When someone from another country comes for a visit, or for studying (whatever their reasons are), do you ever have questions about where they come from? For me, this is a constant string of events that have been happening to me every time I try to make new friends in America.

Here are some questions I’ve been asked more than once:

1) Do people eat dogs in Vietnam?

• To be honest, I found this stereotype question is funny and usually I joke around by saying I also eat cats, but of course, the truth is I don’t eat neither cats nor dogs. Most people that do eat dogs are mostly from the North side of Vietnam.

2) How is it like to live in Vietnam?

• Well, I live in the South of Vietnam, which is either hot or very, very, very wet! It is annoying! But still love it.

3) If I want to visit to Vietnam, where would you recommend going?

• For starters, I would love for you to go to Ho Chi Minh city since we have a lot of foreign culture in the city but we still have our traditional streets full of food, stores, weird things that you may be interested in, there are things for everyone. My second destination is to Nha Trang, the pearl of Vietnam. You can taste the freshest seafood straight out of the ocean, or you can visit Vinpearl, the best resort in Vietnam (according to me). The last place is Da Lat, locate up in the mountains, you can come there to watch waterfalls, ride horses, elephant, ostriches, and the best thing is to get to taste the best vegetable and fruits in the country.

4) What is it like to be walking in the midst of Vietnamese people in Vietnam?

• Americans reputation for height in Vietnam is disturbingly popular, people there obsess about being tall, but we are short, that’s the truth and if you ever come to Vietnam, you’ll be like a giant there, walking among the hobbits…

5) Is Vietnam still in a communist democracy?

• No, we are not, I think. We are socialist now but for some reasons I still have the nag in my back telling me is that we kinda still are, but no worries, when you come to Vietnam, we won’t lock you up at sight, we’ll greet you with hospitality and give you the comfort you need as a foreigner in my country.