"A Mc Donalds and tampoons free country" Vietnam by xaver

Vietnam Travel Guide: 12,415 reviews and 30,524 photos

Why?

My lonely planet about Vietnam was dated 1999, it was getting old, so it was time to use it!
Kidding apart, I wanted to visit this country for a long time, then circumstances made me to delate this trip, may be it was destiny, may be this was just the right time to go!
The thing is that I really had a wonderful trip, one of those trips you start rebuilding in your mind once you get home, cause you do not want to lose, you do not want to forget any single particular, any single person you met, any single eye you watched!

A shy country

I have been travelling in south east asia before and, the first thing that jumped at my eyes this time, was how people were shy, ofcourse you meet vendors that stop you to seel something, but it is different, when you get in touch with people you immediatly feel the difference from Thailand or Indonesia for example, it's still kind a virgin place for some sides.

Take time

Cyclos

Definitly a country where everything needs time, no rush as you do not need to run anywhere.
A bus might need 6b hours to do 160 kilometers, after a few days in Vietnam I started notice an absence...I was not seing MC Donalds, so I started wondering if I was missing them or they just did not arrive yet, untill a night I met a guy in a pub who was coming and coming again in Vietnam for the last 7 years and he confirmed that Mc Donalds did not arrive yet and I thought: damn what does a so nice slow country need fast food for?

Pros and Cons

Pros:Genuine, real, not yet contaminated
Cons:the motobikes beep beeep
In a nutshell:I hope it will resist

Last visit to Vietnam: Sep 2003
Intro Updated Oct 4, 2003
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Reviews (31)

Busses and boats Transportation (2)

I toke a tour with boat and bus to visit Halong bay. The tour was not bad apart the boat room(read tourist trap). The... more travel advice

Flyghts & costs Transportation (2)

I flew with Thai from Rome to Banfkok and then from Bangkok to Rome and then to Hanoi. Once there, as I had just two... more travel advice

Airport cabs in Hanoi Tourist Traps (3)

Once in the Hanoi airport, do not waste your time telling to the taxi driver in wich hote you want to go, anyway he will... more travel advice

???????????? Warnings and Dangers (1)

Warnings? Many of my friends and people in general before I left! Dangers? None, I really found this a really peaceful... more travel advice

What to Pack (1)
Tampons
Off The Beaten Path (2)
See All Tampons & Mc Donalds
Local Customs (2)
See All No tourism oriented
Restaurants (3)
See All Baguettes & Croissants

Comments (49)

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xaver Apr 16, 2013 at 10:22 AM

Thanks, I don't think it's Mc Donald free anymore though.
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Nemorino Apr 16, 2013 at 8:15 AM

Me again, coming back after several years for another look at this interesting page. I liked Vietnam very much, even the first time I was there, which was not voluntary.
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easterntrekker Dec 10, 2010 at 4:59 PM

Wonderful pages and pictures...we are booked to visit in jan...i'mvery excited.
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hopang Dec 18, 2009 at 12:48 PM

Interesting Vietnam travel page with stunning photographs. Halong Bay, floating village and the caves are certainly wonderful attractions to visit and explore. Thanks for the virtual tour. ~ho & pang
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icunme Oct 24, 2009 at 12:33 PM

A great pleasure here. I remember a time when I slept on the beach - no more in these times - so happy to see that you did this in Vietnam. Yes, indeed, we hope they can resist.
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angiebabe Oct 12, 2007 at 6:30 PM

Hi have enjoyed your tips and very lovely photos thanks - definitely somewhere I want to get to one day!Thanks for visiting my Zagora page too!
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SLLiew Sep 15, 2007 at 11:27 PM

Nice overview of Vietnam. No dog meat for me neither. But I love the beef noodles there. Cheers, SL
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globetrott Aug 20, 2007 at 11:53 PM

an interesting page about a place I hope to visit one day as well, thanks for sharing your experiences !
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Nemorino Jul 5, 2007 at 2:32 PM

Glad you enjoyed your visit to Vietnam. I spent a year there in 1964-65 (not voluntarily) and had a wonderful (voluntary) re-visit thirty years later.
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ukirsari Apr 2, 2007 at 3:37 AM

whenever you think about my egypt, i come across to think about your vietnam pages. seems i will visit this place .... at least put in my list!