The Vietnamese give a joyful face to their towns. They are present in the roads with the businesses and the living rooms open to the streets. More than half of the family life takes place on the side of the roads. An important role also has «drinking tea». Tea is part of the Vietnamese life and is drunk everywhere and anytime. No matter if you are at a fruits-/vegetables stand, a household business or a gas sellers store. Every business or the streetfood places under every bridge and at intersections will have a small table with a teapot and some tiny cups. Here everyone can sit and have a tea. Next to the table normally you find a bucket with a waterpipe, which can be used with the own tabaco.
The Vietnamese are curious but keep some distance, they don’t crowd up and only start asking questions if we make a step towards them. On the bike we often get called. A spontaneous joyful «helo» sounds from somewhere, many from children. This makes us feel save and welcome. We got the impression that the Vietnamese live and interact very directly. And as the are also helpful and like to laugh they come across as very sympathetic people. That way it is possible to communicate sort of even without a common language. It also speaks in favour for their society, that the women move about selfconfidently and natural in the daily lives. How strong they are represented in leading post of economy or politics we do not know.
The young people engage themselves effectively in little businesses. They are part oft he digital world and are eagerly learning English. Even though it must be very difficult for a Vietnamese trained tongue to twist itself to the English pronunciation. The sounds of the two languages seem to be worlds apart. In touristy regions the young business people know exactly what visitors are looking for and they try to meet this as good as possible with success. Of course there are also other ones, trying «to jump onto the train», imitating the successfull collegues. However they miss the details. For example we were offered read with jam but no butter. I have no problem if they do not offer western style breakfast, as we are in Vietnam after all, however if they do advertise and want to get payed accordingly butter will have to come along.
Unfortunately as tourists we sometimes feel degenerated to a living Dollarsign. Fantastic prices are asked for and if we are not interested people arrogantly turn away. Maybe these incredibly high prices cannot be revised without loosing face? What ever, in these situations we do not feel as human beings, treated we respect. That has nothing to do with bargaining as such. Bargaining is a daily tradition, which the Vietnamese seem to love and master with great patience. With a little knowledge and skill one hast he possibility to get a fair price and after a deal both sides are content and shake hands.
Generally people from all nations seem to be welcome, even if their governments had been controlling Vietnam are fought wars not long ago. We take it though from some statements that the relation towards the Chinese is somewhat complicated.
These are some impressions from Northvietnam. Of course there you never find “the Vietnamese”. Especially not in a populations made up by at least 53 ethnic groups.
