Indeed. HCMC and Hanoi are huge metropolis. There is a huge migrant worker population because that's where the jobs are. If you want an "non-touristy" experi

Indeed. HCMC and Hanoi are huge metropolis. There is a huge migrant worker population because that's where the jobs are. If you want an "non-touristy" experience, go to mid-sized cities like Can Tho or Ben Tre in the Mekong Delta. They have lots of tourists, but they tend to be local. Everyone else there is just living their life. Or go to some small rural town. Not much to do, but you'll get a glimpse of how a large part of the population lives.