Comments on: Traveling Vietnam: Western Tourists “Be Weary” http://www.leadingout.net/blog/traveling-vietnam-western-tourists-be-weary/ Adventures in Teaching & Travelling in Australia Mon, 26 Dec 2011 02:36:51 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: Leading Out http://www.leadingout.net/blog/traveling-vietnam-western-tourists-be-weary/comment-page-1/#comment-1634 Leading Out Wed, 18 May 2011 00:08:14 +0000 http://leadingout.net/blog/?p=586#comment-1634 Love your comment Robert and really appreciate your advice and feedback. After just coming back from Japan, China and Thailand I would agree that taking the time to enjoy the differences and perhaps learn from and take a few ideas from other countries will help all of us. Love your comment Robert and really appreciate your advice and feedback. After just coming back from Japan, China and Thailand I would agree that taking the time to enjoy the differences and perhaps learn from and take a few ideas from other countries will help all of us.

]]> By: robert http://www.leadingout.net/blog/traveling-vietnam-western-tourists-be-weary/comment-page-1/#comment-1611 robert Fri, 01 Apr 2011 07:31:05 +0000 http://leadingout.net/blog/?p=586#comment-1611 I have traveled to Nam six times and found much of what you wrote is true but as I have been a guest of over 30 countries I found that to expect what you have listed above is but one persons view as the main thing to keep in mind is your not in a Western country thus expecting to find such is just not realistic. If a person visiting Nam expects to find such things as the laws, not being cheated when buying items, having a private rail car than you need to open your wallet and pay for all four beds on a sleeper train so you will be alone. As for paying for any items and the cost being higher, the same is true for any Vietnamese as I have seen locals being cheated but mostly if your from the North and visit the South, they know by the the sound of your voice and th difference in some words that you are not a local and they are overcharged as well. As for tours, it all depends on what your willing to spend. You will forsure get what your pay for. Few hotels will offer you the same rate as a local but you can find some that do have fixed prices. When you dine out, take a moment to check both the English and Vietnamese side and chances you will notice the same food listed on the Vietnamese side to be cheaper. If you are handed only a English menu, keep it but ask for a VN menu and you can order either way from the VN menu. Same food but cheaper. Changing money if the hardest part and would take to much time to get into but note you can loose a great deal if you pick the wrong time or wrong place. The rate changes daily and being Western you can expect to be cheated. I offer this thought. Take time to enjoy the differences and understand you are a guest. It is the differences that keep me wanted to see more with each visit. Closing: keep your money and cell in your front pocket and avoid wearing gold or holding a cam as these draw the eyes of the theifs. I tend to hold my cam between my wife and I in that it makes it much harder for a person running from behind you to grab it as you leave them little room. Have fun, keep within the law as being Western will not save you. I have traveled to Nam six times and found much of what you wrote is true but as I have been a guest of over 30 countries I found that to expect what you have listed above is but one persons view as the main thing to keep in mind is your not in a Western country thus expecting to find such is just not realistic. If a person visiting Nam expects to find such things as the laws, not being cheated when buying items, having a private rail car than you need to open your wallet and pay for all four beds on a sleeper train so you will be alone. As for paying for any items and the cost being higher, the same is true for any Vietnamese as I have seen locals being cheated but mostly if your from the North and visit the South, they know by the the sound of your voice and th difference in some words that you are not a local and they are overcharged as well.

As for tours, it all depends on what your willing to spend. You will forsure get what your pay for.

Few hotels will offer you the same rate as a local but you can find some that do have fixed prices.

When you dine out, take a moment to check both the English and Vietnamese side and chances you will notice the same food listed on the Vietnamese side to be cheaper. If you are handed only a English menu, keep it but ask for a VN menu and you can order either way from the VN menu. Same food but cheaper.

Changing money if the hardest part and would take to much time to get into but note you can loose a great deal if you pick the wrong time or wrong place. The rate changes daily and being Western you can expect to be cheated.

I offer this thought. Take time to enjoy the differences and understand you are a guest. It is the differences that keep me wanted to see more with each visit.

Closing: keep your money and cell in your front pocket and avoid wearing gold or holding a cam as these draw the eyes of the theifs. I tend to hold my cam between my wife and I in that it makes it much harder for a person running from behind you to grab it as you leave them little room.

Have fun, keep within the law as being Western will not save you.

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