Have you heard that you cannot flush toilet paper in Vietnam? Vietnam has many rules and practices in common with other Asian countries. If you visit other Asian countries, you may know that you aren’t allowed to flush your toilet paper everywhere. But can you flush toilet paper in Vietnam?
No, you shouldn’t flush your toilet paper in Vietnam. This is because the sewage system in Vietnam doesn’t function as well as in the West. Therefore, people in Vietnam don’t flush their toilet paper but instead place it in a bin by the toilet.
Also read: Are There Laundromats In Vietnam?
Is It Okay To Flush Toilet Paper In Vietnam?
You’ll often see signs that ask you not to flush your toilet paper in Vietnam. This is because Vietnam’s sewage system doesn’t work entirely as well as the system in other countries, and flushing your toilet paper may cause a blockage. This is a common problem in Asian countries, so Vietnam is by no means an exception.
You’ll see that most places have bins in the toilet stalls where you are meant to throw your toilet paper and other items. Flushing toilet paper in Vietnam can cause many problems and discomfort, which is why it is not okay to flush your toilet paper in Vietnam.
Why Shouldn’t You Flush Toilet Paper In Vietnam?
There are two primary reasons you shouldn’t flush your toilet paper in Vietnam. The first reason is that the sewage pipes in Vietnam have a smaller capacity. They also don’t have as much pressure as sewage systems in other countries. This means that flushing your toilet paper in Vietnam can cause a blockage.
The second reason why you shouldn’t flush your toilet paper in Vietnam is that there are so many people using the sewage system in Vietnam that the system can easily get overwhelmed and become blocked. This means the sewage workers must come to your home or hotel and unblock the pipes.
What Should You Do With Toilet Paper In Vietnam?
Instead of flushing the toilet paper in Vietnam, use the bins provided for it instead. It may take some getting used to putting your toilet paper in a bin by the toilet. Still, it will help keep the sewage system working correctly and prevent you from having to call maintenance to sort out a blocked toilet.
Most public and private toilet cubicles have a bin for flushing your toilet paper. If you rent an apartment for a long-term stay in Vietnam, you should also buy a bin to use for toilet paper so your bathroom drain doesn’t get blocked up.
Can You Flush Sanitary Products In Vietnam?
No, you shouldn’t flush sanitary products or other items down the toilet in Vietnam. The sewage system in Vietnam is under a lot of strain, which is why you can only flush human waste. Use the same bin for sanitary products as you would for toilet paper.
Sanitary products in Vietnam are harder to come by than in the West. Bring reusable pads or menstrual cups if you don’t want to put yours in a bin. Then, you don’t have to flush it, and you also don’t have to put it in the bin when using the toilet.
Does Vietnam Have Squat Toilets?
Squat toilets are very common in Vietnam, and you’ll often find them in public bathrooms and rural areas. Many homes and dormitories also have squat toilets, especially outside the main cities. Squat toilets consist of a porcelain hole in the floor with equal space on each side for placing your feet.
Most squat toilets in Vietnam are fairly modern and have white porcelain finishes. In apartments and dormitories, you’ll often find the toilet inside the shower cubicle, so the toilet drain is also used as a drain for the shower.
There are some homes and hotels where you can find a western toilet, but don’t be surprised when you see how many squat toilets there are in Vietnam.
Where Can You Find Western Toilets In Vietnam?
Some hotels and restaurants in tourist areas in Vietnam have western toilets available. For example, if you are traveling through Bangkok’s tourist area, you may see many western toilets, but there may also be some squat toilets available for locals.
Vietnamese people prefer squat toilets because they feel it is better for their health. Therefore, you may find that few people use western toilets even when available. Regardless, if you are outside the city centers of Bangkok or Chiang Mai, you may have difficulty locating a western toilet.
Can You Flush Toilet Paper In Vietnam’s Western Toilets?
If you have a hotel or apartment with a western toilet, you still cannot flush the toilet paper. The problem in Vietnam isn’t the type of toilets they use but rather the sewage system’s design and the strain it is under. Therefore, regardless of your toilet type, you shouldn’t flush your toilet paper.
Use the bins provided for toilet paper whenever your use the bathroom, and never flush toilet paper or other items down the toilet. This can cause the toilet to become blocked, which can cause severe problems in your hotel or apartment building.
Do Vietnamese People Use Toilet Paper?
Since you cannot flush toilet paper in Vietnam, it’s reasonable to wonder if Vietnamese people use it. Well, they do. Vietnamese people use toilet paper, and you will find toilet paper everywhere in Vietnam, not only in tourist areas.
The practice of not flushing your toilet paper has nothing to do with Vietnamese culture. Instead, not flushing your toilet paper is a practical solution to the sewage problem in Vietnam.
Although Vietnamese people use toilet paper, carrying some with you when traveling is a good idea as the public bathrooms may run out of it.
Does Vietnam Have Bidets?
Some countries, especially Muslim states, don’t use toilet paper. Instead, people use bidets to clean themselves after using the toilet. If you walk around the toilets of Vietnam, you may see that the floor is often wet and wonder if this is because Vietnamese people use bidets.
There are bidets in Vietnam, and you’ll often see a type of shower hose in public toilets in Vietnam. These hoses are meant to be used to wash your intimate area after using the toilet. You can also use the hose to flush the toilet or clean the cubicle if you have made a mess.
These bidets are often called “bum guns,” As the name suggests, you use them to clean your bum. Using the hose before toilet paper helps you save on toilet paper and prevents people from flushing their paper down the toilet.
While it isn’t required to first use the hose in Vietnam, most Vietnamese do it before they use toilet paper. The Vietnamese often use toilet paper to dry themselves after using the hose instead of using it to clean.
Why Do Vietnamese People Use Squat Toilets?
Vietnamese people prefer squat toilets because they feel it is better for their health. Sitting in the squat position helps prevent constipation and may reduce the chances of developing colon cancer. Furthermore, Vietnamese people believe that a squat toilet is more hygienic because you don’t touch the seat with your body.
Although Vietnamese people prefer squatting toilets, the toilets aren’t the reason why you cannot flush toilet paper. Instead, the reason is due to Taiwan’s sewage system and large cities’ population.
