Ho Chi Minh City - Post Report Question and Answers
Is it easy to make friends with locals here? Are there any prejudices or any ethnic groups who might feel uncomfortable here?
I have more local friends than expat friends in HCMC. It is easy to make local friends if you are willing to go out to local places and be open minded. I have heard that people of Chinese origins might not be the most welcome. There is a very strong anti-China sentiment in Vietnam. I should note that Vietnamese people are not accustomed to seeing people of color. Some of my colleagues are often asked about their hair and some locals will want to take random photos with them. I find it to be super awkward and uncomfortable, but my colleagues are usually really kind about it and said it doesn’t bother them. - Jul 2024
The locals are very kind and accommodating. - Sep 2021
White people will be popular. People of color will be less accepted, but are not discriminated against at the level they are in other Asian countries (China, Korea, Japan). Given the antipathy towards China, Chinese-Americans can expect dirty looks, especially when speaking Chinese in public. - Jul 2019
