Top 7 Weirdest Things in Vietnam

OCY [email protected] April 24, 2023 | 19:46

Vietnam - the S-shaped destination attracts thousands of tourists annually because of its stunning lanscapes and unique culture and even bizarre things to discover. Here is some of the most weird things.

Meet A Vietnamese Mutant Who Hasn't Slept for 50 Years - Top 10 "Superman" in the World

Fact-Check: Flying Saucers (UFO) Appeared on the Mountains in Vietnam

10 Strange Things About Vietnam | An Insight Into Local Life & Culture Maze Vietnam

Crosswalks are not signal to stop the vehicles

Contents
1. Crosswalks – nothing than a decor on road 2. Watermelon and sunflower seeds onto almost every sidewalk 3. The most popular drinks: Beers and iced tea 4. The power of Loudspeakers 5. Eating snakes and draining them of their blood 6. Take a nap after lunch 7. Communal smoking

In Vietnam, the past, present, and future of Asia come together in a way that is only possible here. This collision drives you crazy and makes you feel overwhelmed by strange things, but it excites you to find out more about them later. Vietnam is one of those places in the world that absolutely cannot be missed.

1. Crosswalks – nothing than a decor on road

White striped crosswalks are intended to keep pedestrians together so they can cross roads safely. All vehicles are required by law to slow down when they approach crosswalks and to stop if there are any pedestrians present in many countries. In Vietnam, things are very different. Here, crosswalks are probably seen more as a decorative element than as a signal to drivers? If someone sees you crossing the street, they don't care or stop.

If you don't expose yourself to the terrible traffic and challenge yourself to compete against the giant buses, cars, and scooters coming at you from every angle, you'll just freeze and have to watch them go by all day. This is the reason why the majority of foreigners describe Vietnam as crazy the moment they step foot in either of its chaotic capital cities, Hanoi or Saigon. Don't be afraid; instead, be brave, and you'll be the master of Vietnamese road crossings!

2. Watermelon and sunflower seeds onto almost every sidewalk

Photo: Maze Vietnam

Vietnam's youth, both young and old, have a strong preference for sipping coffee or green tea while sprinkling sunflower seeds on the sidewalks. It could be regarded as a component of cafe culture. All they need to brighten their days is a tiny plate of sunflower seeds and a cup of coffee with a tiny filter pot on top.

People crack open the shell, remove the inner seed from the shell, eat the seed, and then spit the shell fragments out onto the ground. Sunflower seeds are then thrown all over the sidewalks. The salespeople only clean them up and leave before the day is over. Simply walking the sidewalks will activate your brain while the aroma of sunflower seeds and weasel coffee beans fills the air.

3. The most popular drinks: Beers and iced tea

Photo: Serious Facts

In Vietnam, iced tea and beer are commonplace. They are the frappé drinks that we use to combat the summertime heat. Vietnamese people can consume them whenever and wherever they want. Almost every food vendor and restaurant always offers iced tea with meals, and it's amusing to note that everyone in Vietnam tends to depart after sipping their iced tea. We never finish the entire glass, but we always leave a small amount (roughly 1/3 or 1/4 of the total).

4. The power of Loudspeakers

Loudspeaker has been long-standing tradition in Vietnam (Photo: Vietnam News)

There are about 10,000 loudspeakers in Vietnam. ten thousand, indeed. Loudspeakers are a throwback to the 1960s and 1970s, when N. Vietnam and S. Vietnam were at war, when they announced news and advised people to seek shelter in bomb shelters in case of aerial attack.

These loudspeakers are still in use today, broadcasting neighborhood announcements in either a male or female voice every day at 6:30 AM and 5:30 PM about a variety of subjects like residential cluster meetings, avian flu prevention, healthcare information, and sanitation reminders throughout Vietnam. They have some lovely rhythms that resemble patriotic music at the start and the end. I'm positive the loudspeakers in Vietnam will wake you up in time if you stay there. A few locals have spoken out about how these loudspeakers sometimes make it difficult for them to get a good night's sleep and that the noise they are exposed to is unbearably loud.

5. Eating snakes and draining them of their blood

You shouldn't be surprised if you see some guys killing a viper and drawing its blood because the locals still enjoy eating snakes. They employ a very brutal technique. They slash the snake's neck to death after first tying the snake's head in a noose. After that, the snake's tail is cut open, and the blood drips into a bottle of rice wine. The beating heart is then severed and consumed, but it doesn't end there. It is brutal and not something that should be attempted.

6. Take a nap after lunch

The man is taking nap on his motorbike (Photo: Work with Vietnamese - Cutural Literacy)

When it comes to Siesta, the Spanish cannot compete with the Vietnamese! In Vietnam, taking a siesta is considered an art, and those who do it professionally are known as "nappers." Vietnamese people are known for their ability to nap almost anywhere, including on the ground, on the sidewalk, on motorbikes, in small hammocks made of rope mesh and suspended by cords at the ends, under trees, and even in the bus next to complete strangers.

Even in elementary schools, where young students are required to pay attention to their teachers, taking a nap is mandatory. After lunch, little ones quickly convert desks made of two wood panels into beds in order to sleep. When you take a nap, you can observe the extremely slow pace of life by strolling through the streets in light traffic, feeling the chilly breezes rip through your hair, and viewing a picture-perfect Vietnam in the middle of the day, as depicted by Vietnamtravel.

7. Communal smoking

Photo: sixthseal

Large bamboo pipes are frequently used by locals to smoke, especially in northern Vietnam. After a meal with the friends you're with, the pipe is passed around. However, it differs somewhat from simply lighting up a cigarette. Even the most avid smoker of cigarettes will experience dizziness, trembling, and a faster heartbeat. If you want to try it, just be aware that there is an absurd amount of nicotine present and you might feel a little queasy. Simply choose the free green tea that is available on the table.

Please share those contents with others if you find them to be interesting and informative.