Everything about Vietnam for tourists. Features of a trip to Vietnam: personal experience. Religious preferences of the Vietnamese

There will be no problems with communication and the Internet in Vietnam; in this regard, everything here is created for clients: Thais, study, why do you need my passport when buying a SIM card! Which of the three major cellular operators to choose is not at all important - the tariffs and conditions are absolutely the same. You can buy a SIM card even in small shops, and you don’t need any documents for this. The quality of communication is good almost everywhere, with the exception of remote areas.

Attractive features of Vietnamese cellular communications:
no internal roaming, tariffs are the same throughout the country;
low rates for international calls, they are slightly higher than for domestic calls;
replenishment of the balance using a special card, which can be purchased in the same place as the SIM card (there is a code written on the card that is entered into the phone, accessible instructions are on the back side);
good quality Internet, prices for it among operators are also almost the same.

Mobile Internet is quite capable of competing with hotel Wi-Fi and even winning against it. It is more profitable to buy traffic packages. The Internet speed is quite decent, but, of course, it cannot be compared with the Russian one. Wi-Fi is available in the vast majority of hotels and guesthouses, as well as in more or less large cafes and restaurants.
Bottom line: Vietnam has some of the bestin Southeast Asia, conditions for Internet and mobile communication services.

Language and communication in Vietnam

Vietnamese is also difficult to understand, like most Asian languages. At least for Europeans. A big plus is the presence of an alphabet based on the Latin alphabet. That is, these are not hieroglyphs or other elegant script; the words can at least be roughly read. In my impression, there are a lot of short words that add up to long phrases. The Vietnamese speak abruptly but expressively. There are also all sorts of icons above the words, they are important - they indicate the tonality.

Hello	Xin chào	Xin Chao
Thank you	Cảm ơn	Kam on (sometimes spoken through the nose, komyn)
Guest House	Nhà nghỉ	Nia ni (in places where there is a lack of hotels, you need to look for accommodation using this sign)
What is the price	Bao nhiêu	Bao nu
Rice with additives	Cơm tấm Gà Vịt Bò CA Tom	Kom tam kom - rice, the basis of the kitchen, kom tam - this is the simplest and cheapest dish, rice with several types of pork and vegetables, instead of pork (tấm), you can order any types of meat with rice: Ga - chicken Vit - duck Bo - beef Ka - fishTom - shrimp
Rice plate	Cơm Đĩa	Com Dia Rice with several fillings is a traditional main course.

At least they know English in resort areas, but the pronunciation of the simplest words sometimes changes so much that it is difficult to identify them. However, in Nha Trang and Mui Ne, many middle-aged citizens can speak Russian perfectly well.

In general, the Vietnamese language has six tones; it is unlikely that you will be able to reproduce many words correctly the first or even the hundredth time. Therefore, I recommend using translators; now this is very easy to do using phones and other gadgets. If the translation is inaccurate, pictures from the Internet, gestures and facial expressions will help.

Features of mentality

Compared to other Southeast Asians, Vietnamese may seem more gloomy, focused, and rational. And it is true. Of course, many smile and show cordiality, and in the tourism industry this is generally the norm. But it’s still difficult to call Vietnam a country of smiles. Another feature: the Vietnamese are in no hurry and have a fairly democratic attitude towards obligations: “tomorrow” can mean “tomorrow, but not exactly”, “most likely the day after tomorrow”, etc. However, the average traveler is unlikely to encounter this.

In general, the Vietnamese are friendly, but a little shy when communicating with foreigners. But in everyday life they can be very noisy, especially children. They often live in large families, in the same house where they conduct business, the latter most often being a store, workshop, etc.

A foreigner is, first of all, a source of income, it’s like that everywhere in tourist places, nothing can be done about it. Vietnam does not show anything extraordinary here. Yes, sellers can inflate prices on the market, this is not uncommon, they round the numbers in the right direction, sometimes they are simply mistaken. However, given the general low level of prices, such a burden does not seriously affect the travel budget, because the change of one or two thousand dong will not make a difference. There are also cases of deliberate global inflation of prices (2-3 times), which is a real fraud. The latter, by the way, is found almost everywhere, so you need to be careful when making calculations.

Most Vietnamese people believe in spirits and honor their ancestors. But the operating temples are few in number, and no particular zeal has been noticed in religious services and celebrations. But religious tolerance is at the level: locals equally respect both Catholic cathedrals and Chinese churches. One of the main components of the spiritual life of the Vietnamese is the cult of ancestors. Each house has a special memorial - a home altar with photographs, in appearance reminiscent of a Thai spirit house, on which fresh fruits, rice, and other foods are placed. Under no circumstances should food be touched or taken; this is considered a severe insult.

Shopping. What should you bring from Vietnam?

Vietnam produces many products itself, without relying on rich neighbors, including cosmetics and medications, clothing and shoes. Therefore, from here it is quite possible to bring authentic high-quality products and things, that is, Vietnamese, and not Chinese souvenirs.

The first thing I will mention is the delicious coffee, which has been mentioned more than once. Coffee pots are also worth bringing, they are very convenient. However, there is one feature that needs to be given special attention. The cunning Vietnamese, realizing the demand of foreigners, put moussaka on all packs of coffee, this is the beast that produces Luwak coffee. The animal is very similar to an ordinary marten. However, natural luwak is very expensive, and what is sold under its guise, costing 10,000 VND per 100 grams, is ordinary Arabica.

Of course, exotic fruits should not be ignored either. You can ask the sellers for special baskets so that the fruits do not get crushed on the road, and they will select the appropriate fruits.

Today, branches of the largest European clothing and footwear brands are located in Vietnam. Prices for goods are usually lower than in Russia. However, to get a truly high-quality item, it is better to contact specialized stores.

Medicines and cosmetics are popular among tourists. Particularly famous are ointments and balms (“the asterisk” is generally used here as a universal remedy), and among cosmetic products - coconut oil and masks. Some have a whitening element added, usually this is indicated right on the label.

Local kitchen. What to try in Vietnam?

Vietnamese cuisine delights with unusual combinations and exotic flavors. What’s especially nice is that you can adjust the spiciness yourself; there is a special plate with peppers and sliced lime on the table. That is, initially the dishes themselves are not spicy.

Visitors are also served a large plate of greens and free green tea. The Vietnamese themselves love coffee very much and, I must admit, it is exceptionally tasty here. Usually there is a set of sauces on the table. Be careful not to confuse soy sauce with fish sauce. The latter can be identified by the fish on the bottle label; it has a specific taste that not everyone will like.

National dishes.

Fo. This is a soup made with rich meat broth. Real pho takes several hours to cook. The “filling” of this soup is noodles and meat, as well as soybean sprouts, which are indispensable in Vietnam. The soup is prepared before serving: all other ingredients are added to the finished broth. The visitor himself adds lime and herbs to taste, as well as fish sauce if desired; it is quite appropriate in the soup and reveals some subtle notes of taste. The most famous beef pho is pho bo. But there is also pho with chicken - pho ga, with fish, shrimp or squid. The noodles, by the way, are rice. After all, rice is the head of everything.

Banh mi. The king of street food, which in Vietnam is generally not very diverse. The baguettes inherited from the French colonists, which are consumed here, by the way, in huge quantities, are cut in half, smeared with sauce, put in meat and vegetables with herbs, and sometimes an omelette. You can also ask for a vegetarian banh mi, without meat.

Ban xiao. These unusual pancakes can also be found on street stalls. The dough for them is made from eggs with a little flour added. Essentially, it's an omelette with some extra ingredients. Pancakes are baked in small roasting pans over coals in round pans. When the ban xiao is turned over, the filling is placed inside: shrimp, meat, bean sprouts, and folded into an envelope shape. However, there are many variations of this dish. The pancakes always come with sauce and herbs.

Lau soup. This is a hot pot that has become quite well known. The Vietnamese very accurately translate this phrase into Russian as a hot pot. The already familiar brazier with smoldering coals is served on the table, and a pot of ready-made broth is placed on top. Then you can prepare the dish yourself, adding noodles, mushrooms, seafood, etc. In Vietnam, open-air cafes that serve only hot pot are very popular. Some offer only one type of meat; information about the chosen specialization can be determined by the sign with an image of the animal on it.

Ka fe. Coffee. Yes, drinking coffee in Vietnam is a whole ceremony, no worse than a tea room in China. The main feature is the use of unusual exclusive coffee pots. Believe me, I have never seen anything like this anywhere else. They are installed on a mug or glass and are a small container with a perforated bottom. Coffee is poured into the container and filled with water, the liquid seeps through the bottom into the mug, it’s even pleasant to watch this, and even more so to drink. The drink is most often served with the addition of condensed milk for sweetness.

Holidays and events in Vietnam

There are not many public holidays in Vietnam, and they are not celebrated very actively. Independence Day, May Day, Victory Day pass almost unnoticed.

The only exception, but what an exception! — New Year according to the lunisolar calendar — Tet. In terms of dates, it roughly coincides with the Chinese New Year.

This is truly a global celebration. Tet falls at the end of January and beginning of February (between the 20th of these months) and is celebrated for up to a week. Streets and houses are decorated with flowers and fruits, special dishes are prepared, and gifts are given. Throughout the country, in large cities, carnival processions, fairs and special rituals associated with the cult of ancestors are held.
Throughout the entire holiday week during the Tet period, it is impossible to catch the Vietnamese at work; all institutions, and often even shops, are closed . The resorts are crowded. Although most sellers raise prices, discounts are also possible on Tet; they say that you can visit Ha Long Bay for free, but you will have to book accommodation much in advance.

Safety

In general, Vietnam is safe; according to statistics, serious crimes occur here very rarely. But petty robberies are the scourge of the big cities of Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi. You need to watch your things and bags very carefully; they can be snatched from your hands or from your shoulders by bikers passing by. It is better not to take out phones and money demonstratively and keep them under constant control, hiding them in places inaccessible to thieves. However, thefts also happen at resorts, so valuables should be stored in the hotel safe.

A large number of incidents have recently been related to riding bikes. There is one peculiarity here: the police can be very invisible in Vietnam, however, in the event of an incident, they appear immediately. This, of course, is trivial, but in order to ensure safety, all means are good, therefore: follow the rules of the road, be careful on the road, do not drive, do not drive drunk. The Vietnamese themselves may not follow traffic rules— It’s generally difficult here, but what is allowed to a local is prohibited to a stranger. Dedicated to those who are annoyed by constant beeping signals on the road: “It’s better this way than running into a bus rushing at all speeds!”

3 tips that will definitely come in handy when traveling around Vietnam

1. Tourists often complain about the poor state of public transport in Vietnam. I can advise you not to neglect taxis; in some areas this is a very affordable way to get around. Keep an eye on the counter!
When purchasing bus tickets, it is better to contact directly the offices of carrier companies, for example, Futa, Han cafe, and not to tourist centers, where markups are sometimes 100%. I’ll give you an approximate price guide: a ticket from Ho Chi Minh City to Mui Ne costs 130,000 VND, from Ho Chi Minh City to Dalat - 220,000 VND, from Ho Chi Minh City to Nha Trang - 215,000 VND.

2. Vietnamese get up and go to bed very early, at 5-6 am and 9-10 pm respectively. It is better to plan all business interactions with them for the first half of the day. It should also be taken into account that in most of the country, with the exception of Ho Chi Minh City, Hanoi, Nha Trang, all streets die out at 22-00. Shops and cafes are closing, buses are not running. Of course, there are 24-hour establishments, but there are not many of them. And in large cities, only the central areas have nightlife.

3. Don’t be afraid to try signature national dishes in authentic cafes; they are the most delicious and cheapest here. It’s the same with seafood; in a cafe near a fishing village or at the market it will definitely be cheaper and fresher than in a posh restaurant or bokeh (specialty seafood restaurants). Of course, you must first visually determine the level of service and hygiene. By the way, a well-known feature - the habit of throwing garbage from the table onto the floor, which everyone who has been in Vietnam notes, is due precisely to a specific sense of hygiene. Vietnamese people find it more acceptable to sweep away trash than to touch it with their hands.

Vietnam is a country full of pleasant surprises that can surprise even experienced travelers. Picturesque nature, ancient culture, warm sea are the three pillars on which Vietnam’s popularity among tourists lies. But there are other bonuses. Do you want cheap seafood? Go to Da Nang, the cafes right next to the beach are full of seafood delicacies for reasonable prices. 100 thousand for a huge plate of mussels, I think it's pennies! Do you want coolness, tired of the sun? Go to Dalat. Do you want to ride the waves? Mui Ne is already preparing surf for you.

Do you want to go to Vietnam? Pack your suitcase and... Let's go!

The material used photos provided by vietnamtravel, Vietnam Motorbike, pixabay and unsplash

A list of features of Vietnam that surprised, outraged or amused us. We have listed all the biggest oddities of this country in 42 facts. We also give useful tips to those who are planning to visit Vietnam.

Vietnam is the first Asian country we visited and in which... Of course, our first acquaintance with Asia did not go smoothly: some things impressed and surprised us, and some things greatly annoyed us - after all, the difference with other countries we visited was colossal. And although many Vietnamese involved in the tourism and trade sector view the white Mr. as a , nevertheless, Vietnam left a positive impression - it seems to me that, unlike Thailand, it is a more original country, not yet so strongly Europeanized.

One of the first features of Vietnam that immediately catches your eye is the nests of black wires that entangle the streets. The dense interweaving of wires can rightfully be considered a landmark of Vietnam and Saigon in particular.

About the peculiarities of behavior of the Vietnamese

Vietnamese, unlike Thais, speak very loudly - almost like Moroccans. Be prepared to be woken up early in the morning by some loud-voiced Vietnamese under your window or in the hotel.
The south of Vietnam looks much friendlier than the north. In our opinion, people there are simpler, more unselfish, open and smiling! The Vietnamese in the north (especially in Hanoi) seemed gloomy, taciturn and rude to us - well, exactly how they got to Russia. Many in the north are generally very strong.
In tourist places, sometimes they are willing to not sell food/clothing/services at all, rather than give in at a real, not inflated price - funny, but true. A Vietnamese spoiled by tourists would rather lie idle all day in the shade, waiting for a big jackpot, than make a concession and sell it cheap.
The Vietnamese smoke in public transport, in hotel rooms, and in cafes.

Photo © randomthawts / flickr.com

Men often grow their nails (or one nail) and file it down. It looks creepy.
Almost everyone in the south wears masks (they look like muzzles to me). I read that the Vietnamese are afraid of contracting the flu, and also believe that the chemicals sprayed by the Americans during the war are still in the air. In the north there are much fewer people wearing masks.
This is terribly annoying, but the Vietnamese don’t know what a queue is. For them, standing in front of someone in line is normal, even if you have been standing there for 15 minutes. Be bolder and faster.
They may nod their heads affirmatively to your questions, but they won’t really understand a damn thing about you. It’s better to try to translate it into Vietnamese and write it in a notepad/show it in a translator.
In tourist areas you will be offered sunglasses if you are wearing sunglasses, a raincoat if you are wearing one, and water if you are drinking it (etc.).
Not only in temples is it customary to remove shoes; this can often be observed in hotels, shops and even toilets. Although foreigners are sometimes allowed not to take off if there are no rubber slippers to change shoes (with the exception of temples).

Facts about toilets

Almost everywhere (except airports and luxury shopping centers) the locks in the booths do not work. There is almost no toilet paper anywhere either (or it hangs at the entrance - you need to tear it off and take it with you). Soap is also not available everywhere, so take wet wipes. Sometimes the toilet cleaner may charge you an amount for visiting the toilet, sometimes (what a paradox!) you are allowed into dry toilets for free.
For some reason, Vietnamese men often don’t make it to the toilets. Roughly speaking, they relieve themselves anywhere. Even if a Vietnamese is next to the toilet door, he will still do his business on the street (we have witnessed this). Huge open space? It’s okay, the Vietnamese will stand in the very center of the flowerbed, no one will see. The same applies to children - they are not at all embarrassed to do their business right on the sidewalks. At first it was shocking and seemed wild, but then we got used to it.

Photo © Paro Nguyen / flickr.com

Facts about food in Vietnam

Feel it! Read our articles about everything related to food in Vietnam (will open in new tabs):

(full list of main dishes, names in Vietnamese, description, photographs)
(about features in different regions and cities of the country)
(something you definitely need to try)
(names, photos, description, taste and rules of choice when purchasing)
(the best coffee that exists!)

Well, now I’ll list the food-related features of Vietnam:

Always, even in cafes with fixed prices and in food courts, check the prices so as not to be deceived or misunderstood.
Prices for Europeans may be different (we encountered this in Hanoi): one price is written on the banner, but they tell you another.
You may be asked to pay a large sum for the fact that the bread on the table turns out to be paid for, but no one will warn you about this in advance.
Street food in the north of Vietnam is more expensive than in the south. We ate pho bo soup in Ho Chi Minh City for 20 - 25 thousand, in Hanoi it costs from 35 thousand dong.
Chopsticks in Vietnamese street cafes are often heavily chewed and dirty - always wipe them with wet wipes or, like us, buy your own chopsticks and carry them with you.
In food halls, tables and chairs can be dirty and greasy - if possible, check them so as not to put a stain on your favorite trousers or jacket.
If you have ever been to Vietnam, you probably paid attention to the repetitive monotonous recordings coming from a tape recorder on mopeds and reminiscent of some kind of propaganda or a call to vote in elections. As it turns out, this is just a sale of corn (or something edible): the Vietnamese deliver food to those who cannot leave their workplace to have a snack.
The Vietnamese eat dogs (in the north), rats, frogs and various insects. You can try snake, crocodile and other exotic animals, but you need to know specific restaurants. But a ready-made dog can easily be found on the market.
We still haven’t fully understood the principle by which street establishments operate. It is clear that some are open exclusively in the morning, some work only in the evening, and some work during the day. But in small towns (Halong, Hoi An, Hue) there are “dead” hours (in the afternoon - from about 2 to 4 o'clock, in the morning - from 11 to 12), when everything seems to have died out.
For some reason, grocery stores and eateries close around 8 pm, but perfume shops, jewelry, bookstores, various boutiques, optics, etc. can be open until 10 pm. In small towns around midnight it is no longer possible to buy groceries or eat somewhere, but it is easy to buy a guitar or a portrait of Ho Chi Minh.

Photo © huangb / flickr.com

Sanitary issue: cleanliness and hygiene

The cleaning of hotels, even quite presentable ones, is poor. Stains, hair and small debris on the floor are standard cleaning. Wear shower slippers in your room; you usually always have them.
Almost every hotel (according to our observations) has ants. This is not too big a problem, but we are surprised why no one is fighting this.
By the way, for some reason no one poisons rats on the streets either.
In Vietnam, it is customary to dump dirty water into the street, so sometimes the smell is not pleasant.
About puddles: when it rains, an extremely unpleasant feature of Vietnamese sidewalks comes to light. The fact is that the tiles with which sidewalks are laid are often not new and rickety. Be careful: if you step on such a trap tile during the rain, you risk being doused with dirty water. Try to choose tiles that are more or less non-bulging (this is especially true for Hue, Hoi An and Hanoi). In dry weather, large concrete slabs are also fraught with danger: they wobble, and a sewer drain is hidden under them. More than once we saw collapsed, uncovered slabs (Ha Long).
The Vietnamese leave garbage anywhere - coconuts and leftover fruit, candy wrappers, etc. - all this remains on the ground. In cafes, if there are no trash cans, napkins are thrown directly onto the floor. Some people manage to litter even in churches. Well, if seeds are used, then the entire floor will be strewn with them. Usually at night all the garbage from the streets is collected by garbage trucks.
Ice for drinks is crushed on the asphalt, so those who are squeamish and afraid for their stomachs are better off asking for drinks without ice. And again a paradox: drinks without ice sometimes cost almost twice as much!
Noodles, cabbage leaves and anything else edible can be dried right on the sidewalk. In general, doing something with food right on the sidewalk is one of the main features characteristic of the residents of Vietnam.

This is how cabbage leaves are dried in Halong

Facts about transport, the art of transportation and movement

The peculiarity of Vietnam is transport. The streets of Vietnamese cities are not designed for pedestrians; there are either no sidewalks at all, or they are filled with motorbikes. I will list some observations and facts that we found interesting and that may be useful to you:

In Ho Chi Minh City, we were faced with the fact that some city buses go along some completely incomprehensible route. Moreover, the information at the stop stand is the same, but local residents report something completely different.
If you decide to take a city bus, be careful: you need to get on and off the elephant as quickly as possible. When entering, jump on and hold on to the handrails. When getting off, jump out, because the conductor will literally push you out of the bus at the stop. And he doesn’t care that you have big backpacks. The driver does not wait for anyone, not even the conductor - he usually jumps on the bus at the last moment. By the way, the bus stop time is 2-3 seconds, the driver will not wait longer (an exception is made only for elderly people). The same applies if you catch an intercity bus on the highway or in the city (a bus from Da Nang to Hoi An, for example).
You can buy a ticket to the city, but you will be thrown out in the middle of nowhere, 10 km from it, since the bus, it turns out, is passing and does not enter the city at all.
This is unthinkable, but it is a fact: in Vietnam, a bus for locals can travel 150 km in 5 (!!!) hours (this is how we drove from Hanoi to Halong). The fact is that along the way the driver picks up everyone: the conductor jumps out of the bus and calls for passengers, and handing over various parcels is also common - from live chickens to large boxes.
Intercity buses in Vietnam are made of rubber: even if you can’t breathe inside, the conductor will recruit passengers at each pole.

Photo © stereotyp-0815 / flickr.com

The moped can accommodate up to 5 people and some other cargo.
The moped can also be used as a small truck. What they transport: bags of food, construction materials, bamboo and reeds, chickens in cages, pigs and in general anything that comes to mind. Once we saw the Vietnamese transporting a whole living tree on a bike.
Sidewalks in Vietnam are not for pedestrians, but for mopeds. They are mainly used as parking, but during rush hours there is no shame in using it to avoid traffic jams.
Each parking lot has its own security guard, who also manages the parking process.
Pedicabs and taxi drivers on motorbikes like to take a nap on their vehicles if there are no clients.
Despite the fact that the Vietnamese often do not follow traffic rules, they have very few accidents. But be careful, in cities it is sometimes dangerous to look around - just in case someone runs over you.
Driving in Vietnam is not for the faint of heart – this could be a subject for a separate article. Be extremely careful on the roads - the Vietnamese love to overtake, cut off, drive in the oncoming lane and dive out of side streets, creating emergency situations.
How to cross the street in Vietnam? Just walk slowly and confidently, the motorbikes will pass you smoothly. You can raise your hand and walk - this is how you ask them to slow down and let you pass. The first time is very scary, it seems as if a pack of angry bikes is rushing towards you, but gradually you get into the rhythm and calmly cross the road.

Photo © staffan.scherz / flickr.com

Introductory image source: staffan.scherz / flickr.com.

Of course, we cannot say that this is absolutely all of Vietnam, especially since we left one of the interesting regions (Sapa and the surrounding area) for the next time, but nevertheless, during this time we formed both a general impression of the country and recorded many details about the characteristics of Vietnam and the Vietnamese.

We regularly make notes about all the interesting facts both during preparation for the trip and, of course, during the trip itself, and now we have systematized our notes and present to your attention 90 facts about Vietnam that surprised us.

In many ways, these facts are based on our observations and this is the Vietnam that we saw. If your opinion on some points differs from ours, welcome to the comments!

1. Second place in rice consumption per capita is firmly held by Vietnam, losing first place to Burma. The average Vietnamese eats 169 kg (!) of rice per year, i.e. a family of two people needs almost a kilogram of rice per day. Well, you don’t even have to stutter about the variety of rice varieties (there are dozens of them here), or do you still think that there are 3-5 types :)?

2. Pho soup is one of the most popular Vietnamese dishes. This is a soup with rice noodles and, most often, beef, although it also happens with chicken or fish. Pho soup is served in almost every cafe and restaurant, there is even a chain of establishments called PHO24. The Vietnamese eat it with chopsticks, mainly for breakfast.

3. Banh mi or French baguette sandwich– This is another very popular dish in Vitenam. The baguette is cut and a variety of fillings are placed inside: meat, fish, tofu, eggs, herbs, it turns out to be a street Subway.

4. Fish sauce is very popular in Vietnamese cuisine.– it is made from fish that has been subjected to a fermentation process. Simply put, fish sauce is what comes out of fish that has been mixed with salt and kept in barrels under pressure for several months. Doesn't sound too nice, does it? In general, the smell is even worse =) But the locals cannot imagine life without it.

5. Plastic trash can, which stands under every table - a mandatory attribute in very cheap local eateries. If this is not provided, then visitors simply throw garbage under the table. Also, the waiter, when clearing the table, can sweep the garbage directly onto the floor. We had previously seen the same habit of littering in local catering establishments only in

6. In the simplest cafes - “for locals” As a rule, there is no menu; there is a choice of 2-3 standard dishes (rice and noodles) with several variations.

7. In tourist places in Vietnam– complete culinary abundance. Any cuisine of the world, a large selection of seafood, coffee shops, in general, everything your soul and stomach desire. Of all the variety, we only tasted crocodile and frog legs, but here you can try almost any exotic meat - turtle, scorpion, ostrich, eat the heart of a snake or drink the blood of a cobra

8. Hot Pot is a popular tourist attraction in Vietnamese restaurants. A gas stove is placed on the table, and a pan of broth is placed on it, where the ingredients are added during the process either independently or with the help of a waiter.

9. Low, child-like chairs and tables right next to the roadway– another bright and memorable feature of Vietnamese catering. Moreover, decently dressed office employees can dine in such places.

10. Hanoi has, where instead of tables and chairs there are bathtubs with toilets, and food and drinks are served in mini-urinals and medical ducks :)

11. Vietnam is the largest exporter of dragon fruit (pitahaya)– we drove past huge, endless “cactus” plantations strewn with red fruits several times

12. Vietnamese money(dongs, 20,000 VND ~ $1 USD) are made of plastic (polymer money) - they do not get wet, do not tear and practically do not get dirty.

13. Vietnamese traders, for the most part, they didn’t seem very friendly to us. If they don’t understand something, for example, an order in a cafe or at a market, they will often simply brush it off, saying go ahead, and then they will delve into the situation and tell you something. Although if they still manage to sell their products to tourists, then they become more satisfied

14. In general, the Vietnamese– quite friendly and helpful people. They often look more gloomy than Thais, but when you communicate with them, they begin to smile widely

15. Vietnam ranks second in coffee production and exports(second to Brazil), and in terms of production and export of robusta - first. In 2012, Vietnam managed to overtake Brazil in total coffee exports, and this despite the fact that the total area of Vietnam is almost 30 times smaller!

16. Coffee shop – this is a place where you can meet representatives of any segment of the local population. Absolutely everyone loves coffee, and is ready to drink it several times a day, sipping sip after sip for hours, at least that’s the impression we got.

17. At the same time, according to coffee consumption per capita, Vietnam is only in 93rd place (considering that Russia occupies 57th place, and the first, unexpectedly, is Finland). About 95% of the coffee grown is exported.

18. Vietnamese coffee– very tasty and aromatic, simply divine drink. We had never been fans of coffee before, but it was in Vietnam that we got hooked on it.

19. Traditional way of brewing coffee– using a special metal filter, which is installed directly on the cup. Ground coffee is placed in it and boiling water is poured, and the finished drink slowly, drop by drop, enters the cup, thus the brewing process is a meditative part of the coffee ritual

20. The coffee drinking process is also ritualistic.– despite the fact that only a small amount of the drink is strained through such a filter, a real Vietnamese can stretch it out for almost an hour, sipping it in small sips

21. This type of coffee is usually very strong.. Sometimes they drink it just like that, but more often - with condensed milk (milk/white coffee), and the amount of condensed milk and coffee turns out to be approximately the same

22. In the southern part of the country, by default, it is assumed that the coffee will be cold, with ice - this is how they are used to drinking it here. Therefore, if you want a hot drink, it is better to clarify this when ordering. Cold coffee is brewed in the same way, just then poured into a glass with ice.

23. When ordering coffee, Almost everywhere they bring green tea for free. Often - hot in the morning, and cold at lunch, with ice. Oh, how many dirty dishes are left after a very small company)). Guess how many people actually were at this table?

24. Shops and markets have a large selection of coffee by weight- both in grains and ground, in a wide variety of varieties. There are both pure varieties of Arabica or Robusta, as well as all kinds of mixtures; Luwak is also popular. Prices: 150,000 - 500,000 VND ($7.5-$25) per 1 kg. There is also tea and ground bitter cocoa.

25. As a decoration, on cafe tables, Instead of a vase of flowers, you can often see a pot of green rice sprouts

26. A typical Asian name for a cheap hotel is “guesthouse.”, which is so common among backpackers, is practically not used here - instead, “motel” is more often used. At the same time, compared to or, for the same money, you can get more decent accommodation here, for example, for $10/day you can rent a room with air conditioning, a refrigerator, a TV, wi-fi, a balcony, towels (which will also be changed every day ), hygiene items (soap, toothpaste, toothbrushes) and flip-flop slippers =)

27. Flip-flops – in Vietnam it’s not just women, but also slippers (they are also flip-flops, they are also flip-flops). They are so popular here that they are required in almost any hotel/guesthouse, and we most often came across blue ones, apparently this is the general standard. It is very convenient, especially when traveling light, to find flip-flops in your room - we wore them to the beach and took them on excursions to the islands and beaches.

28. Numbers that are called single here(single) are 30% cheaper than double, but are quite suitable for two, because the bed is still a double and all accessories (toothbrushes, towels, flip flops) are presented in duplicate. But this rule does not apply in expensive hotels (4* and 5*).

29. Standard practice when checking into inexpensive hotels- pick up passports and return them only after check-out; apparently, there are cases when guests leave in the morning without paying. Since we are very careful about our passports, we always tried to leave some other ID with a photo (for example, a water permit), but this does not work everywhere. In decent hotels they do not collect passports.

30. Guesthouses are often narrow buildings, one room-room wide, most often with balconies on the front side facing the road. The remaining rooms have windows to the side or no windows at all.

31. Often guesthouses, and houses in general, are built close to each other, so that common walls are obtained. From the outside it even seemed to us that there was one building in front of us, but in fact there were 4 different ones.

32. At night, motorbikes are driven into the lobby of guesthouses, and even quite decent ones - with marble floors, mirrored walls and antique furniture

33. Numbering of floors in buildings - as in, The traces of French colonization can be seen here. The lowest floor is ground, and then comes the first, second, etc. With the exception of Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, buildings everywhere are mostly low - 4-5 floors, less often 7-8.

34. However, there are several places in Vietnam where you can see the city from above. In Hanoi, we climbed to the SKY72 observation deck on the 72nd floor and a 360-degree panorama of the entire city. In Ho Chi Minh City we went to the observation deck in the Bitexco Financial Tower building, and in Vung Tao we admired the city and the South China Sea from the statue, just like in Rio de Janeiro.

66. Ticket offices for many natural attractions(waterfalls, parks), they close at 4-5 pm, and daylight hours last until 6, so if you accidentally arrive at the place after the ticket office closes, you can save on entrance tickets - this happened to us a couple of times completely unplanned.

67. In Vietnam you can not only ride the elephants familiar to Asia, but also arrange an ostrich ride.

68. Vietnamese people love to swim, however, they hardly swim, but go waist-deep into the water and splash in the waves, and do this in clothes

69. They even snorkel with their clothes on, and even in life jackets

70. Due to the mountainous terrain, the climate in different regions of Vietnam varies significantly. For example, you can swim and sunbathe in Nha Trang, but having driven just 140 kilometers to Dalat, it’s great to freeze - early in the morning and after sunset, the temperature drops to +16.

71. Even at +20 it’s really cold here. When we had to ride a bike in the wind in T-shirts and light jackets, we were frozen, we even had a runny nose and a sore throat. Locals wear warm jackets and hats in this weather, and brag their heads in horror when we report that in Russia it can be -20 in winter))

72. Two-toed socks are popular among locals. so that even in cold weather you can continue to wear flip-flops instead of closed shoes.

73. In some cities, French architecture, embankments and streets, made us nostalgic for European travel, and Dalat, which is called the Paris of Vietnam, even has its own “Eiffel Tower”. There are flower beds on the streets, the city really resembles in some places

Do not drink tap water, and do not ask the Vietnamese to get water for you: there is a chance that they will bring you untreated water.

When you order food in a cafe, immediately check the price of the dishes, otherwise there will be unpleasant surprises with the bill at the end of the meal. Pay attention to how many visitors there are in the cafe: if there are many locals, then the cafe is popular, which means it is affordable and has high-quality preparation. The mopeds standing near the establishment can also indicate a budget option for food.

As for food, local delicacies made from animals, which are considered our best four-legged friends, are quite specific dishes. You can culturally refuse such foods without offending the local cuisine.

A 5% surcharge is added to your bill in hotels and restaurants, so you don’t have to tip.

Restrictions when visiting attractions

When visiting the pagoda, remember important rules: take off your shoes before entering, and do not turn your back to the shrines when leaving. If you want to walk around the temple, do it clockwise.

Do not photograph or videotape Vietnamese military installations. Photographing attractions and Vietnamese people is only necessary with permission.

We take care of personal belongings

In Vietnam, take care of your personal belongings: documents, jewelry, money, etc. Firstly, we carry copies of documents and small amounts of money with us. Secondly, keep it all in a safe bag and firmly in your hands during the trip.

Cases of theft on the streets are not a regular occurrence in Vietnam, but there have been cases. Avoid evening rickshaw rides and suspicious unofficial taxis.

According to official data, there are 54 nationalities in Vietnam. However, there are many more ethnic groups.

The ethnic composition of the country's inhabitants in numbers looks like this: 85.7% are Viet, 1.9% are Tai, 1.5% are Muong and Khmer, 2.13% are Miao-Yao, and 1.1% are Nung.

Other nationalities are represented in smaller numbers: these are the Chinese, Banaras, Sedangs, Hoa, Sre, Khrae, Mnongi, Sanziu, Santiai, Raglai, etc.

Official nationalities based on language are grouped into 8 groups: Vietnamese, Mon-Khmer, Chinese, Tibeto-Burman, Thai, Miao-Miao, Cham and peoples speaking the Kadai languages.

The mountain peoples of Vietnam are grouped as the mountain people or thoongs.

Religious preferences of the Vietnamese

Among the country's inhabitants there are Buddhists (only 9.3%), Catholics (6.7%), Hao-Khao (about 1.5%), Protestants (0.5%), and Cao Dai (1.1%).

The rest of the population is either atheists or adheres to popular beliefs. They are based on the ritual “tho kung to tien”. This is the cult of ancestors. This creed is not formalized and does not have a hierarchy of clergy. Since adherents of the cult of ancestors conduct their rituals in Buddhist temples, many mistakenly believe that about 80% of the country's population are Buddhists.

Economy of Vietnam

In the late 1980s, the economic crisis also affected Vietnam. Since 1986, reforms aimed at developing market relations have started in the country. At the same time, the guidelines of socialism were not removed. Moreover, the state controls private enterprise. Article 15 of the Constitution of Vietnam establishes at the state level the recognition of national, collective and private property in the country.

Reforms made Vietnam a leader among ASEAN members in 1995-1997. 30% of all capital investments in the state were investments from foreign companies. GDP increased by 8.9% annually.

In 1998-1999, the Asian financial crisis leads to a decrease in imports into the country and an increase in exports. Of course, foreign investment has also decreased.

Vietnam is characterized by very high property prices and low incomes. The purchasing power of the Vietnamese is low. Basically, the Vietnamese live poorly, poorly and in a dirty country. At the same time, they manage to maintain an average level of security in the country, which pleases visitors. The healthcare industry, compared to other Asian countries, is well developed.

According to data for 2015, GDP per capita has already amounted to 6,400.00 US dollars. The GDP growth rate is 6.10%. On average, Vietnamese earn about 7.5 million dong per month. The salary of the President in the country does not exceed the average salary of the Vietnamese.

The state uses natural resources to develop its economy: manganese, coal, timber, oil, gas, phosphates, bauxite, chromite, hydropower. The industrial sector employs 15% of the country's population. Everyone has heard about Vietnamese cell phones, office equipment and components for computers and household appliances.

The Vietnamese also sew clothes, shoes, are engaged in agriculture and shipbuilding. Agriculture employs about 52% of Vietnam's population, accounting for 21% of GDP. In the fields of the country we will see pepper, soybeans, cashews, bananas, peanuts, and sugar cane. The primacy in the country is held by rice, rubber, coffee, tea, and cotton. Income from tea production exceeds $150 million. The development of fishing and seafood processing is also gaining momentum.

Since tourism in Vietnam also tends to develop, the service sector requires its own reforms and effective steps. About 33% of the state's population is employed in this area.