Notice: Function _load_textdomain_just_in_time was called incorrectly. Translation loading for the google-analytics-for-wordpress domain was triggered too early. This is usually an indicator for some code in the plugin or theme running too early. Translations should be loaded at the init action or later. Please see Debugging in WordPress for more information. (This message was added in version 6.7.0.) in /home1/jjjroy/public_html/ontheroadnow.com/wp-includes/functions.php on line 6121
Cultural Differences Archives - Page 4 of 6 - On The Road Now

Sidewalks are for walking, right? Not in Hanoi…

Typical busy sidewalk scene in Hanoi
Typical busy sidewalk scene in Hanoi
Car parked on a Hanoi sidewalk
Car parked on a Hanoi sidewalk

HANOI, VIETNAM – Sidewalks in Hanoi serve many different purposes… merchandise display space for shop stalls, seating for sidewalk restaurants, parking lot for motorcycles and bicycles (and sometimes cars), work room, kitchen, grazing space for urban livestock, and occasionally as a place for pedestrians to walk.
Continue reading “Sidewalks are for walking, right? Not in Hanoi…”

Nobody likes me, everybody hates me. Guess I’ll just eat… grubs

I'm going to eat what?
I’m going to eat what?

HANOI, VIETNAM – OK, I’ll admit that title isn’t entirely accurate. Not everyone hates me, and I’m sure there must be a couple people who actually like me… at least a little. And I know my wife likes me (most of the time anyway).

But I did eat a grub the other day. Several of them, in fact.
Continue reading “Nobody likes me, everybody hates me. Guess I’ll just eat… grubs”

Our traditional Tet lunch experience

An array of traditional Vietnamese food for Lunar New Year (Tet)
An array of traditional Vietnamese food for Lunar New Year (Tet)

HANOI, VIETNAM – As slow travelers, John and I always try to connect with the local culture, so we were thrilled to be invited recently to join a family for their traditional Tet (Lunar New Year) family lunch in a rural village just outside of Hanoi.

We really did not know what to expect, besides lots of food, so we saved the entire day for the experience, and brought a box of chocolates for our host, Khai, the number two son in the family.
Continue reading “Our traditional Tet lunch experience”

Christmas and New Year’s in Hanoi

Tet decorations can be really over the top in Hanoi
Tet holiday decorations can be really over the top in Hanoi

HANOI, VIETNAM – Our Christmas and New Year’s celebrations were certainly a bit different this year. We don’t usually do much, sometimes go to a movie, usually fix ourselves a nice dinner, but we’re not big gift-givers.

We both hate that in the U.S. the “Christmas season” seems to start even before summer ends. Continue reading “Christmas and New Year’s in Hanoi”

Bangkok for the weekend? Yeah, that just happened…

Bangkok's Grand Palace is Awesome!
Bangkok’s Grand Palace is Awesome!

HANOI, VIETNAM – Brrr, it’s chilly here in Hanoi today. Especially after spending the last three days in Bangkok, where it was sunny and 80-plus degrees (27 degrees Celsius) and we could bring our shorts and sunscreen out of hiding for a change.

Now it’s back to wearing silk long underwear and a sweater, with the hope that it might get up to 60 by the afternoon.

Three days is not nearly enough time to explore anyplace the way Melanie and I like to, but we needed to leave Vietnam because our tourist visas were about to expire.
Continue reading “Bangkok for the weekend? Yeah, that just happened…”


Deprecated: http_build_query(): Passing null to parameter #2 ($numeric_prefix) of type string is deprecated in /home1/jjjroy/public_html/ontheroadnow.com/wp-content/plugins/google-maps-widget/google-maps-widget.php on line 354