Just booked flight!!!!

[wait4ever 0]

Mike,

When my sweetheart and I started on our visa journey she went to the local fortune teller to find out if she would get a visa. The fortune teller said she would get it in about six months. Yeah, right! Blew that one away. Go to Vietnam, just be extra careful when you step out into the street!

I have spent enough time in Vietnam and Asia in general to have an understanding of what Patrick and STL are talking about. The "smoke and mirrors" comment was a little vague, and I understand how a comment like that can get to you when you are most vulnerable. Asians sometimes hide things, sometimes because they believe it is to your benefit not to be direct, or to avoid confrontation. It may be something as innocent as the jitters about traveling abroad. If she has not done this before, it's can be sort of scarry thing for her. Most Vietnamese never get to see their own country, much less travel to others. Other factors might be that she is being taken out of the country by a foreigner, and perhaps her family or friends are a little concerned as well. Of course they would not want to confront you directly about this, so having someone like a fortune teller feel out the situation or front a hocus pocus excuse would be a convenient out. A face saving way to deal with uncertain feelings. It would not be seen as lying to you.

I know because I had to deal with a similar situation. We were meeting up in Hanoi for vacation,then traveled south to her home. I had to reassure her and her parents, smooth things over and do some convincing. We had a great vacation.

This year we met up in Bangkok and spent two weeks in Thailand. It was also a great vacation and a real eye opener for her. You will have an unforgettable experience there. So just go and have a great time.

[STL_HCMC 0]

Very true!

STL_HCMC

Asians sometimes hide things, sometimes because they believe it is to your benefit not to be direct, or to avoid confrontation.

[STL_HCMC 0]

The Vietnamese common man often believes in omens, ghosts, and supernatural influences. Whatever their professed religion, most Vietnamese are influenced at one time or another in their lives by magic, fortune-telling, and horoscopes. It is commonly believed that a man's destiny is determined by the positioning of a particular star in the heavens on his birth date. By consulting his horoscope, a man can avoid disaster during inauspicious periods and make the most of auspicious periods. It is typical for Vietnamese people to consult an astrologer when they had to choose a date for wedding or funeral ceremonies or for opening a business. On special days of the month one must avoid doing certain things lest one should meet with failure or accidents.

Link: Journey Into The Vietnamese Culture

Link: The Vietnamese Philosophy of Life

STL_HCMC

Edited June 24, 2006 by STL_HCMC

[chuckandkim 0]

So what is the verdict Mike? Are you going or not?