Vietnamese customers are surprised by ‘squatting’ toilets in China

Thanh Trang, a tourist from Hanoi, ended her trip to Shanghai in December with many beautiful impressions of her travel experience. However, public restrooms are still the most memorable thing for female tourists.

“The city is so developed that a high-speed train can travel nearly 30 km in 7-8 minutes, but the public toilets are all squat and have no spray nozzles,” Trang said, saying that during 4 days of exploring Shanghai, she refrained from going to the bathroom many times and only felt comfortable when returning to the hotel.

Minh Anh, living in Ho Chi Minh City, traveled on the Lijiang – Shangri La route in 2024, also shared a similar experience. According to him, toilets in the mountainous areas of Yunnan are mostly “squat”, and have not seen any places with toilet seats except hotels. When flying back from Kunming International Airport, the male tourist was also surprised that the public restroom system here was the same but at least had enough paper.

Meanwhile, Hoang My, a Hanoi tourist, shared that she first came to China in 2023, taking the Chau Hong Ha route. Because she was carefully advised about “squat toilets” and that she should bring toilet paper, she had no difficulty. She commented that in crowded places, public restrooms are often “a bit smelly” but because she’s easy-going, she doesn’t care too much.

On Baidu, author Ai Tai Er explained that Chinese people have long been accustomed to using old-style toilets, especially in the countryside – where the majority of the population is. This type is cheap, easy to build, does not require complicated maintenance and is easy to collect as fertilizer. Meanwhile, the aristocracy used pedestals and this habit lasted for centuries.

Many Chinese people are afraid to use toilet seats in public for fear of common contact, even if they are cleaned. With a squat toilet, users do not need to touch it directly, so it is more comfortable. Even in many modern cities, Chinese people still favor this type of toilet. From a scientific perspective, the squatting position makes it easier to go to the toilet, reduces constipation and hemorrhoids compared to sitting.

Having been to most Asian countries and more than 10 times to China, freelance tour guide Anh Kiet said that toilets in China can be divided into three main groups. Group one includes large cities such as Beijing, Shanghai, Suzhou, and Hangzhou. Here, most commercial centers and shopping areas use clean sinks and hand sanitizer; In 3-5 star hotels, 100% use sinks and amenities.

The second group includes attractions, areas outside the center, bus stops or scenic areas. Of this group, about 50-70% (depending on the region) still use squat toilets, especially public restrooms in tourist attractions.

The third group is in remote areas, mountainous areas, and small towns with few international visitors – the rate of using “squat toilets” can be up to 90%, even extended “squat pits”, divided by low walls, with lower hygiene standards.

Comparing with Japan, Mr. Kiet shared that visitors here are often like “wow”, even more comfortable than at home. In Japan, toilets in train stations and shopping malls are all toilets, and many places use smart toilets with multi-modes such as automatic washing, heating, hot and cold washing. In Korea, central areas, train stations and tourist attractions all use clean sinks.

“Going to the bathroom in China is sometimes like playing black and white, some places are very good, others leave a bad impression,” Mr. Kiet said, adding that he often instructs guests to prepare paperwork when leaving the hotel and mentally prepare. However, the tour guide shared that tourists usually do not complain much because they respect cultural differences.

According to Mr. Pham Anh Vu, Deputy General Director of Vietnam Tourism, first-time visitors to China, especially the elderly, are often shy and uncomfortable when having to use “squat toilets” or encounter unclean public toilets. In some famous scenic areas, old streets or crowded check-in points, the outside is modern and busy, but the toilets right next to them are sometimes still squat, smelly and lacking toilet paper.

Some real-life situations that visitors often encounter include restrooms at tourist attractions with male and female lanes divided in Chinese characters, signs without clear illustrations, so Vietnamese visitors don’t pay attention and go in before making a scene. Some places even design “extended squat holes” that are only separated by chest-low walls, causing guests to stand up and face each other.

In addition, birth specialists often design large rolls of paper outside, not in the chamber. Many guests discovered it and had to call for help.

However, official tour program information often does not include details about restrooms, only general notes such as bringing tissues, dry hand sanitizer, being mentally prepared with hygienic conditions at some remote tourist attractions, and other personal items.

“Complaints still happen but it doesn’t affect the experience because guests understand that joining the family depends on custom,” Mr. Vu said. When designing the itinerary, the company prioritizes choosing restaurants, large rest stops or shopping centers to stop because the toilets are usually clean and have sinks. On long routes, driving times and stops are properly coordinated, and at tourist attractions, tour guides will lead visitors to areas with better toilets.