For those of us with an eternal case of wanderlust – every day of the year is the perfect time to explore new territory. The best part of this is that here in Southeast Asia, adventure is right in our backyard so load up on that SPF and get ready to have your skin tanned under the soothing tropical sunshine in the cheerful land of the Ascending Dragon – Vietnam.

But wait a minute! Before making any noob mistakes, you may want to note down a few things about this country.

Their Currency Is ‘Dong’
It’s critical to know about the currency of the country you’re travelling to. Below are Vietnamese currencies in an ascending order:

500 VND = RM 0.10
1,000 VND = RM 0.20
2,000 VND = RM 0.40
5,000 VND = RM 1
10,000 VND = RM 2
20,000 VND = RM 4
50,000 VND = RM 10
100,000 VND = RM 20
500,000 VND = RM 100

A Plethora Of Motorcycles

In a nation where the average traffic flow of the city is about 10 million vehicles per day – in which 90% of it consists of motorcycles – the motorcycle traffic in Vietnam stands in a league of its own. There is however, beauty beyond the chaos of this; according to Loh Keng Fatt, editor of The Straits Times magazine in Singapore, “the traffic in Vietnam resembles a ballet – un-choreographed as it might be, it is still a marvel of precise thought and swift action”.

Over 30 Million People Share The Same Last Name
Yes, it is true. Out of its 90 million population, 38% share the same last name as “Nguyễn” which is pronounced NuWen or /’win/. “Trần” or /chan/ follows up with 11% while “Lê” or /lae/ ranks in at third place with 10%.

And FYI, the longest Vietnamese name is “Lê Hoàng Hiếu Nghĩa Đệ Nhất Thương Tâm Nhân”; try saying that without making any mistakes!

They Have Mouthwatering Food…

One of the more popular unconventional food choices is ‘hot vit lon’ (half-hatched duck eggs, also known as balut), but the truth is that there are even more interesting options. Vietnam is the only place on Earth where people eat ‘Tiet canh’ – a combination of raw animal blood, boiled animal organs and lemon juice. However, this dish is not widely recommended as it contains dangerous bacteria that can be harmful to your health due to the serving of raw ingredients incorporated into the dish. You can however try eating raw worms, fried crickets, snakes or rats instead.

… And Interesting Food

One of the more popular unconventional food choices is ‘hot vit lon’ (half-hatched duck eggs, also known as balut), but the truth is that there are even more interesting options. Vietnam is the only place on Earth where people eat ‘Tiet canh’ – a combination of raw animal blood, boiled animal organs and lemon juice. However, this dish is not widely recommended as it contains dangerous bacteria that can be harmful to your health due to the serving of raw ingredients incorporated into the dish. You can however try eating raw worms, fried crickets, snakes or rats instead.

Rise Of The Mummy Fashion
In Vietnamese culture, a smile is more than just a display of joy. In fact, a smile in Vietnam can mean “hello”, “sorry”, “I love you” and practically any gesture where verbal communication is not needed, or inappropriate. So don’t be surprised if you see Vietnamese people exchanging gentle smiles at funerals or during heated arguments. Essentially, Vietnamese people believe that by spreading a message of kindness, they will be able to overcome sadness and obstacles in life.

The Act Of Giving
The Vietnamese gifting culture is a significant evidence of the peoples’ sentimental lifestyle. They can exchange gift in the first-time meeting, on special occasions or giving daily gifts to their loved ones. Everything can be represented as gifts, from a piece of candy, homemade cakes to a luxury gift set. Rejecting their kindness could be an extreme offense to the giver, especially the