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A GUIDE TO VIETNAM
A GUIDE TO VIETNAM ietnam is considered as “The Pearl of South – East Asia”. Every year, it attracts a large number of international expatriates coming to live and work in this populous country. In 2011, the number of foreign employees in Vietnam exceeded 74,000 (Source: http://visatovn.com/tag/vietnam-work-permit/).
However, it is inevitable for expats to experience a great culture shock when immigrating to VN – especially Westerners. Hopefully, this guide will give you a brief insight into what you should expect when first coming to Vietnam.
How to dress in Vietnam
In Vietnam, the way people dress is quite formal and polite. They wear shirts along with formal trousers (or skirts, formal dresses) when going to work. When people go out, they often wear casual clothes (t-shirts, blouses, shorts, jeans, casual dresses, etc.), since the weather in Vietnam is quite hot and sunny. It is, however, frowned upon should people wear clothes that are too short in length or too [hở hang]. In places of worship (such as pagodas), people must wear formal clothing must be worn; pants must exceed the knees, and garment must not be too colourful.
Food in Vietnam
The food in Vietnam has its own unique taste and flavour, but, typically, very Asian. The dishes are savoury, a little bit spicy and very diverse. Though various as they are, the regular ingredients of Vietnamese dishes are fish sauce, soy sauce, shrimp paste, fresh herbs, vegetables and most importantly, rice, which is always present in every meal.
Some specialties of Vietnam include different kinds of noodles (pho, beef noodles, stir-fried noodles, etc.), rice-cake rolls and many more, varying among different parts of Vietnam. These tasty dishes are not only found in restaurants but can also be found in abundance and at a reasonable price on street-food stalls. Vegetarian food is very popular and diverse in Vietnam as well, due to the profound influence of Bhuddism.
Traffic in Vietnam
Traffic in Vietnam may be a shock for most expats when they first come here. The traffic on the road is usually heavy and chaotic, since there are so many private vehicles on the roads (cars, and a lot of motorbikes), making it seemingly impossible to cross the road. Nevertheless, you can get the hang of it in no time when you know how to. The trick when crossing the road, you should look both sides and just cross calmly and not make any sudden changes in moves, the vehicles on the road will automatically avoid you.
Tips to Cultural Etiquette in Vietnam * When using a toothpick, one must cover their mouth. * Elders must be well respected and given privilege (e.g. on buses, seats, etc.) * Both hands must be used to hand objects to older people as a way of showing respect and care.