Hanoi Hell

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.

It's not dangerous, it's only annoying to the other passengers. Multiple passengers on the flights involved in the 9/11 attacks were calling relatives on their cell phones during the ordeal. That isn't what caused the planes to crash.

In the end I'm thinking: Was it worth going through 44 posts?

#44, some years ago there was a Vietnamese girl who turned on her mobile phone when flying with Vietnam Airlines and she refused to turn it off. She was never allowed to fly with Vietnam Airlines again. I think other airlines also announced "for the safety purpose, pls turn off your mobile phone". Agree that it's annoying other passengers, but safety first.

Most people find what they are looking for.

I expected to find a proud and progressive society in Hanoi and I did.

My photographs showed traffic was orderly, people stopped at traffic lights and everyone gave way to others.

The locals were friendly and happy, maybe because I was friendly and happy............or was it my 'good looks' (hee, hee.).

I enjoyed Beer Hoi with the locals, ate Kebabs and watch a young society flow through one of the Hangs near the market.
There was an art and craft store and little children sat around and drew pictures and their young parents were so proud of their little ones, the scene was the same as in any Aussie city.

I booked tickets to see the water puppets and asked for the 40,000 VND front row seats.
The clerk took one look at me and smiled broadly and said, NO, 20,000 VND seat, "you so big".
I smiled, she smiled, I said "kum meng" and she laughed. I enjoyed the puppet show in the knowledge that I did not obstruct any small fella sitting behind me.

I enjoyed my visits to Vietnam.

(When I first visited Vietnam, I though the Vietnamese had every right to hate us for what we did to their country.
The only reminder was the War Remnants museum, but outside the museum they did not hate us.
They won the war and have every right to look down on us; but they did not. The Vietnamese made me feel that I was their equal and not the defeated.)

At the end of the day, how you are treated depends largely on what you expect and also on how you treat other people.

Eileen, you've been on here long enough to know that your opinion is not valid unless you take the "everything was great/people were lovely" view. The forum mafia can see no evil nor hear no evil in Vietnam!!

I have quite a bit of experience of Vietnam and I would have to say don't be put off by your bad experience on Hanoi. People in the North tend to be more miserable and less friendly, a lot of people don't share this view but it's the way I have found it. I think you will find the people in Central and Southern Vietnam more to your liking.

But don't go thinking that your phone wont get stolen ther too, this is after all Vietnam! If Thailand is the land of smiles then Vietnam must surely be the land of pickpockets.

I love this branch. What a crack up. All sorts of people and all sorts of replies. No wonder this branch is so great and able to offer such a wonderfully diverse range of opinions, ideas and help. Here is to the diversity of people on this branch. :)

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<hr> then Vietnam must surely be the land of pickpockets.<hr></blockquote>

In 12 tears in Vietnam, one attempt was made to pick-pocket me, and that was by a white expatriate. You are quite the expert, aren't you.

I'm fat ... nobody ... including mookie ... has poked me in Hanoi ....

some years ago there was a Vietnamese girl who turned on her mobile phone when flying with Vietnam Airlines and she refused to turn it off. She was never allowed to fly with Vietnam Airlines again.

Exactly. It was Vietnam that did this. You don't hear about Australia, Great Britain or the USA banning passengers for turning on a cellphone in flight. Taking a big turd in First Class on the meal service cart because the stewardess won't serve your drunk ass, yes. Turning on a cellphone, no.