Hanoi Hell

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<hr>one thing I liked was the lack of obsequiousness and servitude <hr></blockquote>
Brilliant!

Is there another Hanoi, or for that matter, another Vietnam that I don't know about? The one I just visited was very different to the OP's description...

Let's see, I had a great time, people were friendly professional and very funny. Aside from one dodgy taxi driver, everyone was also very honest and helpful.

Yup, must be a different place.

First mistake was flying AirAsia.

Hey OP
Are you sure you were in Hanoi Vietnam ?
Maybe you suffered a "time warp" and ended up in New York city :>)
ONE LOVE !!
Mike

After reading the OP's initial assertions, I find that the trip was doomed from day 1.

First off, you sound like a snot.

Second, your not too swift, to have a open handbag in a crowded city, New York or Bangkok.

Third, your from Malaysia....you have a lot of room to talk....as most people never return to that country, nor care for the people, or culture...in all my travels, I never met anyone that said I have to see Malaysia....compared to Vietnam...

ticotim,Malaysia is a wonderful and underated country.Not as exotic as Vietnam but a wonderful place none the less.

I like Malaysia a lot, too, especially nasi lemak. :D So yummy! :)

People are really friendly and the natural surroundings are breath-taking!

KL is an amazing city with fantastic shopping! (And very good-looking & fashionable people).

To the OP: I'm sorry that your phone was stolen! That's a horrible thing to have happen when you want to have a good holiday. However, I am surprised that you complain about people's lack of eye contact. It's an Asian thing. When you stare at someone directly in the eye, it's considered rude by a lot of people in Vietnam. It means that you're "challenging" them.

Cheers!

Malaysia is OK. I don't like it as much as every other country in SEA, but it has its unique history and amazing natural beauty. Can't say I think much of the Islamic Sharia nutcakes breaking up families there nowadays because the parents are of mixed religions(one muslim, the other not). The chinatown on Penang is pretty neat, as good as Bankgok's in my opinion.

As for the OP on this thread - I just find comments like hers about Vietnam funny nowadays. I keep visualizing a Keystone Cops movie. The Vietnamese are the Vietnamese regardless of your experience.

She will have a real bummer of a time in Latin America....they will steal her beach towel while she swims....imagine...

Ticotim- you've been to Costa Rica a lot. don't you think they have some of the most accomplished thieves you've ever had the experience of encountering? I swear, some of those guys could swipe the pants you're wearing without you noticing!