Yes - While both draw smoke through water to cool it, the orientation of where fire goes and where smoke is drawn from is reversed. In a hookah, the coal sits on top of the pipe and smoke is drawn from the hose. Essentially the concept of smoke going through water to cool it is the same, but sicne hookahs use a slow burning coal and hav emultiple hoses or mouthpieces, they are by their nature much more social. A bong requires one to use a lighter everytime they want to draw smoke.

Hookahs are popular throughout north africa, south asia, southeastern europe, and the middle east where you can see grandmas in hijabs sitting around one in the evening smoking together. It's very social and relaxing. Bongs really aren't used for tobacco anywhere except in the thinly veiled signs/posters at smoke shops that sell them whereas hookahs are primarily used for tobacco smoking.

I am going to leave the glass/breakable pieces in the carrying case and separate out the metal parts and tobacco into other bags just to lower my risk of being inconvenienced over nothing.

Thanks for the advice, FT!

peace,
~Ben~