Hanoi Hell

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<hr>Anyway, call me a looser<hr></blockquote>

OK, LoooooooosssssssssssssssssssseeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeerrrrrrR

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<hr>Please let me know if you experienced something similar.<hr></blockquote>
So you don't want to hear anything other than agreement and commiseration. Good for you. You based this sweeping judgement on your experience over a couple of days in the Old Quarter. You thought the "next town down south" was Hoi An. You really are a loser, you lost an opportunity to explore a beautiful, interesting country because of your snap judgements. Good riddance.

Hey people,

Some folk just do have a crap time in Hanoi. This is not an isolated incident. Perhaps some of those "Vietman is heaven on a stick " people need to rethink. Both good and bad things happen there..............I thank the poster for his comments as it will just make those who have roses in their eyes, think about safety issues when they arrive.

Bento Bento, of course the Vietmanese are not the same as the Thai. Huge differences. But the theft issue is someting to be aware of....is it is anywhere in the world. Eg, my sister got her purse ripped out of her bag in Melbourne a few mths ago. If you spend much time in Thailand you will get somethign stolen as well.......hmm.....mind you........i have left wallets in bars in thailand that have been returned.

Just enjoy it all.......................

maree

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<hr>i have left wallets in bars in thailand that have been returned.
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Did you leave them all in the same bar? Or did you leave them in different bars? I could see leaving a wallet once, maybe... but multiple times?

As for Bento, I've thought about his complaints and have concluded that he prefers Thailand because the little brown people there usually jump when he barks his orders, and they smile when they jump, and Bento likes that. In Vietnam, he was frustrated because nobody jumped when he barked. The difference? The Vietnamese let their resentment show, whereas the Thais hide it.

I agree with eileen about Hanoi Hell. Interesting to see so many replies defending. VN is a cheap destination, but cheap prices come with problems as well. I visit other forums and notice every time there is a bad experience revealing the true color of VN, always strong defense from VN lovers. Illusion. TripAdvisor VN forum has a regular poster, Plover, who constantly paints a nice picture of VN through his rose coloured glasses. Get the fact straight here. Not many places to get a room for 20-30US and 50cent beer. Sure cheap prices can influence people to like the place regardless of scams and hassles.

Bento, Thailand is a much better place than VN. Thai people are very modest, not confrontational like Hanoy

Hmmm, another first time poster (BentoBento) who only wants to give Vn a bad name.
Of course crime does not exist in any other country.

His points are quite mad!
1) There's a contrast
Every time I have asked for directions in Vn, the replies have been courteous and accurate with beaming smiles.

2) Having travelled Vn three times on my own, I would say Vn was perfect for travelling alone. Odd, the locals DID want to talk to me.

3) Quote:
I didn't even feel as a human being there.
You don't here either!

Quote:
Bargaining is nearly impossible,
and I had the feeling Vietnam is more expensive than Thailand, which it
shouldn't really, considering their stage of development.
You mean what exactly? No ladyboys?

I read all that you wrote. I am scratching my head. I can only assume you are a refugee from the Thailand Tourist Board and you are worried that you are going to lose a few customers soon.

#133
What do you mean by confrontational?
Standing up for themselves?
Not being submissive to idiot tourists that expect a drop in price because they demand it?

Well BentoBento, you managed to cram it all in, didn't you?

I have spent about 50 days in Vietnam and never had any of the bad experiences you describe.
How did you do it?
I found the people of Hanoi very friendly and helpful. I love to travel Vn alone. Why? Because everybody (travellers, ex-pats and most of all the locals) are chatty.

In point eight you say that the town is basically dead by 12midnight, yet you complain twice of the 24/h noise and hassle. It cannot be both!

The only thing I agree with you is yes, you are pretty paranoid.

>>BentoBento: I am posting my experience here as well to let everyone know what they are in for in Vietnam (or rather Hanoi).<<

Without reading the rest of your post, which I read anyway, I can confidently say that for every bad experience you have had others may have gone through the same experience in a good, positive way, this alone renders the intention of your post meaningless, in fact, it shows how narrow the basis upon which you've drawn the conclusion. Here's a lesson of logic for you, your last and only time in northern VN has left a sour note in you does not mean the northern VN is generally bad, in the same vein, somebody else's last and/or 5th trip to VN has left a positive note in them does not mean VN is all good; if your skull is made of bone like anybody else the message should get through.

>>When asking for the way to a theatre people just turn their heads away in disgust and tell you to get lost (that's what I made of it).<<

How many people did you ask? and how did you ask? Boy, I'd love to have a YouTube version of this.