When traveling to Vietnam, instead of saying “hello”, foreigners are recommended to say “xin chao”, and say “mac qua” (too expensive) if you want to criticize or negotiate for an item.
“I was born in Vietnam, but it is now a distant memory in my mind”. This is how a blogger, who is Vietnamese but no longer lived here, shared about his home country. Even though Vietnam is his home country, like common oversea visitors to Vietnam, he was still impressed by the natural beauty of the “S-shape country”.
Vietnam attracts international tourists by its wonderful landscape.
One of the most helpful tips he suggested is that foreign visitors should know some Vietnamese phrases to communicate with the local peoples.
Although English is the second language in Vietnam, not everyone can speak English. Thus, mastering several basic Vietnamese phrases will not only help you survive in Vietnam but also will give you huge advantages. In fact, Vietnamese people are very friendly and the locals love it if they hear these phrases from you, even if they aren’t perfectly pronounced. In some cases, they might even give you discounts if you can say these Vietnamese phrases!
For example, instead of saying “hello”, foreign travelers should learn to say “xin chao” (sin chow), say “em oi” when ordering something in a restaurant, and say “tinh tien” (din ting) when making a payments.
In Vietnam, it is not essential to leave a small tip to the restaurant and hotel servers.
Specially, negotiating is a fun on traveling to Vietnam. In markets or touristy areas, you need to make sure you negotiate any price you are given, because vendors normally mark up the first price by two or three times. If you desire to buy some souvenirs, do not forget these following frequent Vietnamese phrases: “Bao nhieu?” (Baow nyew) meaning “how much?” to ask the price, “mac qua” (mac wa) and “Giam gia duoc khong?” (zam za duoc khom) representing “Can you reduce the price?” to bargain.
One of the most cheeky but effective tips to have the best price is to ask how they are and compliment them. Vietnamese love visitors to compliment them, so if you say something like “you are beautiful”, they often provide more affordable prices.
The “S-shape country” with picturesque landscapes
In addition, the blogger also stated that the most appropriate time to take a Vietnam tour is from January to March. In that period, the travelers will get chances to experience Tet Holiday, the most important traditional festival, throughout the country.
Some preferable destinations are Hanoi, Sapa, Phu Quoc, Ho Chi Minh City, etc. Before joining in your Vietnam tour, it is truly crucial to check the weather conditions carefully so that you can select the matched clothes.
A fact which makes foreign visitors excited is the feeling of a millionaire when exchanging to VND, the blogger claimed.
Vietnam’s cuisine significantly impressed foreign travelers. Particularly, coffee is fragrant and worth a try.
