Having lived in Vietnam for two months, I would like to share some honest thoughts. 1. Although Vietnam officially states a 'monogamous' system, the reality is that 'polygamy' still exists! Many men can marry multiple wives, provided they are wealthy and have the consent of the first wife.
2. Vietnamese beauties have great temperament
Perhaps due to local conditions, Vietnamese girls often have great temperament, exuding a unique 'Southeast Asian charm'. Coupled with a light diet and a focus on sun protection and skincare, they all appear fresh and beautiful; on the streets, you can also see some Vietnamese beauties dressed in Ao Dai, with graceful figures.
3. Human trafficking
In the mountainous areas of northern Vietnam, there are occurrences of 'human trafficking'; as this region is relatively underdeveloped and poorly managed, situations of 'bartering people' and 'elopement' arise. Some criminals even make a living from this by encouraging girls to run away and then selling them.
4. Women are the backbone of the family
Vietnamese girls are considered a 'fresh stream' in Southeast Asia; they not only work hard but also, in some rural areas, serve as the 'backbone' of their families. Most of the workers in Vietnamese factories are women, and the service sector in society is also predominantly female. Some traditionally male-dominated jobs, such as construction workers and taxi drivers, frequently have the presence of Vietnamese women. Meanwhile, men enjoy a more comfortable life, often starting their day by going out for coffee.
5. Salary and benefits
The average monthly income for ordinary Vietnamese people is between 2500 and 3500 RMB, with little fluctuation. They work 6 days a week with one day off. The daily wage for manual labor is around 200 RMB, significantly lower than in China, yet considered a high salary in Vietnam. This is still the case in urban areas; in rural Vietnam, many people earn less than 1000 RMB per month.
6. 'Passenger first die' cycle rickshaw
The cycle rickshaw, commonly known as 'passenger first die', is a unique mode of transportation in Vietnam. Unlike ordinary cycle rickshaws, the driver is located at the back while the passenger sits at the front. The advantage is that it allows for scenic views, but the downside is that in case of danger, the passenger is the first to suffer. Additionally, the pricing for this type of vehicle is not uniform, and some may change their terms; what was agreed upon as the price may double upon arrival.
7. Buses are old
Buses are the main public transportation for local residents, with fares ranging from 5000 to 10000 Vietnamese Dong, which is similar to domestic pricing. The subway starting fare is 8000 Vietnamese Dong, the full journey ticket is 15000 Vietnamese Dong, and the day pass is 30000 Vietnamese Dong; not only is it expensive, but the number of stops is also limited, making it less convenient than buses.
8. Traffic lights are just decoration
The motorcycle army in Vietnam is quite exaggerated; you can see various types of motorcycles whether on the main streets or in rural areas. There are no traffic rules, and even traffic lights at intersections are merely decorative. Due to the vast number of motorcycles, the air quality is very poor, and many locals wear masks.
9. Selling gasoline in plastic bottles
You can often see various plastic bottles filled with gasoline by the roadside, considered a 'temporary gas station' for locals. The bottles are 1 liter each, and prices fluctuate slightly; do not have high expectations for this gasoline, as much comes from small private workshops, and prices may be increased for foreign tourists.
10. Street vendors are everywhere
On the streets of Vietnam, you can also see various small stalls selling fruit, snacks, and homegrown vegetables, forming a unique 'street stall culture'. This situation can be seen in many Southeast Asian countries, where some local elderly people, unable to find employment, sell their own grown vegetables and fruits on the streets to supplement their household income. There are similar large markets in China as well.
11. Overcharging customers is common
Overall, the standard of living is similar to that of China in the last century. Despite the current development, mobile payment in Vietnam is still underdeveloped. When going out, one must carry a lot of cash. Furthermore, for foreign tourists, many local taxi drivers and street vendors will try various ways to take more money from you. Because cash denominations in Vietnam are quite large, if you're not careful, you might misread the denomination, leading to overpaying and receiving less change.
12. Beautiful women soliciting customers on the street
In commercial districts, you will find beautifully dressed women who enthusiastically greet passing tourists and invite them into nearby restaurants and tea houses. Once inside, they will take the liberty of ordering food, which is priced relatively high, and their role as 'solicitors' allows them to not only fill their stomachs but also earn a commission afterward.
13. High-end restaurants cater to foreigners
In Hanoi, Vietnam, although the streets appear narrow, old, and somewhat dirty; there are also some high-end restaurants and entertainment venues, which are mostly concentrated in the city center and other bustling areas, catering almost exclusively to foreign tourists and not local residents.
14. Love for rice noodles
Vietnam also has rice noodles, but the taste is relatively mild, mainly focused on beef noodles, with other flavors including pork, chicken, etc.; the texture of the noodles is similar to 'kway teow' from Chaozhou, which is different from the rice noodles from Hunan, Jiangxi, Guangxi, etc., making it difficult for first-time eaters to accept. Additionally, locals often add lime, herbs, and chili as seasonings to the rice noodles, giving it a fresh and unique flavor.
15. Wealth should not be flaunted
Do not flaunt your wealth; this is necessary everywhere. After arriving in Vietnam, you need to be even more cautious; not only should valuable items and phones be kept in visible places, but you must also be especially wary of motorcycle gangs nearby. Additionally, when taking a taxi, make sure to agree on a price with the driver first and keep your wallet handy to avoid the driver taking money from you for various reasons.
16. A large number of mixed-race individuals
Vietnam has strict crackdowns on the 'sex industry', but in the bars and entertainment streets of Vietnam, you can always see some 'unique' girls; there are about several hundred thousand of them, including not only local Vietnamese girls but also 'mixed-race beauties', who possess the charm of Vietnamese people along with the allure of Westerners. This large mixed-race population mainly stems from the Americans' actions in Vietnam last century. According to incomplete statistics, after the Vietnam War, at least 50,000 mixed-race children appeared in Vietnam.
17. Official language - Vietnamese
The official language is 'Vietnamese', and a small number of people also speak French and English. In border areas, many people can speak Chinese. Especially in border markets, there are even more Vietnamese who can speak Mandarin, and the Chinese currency is also in circulation here. However, if you really want to deal with Vietnamese people, knowing Vietnamese is quite necessary.
18. Famous beaches, insufficient management
The beaches of 'Nha Trang' in Vietnam are regarded as one of the 'Top Ten Beaches in the World', with fine sand, blue skies, and beautiful waters. On the beach, there are seemingly 'unattended' beach chairs; if someone lies down, locals will immediately come to charge them, regardless of how long they sit. This practice should not occur in such a world-class tourist destination.
19. Civil servant salaries are average and very low
Currently, Vietnam's overall development level is about ten years behind China, or even several decades; as mentioned earlier, their average salary levels are discussed, and now let’s talk about the basic salary treatment for Vietnamese civil servants, which is between 1000 and 2500 RMB per month, very stable. Because Vietnam does not have a 'land tax', local finances are tight, especially for departments like traffic police and customs, where you often see private money being collected.
20. Teachers have low salaries and often face wage arrears
Teachers in public schools in Vietnam have a very high turnover rate, mainly due to low salaries, with a monthly income of about 800 to 1200 RMB, and salary arrears occur frequently. Many universities in Vietnam are actually not as strong as local universities in China, and many of the teachers have only a bachelor’s degree yet can teach at the university level; the requirements are really not high.
21. Universities are not like our domestic high schools
Vietnamese universities are completely different from our domestic universities, some are even smaller than a city-level high school, and there isn't even a basic 400-meter track. Moreover, not only do some public universities lack dormitories, but some private universities also do not have them, let alone scholarships. Because of this, many Vietnamese university students take part-time jobs during their spare time to alleviate tuition and living costs, with this ratio exceeding 80%.
22. Many Koreans
Korean tourists are the main force in Vietnam's tourism; you can always hear conversations in Korean while walking on the streets, which may be related to certain Korean conglomerates conducting business investments in Vietnam. Large commercial streets and hotels here bear the presence of Korean capital. Korean travel groups also specifically offer cheap 'Vietnam tour packages' to attract a large number of Koreans to visit.
23. Capable in the kitchen and the dining room
Most Vietnamese girls can cook 'Vietnamese cuisine', which is not just simply frying an egg or boiling noodles, but truly capable of managing both the kitchen and the dining room. They can keep the house spotless and surprisingly feel that this is 'natural'! In today's society, this is 'gender discrimination'; the household is a shared responsibility, and housework should not solely fall on women; everyone needs to contribute!
24. A vast number of motorcycles
According to incomplete statistics, Vietnam has over 60 million registered motorcycles, and nearly 2 million motorcycles are registered each year! Adding other statistics, it is conservatively estimated that the total number of motorcycles in Vietnam is close to 100 million! The massive quantity is primarily because motorcycles are cheap, the terrain in Vietnam is complex and diverse, making motorcycles convenient for travel, and maintenance and fuel costs for motorcycles are cheaper than for cars; thus, motorcycles have gradually become the main means of transportation for the Vietnamese people.
25. University students love part-time jobs
In Vietnam's 'Da Nang', you can always see university students working part-time in street restaurants and cafes. The work is 30 days without rest, averaging 5 hours a day, with a monthly income of 2.5 million Vietnamese Dong (about 600 RMB). From our perspective, this is considered very low pay, but in Vietnam, it is already a decent part-time income, especially since the average monthly income here is just over 1000 RMB.
26. A singular economy, insufficient job opportunities
Vietnam's economy is relatively underdeveloped, mainly relying on tourism and agriculture, lacking high-end manufacturing, high-end services, heavy industries, etc. This leads to a large amount of idle labor, with industries absorbing them only being restaurants, cafes, bakeries, etc., which are all basic service industries. This demographic makes up the main 'wage profile' of Vietnam, unable to rise or fall.
27. Chinese signage is everywhere
As a neighboring country, you can see prominent 'Chinese prompts' at local airports in Vietnam. After all, the purchasing power of our country's people is among the top in the world, generating significant GDP for various tourist destinations every year! Most airport signs in Vietnam are composed of Vietnamese, Chinese, and English, which is very convenient.
