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Vietnamese people will often tell you that hitchhiking is impossible, but in almost any road in the country pedestrians are offered to hop in various vehicles. Generally people are expected to pay, but the concept of a free ride is accepted if you are a strange foreigner.
Using a sign with "Xin Xe" ("please drive me to") followed by your destination works well. Expect every bus and van to stop as well, even if you don't have your hand stretched out. Most of the time they will charge, but you may get a free ride. Ask before entering by saying "Miễn Phí?" ("free?"). The Vietnamese can be very generous. If you want to be clear you want a free ride, make a sign that says "Cho tôi đi nhờ" in the north or "Cho tôi quá giang" in the south, it means "give me a ride". Some minibuses will still stop and ask for money though.
If you're staying with Vietnamese people and leave them with hitchhiking they may be worried about your safety. It would be polite then to consider paying a bus when you leave them (even for a short ride) so they are not too worried.