20 peculiar things that only exist in Vietnam Vietnam is a small country located in Southeast Asia it boasts numerous beautiful landmarks that Travelers can visit however alongside that this country possesses an extremely diverse culture often surprising many visitors a notable example is the chaotic and incessant traffic situation in Vietnam where Road Rules may seem disregarded or the cuisine that might intimidate with dishes like raw blood soup tea KH duck embryo eggs or the rare midday nap culture seldom found in any other country in the world join me in exploring the beautiful Asian country of Vietnam to experience 20 things that are sure to shock tourists when they set foot in this nation number 20 extremely chaotic traffic I thought traffic in Beijing was terrible but those cities are nothing compared to Hanoi or hoochi Min City where there are millions of motorcycles on the roads according to the Vietnam motorcycle manufacturers Association by the end of 2022 the total number of motorcycles in Vietnam reached around 72 million with roughly two motorcycles for every three Vietnamese so sidewalks have become parking spaces forcing pedestrians to walk on the road this results in a mix of pedestrians cars motorcycles bulky cargo carrying bicycles buses and containers sharing the same space people people seem to navigate through the chaos honking not necessarily to warn others but more as a way to announce their presence surprisingly this method of movement is effective as there are very few accidents on the roads sometimes people continue moving even when the traffic lights are red or green leaving tourists unsure of when to cross the road especially during rush hours you wouldn't want to step onto the road as the traffic situation is truly Dradful number 19 rustic tobacco smoking not only do the Vietnamese smoke cigarettes but they also have a traditional way of smoking loud tobacco rustic tobacco smoking has been a part of Vietnamese culture for a long time passed down through generations in the rural areas of Vietnam almost every household used to have a smoking pipe rustic tobacco is a unique specialty found only in Vietnam the entire process from cultivation processing trading to smoking is known only by the Vietnamese if you visit any sidewalk tea stall in Vietnam you're likely to come across a lower tobacco pipe when smoking you have to take a strong inhale producing a loud sound and for those trying it for the first time it can be dizzying and leave them unable to stand up number 18 noisy funerals while funerals are typically solemn occasions Vietnamese funerals are anything but quiet if a neighbor passes away in Vietnam you might want to book a hotel room for a a few days because sleep will be challenging for at least 48 Hours people drink alcohol sing karaoke play drums and have a band with brass instruments but why all the noise there are two layers of meaning the Lively sounds are believed to ward off evil spirits and the festive atmosphere is intended for The Departed to receive the best before departing in the northern regions there are even professional mourners hired to cry during funerals when family members can't these Specialists both cry and speak about the deceased's merits and contributions the sorrowful words touch the hearts of the bereaved and guests making them feel the pain and prompting tears therefore a standard mourning expert must have a strong voice and be able to cry at funerals making others shed tears too number 17 surviving flooded streets well another memorable experience that might stick with you when you visit Vietnam as navigating flooded streets throughout the year especially during the heavy rainy season some streets get flooded making Transportation more challenging however life goes on and so do the people despite the flooded streets Vietnamese locals skillfully maneuver their motorcycles through the water if you find yourself on a flooded Road don't worry as there are plenty of options for you you can take a taxi or a motorbike taxi instead of waiting through the water some may feel safer walking on the sidewalk since they are higher than the flooded streets however during Heavy Rain even the sidewalks might get submerged turning the city into a giant swimming pool some might find it exciting to Wade through the water but remember to take thorough foot hygiene precautions afterward there are even those who bring out boats to paddle through the streets on flood days number 16 Cheap Tobacco in Vietnam the price of a pack of tobacco in Vietnam is around or below 1 USD making it one of of the cheapest in the world one reason for the low cigarette prices and the relatively High smoking rate in Vietnam is the low tobacco tax in contrast tobacco prices in Australia are exorbitant due to high taxes to purchase a 25 USD pack of tobacco in Australia you would have to pay a staggering 18 USD in taxes perhaps that's why you'll encounter many smokers when visiting this country number 15 Regional cuisine you'll experience this as you travel throughout Vietnam in any direction for example Hanoi is famous for faux and fried rice but as you head south to places like Hugh faux becomes ordinary as Hue beef noodle soup becomes the traditional dish of the region this is still a type of foe but the noodles are thicker and round distinguishing it from the northern version again when you visit hoochi Min City you'll encounter different flavors Landscapes and people each dish contributes to the unique character characteristics of each region in Vietnam making every Province worth exploring number 14 sleeper buses regular buses are too mundane for you in Vietnam you can experience sleeper buses sleeper buses are an excellent mode of transportation throughout the country as they are affordable and provide a certain level of comfort it's quite ingenious when you think about it however if you Bard a sleeper bus remember to bring warm clothing because the air conditioning is usually at an insanely low level essentially they purchase regular buses remove all the seats from the inside and customize them to become sleeping beds it's quite comfortable for shorter individuals but if you're taller and not a fan of air conditioning it might not be the most enjoyable Experience tickets for a sleeper bus are very affordable and you can practically travel half the country for around 20 USD also always opt for night Journeys to save on accommodation costs as you can have a good night's sleep on the sleeper bus traveling through different provinces and cities number 13 always remember to haggle when buying haggling in Vietnam is absolutely crazy everyone Bargains to lower the price when buying things locals will try to make a higher profit from you if you're not familiar with the prices and cannot negotiate when making a purchase perhaps many people have never bargained before coming to Vietnam but once you're here you'll realize that some people even pay three times less than the initial price after all you start thinking about the reasons and what you can do to get a similar price haggling isn't that difficult because people want to sell their goods some might not haggle and then complain that they were cheated Because the actual value of the item wasn't that high usually you might end up paying slightly more than the locals even after bargaining but that can be acceptable so what can you do to negotiate the price and buy what you like at the market Market first never let people see that you really want something to the point they immediately realize it be comfortable and offer a price that is 30% lower than the original price and finally accept a price around 50% number 12 serious pollution situation we rarely if ever see litter strewn around public places after finishing food or drinks as we usually look for trash bins and gently place them inside therefore the people doing the sweeping and cleaning job often have an easy and leisurely time in Vietnam it's completely the opposite streets are filled with plastic bags candy wrappers and more moreover Vietnamese people even throw trash directly into rivers and lakes just because it's convenient in supermarkets plastic bags are still widely used and thrown away carelessly with people not switching to using their own bags to protect the environment in addition due to vehicle exhaust motorbikes improper waste burning incorrect disposal of rice straw Hanoi the capital of Vietnam consistently ranks as one of the most polluted cities in the world according to statistics Hanoi has nearly 7 million motorcycles in circulation many of which are old not regularly maintained emitting black smoke into the environment contributing to the release of fine dust this is also one of the main causes of air pollution if you come here remember to wear a mask regularly when going out and don't mistake the Morning Mist for beauty as it's actually toxic smoke number 11 terrifying Foods in addition to having a rich culinary culture with various diverse dishes Vietnam also has some foods that are sure to terrify anyone first is dong du a coconut worm this is a specialty of the mikong Delta prepared in various ways such as grilling or frying but the most haunting is when it's soaked in fish sauce and eaten raw the laa live in the coconut tree trunks even wriggling when the diner Picks Them Up to eat those who enjoy this dish are impressed by its Rich chewy taste coconut worms often appear on the list of the most terrifying dishes in Asia Next is blood pudding this dish is made from the blood of animals most commonly duck goose or pig mixed with minced meat peanuts and served with basil leaves and boiled liver it is enjoyed as an appetizer with a sweet and refreshing taste however this dish is not recommended due to its high risk of harmful bacteria and viruses which can cause stomach pain and poisoning another equally horrifying dish is duck embryo eggs this is a common and nutritious dish for the Vietnamese people duck embryo eggs are often eaten with salt Ginger and cilantro however for international tourists the site of duck embryo eggs resembling a duckling can be frightening and they may find it cruel to eat a duck embryo taken from inside the egg number 10 students have to go to school very early if you think your school hours start early in Vietnam school starts even earlier in Vietnam Elementary School students must be present before 7:15 a. m. secondary school and high school students before 7 a.
m. and University students before 6:45 a. m.
that's right 6:45 a. m. means you have to try to open your eyes and get out of that beloved bed before 6:00 a.
m. to get ready for school if you bring a backpack to Vietnam for a certain period long enough to immerse yourself in the local culture don't miss the opportunity to visit any Elementary School you will see Vietnamese students yawning cutely every early morning then exercising together on the schoolyard in a very sleepy and drowsy state number nine wearing pajamas outside pajamas or loungewear are usually only worn at home or when going to bed however when you come to Vietnam you will see people wearing pajamas all day selling foe in pajamas walking in pajamas and sometimes even going on dates in pajamas this is not just for middle-aged people young people also love to wear casual clothes outside this is completely different from other countries where people consider going out to require elaborate and fancy attire even when throwing away garbage to respect others due to Vietnam's hot climate the fabric used for making sleep wear is very soft and cool so people love to wear this type of clothing at home even when going out for shopping or other activities the second reason why people in Vietnam consider wearing sleep wear outside normal is that even though sleepwear is designed to be worn when going to bed it has the form of a long sleeved shirt and long pants logically wearing sleepware outside doesn't reveal anything inappropriate or offensive therefore besides wearing it incorrectly people can still wear sleepware outside so the next time you see many women selling street food wearing this type of outfit don't be too surprised number eight all shops closed during Luna New Year if you travel to Vietnam during tet Luna New Year don't be surprised if the country looks deserted like a ghost town tetan ginan is the most anticipated Festival in Vietnam celebrated on the first day of the lunar calendar and typically lasting for 6 days during this time business activities in Vietnam come to a halt and the streets are often deserted many families have to prepare food reserves for about a month because usually shops and markets are closed during the Tet holiday the city during these days is like scenes from Hollywood survival movies number seven snake wine Yes you heard it right in Vietnam snake wine is a specialty bottles of liquor with coiled snakes inside Looking ready to strike can be seen in stores and markets across the country generally it is created by placing a live snake into a bottle and letting it drown just before the snake dies it coils into a defensive position which is quite appealing to customers as it signifies the snake as a Fierce and Powerful creature sometimes the snake is stunned gutted and then sewn back before being placed in the liquor this Pro process needs to be done quickly to ensure the snake is still alive when submerged in the alcohol according to Vietnamese traditional medicine snake wine is mainly used to treat joint pain and it's believed to be beneficial for older people or those who do physically demanding work especially in fluctuating weather conditions in addition to snake wine Vietnam also has wines infused with scorpions and various other animals I wonder if you would dare to try snake wine just looking at it already makes me shiver number six nap culture in Vietnam while taking a nap in many countries may be considered odd or lazy in Vietnam napping is quite common for newcomers it might be surprising to see colleagues bringing blankets and pillows to take a nap right on the office floor during lunch break the offices that are typically Lively suddenly become silent about 20 minutes after lunch people take advantage of this time to doze off on their chairs with their heads on their desks or lying on mats on the floor however Vietnam is not the only country with this culture afternoon siestas are a tradition in many regions with hot climates worldwide including Southern European countries like Spain and Italy in these countes working hours are adjusted to the hottest parts of the day according to tradition the Spanish work from 9:00 a. m.
to 2:00 p. m. in the morning take a 2-hour lunch break and return to work from 4:00 p.
m. to 8:00 p. m.
in reality napping is beneficial for health some studies even suggest that the mortality rate from heart disease is lower in the Mediterranean region compared to the United States and Northern Europe partly due to the potential role of siestas in releasing daily life stress number five passionate football fans if you travel to Vietnam during the World Cup you'll experience an amazing football atmosphere across the country with people watching matches and wearing jerseys representing teams from around the world football in Vietnam has undergone significant changes in recent years and the teams are playing very well whenever Vietnam is playing everyone stops their work and starts watching the game to cheer for the national team even Street vendors set up small TVs to broadcast the matches driving around the city you might see people standing in front of shops watching football drinking beer and cheering after the match there's a tradition called di bow where people wear red R shirts carry national flags and hit the streets in a literal sense the atmosphere on the streets changes in seconds and everyone usually drinks beer rides motorcycles cheers and shouts it's an incredible feeling to be in the midst of that football frenzy number four using chopsticks for any dish instead of using knives and forks Vietnamese people have the habit of using chopsticks for every meal from regular meals to Grand Feasts so when you come to Vietnam most likely you'll be surprised and intrigued by this somewhat peculiar habit for Vietnamese people using Chopsticks is not just a tool to pick up food it's also a way to show Care and Share in a delicate manner almost every time a meal starts especially during feasts before picking food for themselves they often use clean Chopsticks to pick and offer food to everyone around the table similar to many other East Asian countries that use chops sticks such as China South Korea 8C besides avoiding pointing Chopsticks directly into a bowl of rice which is considered impolite Vietnamese people also refrain from tapping chopsticks on bowls or other objects to make noise while eating they believe this may attract hungry ghosts and create disturbances moreover refraining from tapping Chopsticks is a sign of good manners that Vietnamese people highly appreciate traditional Vietnamese Chopsticks are typically round and untreated without paint or decoration the tipss of the Chopsticks are also usually not too pointed in the north Chopsticks are often made from bamboo while in the South they are commonly made from coconut wood I wonder if you can use chopsticks proficiently it's quite a skill to Master number three home place of the world's largest cave located in Fong NA kebang national park kuang bin Province Vietnam's sundom cave with a len L of about 5. 5 Mi a width of 650 ft and a height of 500 ft is the world's largest cave this cave offers thrilling opportunities for those passionate about exploration sundom cave has a total length of nearly 9 km a vast cave ceiling with a volume of up to 38. 5 million cubic M making it the largest natural cave in the world the volume of Sund Doom cave is more than five times that of deer cave in Malaysia previously considered the world's largest natural cave with a volume of 9.
