大咖福利影院

Jim Duncalf wrote:

Its funny but when I was 35 I moved from the center of the US where people are friendly and helpful to northern California, where no one knew their neighbor, people were curt and customer service was totally non existent.聽 Two years ago I moved to HCM City.聽 Even though I don't speak the language it feels like home to me. Now for a discouraging word... Its good that people put up alters to honor dearly departed grandma and grandpa.聽 But I wish they would treat them better in the last decades of their lives.聽 聽I always feel bad seeing old men and women have to step out into the street because people park their bikes, food stands, signs, sales goods and even construction debris all over the sidewalk. There should be some kind of enforcement to maintain at least 1.5 meter walkway on side walks.聽 A lot of grandmas and grandpas would still be with us if they had not had to step into traffic because the sidewalk was blocked!

The grandmas and grandpas,the old men and old women that you mention
have survived poor education,poor nutrition,a war with the French,a war with the US and it's allies.
So stepping onto a street is a cake walk.

lirelou wrote:

Jimbream, since you've living in Saigon, most of those old folks you refer to are more likely to be from side we were allied with. And poor allies we were. Which brings up my first cultural shock. In Vietnam there is no such thing as: "Tell it like it is." Blunt speech is considered poor manners in VIetnam. The general rule is: "If it doesn't hurt anyone, then it is not a lie." We have a similar concept in English, the 'little fib'. But in Vietnam the little fib is far more widely used. For instance; you want to buy a motorbike. It's a real piece of trash, but you think you're getting a good deal. You take it to your Vietnamese friend and ask his or her opinion. Their answer is going to depend upon what they think you want to hear. If you present it like you think that this is a really good deal, the majority of them will tell you exactly that, even if they suspect otherwise. After all, to give you contrary personal judgment might insult your own judgment. On he other hand, if you present your case as if you really think you're being taken for a ride, then they're more likely to agree with you, even if they think the motorbike is a good deal.

I heard that most were sent to 'reeducation' facilities and removed of any possessions or land.
Well that's what an old cyclo told me ages ago.

mspatique wrote:

Hello , I have been married to a Vietnamese lady for 8 years now . Here are a few very basic but聽 important things I have learned about Vietnamese culture .
#1. Do not hug or kiss anyone unless you know in advance it is ok to do so. Hugging and kissing are reserved聽 for married couples so when you first meet your new family , don't go over to your sister-in-law and give her a big hug and kiss.
I grew up in an Italian聽 family where we hug and kiss everyone. Very inappropriate in VN culture.

#2. Food is practically worshiped in VN so they will continue to fill your bowl every time you empty it . When you are full , leave a half bowl of food in your bowl or on your plate . Otherwise , expect some lovely person to fill it again.

#3.When drinking with the men , do not ever try to keep up with them or have a contest with them . They will drink you under the table as a matter of pride . They have a toast that literally translates to DRINK UNTIL YOU DIE . They are not kidding . When you feel you have had enough , leave the table because otherwise they will continue to urge you to drink .
#4. Driving is not anything like in the west . Remember this to stay alive . It all about the Law of Tonnage . So the biggest and heaviest trucks have the right of way . The buses next and then taxis and automobiles . Then comes the scooter drivers and lastly the pedestrians . EXACTLY opposite of the west . If you are walking down an alley and a motor bike or car hits you , it's your fault for not moving over . It's much easier for you to move then for them . The scooters must yield to the cars and trucks . The cars must yield to the big trucks . THIS IS NORMAL IN VIETNAM .
Hope this gives a first timer a few good tips ! I have been there 8 times and thinking of retiring there as we just built a new family house . There are many contradictions is VietNam but after a while you understand why .

Overall a sensible post mspatique .

Just a couple of points I disagree with.

#2.聽 For the first few visits,sure.
Then after a while,the women will get to gossiping and then you'll be forgotten.
Help yourself.
Or more often your male relatives will fiil your bowl, because food soaks up booze.

#3.聽 In my experiences,Vietnamese men drink like we did in Uni.
Pour it down as quick as you can and get drunk as quick as you can.
If you've got pace,you can survive the night(but the morning hangover will kill).

#4. ''It is the law of tonnage''.
Excluding the following groups:
- Kids in school uniforms on bicycles riding 3 abreast.
- Mum and dad with the 2 kids on a motorbike.
- Teens on electric bikes.
- That old woman and her food cart trundling down the street against the flow of traffic.

You touch any of those and you are truly stuffed.
In a car or motobike.
And that's something different. So is this.

The image is for entertainment and educational purposes only