Sidewalks are not for walking, they are for parking of motorbikes and street food stands.
There is no coin currency; everything is in paper bills.
Ho Chi Minh's face is on every single currency bill in Vietnam. He is this country's Mao Zedong.
In Vietnam, all the natives are afraid of the sun. They cover themselves up from head to toe, in thick clothing (sweaters, vests, jackets, etc) even on very hot and humid days. They even cover their faces completely, sometimes to the point of resembling bank robbers of the American Wild West.
Motorbikes are EVERYWHERE. I honestly believe that they outnumber people here in Vietnam at least 3 to 1, perhaps even more.
Most business in Vietnam - restaurants, stores, etc - shut down relatively early. Some at 9pm, and at around 10pm, every town is a ghost town. It's surreal.
For a country that is so hot and sunny all year round, it's surprising that there is no local company that makes sunblock. As a result, all the sunblock is imported from the West, and is therefore quite expensive. A bottle can run anywhere from $15 to even more, and we're talking about a SMALL bottle. Crazy.
If you're at a Vietnamese beach, you're stuck with sand on your feet, on your hands, in your hair, shorts, etc. long after you leave it. There are no outdoor shower faucets, or even faucets to wash one's feet. For a country that has such a long coastline, this is mind boggling, if you consider how many tourists visit it annually.
If you're alone in a restaurant or a bar, and you order a beer, the server will always ask you "how many?", as if you're the kind of person who will order several at ones, and down them like an Irishman on St. Patrick's Day.
(to be continued...)
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