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<hr>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. <hr></blockquote>
I have spent a year in Vietnam also without incident, this is because I am conscious of the danger and act accordingly. In Vietnam I have seen thieves target other people and indeed know people who have been caught out. As a comparison, I have never known anyone to get turned over in Malaysia, I'm sure it happens but it's not in the same league as Vietnam.
Vietnam has a high rate of pick-pockets, this is a fact. So get over it and get off my case. Whatever the agenda is of you and those like you, it's tiresome when you wont allow criticism of the country in question. Some people come on this forum to get some info, not just to listen to the "see no evil / hear no evil" brigade.
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<hr>I think you will find the people in Central and Southern Vietnam more to your liking.<hr></blockquote>
zipfish, you are encouraging that ignorant prejudiced fantasy. There are good and bad north and south, in any country. I find southern Vietnamese to be incredibly underhanded and sneaky, while northerners are in-your-face and up-front, which I'm more comfortable with. Do you honsetly think that a closed-minded twit like the OP would enjoy Saigon more than Hanoi? We're talking about a nit-wit here, not your average tourist.
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<hr>Some people come on this forum to get some info, not just to listen to the "see no evil / hear no evil" brigade. <hr></blockquote>
Most of the people who have disagreed with the OP or derided her comments often offer balanced opinions and helpful information on TT. I was criticized recently by hongha for calling Hanoi drivers "idiots." Does that count in your "see no evil / hear no evil" brigade? You are guilty of the very thing you're complaining about, you're making a generalized negative response to people demanding objectivity in criticisms.
I have no reason to "defend" Hanoi or Vietnam, the residents are perfectly capable of self-defense, as they've demonstrated over the past few centuries; I just think it's hilarious when someone gets so outraged over so much nonsense that they write a tragedy worthy of Shakespeare on here, as if it's going to have one shred of impact on Vietnam tourism.
What a litany of anger towards the OP, many of the replies are at least as vitriolic as Eileen's inital post. It then begs the question of tolerance in the TT forum.
Some of you are judging her and trying to shame her for her experieces and feelings, yet you actually are knee jerk reacting in the same way she did to what she experienced. Quid pro quo : guilty of the same thing .
Clearly, "experience" in travelling does not make for understanding of a distressed traveller.
Marleemia
The OP makes claims that are just as knee jerk, due to some minor issues that happen the world over.
I think the OP expectations were based on Laos and Thailand, and for most of us, that would hold true, to a degree, but Vietnam is another culture all together, had her issues happened in Laos, she would have made the same ignorant claims about Laos.
I was getting a massage in Laos, trying to relax, and the young Laotian guys were on their cell phones in the massage spa, while getting a a massage, hows that for annoying?
Getting a cell phone stolen, well please, from NYC to Tokyo, its pretty common, we all have either lost one, left one somewhere, or had one stolen, so thats just a bad luck problem.
The rest of her claims about the attitude of the VN or people in Hanoi is ashame, maybe she brought some of it on herself, with a bitchy look and tone in her voice, that resulted in the same....but attitudes from locals vary widely anywhere, a taxi driver in NYC can ignore you all the time, and smell to high heaven. I clerk in Nicaragua can give a tourist attitude as well, especially a Gringo (American), comes with the territory.
Bottomline, Vietnam offers good and bad, just like the USA, Costa Rica etc..its what you make of it.
yes tiicotim,
as I said, the OP has some pretty strong reaactions to her visit.
I am sure most poeple here can relate to an experience of having something stolen or "lost" or whatever. OP began bad, then it just got worse for her, ie instead of someone guiding her aside........ she was pushed. Common to all of us who have travelled a bit. Her reactions to her experiences are clearly quite different from many other travellers. Its like , if all is going well, and gentle push in the market is nothing, but if you have just had something stolen from you, it takes on a whole other meaning. All depends on the paradigm you are in.
I do feel for her experiences, and I wish she would give Vietnam another go, as it were, as there are so many wonderful things to explore.
marleemia
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<hr>How can people research for warnings and scams <hr></blockquote>
They can search the branch. So many warnings have been posted here it's hard not to find them. Mango hasn't read them...
Hi everybody!
I'm Loannie- a Hanoian- live in Hanoi the capital of Vietnam. I feel very bad when I read all your posts
In fact, Vietnam is on the move and there are many problems we have to change.
If you come here, we'll help you to taste Vietnam deeply and safely. Because We Are The Wind Ambassador – Volunteer Guide Club. If you are members of HC or CS- you'll see lots of comments about us there and believe us.
You might hear of the beauty places in Vietnam but do not know the way to get there
Is the terrible traffic in Vietnam your trouble in a strange place
You might meet difficulty in shopping because of language barrier
You want to set your feet in the wonderful places which are just known by the local
You want to enjoy food made in Vietnam and try on going to kitchen and making it by yourself
You want to be a "true member" in cultural festivals of Vietnam
You want to stay at locals' house?
You want to know about Vietnam wars?
You want to know how Vietnamese think about your country
Are you ready to share your thought of life?
LET US HELP YOU!
Those are which we desire to reach:
• Practice foreign languages - especially English
• Exchange the specialties of different culture all over the world.
• Explore "hidden charm" of Hanoi together.
A dynamic Vietnam but still ancient and romantic with the gentle-hospitable people is welcoming to you. We have members around Vietnam, especially in Hanoi our capital, Ho Chi Minh city- the biggest city, Hoi An town, Hue- old caplital, Nha Trang beach, Da Lat highland, Ha Long bay, Sa Pa.
We are very willing to be your fellow-travelers!
Enjoy yourself whenever you are.
Loannie
The Wind Ambassadors
trusted partner
