What are the cultural characteristics I have to know before a trip to Vietnam and Cambodia?

Question

Knowledge of cultural characteristics before Traveling to Vietnam and Cambodia

Answer 1

I’m Khmer, so I can help with the characteristics of Khmer culture that you need to know before you go there. Hopefully, a Vietnamese Dude gets on here and helps you out with Vietnamese culture.

First, there is a lot of resentment among the Khmer populace against Vietnam. You should know that. It stems from thousands of years of war and conflict and a smattering of the advent of nationalism since colonial times.

Don’t touch people on the scalp.
Don’t beckon to people with an upturned crooked finger.
Don’t snap your fingers.
Don’t blow your nose at the table.
Don’t sit on the ground with your legs straight out.
If you are sitting in a chair, don’t cross your legs.
Don’t point the bottom of your feet at people.
Don’t touch anyone with your feet.
Don’t step over things or people.
Don’t reach across people. Even to hand things to someone.
Don’t throw objects to people.
Do hand things to people with two hands when possible.
If you must hand someone something with one hand, use the right hand and touch your right arm with the other hand when possible.
When drinking with locals, never sip your drink alone. Toast every time using two hands to hold your drink.
It is customary to bargain at the market, but be polite and smiley. It is not warlike or adversarial. You’re just buying a scarf. Calm down.
Minimize eye contact with elders.
If you’re a woman, don’t touch monks. Even the little cute ones.

That’s all I can think of. Have fun. Sorry for answering only half of your question.

Answer 2

Vietnam has always been a very Buddhist country, so you’ll find a lot of huge Buddhist temples as well as small ones. Southeast Asia’s largest Buddhist temple is located in Bái Đính, Vietnam.

There are thousands upon thousands of Buddhist shrines as well as shrines of native religions spread throughout the country.

The imperial capital of the last monarchy of Vietnam, located in Huế, is largely intact and is for tourism. The imperial capital in Hà Nội however, is littered with French buildings and ruins, so I’m not sure if that’s what you want to see.

Hà Nội does have one of the last historical Temples of Confucius in Vietnam, which is the city’s iconic landmark.

Hà Nội also has the popular French-era Old Quarter that is quite popular with tourists, if that’s what you’re interested in.

Hội An is a well-preserved old town with filled tourists that gives you a look at what a Vietnamese trading port looked like in the 18th century.

Đà Nẵng has Bà Nà Hill, which has a French summer home built during the colonial era. It is also a tourist attraction right now, with its very popular Golden Bridge.

In Hồ Chí Minh City, you can also find Christian remnants as well, with its iconic landmark of the Notre Dame Cathedral.