Over the past couple of weeks I have noticed some of the little changes I've made in my habits and mannerisms: a bit of Asia that's creeping into my disposition.

First off, It is essential to adapt to the local way of crossing the road else you will be waiting forever to cross most roads and you'll never get anyway. Basically, the method is just to walk across as confidently as you can and let the motorbikes weave round you (if however it's a car or bus that's approaching, stay well back!). For a visual, here's a video of a typical man crossing a typical busy street in Saigon as picked up by UK tabloid The Sun as so-called 'news'.

Soon after arriving in Vietnam I subconciously picked up the Vietnamese 'go away' hand wave (like the gesture you'd use to shoo someone away) which I began using for pestering touts without even registering I was doing it. Though I feel awkward using it when I'm walking along the street, when chatting over lunch with a friend I flap my hand without the blink of an eye. I've recently learnt there's another one that's a more polite 'no thanks' and added that to my arsenal.

Then last week while eating at an establishment whose target is tourists, I was geniunely flummoxed when presented with a knife and fork. I surreptiously switched the knife for a spoon before anyone could notice my confused attempt to eat rice with such Western implements.

But what made the change really hit home was when I decided to use my umbrella as a parasol as I was melting in the heat on the way to work one morning.

I wonder how many of these are temporary habits and how many will stick with me after I leave? In the meantime, I'm working on adding the local ubiquitous exclamation 'troi oi' into my set of natural reactions.

Have you ever picked up local customs when travelling? Share your experience!