You are on page 1of 32

LESSON 1 : INTRODUCE SAIGON ADVENTURE AND INTRODUCE

YOURSELF
This lesson has 2 parts :
1. Introduce Saigon Adventure as well as the learners’ missions during the tours
(in Vietnamese)
2. Introduce yourself : learners learn how to greet customers and introduce
themselves as well as have a little chit chat conversation with customers

FIRST LESSON FOR TOUR GUIDE JOB


mục tiêu bài học:
• Biết cách chào hỏi khách du lịch 1 cách lịch sự và thú vị
• Biết cách bắt tay đúng và tạo thiện cảm ngay từ cái nhìn đầu tiên.
• Biết cách tự giới thiệu bản thân 1 cách thú vị và ấn tượng.
• Biết cách dạy khách nói tiếng Việt 1 cách hiệu quả nhất.
• Biết cách bắt đầu và duy trì cuộc trò chuyện với du khách trong suốt quá trình đi
tour.
• Hiểu rõ và vận dụng đúng tầm quan trọng của việc lắng nghe trong khi nói.

LESSON 1 – INTRODUCE YOURSELF AS A TOUR GUIDE


BASIC REGULATIONS FOR INTERNATIONAL COMUNICATION
How to perform a proper handshake
Distance from each other
Duration of handshake
How many shakes?
What to say when shaking hand
Shake hand with women?

1
SHOWING YOU ARE HAPPY TO SEE THEM
Nice to meet you! If you meet a person for a second / third
time, you should say:
Nice to meet you too!
It’s nice to see you again!
Good / Glad to meet you!
What a small world! Good to see you
Pleased to meet you!
again!
It’s a pleasure to meet you!
What a coincidence!

NOW COMPARE!
1. Nice to meet you!
2. It’s nice to see you again!
3. See you again!
4.It was nice meeting you!

BECOME AN ACTIVE LISTENER. LISTENING ATTENTIVELY IS THE


BEST WAY TO UNDERSTAND THE SPEAKER DEEPLY. THIS LEADS TO
SUCCESSFUL COMMUNICATION

HOW DO YOU SHOW YOU’RE LISTENING AND UNDERSTANDING?


How do you react to the following situations to show you are listening.
▶ Tourist : this is my first time to Vietnam.
▶ You: Really? How do you like it here.
▶ Tourist : I am really afraid when crossing the road in Saigon.
▶ You : ah huh.? you know it is like a 1minute risky adventure in your life.
▶ Tourist :(show a picture of his cute daughter) : this is my daughter Sara… she’s
3 years old.
▶ You: Wao! She is so pretty. I wish I could take her home.
▶ Tourist : I think Vietnam is the best place to travel in Asia.
▶ You: oh… you are so sweet. Thanks for coming here.

2
HERE ARE SOME USEFUL EXPRESSIONS:

▶ Oops! When you do something wrong or collide to someone.


▶ Oh really! That’s great! – shows surprise about what the other is talking
about.
▶ Oh really??? – shows doubt about what the other is talking. It’s like “are you
telling the truth or a lie?”
▶ Uh huh! =Oh I got it. Oh I see - means “Yes I understand what you mean”.
▶ I think so too – you agree with what he’s saying
▶ Well done! Good job! = give s.o a compliment when he does a good thing.
▶ Amazing! – what you are saying and doing is good and make me admire
▶ Incredible! = unbelievable! – something nice and great and its hard to believe
▶ You are just great/ gorgeous! = you are so good.
▶ It seems to me you like it a lot! = I feel like you like what you’re talking and
doing a lot.
▶ That sounds fun/good/great/ interesting! – what you are saying is interesting!
▶ It doesn’t matter = no problem – when s.o says sorry or thanks to you.

TEACHING COMMON VIETNAMESE SENTENCES


Mot hai ba… dzooo Ex : Vietnam : 2 words
Xin chao oor chao Hochiminh : 3 words
Tam biet Note : Nguoi nói tiếng Anh thường lúc
nào cũng phát âm cuối của từ như
Cam on
Một… (tạm) biệt đọc như bit.
Vietnamese is a single syllable
Lực sẽ được đọc như Look.
language. Every syllable is a word.
Guide nên chỉnh sửa cho khách

3
CHIT CHAT

What questions do you think are best to start a Work in pairs. One is a tourist, the other is the
conversation with a foreign tourist? guide. Imagine you are in a coffee shop. Start
an interesting conversation together. Then
Students work in pairs and spend 5 minutes exchange the roles. 20mins.
thinking about the questions as many as
possible. Then one by one raises his question

1. Is this your first time to Vietnam/ 8. Have you tried lots of local foods so far?
Saigon? (if this is not their first time,
9. What do you like best here?
how would you continue?)
10.Have you tried Banh Mi/Pho/broken rice?
2. What brings you here?
11.How did you like it? (Banhmi/Pho/broken
3. How long have you been here?
rice?)
4. How long do you plan to stay here?
12.What’s the weather like in your country?
5. What is your first impression here?
13.What’s your favorite food here?
6. Have you visited many places around?
14.………………………….
7. What have you done since being here?

HOW TO END A CONVERSATION


• It was so nice meeting you and being your guide.
• You made me like my job as a guide.
• I really liked your style/ jokes/ story.
• I hope we had a great time.
• I wish you a good stay in Saigon!
• I wish you had a nice time with us!
• I was really thankful/grateful to your teaching me English!
• ……………………………………….

4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
QUESTIONS FOR CHIT CHAT WHEN USEFUL EXPRESSIONS TO SHOW YOU’RE
YOU FIRST MEET A NEW TOURIST LISTENING AND UNDERSTANDING

1. Is this your first time to Vietnam/ Saigon? (if 1. Uh huh? : means “ok I understand”
this is not their first time, how would you
continue?) 2. Oh really! That’s great! – shows surprise about
what the other is talking about.
2. What brings you here?
3. Oh really??? – shows doubt about what the other
3. How long have you been here? is talking. It’s like “are you telling the truth or a
lie?”
4. How long do you plan to stay here?
4. Oh I got it. Oh I see = okay - means “Yes I
5. What is your first impression here? understand what you mean”.
6. Have you visited many places around? 5. I think so too – you agree with what he’s saying
7. What have you done since being here? 6. Good job = well done! – give s.o a compliment
8. Have you tried lots of local foods so far? when he does something nice.

9. What do you like best here? 7. Amazing! – what you are saying and doing is good
and make me admire
10. Have you tried Banh Mi/Pho/broken rice?
8. Incredible! = unbelievable! – something nice and
11. How did you like it? (Banhmi/Pho/broken great and its hard to believe
rice?)
9. You are just great/ gorgeous! = you are so good.
12. What’s the weather like in your country?
10. It seems to me you like it a lot! = I feel like you
13. What’s your favorite food here? like what you’re talking and doing a lot.

14. Here are some useful expressions: 11. That sounds fun/good/great/ interesting! – what
you are saying is interesting!

12. Congratulations! When you hear good news from


your friends!

13. It’s ok = It doesnot matter – when someone says


thanks or sorry to you.

14. Oops – when you make a mistake or collide to s.o

13
14
LESSOON 1 : INTRODUCE YOURSELF
LEARNERS NEED TO REMEMBER

“Being a tour guide is a special and interesting job. The tour guide is the first person tourists meet
and the only one they learn most of the cultures from. When tourists come to another country, they
really need a good tour guide. The first impression is very important. Besides the friendly smile and
the good looking uniform, the way the tour guide introduces himself will influence greatly to tourists’
emotions. You have to say something unique about yourself so that you build TRUST to your clients.
Then they will listen and follow whatever you will say. When introducing yourself, you should make
it short but enough information and in an interesting way.

TIPS FOR INTERESTING SELF INTRODUCTION:

- Your (full) name, the Vietnamese name. it’d be great if you can spell your name and teach the
guests how to pronounce it right, and if you can explain the meaning of your name.
- Your age. You can inspire them to interact with you by asking them to guess. Tell them you don’t
mind.
- Shake hands with the guests especially if they come from the west. For Asian tourists you can just
say “hello” and bow your head down. Don’t shake hands if they don’t show they want it.
- Your place of birth and place of residence. Express that you love your hometown and the place
you live.
- Your marital status . (optional) you can make jokes like I am still single. Is anybody here available
for me?
- Why you like being a tour guide.
- Your eagerness to work for them and make the trip unforgettable by your body language and eye
contact.
- Speak slowly and clearly. Stress the most important information.
- After introducing yourself, have a small chit chat conversation with them to make everybody close
and friendly to each other.

TIPS FOR A PROPER HANDSHAKE

- Best distance when you shake hands with guests is by the length of your arm.

- When shaking hands, look at the eyes for a few seconds and perform a friendly smile.

- Shake the hands 3 times while saying “nice to meet you”!

- Ladies usually don’t shake hands especially if they are Asian. So just bow your head down.

15
16
17
TOPIC: SAIGON’S NIGHT LIFE
1. How to get on/off motorbike?
2. What do Saigon people usually do at night?
3. Where is the flower market? What’s special about it?
4. Where is Nguyễn Thiện Thuật Apartment? What’s special about it?
(Students should list at least 5 things for each)
TOPIC: ABOUT SAIGON
1. What is the population of HCMC?
2. How many motorbikes are there in HCMC?
3. What is the meaning of Saigon?
4. What is the basic difference between Saigon and HCMC?
5. Why do you drink beer with ice?
6. Why do you drink coffee with condense milk?
7. Why do lots of people wear a face mask when driving a scooter on the street?
8. What do Saigon people usually do for fun?
9. What are the working hours in HCMC?
10. why do lots of people drive on the sidewalk?
TOPIC: SAIGON BEFORE & NOW AND THE BURNING MONK
1. What’s special about Notre Dame Cathedral and Saigon Central Post office?
(student should list at least 3 things for each)
2. What names have been given to the Reunification palace through history and why?
3. How many presidents were in South Vietnam and who were they?
4. Who is Ngo Dinh Diem?
5. Why was Ngo Dinh Diem (the 1st president of Southern Vietnam) assassinated?
6. Who is Thich Quang Duc? Why did he set himself on fire?
7. What had happen after Thich Quang Duc’s event?
TOPIC: STREET FOOD. FAMOUS TRADITIONAL FOOD IN SAIGON: bánh xèo, bún
bò, phở, bánh cuốn, bánh mì, common drinks (nước mía, cà phê, bia, rượu…)…..
1. Explain name of food 4. Ways of making and eating
2. History 5. Any special story behind those food??
3. Ingredients

18
19
QUESTIONS
1. In what year was the Notre Dame Cathedral built?
2. What was the original name of the City Hall?
3. Who is the owner of the Vincom center?
4. What can you see on the green windows of the Central Post Office?
5. What happens on Saturday and Sunday morning in front of the Opera House?
6. Where is the Saigon Saigon bar located?
7. What is the maximum number of people that can stay in the Church at the same time?
8. When and where was the statue of Regina Pacicila Maria brought from
9. What is in her hand and under her feet?
10. Does the central post office have any day off in a week?
11. Tell me 3 famous hotels on Dong Khoi Street?
12. What is the biggest religion in Vietnam?
13. Does HCMC have any subway yet?

HOMEWORK
 Each of you choose a place and talk about it : everything you know. Make a video
and post to your teacher.
 Would be better if you can make it in front of the building or place and Try to make
your voice clear and loud.

20
LESSON 2 – NIGHT LIFE OF SAIGON
• Tất tần tật cuộc sống vê đêm ở SG
• Văn hoá uống bia lề đường
• chợ hoa Hồ Thị Kỹ
• Cuộc sống ở chung cư Nguyễn Thiện Thuật
• Hoạt động buôn bán nhộn nhịp trên đường Nguyễn Trãi
• Mục tiêu của bài học là: giúp các bạn có cái nhìn tổng thể về văn hoá SG về đêm ; cuộc sống của
người SG về đêm và tất cả nhưng gì

GENERAL ABOUT NIGHT LIFE IN SG


Sg has a very young population. The young never want to go to bed early. The most
interesting activities take place in evening time.

WHAT DO YOU DO AFTER WOK?


- Eat out on the side walk
- Hang out with friends to drinking places
- Drink coffee with old friends and new friends
- Go karaoke with friends and families
- Go to bars or beer clubs for different purposes : drinking, dancing, or only enjoying loud
music
- Couples in love go to cinemas
- Some go to gyms
- Most people eat out on the street because they don’t have time to cook.
- Go shopping because they have to work during day time

DRINKING BEER ON THE STREET


Why is it so common?
- The average income (thu nhập bình quân đầu người / năm) of the Saigonese is not
much (about 5.500 USD/year/person)
- Drinking beer on the street is cheaper and more fun.
- The Saigonese like to socialize with new people; drinking beer on the street is the best
way to do it.

21
- When drinking beer, they always touch the glasses or cans or bottles to each other and
say “MOT… HAI…BA…. DZOOO” at the same time. It’s a fun way to get to know
each other and a way to say “ we’re all friends now”. And they do this with every
single dip of beer.
- Note : ở các nước phát triển khi uống bia, người ta chỉ cụng nhau 1 lần đầu tiên và nói
“cheers”. Các lần uống sau không cụng ly nữa. ở Hà Lan, khi cụng ly với nhau, tât cả
phải nhìn thẳng vào mắt nhau, nếu không bạn sẽ có 7 năm kém may mắn trong chuyện
“Chăn gối”.

DRINKING BEER
AT WHAT AGE ARE YOU ALLOWED TO DRINK ALCOHOL OR BEER?

In Vietnam, there’s no age limit to drink beer. There are rules for not selling alcohol
or cigarette to kids under 18 but people don’t care. Every body can drink.

WHY DO YOU DRINK BEER WITH ICE?


- The weather in VN is tropical and very hot in SG.
- Also drinking restaurants keep their beer warm so they can last longer. Warm beer is
difficult to swallow.
- Most restaurants on the street don’t keep beer in fridge because it costs lots of power.
IF they do it, they have to sell beer more expensive and they may loose their regular
customers.

HO THI KY FLOWER MARKET

This is the biggest flower supplier in HCMC. It’s getting more busy in evening
time since people prefer the fresh and comfortable atmosphere at night time.
Flowers are important for people’s life.

They use flowers for different purposes :


- Offer to their ancestors
- Presents to their girlfriends/boyfriends.
- Inauguration shops and companies
- Graduation ceremonies

22
- Offerings to funerals
- Everyday worshipping to Buddha and Gods
- Presents to birthdays
- Home decorations
- Presents for teachers on Teacher’s Days
- Presents for Ladies on Women’s Day
- Some flowers can be used for medicines like Chrysanthemum, Jasmine

Flower wreath is used for only one purpose : funeral. Purple color is considered for
something sad so don’t give purple flowers to anybody alive like a present.
Also white flowers are for funerals too.

23
NGUYEN TRAI FASHION STREET

You can see this street is very special. Its busy all day long especially in the
evening!

They all sell clothes, hats, and helmets. That’s why we call this fashion street.

Shops on the sidewalk are cheaper because they don’t have to taxes. They are
not stable – or moving shops .

CHUNG CU NGUYEN THIEN THUAT

This is a special apartment built by the American government for their


soldiers in the VN war in 1960s. Now it belongs to the VN government and
they sell to the locals.

This apartment is the real reflection of authentic life of Saigonese people.

It is quite different from other ones. The higher you live the cheaper it becomes
because there’s no elevator.

Also when you live on the ground floor you can have a business right in your
room.

The residence here are under medium class, most of them are workers.

The rent is not so expensive around 200-250USD/month for the whole family.

Since many of them can’t afford a private house, one apartment is usually for 2-
3 generations. Its also a nice way for the family relations. They can be close
together all the time. But sometimes its difficult because young couples don’t
have much privacy.

Because the apartment is quite small, they don’t have the kitchen inside, so many
of them cook outside in the balcony .

24
25
THICH QUANG DUC MEMORIAL
ANSWER THESE QUESTIONS
• Where is the memorial?
• Who was Thich Quang Duc?
• Why did he burn himself?
• When and where did this happen?
• What car did he use, to drive from Hue to Saigon and where is it now?
• Who was Ngo Dinh Diem and NGÔ ĐÌNH NHU?
• What happened to his heart? Where is it now?
• How could his sacrifice change Saigon’s history?
• Why was Hue city so important?

26
We are now in the memorial of monk Thich Quang Duc sacrifice . This is where the
th
monk burned himself on June 11 1963.
so why did he burn himself?
He wanted to wake up the southern president Ngo Dinh Diem for his conservative
policies against Buddhism.
What had happened before his sacrifice?
Ngo Dinh Diem was the first President of South Vietnam when our country was
divided into two. He was Catholic and his brothers were too. One of his brothers Ngo
Dinh Thuc wanted to become the Pope (đức Giáo Hoàng) of Southern Vietnam’s
Catholicism. To have this title, he had to prove more than 60% of the country
population were Catholics. However, at that time more than 80% of Hue city people
were Buddhist. So the Ngo Family issued some policies that limited the rights of
Buddhist people. The conflicts – mâu thuẩn- became worse and worse in May 1963
when Buddhist people in Hue city celebrated the Vesak day (the World’s Buddha
Day).
Why was Hue city important?

Hue city was where our last Dynasty (Triều Đại) Nguyen Citadel and KingDom was
located and it was the old capital of VN from 1802 to 1945. Buddhism had been a
national religion of most dynasties in Vietnam. After the last King Bao Dai resigned - từ
chức - in 1945, the royal family members were still in Hue city and they still had a
strong influence to the country.
How did the monk burn himself? Thich Quang Duc was a head monk of An Quang
th
pagoda in Hue city. At 8pm June 10 1963 , he left Hue city on a car called Austin A95
Westminter (look for this car), now becomes a historical object kept in Thien Mu
temple of Hue city.
When he arrived at this corner (at that time Le Van Duyet – Phan Dinh Phung), he
slowly got out and sat down in the middle of the crossroad. He asked one young monk
to pour gasoline on his body and fired.
This happened in public, in the witness - sự chứng kiến - of hundreds of Buddhist
monks in Saigon and international correspondents and journalists – phóng viên và
nhà báo quốc tế.

27
What had happened to his body? After TQD had come to heaven, the Buddhism
Association in Saigon put his body in a coffin – quan tài - made of the best wood.
The following day, there was a very big funeral in Cholon (Chinatown) where most
people were Buddhist. Two days later, his body was again cremated - bị hoả thiêu
- in An Duong Dia, Phu Lam Cho lon. His whole body became ashes – tro cốt - ,
however, the heart was still not burned even under 4000 degrees celcus.. This made
everybody shocked. Then everybody realized that this is what Thich Quang Duc
wanted to leave for next generations.
Who took the photo of this event? Malcom
Browne took this picture and made him famous
All around the world. This photo appeared on
World Press in 1963 and changed the president
John Kenedy’s attitudes – thái độ - towards Vietnam.

What were some consequences - hiệu ứng lan toả - after this event?
The Buddhist protection insurrections - cuộc đấu tranh bảo vệ Phật giáo - became
stronger and spread – lan toả - through out the country. Students quitted schools and
stroke; shops closed; manufacturing stopped and military got confused of what to do.
More and more monks follow TQD example and burned themselves.
Final result : President Ngo Dinh Diem and military consultant were assassinated- bị
nd
ám sát - on Nov 2 1963 .

28
PROGRAM INTRODUCTION
On behalf ABC Company I WOULD LIKE TO INTRODUCE FOR YOU PROGRAME today.
First: we will visit Reunification Hall, and then we go to Notre Dame Cathedral And Post office
Center, and The War Remnants Museum.
Then we drop you back to your hotel and we finish our trip.
• ATTENTION:
-Helmet: We have to wear helmet in Vietnam, it’s bacsic rule here.
-Motorcycle Exhaust: ….
-Phone, camera: be careful beacause People can steal/ stolen your phone. there are many people
on the road, so if you use phone your probably drop down the street and broken

GEOGRAPHY
-Ho chi Minh city is over 2000 square kilometer.
+ 22 districts
+ 1 satellite city

-Ho Chi Minh city located in the South of Việt Nam. It has two seasons. The rainy season start from
April to October and the dry season from November to April next year.
- Average temperature from 18-32 degrees Celsius.

How about the weather in your country?

HISTORY
Do you know why some one called Sai gon and others one called HCM city? Actually It had been
called many different names. But It has three popular names .
+ year 1698: Nguyen Lord had called this city a GIA ĐỊNH.
+1867: FRENCH colonial time it was called A SAI GON
+1976: After American war. The country was reunited. The government had changed it to HỒ CHÍ
MINH city.

PEOPLE
• HOW MANY PEOPLES ARE THEY LIVING IN HCM CITY? Now in this city has over
10.000.000 people.
-4,5m people are Saigonese.
-5,6m people come from another provinces. Or foreigners, experts come here for working, living.

TRANSPOTATION
How can you transfer in your city?

29
• How many motorbikes is there in HCM city?

Ho chi minh is the biggest number of motorbike in Viet Nam. It has about 7.6 million
motorbike which was registered in HCM Transportation Department. It is very easy to drive
in this city while the road was narrowed. The car is too expensive to get because of Taxes.
We had to pay 120 percent for tax per 1 car import.

Conditions to be able to ride a motorcycle?


Drivers must be at least 18 years old and pass the exam organized by the Department of
Transport. When driving, do not drink alcohol. In Vietnam, there are two types of motorbikes,
which are scooters and motorbikes. Favorite brands are honda and yamaha from japan.

Why do we Vietnamese love to honk?


-Firstly, it cannot be denied that honking is important for driving. It helps us communicate with others
to have better navigation and traffic. However, it becomes overwhelming in Vietnam. We honk a lot,
any time, everywhere. This is definitely annoying and noisy.
The horn sound seems like a slap to your face, to wake you up and make you pay attention to
everything around you.
In addition, under the hot weather and traffic jams, everyone seems impatient. They want to go as
soon as they can. That’s why they honk a lot to send a message of hurry.

Traffic congestion = jam


Traffic in Vietnam, particularly in big cities such as Ho Chi Minh city and Ha Noi, is a mess during
peak hours. From 6-8am, 11-13, 16-18, they are the golden time for heavy traffic jams.
 rush hours
-In fact, there are different lanes for different vehicles in Vietnam. But during rush hours, there’s
almost no lane at all. Motorbikes take over everywhere. It even fills the areas that are supposed to be
used for cars only.
-Sidewalks are also invaded by motorcycles. Basically, people utilize any way as long as they can
escape from these heavy traffic jams.

30
LIVING
TUBE HOUSE

What is tube house?


-The name of the tube house definitely somehow triggers your imagination in the right way and that
may tell everything. It is a sort of house with a narrow - shaped facade and a great length as well.
-Tube houses these days are seen with 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 floors stacked , and it is the reason why you can
find on streets such high houses that stand closely next to each other . In addition , Vietnamese tube
houses which are considered to be built with the traditional structures are now particularly popular in
Vietnam cities when residents take maximum advantage of the land source .

Function of tube house


-In the modern era when cities are highly dense and the land prices keep experiencing a non - stop
increase , finding enough space for a large number of people really matters . Hence , piled - up floors
of tube houses can be a preferred option to provide rooms for many people . Also , the problem related
to land may be easily seen where many households grow vegetables , flowers on the terrace and where
the houses are next to one another without any remarkable separation .
-You can have a look at extended families living under one roof to understand why tube houses are
that popular . Tube houses are clearly divided into separated floors with rooms for different purposes
like the bedroom , altar room , and terrace . This design guarantees privacy but also brings the close
- knit Vietnamese families together.

Apartment
Who love to live in apartment?
- Advantages and disadvantages when live in apartment?

EDUCATION
• PRE-FRENCH COLONIAL:
-Education was influence from Taoism, Confusionism
+ Studying about History, Geography, Culture
Main point: How to become a good people
. Take care for parents
. Live harmony with neighbors

• PRE-FRENCH COLONIAL and now:


- It is divided into five levels: preschool, primary school, secondary school, high school,
and higher education. Formal education consists of twelve years of basic education.

• School schedule

-In Vietnam , a school day starts from 7 AM to 11 AM in the morning , from 1 PM to 4 PM or 5 PM


in the afternoon , from Monday to Friday and Saturday morning for some schools . Students will have
a 30 - minute break in the morning and the afternoon as well . A school year often starts in September

31
and ends in May the following year . In a school year , there are some holidays that students are
allowed to take one or several days off such as Tet holiday , Independence Day, World Labor Day,
Hung Kings Commemoration Day, and teachers ' day .

-Summertime often lasts 3 months from the start of June to the end of August . However , in recent
years , a school year is likely to start earlier in August due to the fact that other holidays in the year
will last longer . Summer schools and extra classes like evening classes are voluntary and have been
discouraged by the government in recent years .

HEALTH CARE SYSTEM


Pharmacies
-Finding medicines in capital cities like Ho Chi Minh or Hanoi isn't difficult even for new travelers
as there are many pharmacies that can be easily found on major streets , in shopping malls , and in
local markets . In case of an emergency at late night , there are also convenient chains of drug stores
that open till midnight like Pharmacity and Vistar Pharmacy

Hospitals
-Most public hospitals in Vietnam are generally underfunded , have basic medical equipment , with
the majority of staff including both nurses and doctors who only speak Vietnamese . These hospitals
are generally overcrowded as well . Nevertheless , the big size of public hospitals means that they
have various medical departments to treat a wide range of illnesses Government subsidies also help
to reduce expenses .
-The quality and access to medical services like the number of doctors and advanced equipment for
treatment in urban cities are higher than those in rural areas . This is part of the reason why many
hospitals in big cities in Vietnam are packed with people coming from many provinces nearby seeking
medical treatment . Also , the incapable facilities and insufficient rooms for all the patients like in
orthopedic hospitals have made many patients stay in the hallways .

Health Insurance
If you have insurance types 1 , 2 , and 5 , your insurance will cover 100 % of your medical fees with
different levels of limitation to other fees like medicines and hospital transfer . Insurance type 3 will
cover 95 % and 100 % in some cases , and type 4 will cover 80 % . Also , not all types of diseases or
medical fees will be paid by insurance . Examples of non coverage fees are regular pregnancy check
- up that is not for treatment , and vision problems treatment

32

You might also like