½ûÂþÌìÌÃ

No. I don't have that issue. What are you doing that I'm not doing?

lol.  I have had the same comments from friends.  It really does get annoying at times.

You must be very handsome to get so much attention.

I think its just the Vietnamese culture showing affection to those they like.

I've heard and I think read here where foreigners have children and babies and when Vietnamese locals see such children, they tend to "touch" and hold the babies. The parents can get uncomfortable about it too and the best way to stop that from happening is simply explaining the children doesn't like to be touched.

Not sure how to make them stop for you. Wear awful smelling cologne?

Personally I don't think so, not when I am in my mid 40's.  I understand the kids touching me, due to having hairy arms and legs. I have even had them pull up my shirt to check.  In my country this is considered very rude, and very bad manners.  Now I don't mind the pretty young ladies doing this. lol.  Even my wife's family has chewed out people for doing this.  I just don't understand this at all, and like I said earlier it has gotten to the point I am getting frustrated about it.

nonsense or these are some bad girls. For the kids, it is vietnamese culture, you are here then you should respect their culture. Kids used to touch and stroke president Ho Chi Minh's beard.

It's been crazy annoying to me and my husband. I've had people grab my butt!! I've opted to spank their hands every time they do it. I'm done being polite with this matter.

Phi Long wrote:

I think its just the Vietnamese culture showing affection to those they like.

That is the major part of it. 

If they don't like you, they "won't touch you with a ten-foot pole."  I have had straight guys holding my hands... 

It is their culture and we are in their place.  It is much better if we be kind and gentle about it, so that they don't get the impression that we are being insensitive or, just downright, aloof.

My wife is Vietnamese, and this is not their culture to touch others in this manner. I have had my in laws get onto people for the way they touch me. I have also have my Vietnamese friends make comments to those who have touched me as well. My Expats friends have made funny comments when the girls touch me. The kids are just being curious, especial with my hairy arm and legs.  I am talking about the adults, men and women alike.  I understand the patting on the back and trying to help you out.  I am just wondering if others are having the same done to them, and it seems to be.  No big deal.

Krazeekalvin,

I can understand inappropriate touching, like Melba mentioned above.  That is not tolerated in any culture.  But, the rest of the cusual stuffs?

For crying out loud man, which part of Vietnam is your wife from?  How long has she been in the States???  She and her family might have been TOO Americanized for their own goods!!!

The same goes to your Vietnamese friends who make comments to other Vietnamese when they touch you:  Which part of Vietnam do these folks come from?  What kind of an up-bringing did they get???

I am a 40+ businessman, Vietnam-borned, US military-trained, USC-educated, with long hair and tattoos.  As much as I like to punch guys in the face for touching me, I had to learn to respect their practices...  I am in their house; therefore, I must play by their rules.

And, if any of my Vietnamese friends try to tell me otherwise, I will cast him/her off real fast, he/she has no respect for his/her own culture...  He/she will not have much respect for me.

Saigon is where my wife and here family is from. They have never been to America.  This is why I don't write post on here.  Some of the response I get is a joke.  Too many keyboard commandos with idiotic comments. I am ex military, tattoos and all, and I have the scars to prove it.  Some of you people need to take a chill pill and chock on it.  I never said anything negative, nothing about their culture here, or about punching anyone.  Just a very simple question.  So Wild_1, you are telling me it is their culture to touch people?  Funny.

"krazeekalvin
I am an expatriate.
I am American, and I am now living in Vietnam. I am currently in Texas"

Where are you, in Texas or Saigon?? Anyway to answer your question, is it their culture to touch people? Yes.

Krazeekalvin,

Keyboard commandos...  Aren't they those ethnocentric morons that like to criticize others, while they themselves know nothing better, then get all wired up when someone else puts them in their proper places?

Anyone else want to meet krazeekalvin in person one day? I like to see what the big deal is about.

Hei krazeekalvin! I know that you might feel really annoying when being touched all of your body by Vietnamese locals. But in Vietnam, when you really like someone or you wanna show affection towards them, you hold their hand(s), grab their shoulders, pat their back. In the Western, instead, you just shake the hands real tight, I guess. So if you feel uncomfortable, just tell them to stop.
However, there's a tiny possibility that they wanna do some tricks on you when touching your body, esp when you're on the street or in a restaurant. Look out your necklace, watch, etc. Juz saying.

Hello krazeekalvin,


just consider it as quite normal.


However, there at least 2 types of touching -

one of them is the search for valuables and the other is the child in the woman (At lest for me, it's 90% woman).

For the first bunch - send them off politely
and for 2nd bunch - enjoy it and smile like Buddha. My impression was actually often, the touch you, to evaluate your wealth/body, if you are good enough for one of the doughters, as they quite commonly appeared minutes later with a lot of their daughters or other young woman.
After one year or so on the same place, the excitement will slowly reduce and you will get treated normally. IN a city, this is actually quite rare, but in the country side ... ...

And one thing they will most amused over - that you possible do not speak/understand fluent Vietnamese. How can?

I3ully