrians walking on the crosswalk, cars and motorcycles are running through. sidewalks are full of parked cars and motorcycles so where can they walk?
transportation: few option. bus, motorcycle, taxi. Indeed, metro exists but there is only 1 line in limited area of Hanoi
garbage: everybody throw garbage everywhere on the street
tout: annoying motorcycle and taxi drivers
I visited HCM City in 2018. It was a great city to visit but the traffic chaos was quite shocking. I was trying to cross a huge expressway dividing the Ho Chi Minth Square and the Dong Nai riverbank. Suffice to say, that was perhaps the most harrowing road crossing experience in my life 😀
Ironically, all the things you listed on the video are things I miss about Vietnam. Can't wait to go back next June
Oh no, see you next year :))
For me, I always ignore the last 3 zeros of the notes. I also dislike sharing the sidewalks with motorbikes. MSG is also widely used in HCMC especially Pho.
Prevalence of MSG isn't just a Vietnam thing. In the UK you find it in most savory processed snacks and premade foods.
The weather thing can be a serious issue. When I went to Egypt there were signs in the hotel warning tourists not to go out at mid day and they closed all outdoor activities at mid day to prevent sun stroke.
Và việc dùng xịt nữa, rất sạch và thường các nhà vs công cộng đều có giấy, nếu k e có thể cbi giấy để lau sau khi xịt.
du meh mike
du meh mike again
Hi! Thank you for sharing so many cool and helpful things! My spouse and I are thinking about making the big move to Vietnam and your videos are awesome! I had a question, foreigners wearing traditional dress for the purpose of learning the culture and to immerse themselves in the culture, thoughts and opinions?
Yess, that would be dope!!!
0:59 You're Vietnamese-American, all American money's the same color & I don't get $1 bills & $100 bills, etc confused & I doubt you do either.
I think it's the designs, not the colors.
You have the same guy in the same drawing on each bill (I assume that's Ho Chi Minh), they should mix up the designs.
In the US each bill has a different president or historical figure on each different bill, as you know.
It makes a lot more sense.
I think the Bum-Gun should be regarded as the eighth wonder of the world, a giant leap for mankind. I have saved millions by not buying toilet paper because of the Bum-Gun!
I would add: trash & pollution, cutting in line…no respect or courtesy for others, nosy relatives, lot of scammers, and most of all…corrupt officials & cops.
Weather here in Texas is unpredictable it’s cold in the morning and get’s burning hot in the day
although it’s fall! [Gosh Dang!!!!]
Drinking beer and homemade wine; I was sober 21 years until my first Tet where I was so pressured to drink with the men I finally had a beer. 10 + years ago, now I drink daily. So much pressure to drink the whole glass all at once. CRAZY I don't do that anymore. Bum Gun; Love em, they actually clean your bum much better than just paper. Bum gun first then paper to dry. My 2 cents worth #ILOVEVIETNAM
You look very charming, especially when you talk. Thanks for the videos, I enjoy watching them. How long did you stay in America and what state?
I stayed in Michigan for 7 years
Definitely DO NOT underestimate the traffic and heat in HCM!! I tried this while riding scooters in the WINTER and within a few a hours I had bought a full ninja outfit!! The sun, heat and the heat reflecting from the pavement combined with dust, horns and traffic everywhere will definitely give you a workout as a westerner!!
As a Vietnamese I don't agree with 7 at all tet is a particular time where I got to experience my culture as a Vietnamese/Chinese since I'm adopted I don't really know abt Vietnamese culture I am more educated in Chinese culture when my adoptive mom lets me prepare for tet i feel more connected to my roots where i am from
Thank you so much for your video, it's help me a lot to improve my English everyday. Hope you have a good health and alway keep your energy to bring more valueble contents for expats and other English learners like me. Love
To avoid skin cancer? Or to avoid tanning? Lol. Cause I think the latter.
Actually, MSG is neither good nor bad for your health. I admit that some people are allergic to MSG, but MSG naturally occurs in Asian cooking. Soy sauce, fish sauce, seaweed, kimchi, cured meat, and pickled vegetable.
MSG (monosodium glutamate) is a flavor enhancer. The FDA classified it as a "generally safe food ingredient" and is usually listed in all snack products in the USA.
@@doantube22 MSG was first discovered and extracted from seaweed by Japanese, then used as an flavor enhancer.
People are not allergic to MSG, LOL. It's all in their head.
Yes but if you put too much of MSG you will feel very thirsty afterward. I know which stores put too much MSG after I eat their food if I feel very thirsty then I know they have put too much MSG and I never go to that place again
I use the bum gun to clean and wipe/dry it with toilet paper. Feeling clean!
All those are culture. If you are not Vietnamese, you are not obligated to hold the culture. Who told you that when you are in Rome that you have to follow the Romans? They lied to you. Maybe during the war, to blend on in is a must but we are not at war here. When I'm in another country, I'd make sure to show people that I'm from America and I'm sure that the locals there are expecting to see a foreigner to act like a foreigner. I mean they may raises them prices because you show your tourists with money card but still though, if you go eat with me and you don't know how to use a chopstick, I'll provide you with a fork. If people look at you funny, I'll remind them that you are from America, the land of the impolite people. Now if you are not a Vietnamese but lives in Vietnam long enough to call it your residency then I'm expecting you to uphold your new adopted culture. If tourist, be a tourist is what I'm saying. Culture is beautiful but only if you know how to do culture instead of faking the funk with said culture.
Ambulances are useless during peak hours in Saigon and Hanoi.
Personally, I would agree with most of your point beside the number 6 (Im a bum gun guy XD) and 7.
About the 7, Tet in VietNam is similar to Christmas / Thanksgiving in America (and some others western country). Its the time where family (and sometime friends) gathering, having some traditional hearty meal. Ofc the preparation would require time and effort (Cleaning up your house, making meals, shopping for stuffs, etc) but its worth the effort after all. And about the lucky money stuff, just consider it as "Chrismas gift".
Haha that's funny, thank you for sharing!
Anyone who says MSG is bad, I would challenge you that salt and sugar is also bad. Eat veggies only. Lol
Pro tip- for Americans traveling to VN- pack your own toilet paper in your suitcase.
The hotels and guess houses will have paper- but it’s nothing like you are used to
Use the bum gun - then a few pats with your paper is all you need.
The bathroom situation in VN was a little surprise for me.
No one warned me.
And if you are in the country side. It’s even more of a shock at first.
A Canadian penny and an American penny are almost identical when it comes to weight and material that they use to make it although Canada I think has done away with the penny altogether. And there is a Korean coin that is the exact same shape and weight as an American 25 cent piece. And in Britain there is I think a three pence old piece that is about the same size as an American dime although using different material. And in Canada they put a particular character on their $5 bill people have been drawing that in so that it looks like Leonard nimoy or Spock from the Star Trek series. And everybody writes on the Canadian $5 bill live long and prosper
Actually I found it very clean and comfortable when using that bum gun. I don’t found it annoy me. And I don’t really like using toilet paper
agree with you... drinking culture.. not a fan
Vietnamese lunar new year Tet tradition is similar to Japanese new year tradition.
1. In Japan osechi ryori an ornate variety of traditional food bento box is prepared to last several days so that cooking is not required
2. Business typically shut down for several days however convenience stores and fast food remain open
3. The little cash envelope for kids is also here
4. In a way the Asian New Year reminds me of the western Christmas family gathering dinner/gifts
fyi :
1. In Japan the Christmas food includes chicken due to KFC successful marketing, even in the year of the great tsunami 2011 people lined up in front of the KFC
2. bum gun is another form of what is called washlet, I bet Japanese tourist would stay at Vietnamese hotel advertising washlet over one without.
You’re spot on with #2 (msg not good for health) and #3 (motorbike traffic on sidewalk). You’re a natural and your command of English is superb.
Xin can ơn Vân, for this video we can learn more things and love more easily in Vietnam 🇻🇳
You make a good video, but please don't exaggerate Vietnam and disparage the US and other capitalist countries that are not as bad as Vietnam and so bad that people will misunderstand the US and Western countries. . Looking at the picture of your father smoking in the house in the New Year's video 2019 is enough to know that your family is communist and how selfish and bad the communists' consciousness is. Later, when the communist regime that the whole world hates turns its back on your family, then don't go to America. At that time, when you come, people will curse and throw rotten eggs to you like red bull Dam Vinh Hung singer
yr reference to her father smoking and therefore being Communist seems disrespectful.
Love your accent! Very cute :)
When I went there I declined alcohol offers... So now I wonder how they took that... :)
There were passing along a plastic bottle with no label, with a kind of liquor. How can they trust the content???
I'm making the move to Vietnam later this year, your channel has helped quite a bit in the decision making progress. Thank you!
So glad to hear that!! 🤗🤗
Thank you so much for sharing the video! It’s really helpful! I learned a lot from it! You’re so nice and beautiful! ❤
I love MSG which is the king of flavour and has no obviously proven health issues and has not been scientifically proven. I don't like fastfood, frozen food, and bacon as they definitely lead to heart diseases and cancers.
My biggest frustration in Hanoi is that the sidewalk is impossible to walk on because of parked motorcycles, restaurant tables and goods for sale. This forces you to walk on the street which is very dangerous.
true haha
Feel ya, but then I realised that I absolutely love the ‘street culture’ of VN, which monopolises those spaces. It’s a trade-off, I suppose.
Was far worse when I lived in a desert city in Arabia - no street culture, land cruisers and other massive vehicles everywhere, no side-walks, and scores of really psycho drivers who would rather run you down than damage their precious vehicles. Much prefer VN
Wealthy people and certain businesses may not like cash but many others do. Cash means instant liquidity which a huge percentage of locals in a developing country need for their daily lives.
Plus the government cannot track you like they can when you use credit cards. In China, they scan your face for transactions. Scary!
I feel number 5 so much...!!! I had to deal with so many drinking business meetings here in Vietnam, even if I am not that much into alchool. Always so hard to refuse it politely without looking weak or weird!
@SKIP ROCHE 🇻🇳 Believe or not, when I tried to say something similar, they just told me: 'Uống một chút!' :)))
Haha that's so true!!
@SKIP ROCHE 🇻🇳 do it, and keep your rule, and tell them in advance before you accept to go to the party. Acctually, drinking habit of Vietnamese changed a lot since last 20 years, 20 years ago, you can't reject once you sit at the table, now people are more respect other choice and not mụch kind of "forced to drink" but becarefull when you attend a party in rural area 😁
Been watching your videos from the last six months and i always wanted to visit Vietnam. I’m happy i finally get to visit next month. Already made a list of places to go. Looking forward to exploring the beautiful country ❤
I agree with this video.
Video hay lắm cô Vân ơi! That sucks about money looking so much alike. Is Uncle Ho on every denomination? And I have a friend who lives in Nha Trang who is a non-drinker and it is very stressful for her when she is expected to drink with her co-workers at after-work gatherings, which is very often. And totally understandable about all the stress around Tết. Very similar to the stress we feel around Christmas time. I'm an atheist, so it's even worse when people ask me what I'm doing "to celebrate Christmas this year." Ugh...
I’m amerasian traumatized by Vietnamese cuisine. Yes, Viet food is the bully in a playground of user friendly, easy to eat American food like burgers and pizza you can even eat while driving. Here are the worst culprits.
Pho: It leaves a stinky oniony beefy odor on your clothes. You can’t just go back to work like that.
Bun thit nuong: I gotta stir it?? Seriously? It’ll all fall out of the bowl!
Banh mi: For years I’ve tried to like this, but the hard baguette leaves my mouth sore and bruised for days.
Bun mam: I’ll just say its pungent and leave it at that…
Banh xeo: how do I cut this with chopsticks? Now I gotta wrap this in a piece of lettuce , and dip it without letting the nouc mam run down my elbow.
Che: are you supposed to chew the ice?
Bo nhung dam: this is very very yummy But I always sheepishly warn my guests about the stinky sauce… we sniff , giggle, and, enjoy.
haha that's so fun!!
The bum gun is way more sanitary than toilet paper, so I'm with Vietnam on this one 😄
Why leave a comment, you can’t take criticism haha you get defensive. Stop acting so fake we all know you won’t get anywhere as a youtuber 😂
why do you watch? Idiocy to watch, then just complain.
Thanks to your comment I gain more engagement which makes me earn more money haha
VERY VERY GOOD
Another fun and enlightening video. Thanks Van 👍😁⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Glad you enjoyed it
Great info on the weather + drinking😵🍺!. I resigned from my job here in Adelaide, Australia and I'm heading to Guyana in South America first. Then probably Vietnam (which is slowly opening up again) to chill out😎. Saving a home building deposit ('downpayment') has killed me!. Cheers 👍
Paying bribes
WTF Pho??? How can you be so cool and yet so scary? @_@
Americans: we have cars
Vietnamese: we have MOTORCYCLES!!!!!!
Other countries that have motorcycles: MOTORCYCLES!!!!!!
Miarang
To further explain the drinking burden, business dealings in VN mostly revolve around connections (tạo dựng mối quan hệ) & serving your managers (từ đó tạo dựng tâm lý vua tôi trong cty, và vua thì phải có lính hầu, rót rượu, cũng như phi tần), and less about meritocratic talents, so vietnamese people sorta put themselves in a dilemma. You know drinking is bad, but at the same time you cannot refuse drinking because you will lose your place in the hierarchy, similar phenomenon in Japan with hierarchical mindset. Plus, one phenonmenon that is very taboo is prostitution, and sex solicits among people up the food chain (quan chức). Comes from this "vua-tôi" mentality, residual of the feudal system, and this is more evident in the North, for obvious reasons.
Recently been watching your channel. Very interesting and informative since I now have met new friends from Vietnam. Thank you.
I'm always glad to hear that people who live in hot, humid, places aren't thrilled by it either.
I get confused with all the 0s on money.
I did have to use the water spray in the public barhroom at the zoo. 😂
I don't drink, bad heart and kidney i tell them, so do they still think I'm disrespectful and weak?
Overall, I love my time in Vietnam, especially in Ho Chi Minh. People in vietnam are great. ❤
Sooo, receiving money is great, but giving money is stressful? OK, noted 🤣🤣🤣
Fast Food. There's a reason McDonalds failed miserably in Vietnam (of which I'm so proud).
Uncle Rodger is one of the best Asian TH-camrs
[Gosh Dang!!!!]
When I was in Vietnam in 1969, I had some real cheap housing, it was called a FOXHOLE!
🎖♠️♠️🪖🇺🇸
Washroom spray gun is the best invention. Ever. I'm surprised you don't carry around toilet paper in your handbag. You can remove the cardboard tube and compress it, by the way. Anyway, westerners who return home after spending a fair bit of time in Thailand, Cambodia or Vietnam, always miss the spray gun. I hate going back to Canada, even for a month, because we don't have that washroom feature. Strangely enough, some malls and markets in SEA often do not install the spray gun or even toilet paper -- for those emergencies. Ahem. Another great presentation, Van.
😂😂😂
Love the 'what the pho' name! Maybe pulling American facial expressions when doing a TH-cam video should be added to your list - LOL? Anyway, WRT cash, in the USA (the land of the super-intelligent) all the cash notes are the same colour and same size... DUH!!
Cool video clip off a charming funny young lady off Vietnam true my dear Friend off Vietnam?🇻🇳🇻🇳🇻🇳💛❤💛❤💛❤
I’m Vietnamese and I hate the drinking culture here. They challenge themself who drink more that is who is the man.
Yes..There was one Grab driver did returned me the VND 500,000 bill back when we overpaid. That was very honest of him... Though this was an exceptional case , best to give small bills instead. Still kudo to that grab driver...for being honest Traffic is understandable ...it is damned common in Southeast Asia except Spore where the laws prevailed at leaat to the point of 99%.... The best weather is still up north in Hanoi... MSG is always got the bad rap... Cant blame the Hanoians for using MSG. Go to Hanoi...Cant take MSG then just eat grass lah.... Drinking is not just for Vietnamese ...Drinking culture is pervasive in Asia...Though the good reason is to get you closer with your partners but actually it is a TOTAL Misconception... Drinking till tipsy usually is used to open up to see your vulnerabilities and so if you cant drink then dont drink or even pressurized They would say if you dont drink.. you are not a good business partner...blah blah blah...So what??... When it comes to biz meeting ...feel presurrized that you gonna lost the deal ..most likely you are already lost because if they want you ..they would talk and be respective of each other...simple as that... IF not prepared mentally to walk away...seriously just go find other biz to do or other venues
Hi Beautiful Vietnamese young Lady! Love you ! Shoutout from tje Philippines!
Abusive alcohol drinking is a curse to Vietnamese culture. It's one of the reasons why Vietnam has not developed compared to other asean countries.
Even the cold weather is different. I got sick often in the winter because of the difference from Hung Yen and Texas cold. I had a cold fever😅
When I lived in Texas the Vietnamese people were the most wonderful tradespeople. In all trades….medical,food etc.I miss bahn mi! I can’t find a decent one in NW RURAL GA.
What are 7 things Vietnamese people love.. I feel like I walk on eggshells with my Vietnamese boyfriend
Honest drivers ??? you got lucky my friend.....from my experiences they will find a way of ripping off customers
I think....you can use both toilet paper and bum gun. Bum gun first and then toilet paper. Or "paper - gun - paper"! have fun!
Hi Van, I'm from the Mekong delta. Here most families also use MSG to cook but a little bit amount.
I can we be good friends Nhu
drinking has to be a personal matter, some like some don't, attaching it to 'being respectful' only makes things complicated.
Here are 7 things I hate about Vietnam: communism, Ho Chi Minh, French, general Gaip, Viet Cong, president thieu,
Regarding Tet...
I am visiting Vietnam (for the first time) and arriving in Hanoi during Tet...
...this was not by plan, but rather by an oversight in my own planning.
My question:
Beyond all the possible logistical challenges...
-- (that a whole different issue)--
...what are some things that a first-time visitor (esp. an American) should be aware of so that I don't unintentionally behave in a manner that would be seen as disrespectful to this sacred tradition?
When I go to Vietnam, the first thing is get money from ATM which is basically all 500k bills. and the next thing is get a grab bike or car.... so hopefully those drivers around the airports expect to receive the large bills haha.
This is so informative. Keep up the great work 👏🏽👏🏽✨✨
🥰🥰🥰
Also, they are big on using plastics. Plastic bags for anything and everything... (my observation from when I went there) Beautiful country, but also big on pollution
No way in hell am I living somewhere with unbearable heat and humidity at length like there or somewhere with constant cold weather but with cold weather where I live, we have comfortable indoor heat!!
I agree with 6/7 of them , I think 20 thousand vnd and 500 vnd is very similar
I would think having paper money that STARTS at 2,000 an goes to 500,000 is by far the DUMBEST thing ever...that's what I would hate more than the color
Could you please explain your pronunciation of "Tet"? It sounds like you're saying "date". Thank you so much!
great to hear that thank you clever girl 👍🌹
Oh yeah , talking about money by the way The cost of 100 United States Dollars in Vietnamese Dong today is ₫2,275.150.00. It reminds me how valuable of Our Money compare to Usd , just because 2,275,150 > 100 it is common sense right ?! :)). We are the best yeahhh!
Beside Headaches , Some sensitive individuals experience unpleasant side-effects after consuming MSG which can include insomnia-inducing , fatigue and muscle pain. Anyway Be Aware of anything you put in your body!🙂
I live with my in-laws in Vietnam and for the bum gun we use the toilet paper after to dry ourselves.😊
The Bum Gun sounds cool. I always grab a few handfulls of napkins whenever I go to 7 11 or Macdonalds, just in case.
Sitting in traffic in Saigon or hanoi during rush hour is no joke at all my little friend bc the fumes from motor bike oh oh oh OMG , here in California traffic is bad but u sitting in the car not motor bike ok ... what the flip3 .... phở Chào. Mong vanvu nói được nhiều tiếng Việt Nam hơn nửa... come on girl 👧 u can do it 💪 👏 🙌
Golly, your English is lovely to listen to thank you so much for trying so hard I appreciate its difficult for you people consequently it's obvious you've worked at it hard thank you miss❤️
Do 🇻🇳 woman love Farang 🙂 that all care about I know cost living is cheap 🫢 but woman going admire me 🥰
Taxi drivers in Mexico always say, "no cambio," which means no change if all you have to pay are big bills. It's BS, of course. They just want a big tip from the stupid visitor.
Nap butt with paper toilet is so unclean, dirty 🤮🤮🤮, msg is magical...almost asian use msg for their dish, and going move