"getting some trim in Vietnam" Top 5 Page for this destination Vietnam Local Custom Tip by richiecdisc

One thing I love to do when traveling in another country is to get my hair cut. As most of the places I travel to are inexpensive by western standards, even this simple act can be a money saver. But aside from the monetary gain, I find it a fascinating glimpse into local life and a way to interact with the locals. I was in dire need of a trim when traveling south down the Vietnamese coast and was happy to find when strolling from the Natrang train station back to the beach area, a host of enterprising young barbers that had set up shop under a simple homemade awning. I sheepishly asked how much and was happy to hear 15,000 dong (about a buck) emanate from his lips, quickly seating myself before he changed his mind. There was some confusion as to how I wanted it cut but we sorted it out with some hand signals and pantomime. Soon he was clipping away with both scissor and an interesting hand driven set of clippers as he had not electricity in his makeshift shop. He worked diligently and for quite a while to get it just right but politely refused even a cent more than his due dong. Hey, maybe he had already overcharged me but I was very happy with the cut and the price too. The entertainment and social value was priceless.