Vietnamese people are very tough at bargaining, a lot more than chinese people for instance.
If you happen to buy souvenirs and stuff, here are a couple of advice:
1/ learn a bit of vietnamese, not much but a little and especially the figures, greeting expressions.
They will smile and the atmosphere will be lighter.
2/ Always use humour, don' t get annoyed.
3/ Go late in the evening, they will have had a good day already, they'll be tired and if you insist a little the prices will go down as far as 50-60%
Be wide awake yourself. take a nap in the afternoon!!!! a little trired and you yield easily, they know it !!
3/ Pretend (if it is not true) that you've been there several times and yes you know this is way too much.
4/ If you are not desparate for buying an item and you see you can't lower the price significantly, then, drop it, and go away. they may run after you.
In a nut shell,: always look as if you have all your wits under control, always try to appear that you dominate the situation.
But don't forget, Vietnamese people are tough but fun to bargain with if you know how to keep your temper.
Never forget this is a game.
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on Jun 7, 2004
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