"I was even more surprised to hear a rooster crowing in the middle of the city. In Vietnam, everything starts at 4 a.m. and goes until late at night. I wonder: When do they sleep?" Semyon, a 37-year-old Russian man living in Saigon ward, Ho Chi Minh City, recounted his first "culture shock" when he arrived in Vietnam three years ago.

He said this is a "huge" difference between Vietnamese and Western lifestyles. "In Russia, life usually starts at 8 or 9 a.m.", Semyon Kuprianov said.

But three years later, he has gotten used to it. Although he can't wake up as early as the Vietnamese, Semyon finds these sounds familiar, helping him feel less lonely knowing that everyone outside is bustling with activity.

In early April, while traveling to Hanoi, Semyon was surprised again to see hundreds of people crowding Hoan Kiem Lake at 4-5 a.m. to exercise, jog, dance, and even practice martial arts and swordsmanship.

"Seeing groups of people jogging, I thought a marathon was taking place. But is there a marathon every day? I learned that they exercise to energize themselves for the new day", he said with a laugh.

According to Semyon, this is probably the reason why Vietnamese people have a relatively high life expectancy.

Living near An Thuong beach, Ngu Hanh Son ward, Da Nang, Josef Andrew Miklavc, a 30-year-old Australian, was also shocked to see thousands of people go to the beach at dawn to watch the sunrise, play volleyball, and practice tai chi.

"I've traveled to more than 40 countries but have never seen men in their 40s and 50s as active in sports as Vietnamese men", Josef said. He also found it interesting to see older women dressed up every day, lining up to take photos early in the morning.

"Even watching the sunrise is something Australians only do on special occasions like proposals or parties," he said. "In Vietnam, people watch the sunrise 365 days a year".

Josef Andrew Miklavc, 30, an Australian, currently lives in Da Nang. Photo: *Provided by the subject*

The "culture shock" of the Vietnamese habit of waking up early is not unique to Semyon and Josef. For over a month, thousands of foreigners on social media have shared their surprise and fascination with the early morning activities of Vietnamese people. Videos capturing Vietnamese people exercising, trading from 4-5 a.m., or the calls of street vendors have attracted millions of views. Many foreigners have also tried to experience this culture with videos tagged #morningvietnam #vietnamstyle...

A report from Navigos Group indicates that about 50% of foreigners living and working in Vietnam experience culture shock. However, according to a 2023 survey by Internations, the world's largest network for people living abroad, Vietnam ranks among the top 15 best countries for expats.

According to the ranking, Vietnam is considered "easy to settle in" by many foreigners because they are satisfied with the culture and welcoming atmosphere, the ease of making friends, and the friendliness of the locals. Another Internations survey also showed that 84% found Vietnamese people friendly (compared to 66% globally), and 71% felt a sense of belonging in Vietnam. In addition, the beautiful scenery, cultural heritage, safety, and street food are also reasons why they want to live and work here.

According to Associate Professor Dr. Pham Ngoc Trung, former head of the Faculty of Development Culture at the Academy of Journalism and Communication, foreigners' surprise at Vietnam's early rising culture stems from the fact that most Westerners live in temperate, cold climates, so they start their day quite late. Meanwhile, Vietnam is located in a tropical monsoon region with hot summers, so Vietnamese people often wake up early to work during the cooler hours. Schools and companies in Vietnam also start early.

The expert further explained that Vietnamese people wake up early also because they want more time to work and accumulate financial resources from a young age. They not only provide for themselves but also for their children's future.

According to the expert, regarding physical activities, elderly people in Vietnam often prefer to gather in public places to exercise together for motivation and to make friends who share the same ideals. It's also a way for them to enjoy a relaxed life in their later years. "Jogging, dancing, and watching the sunrise are some ways to relieve stress when life is too hectic", Trung said.

Godspromise Iveoghene Egbeji from Delta State, Nigeria, currently lives and works in Hanoi. Photo: *Provided by the subject*

After living in Hanoi for over a year, Godspromise Iveoghene Egbeji (commonly known as Geepee) from Delta State, Nigeria, says he is gradually getting used to starting everything early in the morning. Geepee teaches at a school in Hanoi. He lives entirely in the "Vietnamese style," waking up at 4:30 a.m. to jog, returning home to cook breakfast, preparing lunch, and arriving at work by 7 a.m.

"At first, I was shocked that Vietnamese people could go out to work when it was still dark, and I thought they sacrificed sleep to be more productive. But then I realized they have a culture of napping to recharge their energy", the Nigerian man said. After a while in Vietnam, he realized the wonderful benefits of napping, even a short one, which helps him feel more alert.

Geepee also goes to the wholesale market at dawn, where all kinds of vegetables, meat, and fish are sold at lower prices than in supermarkets or convenience stores. "I really love Vietnam, from the people, the scenery, the environment, and most importantly, the feeling of peace and warmth that this place brings", Geepee said.

Semyon Kuprianov recently tried waking up early to eat banh cuon (steamed rice rolls). The Russian man also plans to experience the life of fishermen, observing the trading activities at the port at dawn.

Josef Andrew Miklavc admits to being "addicted" to waking up early to watch the sunrise, go to the gym, and start work with a cup of coffee like a true Vietnamese person.

"Besides the beautiful scenery, friendly people, delicious food, and lifestyle culture, I also want to stay here longer", Josef said.

Nga Thanh