Chinese tourists have received a great deal of criticism in recent years for their tourism habits, which include obliterating seafood buffets and defacing ancient Egyptian temples. However, according to some, Vietnamese tourists are not far behind their Chinese counterparts when it comes to exhibiting poor behavior abroad.
Like China, strong economic development in recent years has created an emboldened tourist class in Vietnam. The number of Vietnamese tourists reached 57 million in 2015, reports Thanh Nien, 6 million of whom opted to visit international destinations. According to the Vietnam Tourism Association, these travelers spent roughly US$6 billion on their trips, a US$2.5 billion increase over 2012.
While Vietnam still has a way to go before catching up with the rapid growth of Chinese tourists – our northern neighbor saw its outbound tourists jump from 10 million in 2000 to 83 million in 2012 – they are starting to earn a negative reputation for “shameful” and “awful” behavior, according to local tourism officials.
At a Vietnam Tourism Association meeting last week in Hanoi, director of Saigon-based Lua Viet Tours Nguyen Van My went into great detail, going as far as to present a list of bad habits Vietnamese display in public, both at home and abroad.
"They dress inappropriately, they talk and curse loudly, they spit and litter, and they steal and overstay," My said at the meeting, adding: "Our reputation has been tainted."
Nguyen Tien Dat, deputy director of Transviet Travel, echoed My’s concerns, sharing that he has felt “ashamed” of his countrymen when leading international tours.
"Let's not follow the steps of Chinese tourists who have money to spend but are not respected," Thanh Nien quoted Dat as saying.
At the meeting, both public officials and educators in the tourism field said that lack of awareness and education are the driving forces behind the poor behavior. Some even argued that tourists who displayed bad conduct abroad should be banned from international travel. To address these shortcomings, the Vietnam Tourism Association will publish an illustrated pamphlet with 30 traveling dos and don’ts, ranging from tipping to queuing. Here are a few excerpts from the brochure:
Avoid being noisy or talking too loudly. Loud noise in public is considered taboo in some countries. You can be fined or thrown out.
Don't rush or push when queuing. Lining up in an orderly fashion is a way of showing culture.
No smoking. If you must, ask or find a place in which smoking is permitted. In some countries, like Japan, you can be fined up to VND8 million for breaking this rule.
No spitting indiscriminately. This shows a lack of culture and you can be fined up to US$1,000 when traveling in Singapore.
Comply with scheduled times. Don't make others wait for you. Always arrange your time according to scheduled plans.
[Photo via Du Lich Malaysia]
