LancasterLad

Just read on another forum about a western tourist being on the receiving end of a minor, but unsettling, physical assault in Hoi An.

This link is quite interesting...

http://tuoitrenews.vn/business/35763...ietnam-tourism

...and no doubt it's more widespread in the the Region.

CounterClifton

Interesting that the focal point of that piece is more Danang than either Hoi An or Hue. It would have to be the beach element and all the massive hotels going up there, surely. I know someone told me at least one of them is a joint Chinese venture. (of course, there are no shortage of international developers from Europe and the US building there too)

Curious about the assault comment in Hoi An. In the old section? Was there recently and it seems like you're never really out of sight of a hundred tourists and service people while in that area. A few blocks away in the newer town or down by the market end is less gift-shoppish though.

thursdaysd

Sounds just like tourism IN China, no surprise, really.

LancasterLad

<<<Curious about the assault comment in Hoi An. In the old section?>>>

Here...

https://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/ShowTo...m_Province.htm

Not my favourite fellow tourists. I've made a point on always checking that any hotels we intend to stay at aren't on the Chinese tour group circuit.

LancasterLad

<<<Sounds just like tourism IN China, no surprise, really.>>>

Almost went earlier this year, but the cost of the visa [x2] put me off, and we had a month in Nicaragua instead. Now I've got another reason for not going.

crellston

That's nothing. My wife just got slapped on the leg by a heavily made up, toothless, male transvestite prostitute in Mompos, Colombia! At least he had the excuse of being blind drunk!

The vast majority of Chinese tourists just don't know how to behave. Even in New Zealand last year, they were a nightmare.

Our Vietnamese friends tell me they really do not like the Chinese because of their appalling manners (and possibly because they occupied the country for hundreds of years!).

China was taken off my bucket list years ago.

thursdaysd

I actually enjoyed China, but the last time I was there was 2004 and domestic tourism hadn't really taken off. Plus I went to some less touristy places. But I could see that they were knocking down the genuinely old to replace it with the fake old. And I hate being around tour groups of any nationality - they are so self-absorbed and frantic not to lose their guide they will run right over independents.

Kathie

A friend of mine was having breakfast at the Four Seasons in Bangkok (before it became an Anantara) and reported that there was a large group of Chinese tourists staying there. They would go through the buffet, picking things up and then putting them back, sometimes after taking a bite out of the item. She said the Four Seasons staff followed behind to pick up the items.

CaliNurse

Thanks for the story, LL.

According to the guide I was with last year, Chinese are particularly hated in the far north, where we were, e.g. around Ha Giang . He explained that this is the area the Chinese first marched into during the 1979 invasion--easily done, as some towns/villages are less than a mile from the border. He'd heard, over yrs of guiding and visits to the area. stories of abductions of VN women by soldiers taking them back to China, where some still are .
That said, there were several large Chinese group tours in very remote areas where, aside from me and couple other "Westerners" there were no other tourists. it helped understand more the relative unfriendliness (or shyness) of some local people.

susiesan

Was in Sri Lanka in Feb. for 2 weeks and the Chinese tourists are reviled there too.They have become the most despised tourists anywhere.

I will makeep Sur eto ask CVT about hotels we are staying at next Feb., to be Sure Chinese groups don't stay there,

CounterClifton

Yes, thanks for the link. Not sure what one is meant to do in a case like that! It's not a big thing, it's not something you'd run find the police about but having people slap you as they pass is pretty unacceptable too.

I can think of 3 different Vietnamese people on this last trip that unexpectedly offered up unfavourable opinion about the Chinese tourism trends. Meanwhile, we were asked several times if we thought the *other* Vietnamese people were being friendly enough. (they were)

CaliNurse

Susiesan, there were no large tour groups of any nationality at any of the hotels I stayed in via CVT. One night in Hanoi at Essence, here was a very gracious and quiet,family from China--they were just lovely and proof that stereotypes are just that.
I hate to paint any group with a broad brushstroke (is that the expression) ; on the other hand, it is too bad that more discussion of acceptable behaviors isn't given by the large group tour guides, when surely, they must be aware of the general reaction by locals and other tourists.

crellston

"it is too bad that more discussion of acceptable behaviors isn't given by the large group tour guide" I agree but doubt that it will make any difference. I did read that some Chinese tour companies have recognised the problem and how their tourists are perceived abroad and now offer pre departure courses in etiquette and how to behave. These seem to be targeted towards city destinations like London and NYC where such behaviour will get them into a lot more trouble than in Hoi An.

I agree that it is perhaps wrong to paint particular groups as all being the same. However, every single Chinese group I have encountered has been the same. One of the reasons I will not return to Angkor is that it is just not a pleasant experience anymore with the huge proportion of such tour groups visiting. Same goes with our last trip to Bangkok's Grand Palace. I had to "remonstrate" with one Chinese guy who literally shoved my 70 year old MIL out of the way to take a photo. So much for the Chinese tradition of respecting elders!!

Kathie

I think the difference is between people traveling in large groups vs. those traveling independently. Large tour groups of every nationality can be obnoxious.

Alistair_Rodrayguns

http://www.businessinsider.com/worst...ourists-2013-5

rje

Chinese individuals can also be pretty clueless about how to behave in public while traveling abroad.

I still shudder at a flight from Hanoi to Hong Kong where the Chinese gentleman sitting next to us repeatedly spit on the floor of the aircraft throughout the entire flight. On the aisle, no less.

And then there is the embarrassment of the Chinese government about their own citizens:

Beijing is embarrassed about unruly Chinese tourists and plans to ‘publicly shame’ them
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/...ly-shame-them/

CaliNurse

Public shaming, in something like New England's stocks, would never work. The victim's friends would show up with mobile phones and selfie-sticks, making "V for Victory" signs 'round the proud perpetrator!