Also to Eileen,
Oops I wasn't done, haha.
I would also like to say that I think you're very brave for voicing your thoughts. You knew that you'd get bashed yet you do it anyway. It's always interesting to have differences in opinions.
I work in hospitality in Hanoi (OMG I hope you weren't depicting me in your stories haha) and I do see truth in what you say: Poor English, lack of eye contact, petty theft, insane traffic, no concept of queuing, etc. etc.
It's all true.
Sometimes, I get so frustrated dealing with the exact same things at work. While I'm glad that tourists find Vietnam so enchanting, there are definitely areas that can be improved on, as demonstrated in what you've written.
If it makes you feel any better, my Vietnamese colleagues and I say that sometimes you just gotta yell at people to get things done here in Hanoi. Haha, so really what you experienced is not far from what the locals go through everyday.
At times, I do lose it and yell at the rude receptionist at a hospital, at the guy who just cut in front of me at the supermarket, or at the student who threw trash out of a bus window. If I were in your shoes, I think I'd be quite exasperated, too!
I suppose you posted the message while still very frustrated from the trip. I hope that after taking a few days away from Vietnam, though, you can reflect and realize that people are not perfect and we all have our "rude, crude, and uncouth" moments.
Maybe by then you can recall at least one good moment that you had in Hanoi. It would've been nice to hear about that as well, just to balance out the bad.
Anyway, enjoy Malaysia for me. Like I said above, I really loved my time there! Excellent food and fantastic shopping! And the best part: super friendly always smiling people! :)
Cheers!
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<hr>I do see truth in what you say: Poor English,<hr></blockquote>
Have another look at that idiot's post, and get your red pen ready, her English is pathetic. As for you, with your constant "haha ha haha," you ought to be ashamed of making a comment like "it's all true" in the face of such stupidly sweeping generalizations. Aspects of life in Hanoi are difficult, but you are in a completely different situation because you live and work there; and even your complaints would apply to most big cities anywhere. The OP's maniacal comments are based on a few days' visit to the main tourist spots. If you can't see the difference then you're worse than the OP.
To each his own. I'm not discrediting what other people have said, but I need to add in what I think because the conversation has been quite one-sided so far.
My complaints don't apply to big cities anywhere. From my personal experience, I get really great service in other cities like Hue or Jakarta. People's general attitude and outlook on life in those places are just different. But I have to say that in Hanoi, even locals agree that in many offices, services are still very bureaucratic and you often have to pay extra just to get in line. Things are changing, though. In the hospitality sector, very often the services are good. The OP is unlucky to have received poor service all the way through. Maybe it's her, maybe it's the services, maybe it's both? There are many factors. Perhaps I'm particularly concerned because I work in the industry. Besides, the customer is always right. :) When someone makes a criticism, I think it's a great way to see how else you can improve. The OP's comments are not without base and it's not something that can be swept under the carpet but instead needs to be addressed.
Perhaps you get better service than I do in some cases because you're a Caucasian male?
Yet another sweeping generalization! OMG!!! How dare I??!?!? Hahahha (Yes, I do laugh a lot. I'm sorry for you if you find that annoying.)
And maybe the thieves of Costa Rica are worse than the Vietnamese ones but that doesn't make it OK to steal in either places. Yes, it might be a fact of life. No, it's not acceptable.
Of course, there are many things I love about Hanoi, its people, the food, the streets, etc. But it doesn't mean that I am so blinded by my love that I don't see the faults. Because I love it so much and it means a great deal to me that I want to know what's wrong with it so I can help make it better.
If you don't push for change, how can we have progress?
By the way, I've been reading some of your posts on here and it's interesting to see that you attack and belittle anyone who does not agree with your opinions, especially if they have something unpleasant to say or they don't know about Vietnam as much as you do etc. Is the idea of other travellers having different experiences from you so outrageously inconceivable?
Don't bother answering that. It's a rhetorical question.
I sense a long hate letter coming my way. But somehow I do hope that you have better things to do. I obviously don't. :)
Hahah bye!
While some of what you say is true (traffic rules, Hanoian's attitudes, especially toward Southerners), you clearly didn't do any research on the country before you went or you would have been expecting some of this. Carrying your mobile in an outside pocket wasn't the smartest thing, but at least they didn't take your entire backpack.
Eileen you sound like a Brit to me. And a not very well traveled one either. May surprise you that there's a lot of resentment towards you guys -it's funny that while Americans have a fear of not being welcome the Brits are the ones that are actually despised by so many countries... BTW if you wanna see real third world crime and shenanigans head to Stockton/Modesto CA USA!
BTW sometimes losing your phone can be a blessing!
One time I was flying to Turkey and my phone dropped out of my pocket into the seat. I know a shifty guy from Oman grabbed it and was off the plane before I realized it. This however led to me meeting a most attractive Turkish flight attendant and several fun and interesting days in Istanbul...
I'm a Hanoian. I just left KL a couple of days ago after visiting Brunei.
The last morning at my GH in Bukit Bingtang (KL), the Filipino girl who shared a room with us told me she lost her passports, credit cards and money by a bag snatcher in KL. So it's not only in Hanoi but KL or anywhere, be careful with the pickpockets.
It was sad for the Filipino girl because she is a volunteer who worked in the southernmost province of Thailand. I asked her why she did work there as it was a dangerous place with bomb blasting, she said she wanted to help the people. She said she did not sleep all the night as she took the bus from Thailand to KL and ended up losing her important bag. I hope the Embassy would grant her a new passport soon.
I flew with Air Asia and agreed with you that many Vietnamese flying between KL and Hanoi are workers from the countryside and they had no idea about how dangerous it would be to turn on mobile phone on the flight. I too was angry to see that.
As for the TravelingKid's comments on another thread about Vietnamese, I want him to read my experience. Whenever I told people on my last trip that I was from Vietnam, they said "I like Vietnam". Why do I have to hate them, look down on them, show no respect to them? I really don't know why he married a Vietnamese.
I think the OP is a typical inexperienced traveler for all the problems encountered. A little research before heading to VN would certainly have taken care of a lot of the problems.
#38, not trying to offend any westerner here, but an average Vietnamese can't tell the difference between an American & a Brit.
Well, I find ton dessert's comments pretty fair & balanced.
As to all, taking cheap shots at each other is no help to anyone here.
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