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Is it rude to say ‘no’ to street vendors? Feeling a bit overwhelmed in Hanoi…

Hey everyone, I’m new to Vietnam and currently in Hanoi. The street vendors are super friendly, but I feel like I’m constantly being approached to buy things. I don’t want to be disrespectful, but sometimes I just want to walk around without feeling pressured. Is it okay to just politely say ‘no’ and keep walking, or is there a better way to handle it? Any advice is appreciated! I feel so bad when I just say ‘no’ and walk away, but my backpack is already full of souvenirs.

One thought on “Is it rude to say ‘no’ to street vendors? Feeling a bit overwhelmed in Hanoi…

  1. Avatar photo
    VietnamVietnam
    Verified IconAdmin Vietadvisor
    says:

    Hi there! This is a very common question, so don’t feel bad at all. It’s perfectly fine to politely say ‘no, thank you’ or ‘không, cám ơn’ (pronounced something like ‘kom-kam-un’) and smile. Most vendors are very used to this and won’t be offended. It’s just part of the bustling city life! You can also just shake your head and smile. You’ll get the hang of it soon enough

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