The Signs of Vietnam
In a nation where the national currency is the “dong,” I’ve come to expect signs that perhaps would be a tad too racy if they appeared on a shop front back in Canada.
The combination of monosyllabic words and English close equivalents conspire to give the message that, well, the Vietnamese are obsessed with the penis. At least that’s how it appears on the surface.
And since I’ve already talked about the sights of Vietnam, and the sounds of Vietnam, I figured I should put together a post of some of the signs of Vietnam as well.
Here’s a look at some of the innuendo in the signage around the country. And please, let me know if you think the same way too, or if I’m just stuck at Freud’s third stage of psychosexual development.
(Hover your mouse over each photo to see where it was taken.)
The award for the most ballsy sign (pardon the pun) would have to go the next one. This is the sign on a shop door front in the Old Quarter of Hanoi. There’s so much happening in that part of town, that I don’t think many people noticed it.
Ahem. Zooming out you can see what the store owner was referring to.
I wonder if anyone has ever told him what message he is sending with that choice of acronym. Or maybe the crafty shop owner was deliberate in his word choice — there is a lot of “stiff” competition among vendors in Hanoi. 
Have you seen any signs like these in your travels?
America 
Canada 
Oman 
The last one is hilarious
Oh it is indeed!
I am the owner of Cock shop. I am a lady, not Him as u said. Join me on facebook Huong Nguyen lovejethro@yahoo.com
/facepalm
Love these. I giggle like a little girl.
Tee hee hee…
Proof that 6th grade humor never gets old. Can’t believe I’ve never seen these before!
I love being back in elementary school, at least for a moment!
I always enjoy finding these knids of signs…I do have a few pics too!
You should post them!
Haha funny! (I had a bunch of “dirty” signs up on my blog for a few hours a couple months ago…. until I got an email that google adsense dropped me and Facebook banned me.)
Yikes! I hope I don’t get banned. How long did it take to get back in their good graces? And more importantly, when can I see the pics?
The last one made me laugh. I would love to speak to the shop owner and explain it.
Yes…with puppets!
Hi my friend,
I am the owner of the shop named COCK. I would like to invite you go to Facebook to have a look the whole story about my shop. There are hundreds funny stories around my sho name and slogan. Most of you think I dont know the meaning of it. But there are many people make friend with me and they all said I am genius. I am proud of making most of tourists who understand English laugh when they see my shop. My facebook add is lovejethro@yahoo.com. Take care x
Wait until you see the creative Pho restaurant names. Typical: Pho King
Oh dear.
EXCELLENT!!!!
BWWWWHAHAHAHAHAHAAAAA!
Thanks!!
This is hilarious–loved it! Reminds me of some stuff I saw in Turkey. There, they have Turkish Viagra in bottles in the shape of a man who’s, um, fully exposed.
Now why can’t they sell that sort of thing in North America? I’m sure it would be a great novelty buy…
I, too, giggle like a little girl.
I said it before, and I’ll say it again… tee hee hee…
I love being being stuck in elementary school! I too laugh at potty talk
It’s good fun!
I LOVE these “lost in translation” signs! (see my recent blog post below for another one)
hee hee — now who wouldn’t like that one?
That is not wrong translation. Only dirty minded people think of dirty meaning when they see that word.
Better to be hung long than hung _____
Here here!!
There’s a Long Phuc hotel near the backpacker district in Ho Chi Minh City.
And a Bum Cafe in Binh Thanh District.
And just yesterday in Chiang Mai I snapped a photo of Tana Porn Clinic…. which makes me wonder what “Tana” means.
I think it means free.
Finding hilarious signs is one of my favorite things about traveling! I have tons of crack-me-up sign pictures from my travels and the collection is still growing. Thanks for sharing this!
Thanks Alexandra — I love these signs too!
English not being my first language, I need a moment longer than everybody else to start laughing. But laugh I did, in the end.
Glad I could give you a chuckle!
Signs like that always make me giggle although now that English is becoming more common I think some store owners do it to get people in.
Yeah I find it hard to believe that that dude still has no idea what C-o-c-k is.
The owner is a lady, not a dude mate. I would like to invite you pop in facebook add lovejethro@yahoo.com to see my photos. Take care of your language mate.
What a poor acronym choice by that shop owner. Or a good one I guess for entertaining travelers
Vietnam is the capital of this, though, starting with the currency, as you point out.
Yeah there is no shortage of good signage in Vietnam…
These signs made me giggle as well and they definitely get your attention, which must be good for business.
Yes especially that one. I wonder how many people wander in thinking that they specialize in a different ‘craft’
At least he said “please!”
That’s true! So polite…
Never, but this is funny!
Thanks Ben!
Again, we are sitting here in our hotel room (in San Diego) and laughing our assets off reading your blog.
To funny!
Yes, definitely a different culture to put it mildly.
Hope your having fun though!
I had a hoot in Vietnam (with one notable exception) — glad I could brighten your day!
Your puns just make it so much better. Stiff competition? You’re killing me!
Hee hee…glad you liked it! It was a hard decision for me to stick it in there. (double hee hee)
The last one is just brilliant. I would have had so much fun going on a search for signs like this!!
Yeah I got a little addicted my last couple of days in Vietnam. It was fun though!
I’m immature, because I did laugh at the COCK acronym. Couldn’t help myself :0)
Oh there be plenty o’ chucklin’ around here too…
Oh man.. I wonder if that store owner did that one purpose.
He may just have…I guess he could always plead ignorance…
No, it’s not just you! Thanks for posting this — hilarious!
Phew…thanks!
One of my favorite Vietnamese restaurants in Seattle is named, “What the Pho?” Yeah, its not quite as rique as the signs you have here. But still shows some hilarious sense of humor, none-the-less.
That’s an awesome name for a restaurant.
There’s a train of chicken restaurants in South Korea called ‘Cock’.
You can buy shirts that say ‘I Love Cock’. I really wish I had
I lived in the gay village in Montreal for a while, and I’m pretty sure I saw those shirts there too.
Just a warning that the giggling goes both ways. Here in Norway, if you introduced yourself as, say Steve Cook… well, everyone would giggle – or rather, laugh out loud.
I better take down that sign then “Cook wanted — apply within”
I saw the last one also when I went to Hanoi; was hilarious, but it can’t be by accident
no way
By now I’m sure he knows what’s up…
Giggles* cock signs are everywhere in SE Asia. They do love the cock (heeheehee)
They do indeed!
You see some absolute classics. One of the best was on a few menus in India.
Under drinks it had
Fanta / Sprite / Cock
Did they have Diet Cock?
I can’t say I noticed a diet cock on the menu…
Tsk, tsk…
Wow! These are some good finds
Thanks Stephanie!
“Try Cock Today Please”, although obscene, comes across as very polite. It’s good to ask nicely.
Hahaha hilarious. I love those books that get published about how to “Speak Engrish”. Not exactly PC but still funny.
Hahaha! I can’t stop laughing! Oh my God! That’s one funny advertising! It’s good you manage to catch it with your camera! Thank you for sharing it! I just had my days worth of laughter!
Love the goofy photos, I tried looking for photos with a similar goal in mind for Japan but I think there are too many English speakers there for these kind of signs.