This is an important aspect of Vietnamese society: respect of age, of profession, of wealth... It is important that you show respect in general, as it will usually be shown to you by most Vietnamese in most situations.

 

Do be assured that, as an foreigner, you can get away with just about anything- so long as you do it with politeness and respect.

Don't be afraid of "doing the wrong thing", the Vietnamese are very tolerant of the foreigner's lack of knowledge of local customs and most trangressions will be seen as minor.

 

A Westerner went to visit a sick colleague in hospital. En route he stopped to buy flowers and then to pick up several Vietnamese colleagues."-But he's not dead yet !" said one of them, seeing the flowers the Westerner had bought. The crestfallen fellow hastily asked the driver to turn back to allow him to exchange the funeral flowers for a more suitable bouquet. "Don't worry", intervened his Vietnamese colleages, smiling:"you're a Westerner!"

 

 

 

Although in many ways a very polite and courteous lot, you may sometimes find people in Vietnam to be quite rude by your own standard. Do remember that lot of behaviour in Vietnam is dictated by an incredible density of population. About 80 million souls are for the most part squeezed into the low lying areas around the two big fertile river deltas. Which means that if you want to get anything done in this life, you may well have to put your elbow into your neighbour's ribs to get past him. Please remember to do it gently, and with a nice smile on your face.   So, Don't bother with queuing up for things: queues and line-ups just don't happen in Vietnam. You just go for it, as though the gaggle of people in front of you were a mirage caused by the sun, waving your money,tickets, paperwork or whatever in the air and calling out imperiously to be served next. Everyone does it, so instead of fuming at the back of the pack, you'd better start doing this as soon as you arrive.

 

 

Don't be offended by personal questions and remarks: people will often ask not only surprisingly nosy questions like:"how old are you?", "where are you going?", "why are you late?" but also make quite wounding personal remarks, such as:"why are you so fat?" and "your husband is quite ugly!" These would obviously be considered very rude in many cultures- but not in Vietnam.

 

 

 

              

 

Do accept that you are a guest in Vietnam and always will be. You will experience what it feels like to be part of a visible minority. Fortunately however, you are part of a rather privileged one.

 

 

Do try to learn as much as you can about the culture, to integrate as much as possible into the life of the people around you, even knowing that you will never become one of them. The Vietnamese will highly appreciate your efforts to understand them, their culture and their language. And you'll benefit from better treatment, better prices and wider smiles.

 

 

Do remember that there is no right or wrong in cultural difference: only difference.

Talk about it, laugh about it, share it with fellow travellers...

 

Don't keep it bottled up inside you.

 

 

Don't blame it on the country, If you're looking for home, use your return ticket.

Learn and enjoy Vietnam for what it is, a country neither better nor worse than home, but incredibly different.

 

 

 

Don't fall for the stereotype that all Asian countries are alike. Vietnam has its own identity and characteristics, quite different from its neighbours, including China...If you were a Swede, you wouldn't consider yourself the same as a German or even a Norwegian, would you?

Similarly, Vietnamese like to think they are unique... because that's what they are!

 

 

(Claude Potvin & Nicholas Stedman)

 

Vietnam is Vietnamese

 

For Westerners travelling through Asia, it is always a surprise to discover countries based largely on homogenous cultures. In many countries throughout the world, development has been associated with population movements and integration, resulting in systems and attitudes reflecting the multicultural nature of its citizens. Vietnam's history is mainly the story of one ethic group - the Kinh - still representing nowadays 85 percent of the population.

 

You can integrate in Vietnam as a foreigner...but you will never become Vietnamese if you weren't born Vietnamese. Just look in the mirror if you aren't convinced!

 

 

 

(Claude Potvin & Nicholas Stedman)