A haphazard chronicle of my inevitable misadventures during a year in Vietnam and points east.

p.s. I'll be pitifully grateful if you send me email during my exile: TravelerKaty@hotmail.com

October 2002 November 2002 December 2002 January 2003 February 2003 March 2003 April 2003 May 2003 June 2003 July 2003 August 2003 September 2003 October 2003 November 2003 February 2006 March 2006 May 2006

 
Hanoi, Vietnam

One thing that's evident about Hanoi the second time around, post-SARS, is that the street vendors are noticeably more aggressive and some are openly mean and nasty when you don't buy anything. Spending any time in the old quarter or around the lake gets very wearing -- the vendors are relentless, desperate, and will harrass you until you give in. A fellow traveler reported that while sitting on a park bench, he was joined by a vendor who gave a sob story, cried, nearly passed out, and refused to leave his side until something was purchased.

I'd like to feel sorry for these people, I really would. They're obviously not doing well economically with the dearth of tourists in Hanoi, but they're so damned obnoxious and mean that it's difficult to summon up a great deal of sympathy. Hearing "fuck you" after you tell someone you don't want any postcards does not tend to warm ones heart toward vendors as a whole. Their methods have definitely backfired with me -- I'll be damned if I'll buy anything now.

Copyright 2003 Katy Warren
posted by Katy at 10:13 PM