The Vietnamese people value humility, restraint, and modesty. Avoid being boastful or showing off wealth. Public displays of affection are generally frowned upon so try to avoid touching people of the opposite sex. Dress conservatively and keep your body covered.
Common taboos in Vietnam
Avoid hugging, holding hands, and especially kissing in public. Even touching a member of the opposite sex is looked down upon. Modesty: It is important to keep your body covered. Avoid overly short shorts and revealing shirts.
Tourist crimes
Limit the number of expensive items you take with you, and, if possible, leave valuables and travel documents locked away in your hotel. Don't flash your precious goods or your cash when you're out, and be aware of your surroundings when using phones or cameras.
According to the ranking of the friendliest countries in the world in 2021, Vietnam is ranked 9th out of the top 10 most foreigner-friendly countries in the world. Therefore, Vietnam will be an ideal destination for travelers.
Safe for female travelers
Women will generally feel comfortable traveling alone in Vietnam. Harassment and assault are rare incidents. However, to avoid unwanted attention, solo travelers in Vietnam should not wear tight and revealing clothes such as shorts, three-hole shirts…
DONTs. Wear a lot of jewellery or take a bag with you. Violent crime is highly unusual in Vietnam, but petty crime is more apparent. If you have a bag, or tout a digital camera around your neck, you are a potential target.
Wearing shorts is acceptable in most situations for both men and women. However, Vietnam's traditional culture is somewhat conservative, so avoiding sleeveless shirts, tank tops, or short shorts—especially while visiting Buddhist temples—shows the greatest respect for it.
Vietnam has a lower crime rate than Thailand, and is generally considered to be a safe destination for travelers. Thailand, on the other hand, has a slightly higher crime rate, but is still considered to be a relatively safe country.
The four vaccines which most travellers to Vietnam are recommended are diphtheria, tetanus, hepatitis A and typhoid. Depending upon where you will be travelling to and what activities you will be undertaking, you may also require the vaccines for cholera hepatitis B, Japanese encephalitis and rabies.
The red color is completely avoided in funerals. You should wear black, white or dark colors to visit a family when they have someone in the family dead recently. Wearing red can be considered really rude and the family will absolutely not be happy with you.
While the middle finger is not traditionally an offensive digit in Vietnam, the typical “fingers crossed” gesture that many people from the West make to indicate that they are hoping for the best is highly impolite. If you hope for good luck, keep your fingers out of it!
To respect this, and for your own comfort, we strongly recommend wearing modest clothing. This means clothes that cover your shoulders and knees, particularly in pagodas and religious sites. In many rural areas, women will need to wear modest clothes, even while swimming.
Vietnam is one of the favorite countries of travelers that go to Asia. People are so friendly and resilient, food is very delicious and the places are simply amazing, from famous sceneries like Halong Bay to beautiful cities like Hanoi and Hoi An. Vietnam has so much to offer.
Drinking alcohol is popular in Vietnam that it's virtually a part of the culture here. Saying that Vietnamese like beer is a massive understatement, we deeply love it. The act of drinking alcohol impregnates every fabric of society. Vietnamese drink alcohol on many occasions or even on no special occasion at all.
With kids, Phuket would be a great place for beach, ATV, snorkeling, islands, etc. Viet Nam is great to see, it's very interesting, but the traffic in Hanoi and HCMC is crazy and I would be nervous with 4 kids walking around there. I hear there are great beach resorts in southern VN though, and cheaper than Phuket.
You should choose Vietnam if you prefer more diverse experiences such as natural wonders (Halong Bay), colonial history, ancient towns (Hoi An), city life (Ho Chi Minh), floating markets (Mekong Delta), and more.
If you want friendly locals, pristine beaches, and a more relaxed outing – visit Bali. But if you want more variety in terms of tourist attractions, food, and cultural and historic offerings – visit Vietnam. If price is your primary criterion – you can visit either of the places on a small budget.
Áo dài colours
Red áo dài are worn during Tết for luck and prosperity. Brides and grooms may also wear red on their wedding day, so it's a good idea to come in a different colour if you're a guest.
Dress standards can be more conservative outside of major cities in Vietnam. To respect this, and for your own comfort, we strongly recommend wearing modest clothing. This means clothes that cover your shoulders and knees, particularly in pagodas and religious sites.
The water in Vietnam often contains high levels of contaminants such as E. Coli, ammonia, and arsenic, which can pose health risks. In urban areas, the water is generally cleaner but still not suitable for drinking purposes.
Gas and Flammable Items: The items such as matches, lighters, flammable liquid, and beverages containing 70% or more alcohol by volume are easy to catch fire and bad people can take advantage of these things to harm other passengers.
Tattoos have long been frowned upon in Vietnam, but it wasn't always this way. In ancient times, fishermen used to tattoo their entire bodies to resemble a sea monster for protection against aquatic predators.
As is the case in (almost) all places in Southeast Asia, including Vietnam, you cannot flush used toilet paper down the toilet. This is because many sewer systems in the region are unable to handle it, leading to potential blockages.