THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE TRAVELING IN VIETNAMThailand enjoys a 5. Watch From Russia With Love Online Facebook. In contrast, Vietnam only pulls back 5% of visitors. Personally, I feel that Vietnam walks all over Thailand in almost every travel category except beaches.

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So, why do so many people have such bad experiences and never return to Vietnam? I hope the list I have made below helps out first- time visitors. It may seem cynical and anti- Vietnamese. It’s not. I love this country; I want you to love it, too. I’d just like to alert travelers to beware of the common first- time mistakes that may sour their experience of the local people and the country overall. Do your homework, know what to expect, and this is the most rewarding country in Southeast Asia to explore.

Here goes: -1- TAKE YOUR VISA SERIOUSLY, VERY SERIOUSLY INDEEDYes, it seems like common sense, but I have seen tourists turned away at the airport for visa misinformation or failing to print their visa- on- arrival pre- approval paper. Double, triple check all of your information, have your accommodation address ready to go for the arrival form, be very respectful to the immigration officers, no matter how cold they are.

Get stamped and enjoy.- 2- THE PRICE FOR GOODS AND SERVICES IS…WHATEVER YOU’LL PAYMe, bargaining hard for some fruit (photo by Hye Mi Joe)This is something that is difficult for us North Americans to understand. We are used to a fixed price for everything and we generally believe what we hear and read. Remember, it is normal in Vietnam for locals to overcharge or inflate prices when they feel they can get more money for something. It’s been happening here in Vietnam since long before tourists ever arrived.

It is not necessarily that they are “ripping you off”. It’s just the fluid way that small transactions happen in Vietnam. Sellers will make false claims, pretend you’ve agreed to a higher price, or give you back less change than you’re owed. Happens every day. Be careful, educate yourself and know that….- 3- SOME PEOPLE WILL LIE TO YOUThis is another hard one for first- time travelers to understand and it sours many trips to Vietnam. Though politically communist and still state- organized on a larger scale, Vietnam is hyper- capitalistic on street- level.

Tourists have only been coming for twenty years. To the Vietnamese, there is nothing wrong with doing or saying anything it takes to get your business. In the rush for tourist cash, locals (tailors, hotel staff, travel agents, taxi drivers) will do or say ANYTHING. The good thing is, unlike in Thailand, everything is negotiable.

Be very weary and….- 4- BE PREPARED TO WALK AWAY FROM ANY FINANCIAL TRANSACTIONVietnamese love to do business and hate to see a customer walk away. Generally, they get the upper hand the second you ask “how much”.

Don’t let them keep you held down. Name your price. Stick to the price you want and just politely walk away if they don’t go for it. Watch Lupin The Third: The Castle Of Cagliostro Online Metacritic.

They will call you back if it’s a fair deal, or offer you their lowest price while you’re still within earshot. Don’t let them squeeze any higher amount out of you. The Vietnamese respect a tough customer, even if you feel you’ve wasted their time and want to ‘give in’, don’t.- 5- DON’T CONFUSE ’1. AND ’5. 0’One of those “petty” things to watch out for. Street vendors such as coconut sellers or shoe shiners will trick you and claim that you agreed to a higher “5.

The price of a coconut or a shoe shine is around 1. Don’t fall for the “5. Once their end of the deal is met, you can’t win the argument.

It’s ’5. 0’. What I do is try to take out 1. Watch Another 48 Hrs. Download. Or, I use my fingers to illustrate “1” and “5” so there is no confusion in the end.

Vietnam.- 6- BUY YOUR TRAIN TICKETS DIRECTLY AT THE TRAIN STATION, NOT FROM YOUR HOTEL OR AN AGENTMy boy Adam, on a 1. Steven)I love the train in Vietnam. It’s a great way to see the pastoral landscape safely, peacefully and without the constant honking. Almost indefinitely, your hotel will ask you “where are you going next?”.

This is because they want to buy your train ticket, or arrange your flight or bus ticket, for a substantial “service fee” (2. Yes, your hotel is lying to you. Happens every day to me, too. Take a half hour of your time, hire a xe ôm (motorbike taxi) to take you to the train station and buy your tickets directly there.

Or, when you arrive by train buy your ticket out of town right away. Tickets do tend to sell out days in advance, so don’t go to the train station with no ticket expecting to hop on the next train.- 7- BREAKFAST IS OFTEN INCLUDED, AND OFTEN SUCKSWatery noodles (photo by Adam Lenz)Noodles, sandwiches, spring rolls: Vietnam has amazing and cheap street food around every corner.

You don’t need to force down a bland hotel breakfast to get the day going. Hotels will try to lure you in with the “breakfast included” offer. Breakfast won’t be terrible, but it is probably not worth considering in the cost of your stay. In Vietnam, it is super easy to run out and grab an amazing bowl of soup for 2. The streetside soup, and coffee (1. I’ve had some decent breakfasts in $3.

Vietnam, but at most hotels I skip breakfast and hit the streets for my first of many amazing meals throughout the day.- 8- TRAFFIC ACCIDENTS ARE THE #1 CAUSE OF TOURIST DEATH WORLDWIDE; RIDING A MOTORBIKE IN VIETNAM KICKS ASSAdam driving north of Mui Ne, seconds before he crashed into the sea and was eaten by a shark (photo by Steven)I’ve had three little motorbike falls in Vietnam. Nothing worse than some ugly scrapes and a shake- up. However, I’ve seen some friends have more serious falls and I’ve seen some very- bandaged backpackers limping around Mui Ne and Sapa.

Motorbikes are very dangerous. However, getting out to the countryside on your own two wheels is an unforgettable experience and one of the highlights of Vietnam. Rent your own for $5 (manual) or $7 (automatic) throughout Vietnam. Don’t forget to fill it up with gas to avoid stalling in the middle of nowhere. Be sure to have travel health insurance and bring your information card to have ready in the case of an emergency. If you are apprehensive to drive your own, please don’t. Lack of confidence will make you a worse driver.

Pay a little extra to have a local such as the Easy Riders take you on a day trip ($1. VIETNAMESE PEOPLE OUTSIDE OF THE TOURIST INDUSTRY ARE AMAZINGLY HOSPITABLE AND SWEETFriendly official on the backroads outside of Hoi An (photo by Steven)Time and time again, I hear travelers complain that they were treated like “walking ATM machines” throughout Vietnam.