Jordan is a small country with a slow pace of life, friendly people and wonderfully mysterious natural beauty.
Despite being located in the middle of the Middle East, Jordan has not been affected by war. Tourism activities in this country are quite professionally organized, and people do not solicit sales.
Visiting Jordan in August, Ms. Nguyen Phuong Hang (Hanoi) remembered most the days wandering in the Wadi Rum desert, experiencing riding a jeep, watching the sunset, sleeping overnight in the desert...
According to the observation of the Vietnamese female tourist, the cost of living in Jordan is expensive. Therefore, shopping at large supermarkets may be priced reasonably, while buying along the road or at convenience stores will be more expensive. Specifically, a 500ml bottle of mineral water costs 1 JOD (equivalent to 36,000 VND), and using the toilet in public areas is also charged 1 JOD.
In addition, visitors should also be aware of cultural differences when visiting this country. Because Jordan is a Muslim country, alcohol consumption is widely prohibited, making it difficult for visitors to find a place to “drink”, a pub, a beer house... Only restaurants licensed by the government are allowed to sell alcohol and beer.
The female tourist shared: “The food has a lot of cheese and milk, easy to eat compared to India. Especially, this is the land of olives. The two religions that exist in Jordan are Islam and Christianity, the food is mostly chicken, lamb, beef and pigeon. Most of the food is salty and sour.”
Regarding clothing, Ms. Hang advised visitors to avoid wearing short, tight-fitting clothes, leggings, and fishnets when visiting or even in public places. At sacred sites, women are advised to wear modest clothing that covers their arms. If wearing a skirt, visitors should choose a skirt that is long enough to cover the knees, without slits or revealing skin.
In addition, visitors can only take photos in permitted areas. In case visitors want to take photos of local people, they should ask for permission first. In particular, avoid taking photos of women, families, and children without permission, because women in Muslim countries have a closed lifestyle. Do not take photos near military areas, you can only take photos in permitted areas.
“However, I find the people in Jordan extremely friendly, they often proactively ask to take photos with tourists,” Ms. Hang said.
Keep your distance when talking and interacting with local people to avoid trouble due to cultural differences.
Absolutely do not smoke in public places or places with no smoking signs.
Friday and Saturday are weekends, while on Sunday, people work normally.
Normally, on Friday, people will go to pray, shops will close at noon. Tipping culture when using services in restaurants and eateries in Jordan is almost mandatory.
“Waiters will even remind customers about the tip, not leave it at will, so customers may end up overspending on such small expenses when dining at restaurants,” said Ms. Hang.
