Foreigners in Vietnam speak out against international tourists’ misconduct

Many commenters responding to a Tuoi Tre News article said tourists should remember that they are guests in Vietnam and conduct themselves accordingly.

The opinion piece argues that Vietnam is growing less tolerant of foreigners who break laws or behave disrespectfully. Recent incidents involving foreign nationals in tourist destinations have sparked public frustration and led authorities to step up enforcement.

The author, Ray Kuschert, says that Vietnam’s welcoming attitude toward international visitors may have led some foreigners to believe rules are loosely enforced. He stresses that all residents and visitors, regardless of nationality, must respect Vietnamese laws and local customs.

The article supports stricter action against foreign offenders, arguing that maintaining public order and protecting local communities are essential as Vietnam continues to develop as a major tourism and business destination.

Guests need to act like it

The dominant message across the discussion was straightforward: visitors should respect the laws, culture, and people of the country they are visiting.

"As a foreigner living here, I'm all for this," wrote Adam Johnson.

"No country should have to tolerate guests in their country causing trouble," commented Carl A. Bennett, while Maitin Rhode added that tourists "are guests and need to act like it."

George Noyes, who has traveled to about 40 countries, put it: “I always try to be respectful of their people, their language, their culture and hold out my hand in friendship and it was always well received.”

"We are guests here, follow the rules. Have respect and all is good," Ian Henry wrote.

Hrishikesh Patale said Vietnam "welcomes everyone with open arms" and foreigners have a responsibility to respect and follow local rules.

The sentiment was echoed by many long-term visitors.

“I've traveled to Vietnam on 8 occasions, and whenever I'm there I respect the people and culture,” Dale Mackle added.

“People have to remember when in another country, you are a guest. Would you trash your friend’s house when visiting? Being polite and courteous goes a long way in life I feel.”

Tony Vaughan, who said he and his wife have visited Vietnam annually for 25 years, claimed that disruptive behavior by some foreign tourists has become more noticeable in recent years.

He suggested that inexpensive alcohol and excessive drinking contribute to incidents involving belligerent behavior toward locals and other visitors.

Others, however, argued that alcohol itself is not the root cause.

"It's easier to blame alcohol, but it's not the problem," Andrew Harris wrote. "If you can't control yourself when you drink, don't drink or accept the consequences of your actions."

Several commenters suggested that some visitors choose destinations primarily because they are affordable rather than because they have an interest in the local culture.

Xavier Perrin argued that some tourists who travel to beach destinations such as Da Nang and Nha Trang may be less inclined to respect the country and people since they view the locations mainly as inexpensive holiday spots.

‘Only a small fraction’

However, many commenters believed that misbehaving foreigners represent only a small fraction of the millions of international visitors who come to Vietnam each year.

Jani Dalenga pointed out that millions of tourists visit Vietnam every year, commenting that “you can always find some who don't respect Vietnamese laws, traditions, and culture, but they don't represent all foreigners.”

Grant Wilson made a similar point, saying that "98.5 percent of tourists coming here are respectful to the country," while Kris Wilkins believed “99 percent of expats here are people who love Vietnam and want to be good citizens.”

Long-term expatriates also expressed concern that the actions of a small minority could damage the reputation of foreign communities living in the country.

“It's very simple: people who come here and integrate are good,” Alex Yates wrote.

“You don't have to speak the language, understand every single written word or greet every single person you see, but you must respect the locals, their traditions and their space.

“This country belongs to the Vietnamese and there are too many foreigners, foreign teachers included, not just tourists, that come here and have such an ego and sense of entitlement.

“It is a privilege, not a right, to be here, and it should be treated as such. If people continue to act in such a negative way, not only does it make life more difficult for the locals, but also for those of us that have come here, pay our taxes and don't cause problems.”

Many commenters praised Vietnamese hospitality, describing local people as friendly, welcoming, and tolerant.

Chris Bregman, who visited Vietnam twice, described Vietnamese people as "humble" and "kind," adding that disrespectful behavior should not be tolerated.

“A quote to remember: don’t mistake kindness for weakness!,” LesCd Noirs advised.

“I lived there for 17 years and I can assure any foreigner that wants to play up that Vietnamese are kind, lovely people, but cross them and they can be incredibly tough,” Darryl Cullen replied to Noirs.

“Don't mess with them, just behave. I never even had one problem with the locals in all that time. Just be nice.”

Harsher penalties 

Meanwhile, some readers proposed harsher penalties, including immediate deportation, travel bans, or stricter visa screening.

"In any country, if a local or a foreigner is breaking the law or causing issues, they should be punished or deported. Simple as that," Mike Moll commented.

Oliver Riedell shared a similar view, saying Vietnam should immediately deport foreigners who break the law and impose fines depending on the offense.

"That way the country would get rid of low-quality tourists," Riedell wrote.

Others put forward additional measures.

John Booker, for example, proposed a security deposit system for foreign visitors, with the deposit forfeited in cases of misconduct.