Have you ever had to change your shoes to use a toilet?

@Colmuc (707)
May 14, 2009 5:47am CST
Travelling on the main road going north from Saigon in Vietnam we made a comfort break and were surprised to see a notice in front of the toilet asking people to remove their shoes and use the ones provided. I consider myself an experienced world traveller but I had never seen this before. Anyone ever come across this in another location. I hope the picture uploads and you can read the notice.
1 person likes this
7 responses
gongchhua
@gongchhua (272)
• China
14 May 09
I have never come across this notice. It is very unusual.Maybe it is the custom of that location. Maybe the host wants to use this behavior to make travellors remember their amicable. Thanks for sharing your exprience. It opens my view and let me know such surprised thing in other location.
1 person likes this
Colmuc
@Colmuc (707)
•
14 May 09
Hello gongchhua, there are always surprises when travelling in different countries. You never know what you are going to come across. Thanks for your comment.
thezone
@thezone (9394)
• Ireland
14 May 09
Hi Colmuc, I have never seen or even heard of this before until you mentioned it in your discussion. All the slippers at the entrance to the toilet in the picture, sure is a weird sight. I would love to know the reason for this, I know someone has mentioned about hygiene and to keep the floors clean but it does still seem a little bizarre.
thezone
@thezone (9394)
• Ireland
14 May 09
Yes is is custom in many places to remove their shoes at the door. I just found it odd that they would just do it at a public toilet and just I have never heard of it before. As they say, you learn something new everyday.
Colmuc
@Colmuc (707)
•
14 May 09
Hi thezone, certainly unusual but the toilet was very clean.
Colmuc
@Colmuc (707)
•
14 May 09
Hi Alice, It is also normal here for visitors to take their shoes off at the door. I have a supply of washable slippers that I can offer. When I visit anyone I always remove my shoes. Have to make sure I wear my socks that don't have holes!
Lakota12
@Lakota12 (42600)
• United States
14 May 09
Never have I seen a place like that now I dont travel out of the U.S.A. and some comfort stations I wish I had other shoes to put on for the mess that has been made in them.
Colmuc
@Colmuc (707)
•
14 May 09
Hi Lakota, Yes, I know what you mean. Heavy rubber boots would be appropriate in some cases.
Lakota12
@Lakota12 (42600)
• United States
14 May 09
sure would
zhenghong
@zhenghong (179)
• China
14 May 09
I also had never seen this before. it is very fun , I think.thank your message.
zhenghong
@zhenghong (179)
• China
14 May 09
hi my friend : it is nice to hear from your message ... it is an honor!looking forward to talking with you .
Colmuc
@Colmuc (707)
•
14 May 09
Hi zhenghong, how nice to hear from Christmas Island. Yes I think the request to change your shoes is quite unusual.
Notlilie
@prinzcy (32305)
• Malaysia
14 May 09
I had come across such sign before. The toilet was really clean and taken care of so they don't want our shoes to dirty the clean floor. So, they prepare slippers for us to change before using the toilet. It can be a problem if there's too many people using the toilet at the time and the slippers aren't adequate enough.
Colmuc
@Colmuc (707)
•
14 May 09
Hi prinzcy, thanks for responding. In which country was this toilet? Malaysia?
janiceines
@janiceines (799)
• Singapore
14 May 09
i never heard of this before, why? is it their toilet foor was clean and don't allow people to step on it with a dirty shoes
Colmuc
@Colmuc (707)
•
14 May 09
The toilet was certainly very clean but I have been in many clean public toilets and never seen this request before. It does not seem to be a standard requirement in Vietnam because no other toilet that I used had a similar request.
janiceines
@janiceines (799)
• Singapore
14 May 09
not quite use to it
barbara7321
@barbara7321 (240)
• United States
23 Nov 09
Sounds wonderfully clean I am hoping. I have had a few toilets in public places flood, leaving me not only to want to change my shoes but to throw them out, and go home and take a shower!!