In 2012 My ex-boyfriend and I did a motorcycling tour on the Hoh Chi Min trail from Hanoi to Da Nang. We passed through tiny villages of people who hardly ever had Western visitors and who were very, very friendly, greeting us all the time with big smiles. One time, we stopped at a tiny house which offered food for lunch. The woman started speaking Vietnamese, but we couldn’t understand her, yet she didn’t understand that we didn’t understand her. First, she very considerately let us wash our hands in a bucket of water, before providing us with something to drink and making us Phõ. She sat with us and talked to us the whole time. After we finished, she assumed I would probably have to go to the bathroom and she disappeared somewhere just to come back with toilet paper (!) which I hadn’t seen in weeks and which she must have saved for some special occasion (as most Asians don’t use toilet paper but water to clean themselves), so I felt very special ;)
She lead me to a toilet with about 200 spiders but I appreciated her confidence in me not being scared of them (arachnophobia is a Westerner’s “luxury” phenomenon entirely anyway, I guess) . Afterwards I went on to use sun screen and she started helping me put it ok my back while happily continuing to talk . As at that time I was not wearing shoes and only shorts and a tank top due to the heat, she wanted to offer me her shoes and her jacket. She must have assumed I didn’t have enough clothes, as normally the Vietnamese were wearing a jacket with a hood, long pants, socks, gloves, sunglasses and a hygiene mask to protect themselves from the sun, especially while riding a motorbike. After we finished preparing our depart, she even called her husband from the living room who had been watching TV all along and both of them stood at the door step to wave us goodbye until we couldn’t see them anymore.
This was one of the best, most genuine, heartwarming, interesting and memorable human encounters I have ever had. This extraordinarily warm and caring woman made me feel at home on the other side of the world and despite not understanding a single word from one another she treated me like her daughter. She made me feel understood on a basic level beyond language barriers and cultural differences. She created a brief moment of true connection and meaning for me that I will never forget.
Please judge for yourself if Vietnamese people are friendly, but I would certainly say I experienced them as one of the most friendly and hospitable of all the countries I have been to (44). This impression has not changed even 5 years later, as I am traveling through Vietnam right now!
Greetings from Da Lat :)
I’ve been living in a small town of Vietnam since 18 months for Project purpose. With the experience I’ve had, Vietnamese people are very friendly and easy to gel with. Yes, language is a barrier as they don’t understand english and even if they do , their pronounciation isn’t that easy to interpret. I’ve learnt basic words for my own interest and trust me whenever I’ve tried talking with any local in their language, they get really excited. They like to interact with foreigners and are always willing to learn a few english words here and there. Also don’t be suprised if a local asks you to join them for dinner or go to a karaoke.These guys love having fun whenever given a chance. It’s a really nice place with friendly people and picturesque views. Surely a must visit for all.
As an African American male traveling alone through Vietnam I thought I’d have a rough time.
But I could not be more pleasantly surprised. Initially people are wary, but s single interaction make them your best friends.
Male, female and especially kids are extremely friendly and the service rivals and exceeds that of other neighboring countries.
i just took the night train from Saigon to Hue and by the time I got to Hue, even though I and my roommates did not understand a word of each other, we shook hands - a pregnant lady and two older men - all strangers to each other and knew that if we came across each other again everyone would remember.
From the smallest town to the biggest city, expect to make friends and just be accepted no matter who your are.
The atmosphere is unhurried, like the bikes on the street. It’s like a symphony of everyone just moving together in harmony. I’m highly impressed on this my first visit. I’ll be back again many more times in the future.
UPDATE - June 7, 2019
In Vietnam again. This time in Ha Noi. Even more friendly than HCMC. This time I’m traveling the country with my 15 year old daughter. Hospitality in the north is very very good and many people just approached us to welcome us to the city without needing anything.
One downside is that we did get scammed (a small one) but it was so nice that we did not realize that it was a scam until it was over! But you live and learn.
As an experience we did take the train from Hanoi to Saigon (33 hours) and the staff on the train took extra special care of us - not to mention our fellow passengers too!
I will be attempting to spend a year here beginning next year because of all of this.
I'm half Korean and Norwegian. My first wife is from Vietnam and it was easier for her and her family to speak Vietnamese.
I didn't want to feel left out at home so I decided to learn how to speak Vietnamese. Everyone in the family helped teach me and rather quickly, I started to speak and understand.
Whenever I meet Vietnamese people and start to speak Vietnamese, their eyes light up, they get excited, test me on all the different food, test me on how well I speak, they ask my sons, and just genuine great conversation!
I'm not saying you have to speak Vietnamese but it has been a real honor to see how friendly and wonderful Vietnamese people are…and sometimes hilarious!
إرسال تعليق