What to leave outside?

Your shoes: as in many Asian countries, people traditionally sit, rest and eat on the floor and the street is a dirty place, so the solution is to exchange your own footwear for some plastic sandals...
Your shoes: as in many Asian countries, people traditionally sit, rest and eat on the floor and the street is a dirty place, so the solution is to exchange your own footwear for some plastic sandals, flip-flops or slippers, offered by your host. This custom is a little less strictly applied in Vietnam than in certain countries (such as Thailand), but if you fall over a forest of footwear as you fight your way through your friend's door, Don't believe him or her if s/he says politely that you can keep your clogs on: whip them off without more ado. On the other hand, you can bring in just about anything else you want to even your motorbike, if you have one and your friend doesn't have a courtyard or other secure parking place to leave it outside. Car owners sometimes even drive them into the ground floors of their houses for safekeeping.