Dress Dress is casual for most occasions. Older adults, both men and women, dress very conservatively, women mostly in pants and long-sleeved blouses, regardless of the weather. Younger people wear a wider variety of clothing and western styles are becoming popular. Women wear both skirts and pants. Shorts are not common for adults, but are perfectly acceptable for most settings.
Moderate modesty is appropriate.
Vietnamese wear hats in all weather, notably the ubiquitous conical hat. Plastic shoes and sandals are the order of the day year-round. Shoes are not worn inside homes. Parents should expect to receive well-meaning advice, perhaps even scolding, on their children's clothing from perfect strangers. Crime Hanoi is a very safe city.