Vietnam forum

Asia travel forum / Vietnam / Saigon - a different experiance to say the least

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zandy_barbielover newbie Posts: 2	#1 Posted: 2/6/2007 - 09:46 Posted from within Vietnam (why do we highlight this?). Hi! I'mI, my wife and our daughter are on a 2 year vacation doing a "around the world tour" and we are currently doing Asia. I've been abroad 100 plus times over the years but still love travelling. After Thailand, Malaysia and Cambodia we have now been about 1 month in Saigon (HCMC) in Vietnam. We are kind of taking it easy here, unlike most people who come to Saigon and stay a week maybe. I am surprised by the, pardon me being frank, pure stupideness of most people I meet. How people stare at you even though they see foreigners all the time. Their eyes almost pop out. Lol. And how everything seems upside down in this country. We stay at a cheap hotel for 11 dollars a night (most hotels around here are only four (4) dollars more per night so I don't think it's to be considered a total shitplace). We have a TV in the room of course and when you press Volume Up it switches channels, unless you are lucky, then it will actually pump the volume up! If you press Volume Down it highers the volume, unless you are lucky. Lol. I told the staff here and they said "well, that's the way the Tvs are here! Oh well. Normal? Not to me. I guess they were too cheap to buy proper Tvs. We have free internet but the computers are only good for checking your Email. They are all 400 mhz P2 computers from the 90's! You open up more then 2 windows and it takes MINUTES for the pc to respond. Most of them don't work at all. Unless you tell the cleaning woman to clean (she will ask for smokes to do it!) she won't clean! Telling the owner wont help much because she just looks like "what the heck, is he complaining again?!" Lol. I was with my kid in the lobby one morning when a big rat ran in from the street and ran towards their kitchen. I said "hello, maybe someone wants to go get that rat or whatever" and the only reply I got was "well, we do have rats here". Same when cockroaches run around. They just smile. They are aware of the fact that when its hot its nice with a fan, that is why the staff always have a fan facing towards them I would assume. Funny though that they look almost pissed if the guests using the pcs wants them to fix the fan that is supposed to be for us. One day someone just opened the door to our room. I was just coming out of the shower when people just burst into the room. It turned out they were showing a room to potential new guests and probably thought we were not there! Similar things happened 3 times. Once a member of the staff wanted to check the aircondition and I showed with body language that couldnt be misunderstood that my wife was sleeping and with no clothes on but he just showed with his finger to his mouth that "its ok, I will be quiet!" Helllooooooo! Wtf!? Lol. I bought a new DVD player that broke down after 2 weeks in Vietnam. Then I heard that another foreigners laptop broke down as well after 2 months. A coincidence that things I buy in Europe can last 10 years or more? Just a thought. Hotel name is An Phu by the way. We are off to Nha Trang island in 1 week and we have so much loggage with us I really don't want to move to another hotel. We don't spend much time there anyways, just thought it's "funny" what kind of place this is. In Vietnam it seems people (including rich hotel owners) refuse to buy new things if something breakes down. No no, instead they repair it 100000 times. People can't speak English around here, you barely understand one word they are saying and hey they LIVE on tourists in Saigon. Kids work around the clock (yep 3 am too) by selling chewinggums and flowers. Guess it's better then in Romania where kids still live on the street or worse even though they are now a part of the EU. Weed, coke and Ecstasy is being sold everywhere in Vietnam, in the open! "Marijuana mister?" shouts the BOOK salesman out loud everytime a foreigner passes by. Lol. When you go shopping at the nicer malls around here for clothes and you don't buy anything, the staff working there will SIGH - LOUD too. Then have a big conversation about it between eachother. It's like they take it personally that you don't wanna buy from their store. They get really frustrated after you leave, and it's not just a game they play like in Turkey or or such places, no they really get pissed. It's like they really can't understand why the hell we didnt buy anything from them. They don't get a bonus for selling a lot of clothes to you. They are still on their shit salary, so why even care if we buy from the store they work at? It makes shopping unpleasant and makes shopping in Turkey, India, South Africa, Thailand or even Egypt FUN! Lol. One woman said when I asked at a local market "how much for this Tshirt" "6 dollars" and I said "ok" and when I left she said (SCREAMED)"you must say thank you! Very unpolite. You and your fuvcking wife!". We were like...hellooo you have never even seen us before, why so pissed. Drunk or what? Lol. Hey, Saigon is great. Nice place-really. Just be aware of where you live and keep things in mind unless you wanna feel frustrated around the clock. If you are just on a 1 month vacation, get a 100 $ a day room and go only to fancy places. You wont avoid the SIGH when you dont buy stuff though but hey, thats Saigon I guess. Comments on what I have written? Yes even smart ass comments are welcome.

Rufus adventurer Posts: 434 Located in: Laos	#2 Posted: 2/6/2007 - 12:22 Yoiu are either a troll, which I suspect, or very stupid. Just go back to where you came from. Helpful? -1
satch newbie Posts: 4	#3 Posted: 4/6/2007 - 05:17 I can't believe people like you even travel to other countries....I can see why the Vietnamese are so rude to you and i don't blame them...Go home and give everyone a rest. Helpful? -1
sailor longtail driver Posts: 6	#4 Posted: 4/6/2007 - 10:18 I live in saigon for 4 months now and I live at a local place. (I'm a white guy..) My experience is the Vietnamese people are very polite en nice to foreigners. The look at you, but you get used to it. They also look at each other all day, I think it is their way of life. I satyed in a hotel for 1 month in district 1. Payed 12 dollars a night and it was a really good room, everything worked as it should be. Never saw one rat or other animal in the hotel and the people in the hotel were very nice. As what you say about the fans you see.. Every shop I have been till now, they always turned the fan to me as I walked in. So I really dont'n understand your complaints. I think you should't blame the Vietnamese, but look to yourself first..... Helpful? +1
zandy_barbielover newbie Posts: 2	#5 Posted: 5/6/2007 - 14:55 Posted from within Vietnam (why do we highlight this?). Thanks for your replies. I'm not sure in what way #I# am rude though. Because I don't like it when people stare so much at you their eyes almost pop out? Or because I find it weird that it, according to the staff at the hotel we lived, is "normal" for TV's to switch channel when you press Volume Up? Or that it's normal for the staff to burst into the hotelroom which you pay for to show potential new clients what their rooms look like, and hope we wouldnt be there while doing so? Or because things you buy, say a DVD player, at nice malls, don't last too long IN GENERAL based on the DVD player I bought and based on what another foreigner told me? Now Sailor made a comment about the fact that every shop he has been to has fans and that they will face the fans towards him. That is true. I have had the same pleasant experiance. But what has THAT to do with what I wrote? Nothing. And you would have known that if you would have bothered reading my comments. I wrote, in regards to the HOTEL, and I quote myself "They (the staff) are aware of the fact that when its hot its nice with a fan, that is why the staff always have a fan facing towards them I would assume. Funny though that they look almost pissed if the guests using the pcs wants them to fix the fan that is supposed to be for us." About the rats, I belivie you when you say you don't have any rats where you live for 12 bucks. What I said was that when I mentioned it to the staff they said, and I quote myself again "well, we do have rats here". Now back to the whole polite/unpolite thing. About 2 hrs ago, at Zen Plaza (a mall) a Vietnamese woman tripped and fell as she was about to go out of the taxi she came in. I hurried up to help her but you know what I noticed? 2 Vietnamese persons working inside Zen Plaza (standing behind the glassed windows) laughed at her when she fell. Is that polite? I don't know, not where I come from it is. You see, Vietnamese people act, in my opinion, very uneducated. They will burp loud, fart loud in the streets (women too) and with no shame at all they will do so. They will always show (consciously or without thinking about it) what they feel. If they feel like STARING they will. Wanna fart or burp (we all do, right? Doesn't mean I will do it in public...) they will do so. If they feel like laughing (like when that women fell) they WILL do so. Maybe it looked funny when she fell, I also thought so, but I would never show it. I rather help her. About them staring at you, yes I AM used to it. That doesnt mean I think it's normal. They see foreigners all the time now dont they? I dont stare at them, why do they stare at us? And I mean STARE. Today was a 4 hours blackout in this city but rather then people protesting about these conditions they don't even care. When you walk the streets around here people drive like maniacs, they care none whatsoever about if they would hit someone. They just honk that horn and drive as fast (and often at the wrong side of the road) as they can without realizing that in reality they dont really save much time now do they. I'm sure you guys will have yet a few smartass comments to make in regards to this. If so, welcome. If not, great. But you know it is like this. And hey, that is the beauty traveling to new countries, you alwys learn new things. That doesn't mean I need to like it or adapt to their customs and start farting and burping out loud while drinking a coke or beer. That doesnt mean I will start thinking its a good thing for parents to force their kids (3-10 yo) to work all night long selling crap to foreigners while mommy and daddy sits 200 metres away ecpecting them to come there every 10 minutes or so to show them how much they made the past 10 minutes. What dont the parents work instead of using their kids for child labour. Have fun in Vietnam people. You sure can. Its beautiful in Vietnam and not all people are rude or weird or uneducated. Most are though. Helpful? 0
sailor longtail driver Posts: 6	#6 Posted: 5/6/2007 - 15:23 Ok, in addition to my last post. I said shops, but this was also the experience in the hotel where I stayed. They did everything to please me (so also turning the fans to me). About DVD, MP3 players etc you buy here, I don't know what your buy exactely. If you buy fake stuff it's not that expensive and (because its fake) you know it can brake down every moment. Just buy the real stuff there is warranty on it and it's good. I bought new camera here just as I arrived (a canon) works just perfect and there is world wide waranty on it. You pay for it, but it works. You mentioned about the polite and unpolite, I agree with you they laugh when someone gets hurt, the fart and burb whenever they want, they stare at each other, they say everything they want (like you are fat..) You call this unpolite. Well maybe in our (your) eyes this is. But ever heard of culture? I learned to eat with cutlery, but (traditional) vietnamese have learned to eat with chopsticks. Man, you are at the other side of the world (it think, don't know where you from) So the culture is different. You say it is unpolite (you think so, that's in your culture) but here it is polite, even if you don't think so this is their culture.. This is the way how they live here. You don't have to agree with it, but you can't say they are rude or stuff like that. Probaly they think they same of you, because you don't understand their way of living. When foreigners come to my country I expected them to live like the rules of my country. I agree with you some of their patrons are not nice, but you can't blame them. I work with them everyday and to understand them well I did some research to it. Here you have a website of a scientist who did research to the interactions of national cultures. Fill it in and see what the differences are. I hope this will help you to see that there is a really big difference between people with different cultures. http://www.geert-hofstede.com/hofstede_dimensions.php Please fill it in and tell me what you think of it afterwards. I understand some things you said, but on the other hand I think you are the one who is rude, because you are a guest in this country and you don't understand the culture... Helpful? -1
CatBa adventurer Posts: 349	#7 Posted: 5/6/2007 - 19:20 The OPs experience is largely unusual and no doubt reflects his choice of accommodation. You would have been better off staying in a long-stay hotel where your costs would likely be the same but the accommodation quality would be far better. When you leave HCMC and head up country likely your experiences will improve. As for the staring - maybe something YOU are doing is causing the stares? The Vietnamese are very observant and eye contact is important. After 15 years in the country I am occasionally surprised by tourists. Helpful? -1
katina newbie Posts: 1	#8 Posted: 13/6/2007 - 12:17 Thank you for being honest about the observations on Vietnamese people. At least someone has the guts to say what many of us think. Helpful? 0
tails101 traveller Posts: 95	#9 Posted: 13/6/2007 - 18:49 On several visits to Vietnam I've only ever found the people to be polite and friendly. Sure, they may look at me as I walk past - but I'm different to what they are used to seeing, so I've no complaints. I certainly don't agree with the critical observations above and would rather you don't generalise by stating it is what many people think and thanking someone for being critical. If I've misunderstood you, my apologies... However, for a first post, you've certainly gone in feet first! Helpful? -1
GussieG motodop Posts: 24	#10 Posted: 13/6/2007 - 19:41 That joke went on longer than one of Ronnie Corbett's!! I assume it's a joke, surely no one can write that sort of stuff seriously... Sweeping generalisation of the year "not all people are rude or weird or uneducated. Most are though" Surely if you want everything to be more like homegrown culture, maybe you should stay at home? Helpful? -1
Phole longtail driver Posts: 5	#11 Posted: 15/6/2007 - 08:28 Next time you should never say, you and your family are travelling around the world for 2 years. Be smart man! Anyway, remember the purpose of your trip? If you have any. Most people travel to discover the positive sides of the people ,of the different cultures and custume, and places. It seemed like you travel to gather the "only shit" stories. If you are a white man, people look at you in Africa, Middle East, South Asea, and SE Asea because you are stick out. But most of the cases people stare at you only if you act foolishly or you look stupid or because you stare at them. When you talk about Vietnamese people laugh at the incident, don't unfairly judge a people if you are too stuffy and have no clue about a different culture. You should learn from their sens of humour. If you watch AFV (American Funniest Video) you will see hundreds of thousand similar cases and the more you see and think a little bit, eventually you will understand why. Shortly, like some others have said, look to yourself first. Vietnamese people is a wonderful kind of people, they forgot the painful past caused by the French, Chinese and American (Thailand, Korean and Aussie army were also sent to Vietnam during the Vietnam war) most people in the world recognize the good will and the moving on of Vietnamese people and the bottom line, you are wasting your money by travel too far from home Helpful? -2
Phole longtail driver Posts: 5	#12 Posted: 17/6/2007 - 06:55 I'd like to add some explanations 1st, You said "people here can't speak English at all you can't understand one word they are saying they live on tourists" the woman at a local market ( Vietnamese people consider those women the lowest class in the society) said (screamed)" you have to say thank you very impolite you and your fucking wife". What a conflict! People in the world learn good speaking and writing English. They never learn something such as "fuck you" or " you and your fucking wife". You complained the English of the people in the tourist industry but you understand clearly and precisely an uneducated woman saying something bad. Why? 2nd, When the woman answered "6 dollars" to your how much question , you said "OK" then walked away without buying or saying thanks. OK is similar to an agreement in many cases. Seemingly you enjoyed causing the trouble. 3rd, Youwere in Thailand and Malaysia, but you bought your CD player in VIetnam, Not smart at all. The fake produsts are made in China , why blamed Vietnam. But you pay cheap, you get cheap. So no whinning. 4th, You don't have any right to complain about the way the local people live and enjoy their own life. If you find annoying you should go home . 5th, Vietnamese are uneducated. It doesn't make any sense. You can say one individual is uneducated, but not people of a country. Helpful? 0
Phole longtail driver Posts: 5	#13 Posted: 17/6/2007 - 07:26 Continued 5th, I'd agree more or less if you talk about the hill tribe people in Vietnam. But the question is "What is education or non-education related to you?. 6th, You should go to "Tripadviser.com" to see there are so many people who paid over $100us for 3 or 4 stars hotels in the West but not happy because of the toilette, the noise, the smell, fridge, TV, or saggy bed, etc.. Check it out yourself ! 7th, Complaining about free internet service at your $11 guessshouse (including 2 brekkies). Why not go to any internet cafe just next to your guesshouse and pay 25 cents us for one hour instead of going around with a negative attitude to cause trouble for the local people and spreading the image of an ugly white traveller. In the world most people hated American the most, but I beleive this is not fair for American people.In general Vietnamese people are good and bad like French, Jamaican, Roumanian, Haitian, Somalian, English, German, Iranian, Chinese, etc.. However, having good or bad trip/time depend on your attitude towards the country and its people. The ones who are friendly and open-minded are always welcomed and have good trip everywhere they go. You should stop accusing people based on a few unpleasant experiences and your personal prejudice. Luckily, you are one in milion tousists. If there are many like you the 3rd world country people would change their positive attitude into negative one towards white travellers soon. I really felt shameful to hear your comments. If anyone who doesn't agree with any issue I wrote please let me know. Thanks! Helpful? 0
pandjack longtail driver Posts: 5	#14 Posted: 14/1/2010 - 03:46 Wow!!!! You're very obviously american (small'a'), having 'been abroad 100 plus times over the years' (my eyes are sore from looking at your maps but.....nope.....still can't find a state with 100 borders - lol). If you can't cope with the real real world....stay at home. Or maybe you could just sue the mother####ers for not not living up to your corporate insular American (big 'A') standards? Helpful? -2
grenny longtail driver Posts: 5	#15 Posted: 14/1/2010 - 07:58 haha pandjack exactly what i was thinking Helpful? -2
Precious24 motodop Posts: 22	#16 Posted: 14/1/2010 - 09:59 OP locals will only stare at white people when there's something that attracts their attention, like maybe you are fat? And guess what? You are lucky you did not share your cheap hotel room with rats and cockroaches or I don't even call $11 rate as hotel, guest house perhaps. And speaking of rudeness, is it also politically correct to say all white people are like you? My point is OP what you saw or the people you met does not represent majority of the Vietnamese race, so it's rude to use the word "most", if you ever understood that word. You complain of people's inability to speak English but let me ask you, do you speak Vietnamese? How do you say "**** you" in Vietnamese and how would you say $6 dollars in Vietnamese. At least the Vietnamese know the English of those but you, I don't know if you can ever say that in Vietnamese or the Vietnamese to understand you say that in their language. Say it and let's see if they can understand you. And one more thing can I ask what is EXPERIANCE? typo, slang or what? well sorry but I am Asian not a native speaker and we are only thought proper English. Helpful? 0
MADMAC mahout Posts: 1543	#17 Posted: 14/1/2010 - 22:12 I guess I'll have to go there and separate fact from fiction. My Vietnamese neighbors do have a lot to say about Vietnam, and most of it is bad. BUT, people tend towards the self critical. Helpful? +1
NYTim motodop Posts: 28	#18 Posted: 14/1/2010 - 23:13 I hate responding to idiotic posts but here goes. if a hotel was that bad, move out. Vietnam is the friendliest place I have ever been -- and I have been around. I liked it so much that I am going back this year. Helpful? +2
mojopac backpacker Posts: 12	#19 Posted: 29/1/2010 - 05:38 To say I'm amazed by the comments of the "world traveller" is an understatement. I was in Saigon last November and loved it. The people were fabulous, polite, courteous, friendly, very professional. I checked the education system out, which is very good. I did stay in District 1 at a good hotel but got out and about on foot with my wife...we did get some looks but I guess that's because I'm just such a handsome man! (and my wife beautiful). The people had a great sense of humour and interacted with me really well. maybe that's because I was polite, took the time to learn to say hello in Vietnamese...and thank you. I just didn't have a problem. I think you should look in the mirror. I'm going back next November, loved he place. Helpful? -1
KazAussie tuk tuk driver Posts: 151	#20 Posted: 29/1/2010 - 13:56 Hi All, I was really nervous about going to HCMC. Although I have travelled quite a bit, not much has been in Asia. I have seen TV shows about the noise, the traffic, the pollution. Well our international flight was arriving in Saigon so I thought well if I don't like it we will move on. I didn't like it.... I loved it!!! Saigon is as chaotic and noisy as you see in all the TV shows and films but it WORKS! Mostly it works because of the good humour of the local people. Let's face it, if you got cranky every time you got stuck in Saigon traffic you would have a very unhappy life. We stayed in a cheap guesthouse, the rooms were clean and comfortable (if a little small) and the people running it fantastic. If you don't want to see and experience different things the answer is simple .... stay at home. We did get stared at in the street, but I had been warned about that. Staring is not impolite in Vietnamese culture, so why worry about it. While most people in the tourist areas speak and understand English. I was constantly astounded by the patience shown by street vendors and the like as I tried to mime what I was after. I know we in the English speaking world are no where near as tolerant of non-English speakers when they visit our shores. It is amazing how far a smile, pointing and body language can get you. I love visiting places with a really foreign culture, and I think the key to enjoying yourself is to remember you are a guest in their country. Vive la difference! Helpful? 0
roznkaz longtail driver Posts: 8	#21 Posted: 29/1/2010 - 15:00 We also had such a good experience in Vietnam last year that we are going again in a couple of weeks. One of the best things about the place was the friendly people everywhere we went. Who cares if the volume of the tv doen't work properly, these are the things to laugh about and enjoy. What are you doing inside anyway when there's so much to see and experience on the streets? I think we could all learn a lot from the Vietnamese with regard to patience and acceptance. I hope your travel experiences improve for you, your family and all those who come into contact with you. Helpful? 0
kaercher longtail driver Posts: 5	#22 Posted: 5/2/2010 - 20:57 Posted from within Vietnam (why do we highlight this?). Totally agree with Roznkaz. So far, my experience in Vietnam has been great. Had a good time in Saigon and Hoi An; people are pretty kind in the shops,hotel etc... Nicest people? Ok, ok, the cubans still got the first place but the vietnameses comes close. Helpful? 0
Marconi newbie Posts: 1 Located in: Poland	#23 Posted: 5/2/2010 - 22:52 Just to add my opinion. When I came to Vietnam my first feelings were "OMG where am I". People were looking at me like I was a freak from the circus. My girlfriend is originally from Vietnam, so I also got the "WTF is that girl doing with that white boy" looks and very mean comments about her. But her family quickly taught me some great lines like "what are you looking at loser" and "look elswere" so I had some fun to:) Shopping in Saigon was a horror...each time I tried something on and refused to buy I was scared I'm gonna get beat up. Some hotels I stayed were awful - I'll never forget one in Vung Tao where we went to enjoy a family weekend...creepy. Getting around with all the motorbikes and strange traffic rules was like russian roulette - 1/6 to die under someones vehicle. I also experienced tasteless food in restaurants, taxi drivers that tried to make a complete idiot out of me and people simply disgusted with my presence. Not mentioning the lack of english spoken people...wow. Even in my country (Poland) more poeple speak english. But I also met super friendly people who helped me as muchas they could (not knowing english), stayed at beautiful places for cheap money, ate brilliant food (gained 3 kg in one month - is that possible?) and saw great views I can only dream of each night. And guess what - I'm going back to VN in a couple of days and I just can't wait to go to a street bar and order a bowl of Pho! I love that country. I love the scenery, I love the smell of their food, I love the culture, the street restaurants, their toothless smiles and event their strange looks they're giving me. And I love Vietnam Airlines to;) It'a completely different culture with social rules that differ from the ones that we know (european or americans). So If you go there don't just think of yourself and don't act like you're a king - be humble, use your brain and open yourself for every experience (event the nasty ones;) ), and I'm sure you'll finally get to like it, because that's the way life is. If you want a vacation in VN with no complaints, pay thousands go to Ana Madera in Nha Trang and close yourself in a hotel room for two weeks... That'all;) Helpful? 0 ------------------------------ Vietnam again!
Shannonm2461 newbie Posts: 1	#24 Posted: 6/2/2010 - 05:20 To Pandjack and Grenny, Have you ever met any Americans? Or do you just believe everything you watch on TV? There are over 300 MILLION Americans! You can NOT stereotype all of us as being ignorant!! Your comments come off as arrogant and to be quiet frank, STUPID! zandy_barbielover is a TROLL! Wake up!! And on a side note, I've lived abroad and backpacked Vietnam. I thought the country was wonderful and the people were pleasant. My American friends, who've been there, would agree! Helpful? 0
johnno newbie Posts: 4	#25 Posted: 7/2/2010 - 23:11 Thanks for ur observations zandy_barbielover. It's always good to share ur experiences, both good & bad, so that those like me, who's never been to the destinations of interest, can better prepare for the upcoming trip. U've also allowed a healthy debate on the subject destination. As for everyone else, thanks also for sharing ur experiences, which from what i gather, have been mainly positive. I don't like to make critical comments on those who post their negative experiences, as i understand we all have different ways of responding to a certain situation. There are people in this world who'd not be happy seeing a large rat inside a kitchen and then there are people who don't mind eating one. Who are we to judge hey? At least they've made a decision to check out a place that they've never visited. That choice in itself commends a praise, not criticism. Imo it's better to prepare for the worst and be delighted at discovering the opposite than the other way around. I will post my 20 cents worth on vietnam once i visit the country in april. Until then may we continue to share our travel experiences, be it good, bad or plain ugly :-) Helpful? +3
MADMAC mahout Posts: 1543	#26 Posted: 9/2/2010 - 10:59 Pandjack and Grenny I find it interesting that you decry the original posters generally negative statements about Vietnamese and then go ahead and launch your own generally negative statements about Americans. Ironic. Helpful? +1
grenny longtail driver Posts: 5	#27 Posted: 9/2/2010 - 15:04 was just having a laugh....no malice. expect to cop the same back! americans i know definately laugh with me on that one. i guess its the old story of not being able to properly portray the context of words that are just written. Helpful? 0
MADMAC mahout Posts: 1543	#28 Posted: 9/2/2010 - 16:54 Perhaps. Having spent five years in the German Army, I can tell you I did get tired of hearing the cowboy cliches and how Americans "have no culture". This from people who mostly had never been there. America is a HUGE melting pot of cultures from virtually everywhere. How it could have "no culture" or how Americans could be "ignorant of other cultures" when we actually come from all of these places is beyond me. Helpful? 0
Doniwarner longtail driver Posts: 6	#29 Posted: 17/2/2010 - 02:55 I beg all of you to not make the generalization that all Americans are the same as Zandi! I am an American and I am repulsed by his comments. I travel with the dream that my trips will bring some unity to a world that has become increasingly separated - now I have to undo the adventures of Zandi and try to gain a better opinion for myself and my fellow countrymen. I do not expect to hear English on the streets of Saigon, I can hear English in the States, I would prefer to laugh and scribble pictures with a person who's only shared trait with mine is that we are standing in close proximity to one another. Zandi, go to Epcot, Disney has done a wonderful job at bringing the world to one location so you don't have to experience the harsh reality of what other countries face to provide your low-budget style of life. You should NOT travel the world and you most certainly are the stereotypical representation of the Arrogant American Traveler - Sorry world. Helpful? -1
MADMAC mahout Posts: 1543	#30 Posted: 17/2/2010 - 11:33 Doni The guy only made a couple of posts. I have the feeling he's a troll and this was a windup. Helpful? -1
nzlup motodop Posts: 22	#31 Posted: 17/2/2010 - 14:11 Yeah - I think the op was a troll...Definitely some weird statements ("too much luggage to change hotels" yet they are on a 2 yr holiday ; spending 1 mth in Saigon ??). He does actually say "Hey, Saigon is great. Nice place-really.." at the end... We have all had weird, amusing and /or aggravating incidents while travelling (externally AND within ones own country). Is he just highlighting that he has had some ? (ie a Drama Queen) I looked at another post of his - check it out - its amusing : http://www.lonelyplanet.com/thorntree/thread.jspa?messageID=12952350� Mad , Doni - If there is a "stereotypical representation of the Arrogant American Traveler" then I believe it is not from people who have actually met many American Travellers and are forming a viewpoint based on TV, Hollywood films ..and political events. On the contrary, nearly every American I have met travelling has been friendly & good company. The one fault is that you guys are too bloody generous though, tip too much and don't bargain hard so that prices are driven up without sparing a thought for those of us with banana republic peso currencies ;-) Helpful? 0
ollonborre2009 newbie Posts: 1	#32 Posted: 12/3/2010 - 22:49 I read this thread and I can't help making a comment and defend the topic writer a bit. I've also been on quite a long journey with my 2 kids age 5 and 6 (lasted 14 months, 3 continents) since I figured this would be our last chance doing such a trip together since when they start school it's not really possible noe is it, so why a "2 year vacation" in any way would not be trustworthy beats me. People call him American but when I read his post he seems European like myself. He says for instance "A coincidence that things I buy in Europe can last 10 years or more? Just a thought.". Why would he buy stuff in Europe if he is American? Having spent a LONG time in various countries I too agree with the point Zandy is trying to make I guess and that is that if you are on vacation for just a few weeks or 1-2 months you usually end up feeling W O W about anything and everyone you meet. But if you stay longer than that you see things for what it is sometimes and yeah, Vietnamese people are a pain in the ass. So are Chinese. Hey those are my 5 cents. No speach needed about me generalizing people since my opinion is based on people in GENERAL, exceptions do exist but didn't meet many. I too thought Vietnamese were super friendly people until I discovered that was only valid as long as they could overcharge me on all kinds of things. Try and buy a tshirt for the price Vietnamese people pay and soon they won't be smiling anymore. Go to the Philippines instead and you will enjoy life to its full. Been there 3 months now and it sure beats Vietnam. I think people who complain about Zandy_Barbielover post should read it again. Be greatful people not only pretend things are awesome on their vacations ;-) Helpful? +1
francesstella tourist Posts: 56 Located in: Italy	#33 Posted: 13/3/2010 - 04:38 I've been to a place way weirder than Vietnam. In this country, people crossing you in the street will be weary of meeting your eye because it is considered rude to acknowledge another human being. Something mesmerising was invented called 'etiquette'. At one time, legs became the subject of taboo: underwear became known as 'unmentionables', even tables and chairs were fitted with tablecloths and skirts so you could't see their legs! Things have evolved since then. For example, the defintion of 'miniskirt' is edging nearer to the old definition of 'belt': really adds to the flavour of local costume! Yet, while it is culturally acceptable to bear all body-wise, unexplicably it is still frowned upon to bear your true feelings & urges: if someone feels like laughing, they don't; if they need to fart, they'll try and do a quiet one and hope to God no one smells it (and if someone does, they'll blame the neighbour); if they need to burp after a good meal, they rather keep in all that gas than let any noise emanate from their body. Their homes are aseptic, any reminder of the outside world is readily killed & sterilised (unless it's in a pot or wearing a collar). It's like they're ashamed of nature, ashamed of their own bodies, ashamed of who they are. They know the cost of everything but the value of nothing: if something breaks, they discard it and buy a new one. "Ending is better than mending!"* But then they shake their heads at the state of the world when they hear the latest environmental reports on the news (from their brand new TV with - hail! - perfectly functioning volume buttons). But then... to top it all... They travel to the rest of the world (because they are wealthier than most of it's other inhabitants) and they are genuinely surprised - shocked! - to discover that people there laugh when they want to, fart when they need to and don't think twice about having a good old burp. Rather than admire this honesty of spirit & learn from a different lifeview, they label it according to the etiquette they bring with them wherever they go. They scorn at the dirt with patronising contempt, as if completely forgetting what their own hometown looked like as little as a century ago. And they are genuinely, genuinely puzzled when that country's people have the audacity of speaking their own language rather than theirs. I'm telling you, this place is a headtrip! No wonder I feel so at home in Asia :) NB: I apologise for poking fun at you Barbie-Lover but your comments were too tragically funny to pass up. All statements above are not gross generalisations but sarcastically inspired from comments made in the first posts - they have just been turned on their heads. Peace x * Quote from Aldous Huxley, Brave New World Helpful? +3 ------------------------------ "The core of mans' spirit comes from new experiences." - AST
MADMAC mahout Posts: 1543	#34 Posted: 14/3/2010 - 20:26 My mother in law burbs loudly without a hint of shame. She also picks her toe nails and her nose no matter where she happens to be. We took her to an upscale restaraunt and my wife (her daughter) was so appalled she won't take her mother to anything other than local places in Yaso anymore. IT doesn't bother me, but my wife... funny. Helpful? 0
humpdawg longtail driver Posts: 10	#35 Posted: 15/3/2010 - 02:43 Think I love Francesstella! Any chance of a photo? Helpful? 0
caseyprich motodop Posts: 25	#36 Posted: 15/3/2010 - 07:17 okay - this thread is from 2007 - so really I shouldn't comment - but I just have to say something about people staring at you in Vietnam. I live in China - if you don't want to get stared at then don't come here. I wish they would oggle me with eyes popping out - it would seem more natural, instead, they see you, once long gaze, then they go down to your shoes and check out your whole person from bottom-to-top. Then, they just look at you until you get off the subway, bus, out of the check out line. This is in Shanghai. You should check out what it's like in Nanjing. Better yet, rural Yunnan. Better yet, be a western women rather than a man - because they really get the works. However, you get used to it. You understand that there is no disrespect, you realize they are just curious - and you don't make a big deal about it because you are a guest - a (strange) stranger in a strange land. A note on Vietnamese staring - my girlfriend who is a lighter skinned Chinese traveled with me to Vietnam - this is a wonderful way to avoid being stared at - bring a pretty Asian girl with you! i don't think anyone more than glanced at me before they sent curious glances everywhere about her - we imagined the first question was-- Vietnamese???? Helpful? 0 ------------------------------ "Go forth and set the world on fire" - St. Ignatius