1. That you can’t get proper coffee in Southeast Asia is definitely not true for Vietnam. French people left a liking for baguette and coffee in the Vietnamese society when they left. However, the typical coffee differs somewhat from the European version. Coffee is only roughly grinded put into a metal filter above a small glass containing sweetened condense milk and a little hot water is added. After a while ca. 20 ml strong coffee are in your glass. You might now optional add ice cubes to cool the coffee down. Sounds weird but is very delicious.
The coffee is in the filter above and needs the good part of five minutes to end up in the glass where it is mixed with sweet concentrated milk and ice.
2. Vietnamese men are heavy smokers. Meaning they don’t just carry a pack of cigarets, but tobacco and a bong like pipe around. (Unfortunately the guy didn’t wanted me to take a picture of him.)
3. Vietnamese seem to be immune to noise. There are horning Motorbikes at the street, screaming „hähnchen“ next to your hotel window, and defending music (both from passenger radios and loudspeakers) in long distance trains.
4. Walking is a abandoned concept in Vietnamese cities. Absolutely everybody ones a scooter, maybe an electro scooter or bike when they are still I school age. That’s exactly how traffic works and pedestrian lanes work. Stepping on the street is dangerous because somebody could run over you at any time, but walking in pedestrian lanes does not work either because they are occupied by parking scooters and little street restaurants.
Tried to capture the craziness, but you know a picture can never tell the whole story.
5. Supermarkets are a rare phenomenon in Vietnam. In the touristic centers you can be lucky to find small kiosks selling alcohol and snacks. Fruits, vegetables, meat, fish and bread are bought in markets water, milk and cookies in small out of the door shops, so better know the prices.