When I was preparing to move from Minnesota to Vietnam, my dermatologist reminded me that I was going to be in a place with year-round hot, sunny weather. She was worried that I would be exposed to much more sun in, what she thought was going to be, a culture that didn’t worry much about sun exposure.
Nothing, I found out quickly, could be further from the truth. When I started sending pictures back to friends in the US, I got some confused questions about what the temperature was in Saigon because in the background of the photos they saw people wearing jackets, hats, long pants, socks, and even gloves.
As it turns out, people in Saigon have no desire to expose their skin to the all-year-around sunshine either, and they go to great lengths to ensure it isn’t.
In a city that relies mainly on motorbikes for transportation, drivers and passengers are in the sun for long periods so, they wear clothing to keep themselves as covered as possible.
Many drivers also seek out any shade available while waiting at a red light (which I, as a regular passenger, appreciate), and they “camp out” under bridges or trees during the hottest parts of the day.
Some of the independent sidewalk restaurant owners offer a shady spot and cold water or tea to motorbike transport and delivery drivers. (Click to read VNExpress story about good Samaritans during this summer’s heat wave.)
Mark and I have fully embraced this cultural norm. When walking, I always have an umbrella, which is useful for any weather – rain or sun. I also have a light hoodie and a pair of “sleeves” with thumb holes that I can slide on if I decide to take a motorbike somewhere.
Tourists are easy to spot. They’re the people walking down the streets in the middle of the day in shorts and sleeveless shirts. No hat or umbrella to be seen. I want to remind them that Saigon is only about 11 degrees from the equator, so the sun is likely more intense than where they’re from. I just hope they’re wearing lots of sunscreen!
