Beijing Bikini Season

On my first day in Vietnam, I saw a Vietnamese uncle with his shirt rolled up to expose his belly. I assumed it was a way to cool down in the sweltering heat.

Today I learned that this practice is called the Beijing Bikini and is widespread across Asia, especially with older men. Some think that the Beijing Bikini is vulgar. So much so that a few Chinese cities started banning it.

I personally have no problem with it, and I thought it was pretty funny the first time I saw it. It is perhaps more practical to do this in the heat. But there is a double standard that women can walk around with their bellies exposed but men can’t.