If you decide to leave the cozy resort hotels in Nha Trang, Ho Chi Minh City, or Phu Quoc and explore local life, be prepared for a real adventure. Most tourist complaints in Vietnam are not about the quality of hotel service or even the beaches, but rather about their experience with the local environment.

1. Manners
Tourists aren’t always treated with the Asian level of respect; quite the contrary, you might be unceremoniously pushed out of line or uprooted from your seat on a bus, someone might put a hand in your hair, or someone might drive past you on a scooter without even noticing your presence.

2. Traffic
You’ve probably heard of scooters before. In fact, scooters are the most common form of transportation on the streets of Vietnam. Traffic is chaotic, and drivers are just as impatient as pedestrians.

3. Food
Experienced travelers familiar with Asian cuisine and its distinctive features don’t pass up the opportunity to try unfamiliar and spicy dishes during their trip to Asia. However, street food in Vietnam is somewhat different: it’s not always as appealing as, for example, in Thailand. In some dishes, Vietnamese cuisine may not seem as spicy and sophisticated, leaning more toward simplicity and a freshness that’s unfamiliar to tourists. Fruits are, as always, of high quality: affordable, varied, attractive, and delicious.

4. Creatures
It’s not recommended to take food back to your room or let it pass by while in tropical locations. Even the smallest crumb can attract a whole host of ants. You probably won’t have to contend with local fauna every day at your hotel, but if you’re staying elsewhere, before stepping out of the shower onto the tiled floor, it’s worth checking to see if a local frog has made a cozy home in your towel.

5. Garbage
Vietnamese cafes have recently begun installing trash containers, whereas previously, trash was typically thrown directly under the table. Waste collection and disposal is a pressing issue for Vietnam’s tourism sector. This problem is exacerbated by the behavior of visitors, who, like locals, actively use plastic. As a result, landfills either form spontaneously or overflow, which is not only visually unsightly but also creates serious environmental problems.