Vietnam Glbt Travelers

There are no laws expressly prohibiting homosexuality in Vietnam, but gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgendered (GLBT) travelers should bear in mind that the country’s cultural adherence to conservative, traditional family values leaves little place for them to openly demonstrate their sexuality. Displays of affection are more likely to be met with discomfort than with outright hostility, but in either event, we recommend a high degree of discretion.

To avoid hassles at airports and border crossings, transgendered travelers should make sure that all of their travel documents consistently report the same sex. Many countries (including Australia, Canada, Ireland, New Zealand, the UK, and the US) will amend the passports of post-operative transsexuals to reflect their true sex, although governments are generally less willing to amend documents for pre-operative transsexuals and other transgendered individuals.

Listed below are contact organizations, mail-order bookstores, and publishers that offer materials addressing some specific concerns. Out and About (www.planetout.com) offers a weekly newsletter and a comprehensive site addressing gay travel concerns. The online newspaper 365gay.com also has a travel section (www.365gay.com/travel/travelchannel.htm).

Utopia (www.utopia-asia.com). A great website with articles on GLBT issues in both Southeast Asia generally and Vietnam specifically, plus listings, scam warnings, and other useful posts from travelers.
Gay’s the Word, 66 Marchmont St., London WC1N 1AB, UK (☎07 278 7654; www.gaystheword.co.uk). The largest gay and lesbian bookshop in the UK, with both fiction and non-fiction titles. Mail-order service available.
Giovanni’s Room, 345 South 12th St., Philadelphia, USA (☎215-923-2960; www.queerbooks.com). An international lesbian and gay bookstore with mail-order service (carries many of the publications listed below).
International Lesbian and Gay Association (ILGA), 81 rue Marché-au-Charbon, B-1000 Brussels, Belgium (☎32 2 502 2471; www.ilga.org). Provides political information, such as homosexuality laws of individual countries.

Additional Resources: Glbt
Spartacus 2005-2006: International Gay Guide. Bruno Gmunder Verlag (US$33).The Gay Vacation Guide: The Best Trips and How to Plan Them, Mark Chesnut. Kensington Books (US$15).