Some oberservations of Vietnamese Pool Halls.

mnorwood

mnorwood

Moon
Silver Member
I went to my inlaws this week for the holidays which means time spent at the local Vietnamese pool hall (my inlaws are Vietnamese.)

Over the years I have really grown to love the culture espcecially the straight rail game that they adopted from the French. Here are some things that are different about a Vietnamese place as opposed to your average American place.

1. No one cares about cues. Some attention is paid to the tip but other than that no one cares about a cue.

2. No one cares about the cloth or the rails. No complaining about playing conditions or distractions.

3. There is very little woofing and infinitately more action in an Asian house. I have wittnessed more action this week than all the action I have watched in the last two years combined in an American pool hall. Games and bets happen quickly and without much posturing or arguing over weight.

4. Rail bird activity is okay. Guys gather around the table and laugh and talk and no one complains about being sharked. Lots of laughing and joking and no complaints about someone walking in their line.

If you smoke you can put your cig anywhere even on the rail, no problem. One of the tables had almost all of the finish burned off of it from lung rockets being put down on the rail.

All in all I have a blast every time I go. I wish the vibe in American places was more like these. :grin:

Happy New Year (Chuc mung nam mui)

Marcus
 
mnorwood said:
All in all I have a blast every time I go. I wish the vibe in American places was more like these. :grin:

Happy New Year (Chuc mung nam mui)

Marcus
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Sounds cool, and what your looking for. Why leave?
 
I played in a few Korean or Vietnamese billiard halls and agree with what you said.

A lot of 8 or 9 ft billiard tables, slow cloth, almost 100% Asian clientele, but the players seem to have fun, gamble a lot, and not complain too much about the tables.

Personally, I prefer playing on a fast 10 footer way too much to play on those tables very much, but I had a good time playing the few times I played in those kind of halls and met some cool people.

They were surprised at first to see a white guy come in, but once they saw I liked billiards and could play a little bit, they were very friendly.
 
mnorwood said:
I went to my inlaws this week for the holidays which means time spent at the local Vietnamese pool hall (my inlaws are Vietnamese.)

Over the years I have really grown to love the culture espcecially the straight rail game that they adopted from the French. Here are some things that are different about a Vietnamese place as opposed to your average American place.

1. No one cares about cues. Some attention is paid to the tip but other than that no one cares about a cue.

2. No one cares about the cloth or the rails. No complaining about playing conditions or distractions.

3. There is very little woofing and infinitately more action in an Asian house. I have wittnessed more action this week than all the action I have watched in the last two years combined in an American pool hall. Games and bets happen quickly and without much posturing or arguing over weight.

4. Rail bird activity is okay. Guys gather around the table and laugh and talk and no one complains about being sharked. Lots of laughing and joking and no complaints about someone walking in their line.

If you smoke you can put your cig anywhere even on the rail, no problem. One of the tables had almost all of the finish burned off of it from lung rockets being put down on the rail.

All in all I have a blast every time I go. I wish the vibe in American places was more like these. :grin:

Happy New Year (Chuc mung nam mui)

Marcus
Click to expand...

Must have been on Westheimer?

Voo~~~gigglin' cause I been in a couple there
 
mnorwood said:
I went to my inlaws this week for the holidays which means time spent at the local Vietnamese pool hall (my inlaws are Vietnamese.)

Over the years I have really grown to love the culture espcecially the straight rail game that they adopted from the French. Here are some things that are different about a Vietnamese place as opposed to your average American place.

1. No one cares about cues. Some attention is paid to the tip but other than that no one cares about a cue.

2. No one cares about the cloth or the rails. No complaining about playing conditions or distractions.

3. There is very little woofing and infinitately more action in an Asian house. I have wittnessed more action this week than all the action I have watched in the last two years combined in an American pool hall. Games and bets happen quickly and without much posturing or arguing over weight.

4. Rail bird activity is okay. Guys gather around the table and laugh and talk and no one complains about being sharked. Lots of laughing and joking and no complaints about someone walking in their line.

If you smoke you can put your cig anywhere even on the rail, no problem. One of the tables had almost all of the finish burned off of it from lung rockets being put down on the rail.

All in all I have a blast every time I go. I wish the vibe in American places was more like these. :grin:

Happy New Year (Chuc mung nam mui)

Marcus
Click to expand...

mnorwood

The way I have seen them standing around a table during a game is more than being Rail Birds. The player must move them in order to shoot. They are all standing right on the Rail holding on to it. But that is Asian Culture which doesn't demand the personal space of westerners. BTW I am part Asian but raised in the States.
 
mnorwood said:
I went to my inlaws this week for the holidays which means time spent at the local Vietnamese pool hall (my inlaws are Vietnamese.)

Over the years I have really grown to love the culture espcecially the straight rail game that they adopted from the French. Here are some things that are different about a Vietnamese place as opposed to your average American place.

1. No one cares about cues. Some attention is paid to the tip but other than that no one cares about a cue.

2. No one cares about the cloth or the rails. No complaining about playing conditions or distractions.

3. There is very little woofing and infinitately more action in an Asian house. I have wittnessed more action this week than all the action I have watched in the last two years combined in an American pool hall. Games and bets happen quickly and without much posturing or arguing over weight.

4. Rail bird activity is okay. Guys gather around the table and laugh and talk and no one complains about being sharked. Lots of laughing and joking and no complaints about someone walking in their line.

If you smoke you can put your cig anywhere even on the rail, no problem. One of the tables had almost all of the finish burned off of it from lung rockets being put down on the rail.

All in all I have a blast every time I go. I wish the vibe in American places was more like these. :grin:

Happy New Year (Chuc mung nam mui)

Marcus
Click to expand...



Were you the only non- Vietnamese in the pool room?
 
My wife is vietnamese also.I have been to vietnam many times and to asian pool rooms here in america.In siagon almost all poolrooms have 3 cusion tables and hardly any have pocket tables(most pocket tables are found in resturaunts that cater to "westerners as we are called there.The last trip I made there I went to try and find some cues.I found one place that had some longoni cues but the shafts were all billiard cue tapers,I did buy a few layered tips.
I definetly agree there is a difference in american and asian gambling.
 
Funny story.About 15 years ago I was staking a friend in a 8 ahead set for 5k.The poolroom we were was closing and we couldn`t get anyone to stay so we could finnish.One of the people that had a bet down was vietnamese.He called a vietnamese gameroom that was supposed to be a private vietnamese "members only club" to see if we could go there and finnish the set.They said it was o.k. and everyone went there.About 2 hours into playing there was a knock on the door.All the windows in the place had been tinted so you could see out but you couldn`t see in.It was the boys in blue at the door.After alot of scrambling to hide cards,dice and other things they opened the door and let the police in.There were 4 of us that weren`t asian in the room.1 of us nonasians(picture someone that resembles Hank Williams junior,a redneck country boy)was there because he had a bet down but wasn`t a friend of mine just someone I saw at the poolroom sometimes.The police ask everybody to stand agianst one wall and they looked all around the rooms trying to find something to bust everyone on.When they couldn`t find anything they decided to give us non asian people a interogation.The officer doing the questioning started with me and was asking why I was there.I just told him we were there with our asian friend and we were leaving in a little while.Same story for my two friends.When the officer got to (Hank)who really looked out of place (worse than me and my fiends)the officer looked at him and said "boy you don`t look asian to me and this is a private asian only club so why are you here"The place was dead quiet and (hank) looked the officer dead in the eyes and started saying some words that was supposed to be vietnamese.Everyone in the place(execpt the police) started laughing.I had tears coming down my face I was laughing so hard.We all got a good talking to and a few warnings to the club owners and they left.10 minutes after they left everything was back to normal and we finnished the set about 4 hours later and went home.It was the only time I ever went in that room but I will never forget it.
 
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foxcues said:
...When the officer got to (Hank)who really looked out of place (worse than me and my fiends)the officer looked at him and said "boy you don`t look asian to me and this is a private asian only club so why are you here"The place was dead quiet and (hank) looked the officer dead in the eyes and started saying some words that was supposed to be vietnamese.Everyone in the place(execpt the police) started laughing...
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Now that's funny:grin:
 
mnorwood said:
1. No one cares about cues. Some attention is paid to the tip but other than that no one cares about a cue.

2. No one cares about the cloth or the rails. No complaining about playing conditions or distractions.

3. There is very little woofing and infinitately more action in an Asian house. I have wittnessed more action this week than all the action I have watched in the last two years combined in an American pool hall. Games and bets happen quickly and without much posturing or arguing over weight.

4. Rail bird activity is okay. Guys gather around the table and laugh and talk and no one complains about being sharked. Lots of laughing and joking and no complaints about someone walking in their line.

If you smoke you can put your cig anywhere even on the rail, no problem. One of the tables had almost all of the finish burned off of it from lung rockets being put down on the rail.

All in all I have a blast every time I go. I wish the vibe in American places was more like these. :grin:

Happy New Year (Chuc mung nam mui)

Marcus
Click to expand...

Marcus,

It's actually "Chuc mung nam moi" or more correctly "Chúc mừng năm mới".

If you are still in Vietnam, let me know, because the places you went over the past few years are not for pocket billiards at all and perhaps they could not be considered at "luxury" places. One thing that needs to mentioned here is that in Saigon we have a history of playing carom billiards only. Pocket billiards just became popular during the last 5 years or so, therefore the so-called "luxury" places just showed up during the last couple years in Saigon while there is a different story for Hanoi.

About your observations, here are my answers, assuming that you are being in Saigon only:

1. It depends on the place, there are places that the owners care about cues although the cues are only about $20-30 but as you may know, $20 could buy a lot of thing in Vietnam.

2. Although it is almost impossible to find places that have Brunswick or Diamond table, there are places that they care about cloths and rails. Even though the tables are imported from Taiwan, the cloths and rails are changed every 4 months or so. The tables that you mentioned on your post are manufactured in Vietnam only, so the quality is not good at all. Because people used to play on these types of tables for so long, they don't care much about the quality because everywhere you go, the quality of the table is just the same. As more and more people are playing on the new tables, things are changing.

The Taiwanese tables are pretty good in quality because they are almost in the same quality with the tables that the pros in Taiwan such as Yang or Ko play on.

3. This is true. As Asians, we gamble a lot and since everybody knows everybody, games and bets take almost no time to happen. Thing is a little slower if players don't know much about each other.

4. This is absolutely true. We like to have fun around the table and we don't mind if someone is walking on the line. I guess it is because of the culture.

5. In the "luxury" place, people don't put cig on the table at all. And I don't know if you notice this at all, but all the chalks we have here are manufactured in Chicago :D.

"Chúc mừng năm mới" to you and your family and have a great time in Vietnam.
 
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haminh said:
Marcus,

It's actually "Chuc mung nam moi" or more correctly "Chúc mừng năm mới".

If you are still in Vietnam, let me know, because the places you went over the past few years are not for pocket billiards at all and perhaps they could not be considered at "luxury" places. One thing that needs to mentioned here is that in Saigon we have a history of playing carom billiards only. Pocket billiards just became popular during the last 5 years or so, therefore the so-called "luxury" places just showed up during the last couple years in Saigon while there is a different story for Hanoi.

About your observations, here are my answers, assuming that you are being in Saigon only:

1. It depends on the place, there are places that the owners care about cues although the cues are only about $20-30 but as you may know, $20 could buy a lot of thing in Vietnam.

2. Although it is almost impossible to find places that have Brunswick or Diamond table, there are places that they care about cloths and rails. Even though the tables are imported from Taiwan, the cloths and rails are changed every 4 months or so. The tables that you mentioned on your post are manufactured in Vietnam only, so the quality is not good at all. Because people used to play on these types of tables for so long, they don't care much about the quality because everywhere you go, the quality of the table is just the same. As more and more people are playing on the new tables, things are changing.

The Taiwanese tables are pretty good in quality because they are almost in the same quality with the tables that the pros in Taiwan such as Yang or Ko play on.

3. This is true. As Asians, we gamble a lot and since everybody knows everybody, games and bets take almost no time to happen. Thing is a little slower if players don't know much about each other.

4. This is absolutely true. We like to have fun around the table and we don't mind if someone is walking on the line. I guess it is because of the culture.

5. In the "luxury" place, people don't put cig on the table at all. And I don't know if you notice this at all, but all the chalks we have here are manufactured in Chicago :D.

"Chúc mừng năm mới" to you and your family and have a great time in Vietnam.
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My handle on the language is horrible. Sorry for that. I catch a ton of grief for my crappy Vietnamese. My observations are based solely on places in Houston and New Orleans. I hear places in Siagon (Ho Chi Minh City, depending on your polititics.) are much better. I really want to go to Saigon my cousin tells me that hot young chicks serve you in Saigon, they even rack the balls.
 
mnorwood said:
My handle on the language is horrible. Sorry for that. I catch a ton of grief for my crappy Vietnamese.
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No, not at all, especially given the fact that you don't study Vietnamese. The first time I went to the States, my English was horrible too. It's a little better now, but I am still learning.

I really want to go to Saigon my cousin tells me that hot young chicks serve you in Saigon, they even rack the balls.
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Yep. Every so-called "luxury places" has this thing. The level of hot depends on how luxury the place is. The girls rack the balls for you, and they will have conversation with you if you like. There are places that mainly played by foreigners too.

There is a new trend that just shows up, which is becoming more and more popular. There are couple new places where they hire some PG girl just to talk with you when you there while they still have other girls that just rack the balls for you.
 
haminh said:
Marcus,

It's actually "Chuc mung nam moi" or more correctly "Chúc mừng năm mới".

If you are still in Vietnam, let me know, because the places you went over the past few years are not for pocket billiards at all and perhaps they could not be considered at "luxury" places. One thing that needs to mentioned here is that in Saigon we have a history of playing carom billiards only. Pocket billiards just became popular during the last 5 years or so, therefore the so-called "luxury" places just showed up during the last couple years in Saigon while there is a different story for Hanoi.

About your observations, here are my answers, assuming that you are being in Saigon only:

1. It depends on the place, there are places that the owners care about cues although the cues are only about $20-30 but as you may know, $20 could buy a lot of thing in Vietnam.

2. Although it is almost impossible to find places that have Brunswick or Diamond table, there are places that they care about cloths and rails. Even though the tables are imported from Taiwan, the cloths and rails are changed every 4 months or so. The tables that you mentioned on your post are manufactured in Vietnam only, so the quality is not good at all. Because people used to play on these types of tables for so long, they don't care much about the quality because everywhere you go, the quality of the table is just the same. As more and more people are playing on the new tables, things are changing.

The Taiwanese tables are pretty good in quality because they are almost in the same quality with the tables that the pros in Taiwan such as Yang or Ko play on.

3. This is true. As Asians, we gamble a lot and since everybody knows everybody, games and bets take almost no time to happen. Thing is a little slower if players don't know much about each other.

4. This is absolutely true. We like to have fun around the table and we don't mind if someone is walking on the line. I guess it is because of the culture.

5. In the "luxury" place, people don't put cig on the table at all. And I don't know if you notice this at all, but all the chalks we have here are manufactured in Chicago :D.

"Chúc mừng năm mới" to you and your family and have a great time in Vietnam.
Click to expand...

haminh

Vietnam is the only place in Asia I have seen steel pins set up on the table as targets after the carom. I don't fully understand how that game is played. Is it possible to explain the simple rules quickly?? BTW it has been 44 years since I was in Vietnam.
 
mnorwood said:
I went to my inlaws this week for the holidays which means time spent at the local Vietnamese pool hall (my inlaws are Vietnamese.)

Over the years I have really grown to love the culture espcecially the straight rail game that they adopted from the French. Here are some things that are different about a Vietnamese place as opposed to your average American place.

1. No one cares about cues. Some attention is paid to the tip but other than that no one cares about a cue.

2. No one cares about the cloth or the rails. No complaining about playing conditions or distractions.

3. There is very little woofing and infinitately more action in an Asian house. I have wittnessed more action this week than all the action I have watched in the last two years combined in an American pool hall. Games and bets happen quickly and without much posturing or arguing over weight.

4. Rail bird activity is okay. Guys gather around the table and laugh and talk and no one complains about being sharked. Lots of laughing and joking and no complaints about someone walking in their line.

If you smoke you can put your cig anywhere even on the rail, no problem. One of the tables had almost all of the finish burned off of it from lung rockets being put down on the rail.

All in all I have a blast every time I go. I wish the vibe in American places was more like these. :grin:

Happy New Year (Chuc mung nam mui)

Marcus
Click to expand...

if you don't mind being bumped into a lot it's not bad. for the most part it's just something else to bet on for them
 
Ball Banger said:
haminh

Vietnam is the only place in Asia I have seen steel pins set up on the table as targets after the carom. I don't fully understand how that game is played. Is it possible to explain the simple rules quickly?? BTW it has been 44 years since I was in Vietnam.
Click to expand...

Ball Banger,

To be honest, I don't know much about the rules since I don't play much of carom. But one thing for sure is that the rules are very complicated. The game that you mentioned in your post is very popular in my country. Translating to English, it would have the name of "Umbrella Billiards". The reason for this is because there are steel pins that look like umbrella when you set them up. I will ask some experts at this game for you and get back to you asap.
 
haminh said:
Ball Banger,

To be honest, I don't know much about the rules since I don't play much of carom. But one thing for sure is that the rules are very complicated. The game that you mentioned in your post is very popular in my country. Translating to English, it would have the name of "Umbrella Billiards". The reason for this is because there are steel pins that look like umbrella when you set them up. I will ask some experts at this game for you and get back to you asap.
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haminh

Thanks for the reply. I really don't need all the ins & out of the game, so much as a quick over view.

BTW GIs returning to Nam to visit, are bring back Wonderful reports about how it is modern Country. But I first saw Saigon in 1964 and it was still the Pearl of Asia. There was a hotel by the river that had a roof top Bar with a great view. You could see the Highlands in all their beauty.
 
bump...Any recent info about Hanoi poolrooms? I'll be back in Hanoi on Monday and Tuesday and I'm curious if there is any upscale place to play pool?
 
There are actually quite a few nice carom poolhalls in houston. Quite a few like the one you mention tho. The nicer ones have heated tables with carom simonis cloth. Some of the places even have that carom cloth on the 9foot pocket billiard tables :eek:
 
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