Updated: 10/16/18 | Published: 9/19/2010
NOTE: This publish was written in 2010 about an experience in 2007. It’s extremely old as well as so is the experience. As I state at the end of this article, you should go to Vietnam. The country has altered a lot. Take the article with a grain of salt. And, if you don’t go to Vietnam since of this post, I’ll discover you as well as drag you there myself.
Back in 2007, I took a trip to Vietnam. Upon leaving, I swore I’d never go back. The only method I’ll provide this location a second possibility is if I satisfy a woman who truly wishes to travel Vietnam or if some business trip takes me there. who understands what the future will hold, however for the time being, I never want to return. as well as the reason for that is one of my most-asked questions. people email me a number of times a week asking why, in this publish about myself, I single Vietnam out as being my least preferred country. What might be so poor about traveling to Vietnam that I would label it that?
Well, I figured it was time to provide an answer.
The simple response is that nobody ever wishes to return to a location where they felt they were treated poorly. When I was backpacking around Vietnam, I was constantly hassled, overcharged, ripped off, as well as treated terribly by the locals.
I constantly satisfied street sellers who tried to openly overcharge me. There was the bread woman who refused to provide me back the appropriate change, the food seller who charged me triple even though I saw exactly how much the client in front of me paid, or the cabbie who rigged his meter on the method to the bus station. While buying tee shirts in Hoi An, three women tried to keep me in their store up until I purchased something, even if that meant pulling on my shirt.
On a trip to Halong Bay, the tour operator didn’t have water on the boat as well as had overbooked the trip, so people who paid for single spaces suddenly discovered themselves with roommates…sometimes in the exact same bed!
One of the worst experiences came while in the Mekong Delta. I was catching a bus back to Ho Chi Minh City. I was thirsty, so I went to get a typical drink in Vietnam — water, lemon, as well as some powdery, sugary compound in a plastic bag. The lady making this concoction looked at me, laughed at her friends, as well as then started chuckling at me while clearly not putting in all the ingredients into this drink. I wasn’t born yesterday as well as understood I was being blatantly ripped off. She was cheating me right to my face.
“She’s telling her buddies she’s going to overcharge as well as rip you off since you’re white,” stated a Vietnamese-American who was likewise on my bus. “She doesn’t believe you will notice.” “How much should this truly cost?” I asked my new companion. I provided the vendor the correct change, told her she was a poor person, as well as walked away. It wasn’t the money I cared about — it was her utter disrespect.
I wondered if it was just me. perhaps I just had a poor experience as well as Vietnam travel was truly amazing! perhaps I just had poor luck. perhaps I just caught people on an off day. however after speaking to a number of other travelers, I realized that we all had the exact same stories. barely anyone had a great one, which may explain why 95% of tourists don’t return. They all had tales of being ripped off, cheated, or lied to. They never felt welcome in the country either.
I witnessed other people having issues in Vietnam. I saw buddies getting ripped off. when when my buddy purchased bananas, the seller walked away before providing the modification back. At a supermarket, a buddy was provided chocolate instead of change. two of my buddies lived in Vietnam for six months, as well as even they stated the Vietnamese were impolite to them in spite of ending up being “locals.” Their neighbors never warmed as much as them. My buddies were always outsiders — strangers even to those they saw every day. anywhere I went, it seemed my experience was the norm, not the exception.
I’ve encountered many travelers who believed the people in Vietnam were truly nice as well as enjoyed visiting Vietnam. I’ve frequently wondered why there’s such a disparity in experiences. Well, there’s one typical difference between the travelers who have liked it as well as those who have hated it. most of the people who had a great experience traveled in luxury, while those who didn’t were backpackers as well as budget plan travelers. It’s a curious thing to believe about as well as reinforces a story I when heard.
While in Nha Trang, I satisfied an English instructor who had been in Vietnam for many years. He stated that the Vietnamese are taught that all their issues are triggered by the West, particularly France as well as the United States, as well as that Westerners “owe” the Vietnamese. They expect Westerners to spend money in Vietnam, so when they see travelers trying to penny-pinch, they get upset as well as therefore look down on backpackers as well as treat them poorly. Those who are costs money, however, seem to be treated rather well. I don’t understand if this is true or not, however provided what I saw, it makes some sense.
I’m not right here to make judgments about Vietnam or the Vietnamese. I don’t believe everybody in the country is poor or rude. I only have my travel experience to show upon. You should go as well as comprise your own mind. After three weeks in Vietnam, I couldn’t get out quick enough. Why would I want to stay in a country that treated me like that? Why would I ever want to go back?
I don’t care that they tried to overcharge me. It’s not about the money. I’m happy to pay more — a dollar goes a great deal further for them than it does for me. however just since I’m a backpacker doesn’t mean I deserve any type of less respect than anyone else.
I wasn’t looking for the royal treatment, just fundamental respect. as well as I never felt respected in Vietnam. I felt like people there looked at me not as a human being however just as somebody who might be ripped off. There are impolite people everywhere, however it was so disproportionately poor that if I never went back to Vietnam, I wouldn’t feel as well poor about it.
But just since I didn’t like Vietnam doesn’t mean you shouldn’t go. This is my experience visiting Vietnam – as well as it was a long time ago. I hear the country has changed. Actually, I hear mixed evaluations a lot. Vietnam is definitely a country that divides travelers – some like it, some hate it. You never understand what you may feel. You should always just take what somebody says, data it away, as well as go yourself. Over the years, many people have asked if they should avoid visiting the country. I state absolutely not. You should never choose to go somewhere since one person had a poor experience! travel is super personal. No two people have the exact same experience.
Go go to Vietnam. let me understand what it is.
But, if you don’t go since of this article, I’ll discover you as well as drag you there myself!
Book Your trip to Vietnam: Logistical tips as well as Tricks
Book din flyvning
Brug Skyscanner eller Momondo til at opdage en billig flyvning. They are my two preferred browse engines since they browse websites as well as airlines around the globe so you always understand no stone is left unturned. Begynd med Skyscanner meget først, da de har den største rækkevidde!
Book din indkvartering
Du kan booke dit hostel med HostelWorld, da de har den største aktie såvel som fineste tilbud. If you want to stay somewhere other than a hostel, utilize Booking.com as they consistently return the most affordable rates for guesthouses as well as inexpensive hotels.
Undlad ikke at huske rejseforsikring
Rejseforsikringsdækning vil beskytte dig mod sygdom, skade, tyveri samt aflysninger. Det er omfattende sikkerhed i situationen, alt går galt. Jeg tager aldrig på en tur uden den, da jeg har været nødt til at bruge den mange gange i fortiden. Min foretrukne forretning, der tilbyder den allerbedste service såvel som værdi er:
Sikkerhedsfløj (for alle under 70)
Forsikre min rejse (for dem over 70)
Medjet (til ekstra repatrieringsdækning)
Leder du efter den allerbedste forretning for at spare penge med?
Tjek min ressourceside for den allerbedste forretning at bruge, når du rejser. Jeg viser alle dem, jeg bruger til at spare penge, når jeg er på vej. De sparer dig penge, når du også rejser.
Want more info on Vietnam?
Be sure to go to our robust destination guide on Vietnam for even more planning tips!