Useful Information
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Useful Information >> What to Wear In Vietnam the dress code is casual. Unless you wish to dress for dinner in the top-end hotels and/or restaurants, there’s no need to bring smart outfits and accessories. Vietnamese people are typically small and slight, so waist and brassiere sizes are small here. Larger sizes are only on sale in areas frequented by tourists, but the range is small, and prices are often higher. Except in the north during winter, Vietnam is generally hot, and usually very humid, so light clothes are a good idea. Silk garments are readily available here, either ready to wear (but often in small sizes only) or made to measure, and are comparatively cheap. Linen is produced locally, but is not good quality. Sun hats are necessary and can be bought here very cheaply. Light strong shoes are advisable, but high, narrow heels are not. If you’re visiting Ha Long Bay, walking in rocky areas and similar activities, it’s wise to wear shoes with a good tread patterns as rocks, steps, gangplanks and so on can be slippery. If you’re visiting the north or Dalat in the winter, a pullover and/or light topcoat might be worth bringing, but cheap pullovers and woollen goods are plentiful in the markets. It rains a lot in Vietnam, and particularly so in the summer! If you want to bring your own rainwear, it’s sensible to have material that is ‘breathable’ as the humidity build-up, and consequent sweat, means you can get wetter inside than out! It also needs to cover your lower half – the rain can be very heavy. A good alternative are the thin, full-length plastic raincoats that can be bought easily and are cheap enough to be treated as disposable. Cheap umbrellas are also commonplace. Shorts and tee-shirts are OK, but not too skimpy. It’s respectful not to wear shorts or expose lots of flesh when visiting pagodas and temples, although this is often overlooked in places heavily visited by foreigners. Laundry services are common and cheap, although some hotels overcharge blatantly – check the prices first! Beware, though: apart from in the higher standard hotels, the washing process is likely to be enthusiastic rather than skilful, washing instructions will be ignored (they’re incomprehensible to the Vietnamese), and you may end up with an indelible laundry mark on your favourite shirt or blouse. Delicate fabrics are at considerable risk! Dry-cleaning is OK, but the same caveats apply. You’ll definitely need to bring swimming gear, unless you’ve no intention of sunbathing or bathing. They are available in Vietnam, but are of poor quality and not exactly fashionable. To avoid drawing unwelcome attention and offending Vietnamese women, teeny bikinis and skimpy swimming gear should be avoided. Topless sunbathing for women is a definite no-no, unless you are in a place where you are sure you’re not going to be overlooked (very rare in Vietnam!). A few people take their tops off in resorts such as Nha Trang and Phan Thiet, but Vietnamese and other Asian women will consider it as the behaviour of a prostitute, and men will take it as an invitation. It may also attract the police! If you use sunglasses, bring your own – local ones are either genuine and exorbitant, or cheap and fake (good fakes can also be exorbitant!). If you wear spectacles, bring a spare pair. Avoid handbags and cameras with shoulder straps, if possible – they’re very easy to snatch in places where petty crime is common, such as the tourist areas in Ho Chi Minh City. A ‘bum bag’ is a safer alternative for money, etc. For cameras, keep the strap wrapped around your wrist. |
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