Okay I was the other days at a nail salon (yes, I'm metro) and while I was talking to the girl taking care of me I asked her about whether the capital of VietNam was either Hanoi or Saigon. Trying to keep the conversation going. She shook her head when I mentioned Hanoi and emphatically responded with Saigon. Then she began talking with other employees in Vietnamese and next thing I know they're gathered around her. While I don't understand the language, I did pick up the words, Hanoi, Saigon, and Ho Chi Minh. It's not like they appeared angry or anything but I sorta perceived they might've been making fun of me among themselves. So for my question, was the question I asked considered offensive or rude or whatnot among the Vietnamese population? And second, just out of curiosity, what could they've been saying about me?
okay in concern to the last answerer, I was under the impression that they were making fun of me b/c of the tone they were speaking in and certain gestures they were making. I speak 2 other languages besides English and lived the first 14 years of my life in a country that was not the US

Especially those from big cities like Ho Chi Minh or Hanoi. I'm doing a cultural study. Are they conservative or also a bit liberal? Do they speak English well. How are they when it comes to dating? What are they like and how do they behave if they date foreign men? How westernized is the culture, when it comes to dancing, having fun, going to bars?

Are they aggressive? Is it true, I've read somewhere that Vietnamese women are submissive to their men? What is it like to court or take out a Vietnamese women on dates? Are they opinionated? Do a lot of Vietnamese women smoke and drink? Are they gentle, passive, soft spoken and graceful? Or are there liberal Vietnamese women, open minded, strong and aggressive? If so, how are these women viewed?

If a Vietnamese woman comes across a person that is brash, aggressive or strong, how will they react? Will they be shocked and turned off?

Thank you in advance. Sorry for all the questions. I'm trying to learn everything I can about Vietnamese women. I know there's a stereotype about Vietnamese women. I'd also like to learn how women really are especially in big cities.

"5" star boutique hotels or best accomodations, eco lodges, local markets, meet local people, good food, culture sites, suggest itineraries, highlights. Starting point Hanoi, ending Cambodia. Plan to hire driver/guides with excellent references and command of English language:(suggestions ?), take boats and trains. Any and all suggestions welcomed. We are seasoned world travelers and love to "wing it", get lost, explore, take millions of photos and mostly avoid other tourists ! Please don't send me shopping; I'll do that in Paris !
Thanks all !

Specifically, can it be bought over the counter or on the street (reasonably reliably) anywhere in Hanoi?
Please no responses about buying online (cannot get any medication into the country by post) or other places in the world where you can buy it (no use to me).
Especially please no "eww gross" comments. I am 28, extremely fit, don't take any substances, live in Hanoi long term and I have erectile dysfunction due to diabetes.
If it is definitely prescription only, does anybody know a medical practice with English speaking doctors in Hanoi? Thanks
Sorry Dawn what are you answering yes to?
Yes it's prescription?
Yes its available on the street?
Yes you know the name of a practice?

Thanks for your help

Please help, especially if you speak Vietnamese. I need to get from Hanoi to Hong Kong. Someone told me about taking trains ... if I understood correctly, it takes two days from Hanoi to Hong Kong by train (?)
It seems there is so much to do in Vietnam. I'm worrying a lot about running out of time. If I have any problem at the Vietnam/China border I might miss my flight from Hong Kong back home. Hong Kong and Hanoi don't seem that far, but I can't seem to find ANY cheap flights from Hanoi to HK. I was wondering if there might be a vietnamese website that offers cheap flights or any other website that offers cheap flights to Hong Kong. If you know of any, or speak vietnamese and can find one, PLEASE help.
Airasia only does Hanoi to Bangkok
Johncharles sound like an idiot... at least it was really amusing though... weird perception on life eh.... wow... enjoy your viet vet bubble... and thanx 4 the laugh

Should I learn Hanoi or Saigon dialect? Most of the people I know speak Saigon or Southern dialect.

I'm rehearsing for a play called "Skin and Liars," by Dennis Foon, I play Lo. There are a few lines that are Cantonese, but I personally prefer Mandarin, since it's easier for me. My teacher disagreed and said she'll only accept if it's geographically correct, so...

If a Chinese person was born in Hanoi, North Vietnam, would they speak Cantonese or Mandarin?

Note: I cannot change this to Vietnamese.

i miss you a lot. from the first time i saw you in the cafe, i really like you. i love to hear your voice when you speak. when you ride your motorbike across uneven road, i notice you are very cute when you make a sound. do you have a boyfriend?

although it is only 24 hours since we met, i am in love with you. i really wish to see you in hanoi soon. i will learn my vietnamese language, so that i can talk to you.

when you wipe my sweat, i fell in love with you. please wait for me. please.

I know English is fairly extensively spoken among young Vietnamese in Saigon/HCMC but how about Hanoi??

Specifically, will it be easy to pick up a girl in Hanoi with only limited knowledge of Vietnamese (I am Vietnamese American but my Vietnamese is almost nonexistent). Do a lot of young women in Hanoi speak English (at least some)?

I'm interested in Hanoi specifically because I find the city more interesting than Saigon. Hanoi is more intellectual and historic (which is exactly my style).
@suzielu: quit being so damn sensitive. sorry you are intolerant of other people's opinions.

It is my opinion that Hanoi IS more intellectual than Saigon. If you don't like that opinion than too damn bad, get over it.

And yes, people generalize all the time about cities.....

For example, people say San Francisco is a very liberal city which is quite true. People say Washington DC is a political city..... etc.

And in my opinion, Hanoi is a much more intellectual and historic city than Saigon. Saigon is better for business and finance.

By the way, suzielu, work on your English, its terrible.
btw, i want to marry a girl from Hanoi...... not having sex with a bunch of sexy Vietnamese hot chicks.

also, i know Vietnamese girls pretty well. i have a lot of experience with Vietnamese-American girls so generally speaking i know what they are about.

i was just concerned about the language barrier with Vietnamese girls.

since i'm Vietnamese-American there is not much if any cultural barrier but there is a bit of a language barrier (i understand quite a bit of Vietnamese but i don't speak much myself).