Last note: not one of the boys. The U.S. was founded by white protestants. Later came Catholics, Italian, french & German. We became multicultural. It took generations to get used to the new comers. Just when u were adapting to the change along come a new string of immigrants: indian, Chinese, African, Hispanic. So the process begins anew. The Vietnamese, like many homogeneous societies will never adapt to foreigners because we are just that, outsiders. I wholeheartedly agree w them. It is the norm & it's a-ok. Homogeneous ppl living together, but welcoming foreigners is great. Enjoy the Vietnamese way of life & then leave or stay, but never assume you will b one of them. Works for me. In the U.S. I saw the U.S. as a homogeneous nation in spite of nation of origin. New kids who's parents were Italian, Irish, German, french & others. They ALL called themselves American with no qualifiers. Italian-american, African-American... The melting pot ain't working. Just like oil & water. The Vietnamese r all pulling in the same direction. They will b a powerful nation not far down the road. U are witnessing a flower that has yet to bloom. Now is the time to get comfortable in Vietnam.
Good video agree with your points. As a woman feel safe as like to wander and explore the true areas of Saigon. Never felt that in Thailand and Indonesia as felt I was extremely out of place if I wandered out of the tourist areas. People here just want to say Hello. I go to the markets and buy fresh food. Like all the levels of security. Traffic cops, real cops, guards in stores, guards outside hotels and apartments. Coming from London I'm envious of how this keeps low level, anti social petty crime in hand. Only point I would make about integration is that I lived in France for many years. IMO you never feel part of their community in France. They will charm you and maybe ask you to dinner but they keep their closeness especially for family. Guess probably the same every country unless you are absolutely fluent in their language and maybe marry a native!
As a Vietnamese I disagree with cheap and safe! Food aint 1 or 2$ ...cơm sườn or phở is about 3$ and I have to eat at least 2 orders to feel full; maybe it's cheap with foreigners but not working class Vietnamese. Safe?! Fighting, robbing, scam, drug...everywhere...maybe you're a foreigner ;hence, they dont target you.
@@MyLe-fo6pu Dạ vâng ạ... mấy anh tây nói gì củng đúng, củng chính xác.... Còn em 8x sinh ở Từ Dũ, nhà nội ở Thị Nghè, nhà ngoại ở Nguyễn Khoái ...nên em không phải người Việt Nam mà củng không sống ở Xì Goòn chị nhé :))
I’m Vietnamese living in Ireland for almost 7 years now - never felt Irish or been treated like one. Language is one thing but there’s a lot more that makes a person ‘Irish’ or ‘Vietnamese’ and unfortunately I will never qualify. It’s my personal opion that Vietnamese treat expats better than we treat each other - so it’s pretty awesome being an expat in Vietnam :)
Americans treat foreigners better then there own people. African Americans get the shit end of the stick either way. Such a shame . So stop complaining we get it worst everywhere we go
I appreciate your video. I 've visited here many times and now I live here, married a local. I like your optimism but my view is life here is more complex than can be expressed in a 14 minute video. Once international travel resumes I would urge my fellow Americans to visit Vietnam. The video is pretty upbeat. I'm not saying he is wrong about stuff. Just that life here is more complex than you might think and don't come here unprepared.
It's hard to always show the nuance and I'm a big traveler so some of the things that come to me easily can certainly be a turn off or hard for some people!
You have a choice, call it "Sai Gon" or "thanh pho Ho Chi Minh", since you must always include "thanh pho" or "city" (otherwise you'd be very disrespectful to Uncle Ho when only use HCM without city).. 99% of people call it Saigon 😅
Thank you for the video! I've been to Saigon two times, but I prefer smaller cities like Da Nang. I actually live in Hoi An, not far from Da Nang. It's not Saigon, but it's easy to jump on a flight and go to Saigon. You pointed out some great pros about Vietnam. I am an American and have been in Vietnam 2.5 years so far. So happy to be here since it seems much safer here with covid-19.
You have done a really good job of describing Ho Chi Minh City. My girlfriend is from Ho Chi Minh City and we love going there to visit her family and travel in Vietnam. I definitely have home field advantage being with her but I love traveling to Vietnam 🇻🇳 It is an amazing place.
Vietnam has come a long way but it is still a developing country. One thing foreigners should watch out for are thieves. You can't be holding out your smartphones and your video recorders while in the open.
More pics of the city and less of the speaker please. You may as well have just written something readable as you dont necessarily show much of the city. alot of youtubers do this where its 90% their talking face which doesn't show the visual of what the viewer actually wanted.
I've been to Saigon many times but on my last trip I was there November 2019 - Feb 2020. During their winter air pollution is terrible in district 1. Usually I spend other times of the year there and haven't encountered pollution that bad. If you have raspatory issues I'd advise to avoid those months or settle in a relatively clean part of town like the southern tip of district 7.
Thank you. Your video was very informative. A lot of these RUclipsrs are either AI bots are super annoying self observed people. I appreciate your being very informed.
Good video bro, but I can’t agree with you about security and safety in Sai Gon. Have met few times thief’s trying steal bikes. My brother has been robbed in Sai Gon. So I think it’s not safely here as in Norway, but it’s still comfortable 😀 Nice video 👍🏼
if u never see the crime in Saigon,its because u live in fany district (1 - 2 -3) or you not live here enough. They will rob you in middle of the day,EVEN THE TRASH CAN. Search the world "trộm thùng rác" you will see thousand video. And Saigonese we speak vietnamese and about 20%-30% can speak cantonese (include me) more than chinese that for sure im Saigonese i live here 30 years. And plese guys,we refer to use the name SAIGON more than real name of this beautiul city
Re 10:41 - According to the Air Quality Index (taken 18 June 2023, 11:39), Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, scored a (surprisingly good!) 41, on par with Singapore. (Unhealthy would be considered 101 and up.) So as long as you're not motorbiking, say, three hours a day, or working / jogging next to a busy street, you're good to go.
HCMC is raging hot sometimes, reflecting off miles and miles of concrete. I lived on the southern coast...Vung Tau breeze off the coast. cool people. good expat bars
Not being fully accepted is not just a Vietnamese thing. I live in the U.S. for 47 years, yet I sometimes still come across white and black Americans who told me I speak English well - WTF!
Great video! You are on point with most of your observations. However, I think you are missing the point about how open most Vietnamese treat foreigners. Learning how to speak Vietnamese goes a long way towards getting people to open up to you. Any way, keep up the great content.
Yeah people in the South tend to be more friendly than people from the North. It's interesting to hear you say Sai Gon is safe. We Hanoians say Sai Gon isn't safe. When I go to Sai Gon I always have to watch my phone (LOL). In Ha Noi, I don't worry too much - I always have my phone out. But in general, Viet Nam is a fairly safe country in terms of violent crimes. You may not be able to fit in easily here but there's virtually no hate crimes against you because of your race or skin color.
Well said, I am not sure about the North and the South, they're quite the same to me, but at least you don't need to worry about racism, and the Vietnamese are way too curious about the foreigner, like ”wow you look so different, can I touch your hair” 🤣
@@linhmeongunuong North Vietnamese can be friendly but only after getting to know you, so they're more reserved towards strangers than Southern's "happy goes lucky" attitude. The customer service level is much higher in the South, for example if you complain about food in a restaurant in Saigon they will try their best to please you. When you do the same thing in Hanoi, there is a good chance that something will be thrown at you 😅
I'm searching for a place to teach English where I can indeed have true integration. I want to be in the club. I spent 4 years living in Finland in which you cannot under any circumstance be in the club.
I'm european and planing to move in Saigon this winter. I'm not planning to go back in Europe, my plans are to remain there. This video helped me alot. Thx :)
I like that you addressed the noise and pollution stuff as well as some of cultural barriers. I may have missed it but what did an average locally produced beer cost ?
Cool content. Keep up with the good work! One thing I disagree is that being able to speak a certain amount of English in America doesn't guarantee that you'd be seen as an American or someone in the club as you said.
Love the positive feel, broke my heart to leave (due to covid), Saigon was my home... but will disagree on a couple of things...no homelessness or drugs? sounds like you mainly stay in Q1, Q2, Q3, Q7...obviously have never been to Q4, Q5, Q8, Go Vap, Tan Binh (I could go on)...Sure can't become a local (I've lived and worked in seven countries, goes the same anywhere) but learn a few expressions, hang out with Vietnamese where they do, accept them and their culture and go with it and they will take you to their hearts and treat you like family forever! Hoping I can return as soon as this is all over!
no my point was if you speak Spanish in a Spanish country your chance of fitting in is higher. I assume there is a small group of spanish speakers here, but not big.
Saigon has the most pickpocket and scammers in Vietnam. DALAT has the most friendly people I ve ever met in Vietnam...maybe on earth. And Dalat has the best weather in the entire world...
youtube recommended this video to me. amazing and helpful video for a Vietnamese like me to know more about how foreigners think about our country. subcribed your channel!
About the last con of the video, most of people can't understand how hard it is even for vietnamese people to learn Vietnamese language, it is very complicated because of the country's history, so when you see the Vietnamese reactions to your speaking they are actually accepting you as one of them, that's where the smiles , laughing come from from. It takes people all grade school to learn their own language and still difference between the 3 regions...and so much more to it then just this, you would need to know the culture too...so welcome to the club 😆
This is true. We are very welcoming to foreigners and become very excited if a person tries to speak vietnamese to us. It shows us you are willing to learn about our culture which is essentially the only thing you need to do to be one of us
I'm pondering your last con. As a Vietnamese person who has lived in the US most her life, I don't know that I 100% belong. And my English is excellent - if you spoke to me on the phone, you wouldn't know I wasn't born here. I think even in the US, ethnicity plays a big part. I mean, hello, black people oft times don't feel like they belong here. I think for me, I do fit in better because I have for the most part, assimilated to the language and culture. For you, being there 1 year and not really speaking the language, it's going to be different. It'll be the same as if you were a foreigner in the US and didn't speak the language or knew much about the culture after a year. Now try living somewhere 30-40 years and speaking fluently without an accent, you'll still be a bit exotic to the locals if you don't look 100% like the rest of the population, but you'll fit in better. Also, Vietnam hasn't seen a lot of foreigners until recently. I'm sure as they are exposed more in the next 20-50 years, things will change.
I think your last point in the biggest one. I'm just saying theres a much bigger divide between locals and foreigners here because its still very local and not diverse like bigger European countries or the US/Canada. I had the same feeling in Mexico, but atleast the cultural stuff is closer and easier to grasp. That was my main point.
If you live in America, you should speak English in public, not Vietnamese. If you live in Vietnam, you should learn to speak Vietnamese in public, not English. Lots of viet kieus come back to Vietnam thinking that they are banana and expect Vietnam to speak English with their entitlement as Americans. No!
@@_-_-.-_-_ As you said, if you live in a certain country for any length of time, you should speak that language. If you are a tourist - Viet Kieu or not - then there shouldn't be expectations that you speak the language fluently. However, it behooves everyone to learn the basics before visiting a country. Point being, you singled out Viet Kieu with the expectation they automatically speak Vietnamese just because they were born ethnically Vietnamese. Unless they are living there for any length of time, then they should not be held to a higher standard than any other foreigner.
@@doodahgurlie you are right and that is fair. I forget the younger generation are viet kieu too and some of them like my nephews and nieces do not speak Vietnamese. Bananas! Hahaha Ok, I was referring to the idiots in their 40s, like my friends who think they are so awesome and high and mighty because they are from America. They speak English purposely as a show off. Also you noticed I wrote "you should learn" if you live there.
By the way, I came to America when I was a kid. I speak both fluently. If you don't speak the language from your native country, it is more power to you to learn because it helps you understand the mindset and culture better. When I speak English, I think like an American. When I speak Vietnamese, I think like a viet person and can relate to the culture.
Hi ,I lived in Saigon ( Ho Chi Minh) a few years ago and i am planning to go back once they reopened the border. Have the Vietnamese government implemented some restrictions ( Curfew , mandatory indoor masks, social distancing, 2m rules etc) ever since the pandemic started ?
depends on the city but very little restrictions since they've been very cautious the entire pandemic. They however can be harsh and quick to act if they need to, although, apart from a month in Danang and a few weeks in HCMC and Hanoi, nothing serious happened.
As the saying goes that there are many ways to skin a cat, your point of view is just as valid as anyone. Yes, it's a cultural thing and you might feel that you are not part of the club but don't (and I am sure you are not) take it personally. Yes, air and noise pollution are bad but after all VN is still a developing country. This is the allure for most if not all non VN ppl: VN is straddling the fine line of past and present; VN is a gorgeous pastoral scene painting with sharply protruding buildings. There are pros and cons to all but if you like it, you like it. Thanks for liking my country but no hard feeling if you don't. Lastly, to add to your knowledge: Vietnamese is a language combination of the Chinese characters and the French alphabet. So Bon Voyage!
i just visited Saigon and to add to the cons, there are rats everywhere, rent can be quite high if you want to live in a good area in a nice place. International food can be found in import shops such as Annam and Nam An, but it is really expensive. For example, 200g of parmesan cheese will set you back £8 as opposed to £3.70 in London, and wages are different too. A big one too is the lack of green spaces. You can find them, but they are not abundant at any rate. The people totally amazed me though and I loved the live music scene.
I will move to Saigon shortly; can you recommend some places to study or take classes for Vietnamese language? And...if I ride an e-bike, can that work on the Saigon streets as well?
You said that Ho Chi Minh City was incredibly cheap. But what are you comparing it to? A quick look on Expatistan and Numbeo showed that Oaxaca or Mérida Mexico were 17% or 18% less expensive than Ho Chi Minh City. Rent in Mexico was much lower, almost 50% lower. I have nothing against living in Vietnam but I would always be more partial to the Latino culture, be it Portuguese or Spanish speaking since I speak those two languages. I wouldn't be able to live in a country where I couldn't speak the language. So far I have lived in Mexico, Brazil, Spain, and Portugal and I could always understand and speak to the locals. The heat would put me off too. Oaxaca or Querétaro, or Guadalajara Mexico would be great for the climate. Regarding acceptance by the local culture, Brazil would be ideal because of all the immigrants who went. I think Portugal is also very accepting of foreigners.
Good Video. Although I am visiting Saigon & Danang in June, I'm really hoping to spend time in Dalat/Na Trang when the 3-month Visa-On-Arrival (VOA) is brought back online. Does anyone have any words of wisdom about living in Dalat?
you could try vinhome apartment, they are consider luxurious and i saw a guy who did the monthly calculation, including all the relaxation and food, to a total under 1k usd per month. Totally Sound proof. As for being vietnamese, for me personally, if you love VN, live in VN, speak vietnamese, your vietnamese enough :) regardless of your skin color. cheers.
Another advantage is the climate. In a video uploaded by someone on RUclips I don't remember his name, you said that you live in Ho Chi Minh City but in fact you live in Serbia. So which is right and which is wrong?
Great video man! Do you recommend getting vaccines for different kind of diseases? For example, when I've been to Japan, I didn't get vaccinated for anything and haven't had any issues at all.
I'm Vietnamese. I'm not rich but still live like a Queen in Saigon. Everything is cheap, convenient, people are so flexible and willing to do a lot of things. I love being served and receive good services so Vietnam is perfect for me. So good. Tomorrow gonna have some oil massage
A great run down of the pros and cons which make good sense. I have to agree with you on most of them that you have listed. I am from Kuala Lumpur and have visited Saigon many times over the years just before Covid-19 and I can agree with your views. Stay safe!
I have relatives who live in Ho Chi Minh City and I've mused about moving over there for 6 months to experience new things and feel closer to my heritage. Hopefully next year the pandemic will start to die down and Vietnam will allow international travellers to enter without any mandatory quarantine; I'll be booking my tickets straight away 😇
@@TalesFromTheRoad I've been 3 times. I went earlier this year to experience traditional Tết for the first time and was meant to return in the summer for round 2 because my cousins really wanted me there but the pandemic happened 😔
It would be awesome if you knew the real name of the city, it is not Saigon, it is called Ho Chi Minh City. Since you live there i think it’s convenient to know that.
Hey! I’m looking to move to Vietnam around begin october 2021. Im a Vietnamese person living in Belgium. I wanna be an English tutor too. Is it easy to survive there as one? Cause I wanna stay there for about a year.
@@TalesFromTheRoad Thanks for the reply! Is it easy to find people who want an English tutor? I would prefer that over teaching in a school so that i have more freedom to work on my own digital nomad skills too haha. Any tips on becoming a digital nomad too? I'm working on becoming a copywriter right now since it somewhat aligns with my current sales job(as a student).
I disagree with you on the last part. Though America is inclusive, there are many who don't feel included. I'm Asian American, born and raised - a lot of people from the South will never consider me American. I can extend this sentiment towards African Americans too, racism still exist in the US.
I looked, but most of those Facebook groups are promoting accommodations. I haven't been to Vietnam in 8 years, any bars youd recommend? Thanks in advance!
I’m looking forward to getting out of the US as soon as COVID is over. Saigon is where I’m going to move too
Now is the time Randy...see you in Saigon!
Last note: not one of the boys. The U.S. was founded by white protestants. Later came Catholics, Italian, french & German. We became multicultural. It took generations to get used to the new comers. Just when u were adapting to the change along come a new string of immigrants: indian, Chinese, African, Hispanic. So the process begins anew. The Vietnamese, like many homogeneous societies will never adapt to foreigners because we are just that, outsiders. I wholeheartedly agree w them. It is the norm & it's a-ok. Homogeneous ppl living together, but welcoming foreigners is great. Enjoy the Vietnamese way of life & then leave or stay, but never assume you will b one of them. Works for me. In the U.S. I saw the U.S. as a homogeneous nation in spite of nation of origin. New kids who's parents were Italian, Irish, German, french & others. They ALL called themselves American with no qualifiers. Italian-american, African-American... The melting pot ain't working. Just like oil & water. The Vietnamese r all pulling in the same direction. They will b a powerful nation not far down the road. U are witnessing a flower that has yet to bloom. Now is the time to get comfortable in Vietnam.
What time of the year is this filmed? I’m thinking about coming next summer (July, August) but apprehensive due to wet season!
I shot this just a few weeks ago. Do not come during the wet season. You need to come after October.
Good video agree with your points. As a woman feel safe as like to wander and explore the true areas of Saigon. Never felt that in Thailand and Indonesia as felt I was extremely out of place if I wandered out of the tourist areas. People here just want to say Hello. I go to the markets and buy fresh food. Like all the levels of security. Traffic cops, real cops, guards in stores, guards outside hotels and apartments. Coming from London I'm envious of how this keeps low level, anti social petty crime in hand. Only point I would make about integration is that I lived in France for many years. IMO you never feel part of their community in France. They will charm you and maybe ask you to dinner but they keep their closeness especially for family. Guess probably the same every country unless you are absolutely fluent in their language and maybe marry a native!
As a Vietnamese I disagree with cheap and safe! Food aint 1 or 2$ ...cơm sườn or phở is about 3$ and I have to eat at least 2 orders to feel full; maybe it's cheap with foreigners but not working class Vietnamese. Safe?! Fighting, robbing, scam, drug...everywhere...maybe you're a foreigner ;hence, they dont target you.
You're not Vietnamese for sure and also you don't live in Saigon. What he said in the video is all correct
@@MyLe-fo6pu Dạ vâng ạ... mấy anh tây nói gì củng đúng, củng chính xác....
Còn em 8x sinh ở Từ Dũ, nhà nội ở Thị Nghè, nhà ngoại ở Nguyễn Khoái ...nên em không phải người Việt Nam mà củng không sống ở Xì Goòn chị nhé :))
Agree with everything you said. All true.
I’m Vietnamese living in Ireland for almost 7 years now - never felt Irish or been treated like one. Language is one thing but there’s a lot more that makes a person ‘Irish’ or ‘Vietnamese’ and unfortunately I will never qualify. It’s my personal opion that Vietnamese treat expats better than we treat each other - so it’s pretty awesome being an expat in Vietnam :)
Totally agree
In Australia we also treat immigrants better than our own people.
Americans treat foreigners better then there own people. African Americans get the shit end of the stick either way. Such a shame . So stop complaining we get it worst everywhere we go
Not even close to true. This is said by someone who doesn't interact with many immigrants.@@bikepacker9850
It is hard for a native English speaker to understand the Irish.
I appreciate your video. I 've visited here many times and now I live here, married a local. I like your optimism but my view is life here is more complex than can be expressed in a 14 minute video. Once international travel resumes I would urge my fellow Americans to visit Vietnam. The video is pretty upbeat. I'm not saying he is wrong about stuff. Just that life here is more complex than you might think and don't come here unprepared.
It's hard to always show the nuance and I'm a big traveler so some of the things that come to me easily can certainly be a turn off or hard for some people!
What are the risks of marriage, anything like USA? Lose half your stuff etc
Yep, let's call it Saigon 👍🏻
You have a choice, call it "Sai Gon" or "thanh pho Ho Chi Minh", since you must always include "thanh pho" or "city" (otherwise you'd be very disrespectful to Uncle Ho when only use HCM without city).. 99% of people call it Saigon 😅
Idk man vietnamese calls D1, Bình Thạnh and D2 are Saigon and Saigon is a city in HCM city but not officially
Thank you for the video! I've been to Saigon two times, but I prefer smaller cities like Da Nang. I actually live in Hoi An, not far from Da Nang. It's not Saigon, but it's easy to jump on a flight and go to Saigon. You pointed out some great pros about Vietnam. I am an American and have been in Vietnam 2.5 years so far. So happy to be here since it seems much safer here with covid-19.
thanks for the kind comments
Absolutely Agree with you 100 percent That is why why Retirement in Vietnam is for Me as Soon as this Coronavirus let’s us get back to our Lives
Since you guys physically are strong built, those criminals just don’t want to mess with you foreigners....😋
that's totally possible!
You have done a really good job of describing Ho Chi Minh City.
My girlfriend is from Ho Chi Minh City and we love going there to visit her family and travel in Vietnam. I definitely have home field advantage being with her but I love traveling to Vietnam 🇻🇳
It is an amazing place.
Vietnam has come a long way but it is still a developing country. One thing foreigners should watch out for are thieves. You can't be holding out your smartphones and your video recorders while in the open.
I hope to be in Saigon in July if travel is allowed. Had to cancel one flight earlier in the year.
gotta visit!
More pics of the city and less of the speaker please. You may as well have just written something readable as you dont necessarily show much of the city. alot of youtubers do this where its 90% their talking face which doesn't show the visual of what the viewer actually wanted.
Watch one of my newer videos of you want. RUclips is an art not a science and we get better over time.
I've been to Saigon many times but on my last trip I was there November 2019 - Feb 2020. During their winter air pollution is terrible in district 1. Usually I spend other times of the year there and haven't encountered pollution that bad. If you have raspatory issues I'd advise to avoid those months or settle in a relatively clean part of town like the southern tip of district 7.
the pollution is definitely a problem!
I hope at some point you visit DaLat. Vietnam is a possible retirement country for us in a few years, and we prefer cooler weather. Thx !
Banana Patch I have two videos you can check out from my time in Dalat!
It really is a great place to live. I miss it a lot!
Thank you. Your video was very informative. A lot of these RUclipsrs are either AI bots are super annoying self observed people. I appreciate your being very informed.
That’s true, the noise 🤣🤣🤣. My neighbors keep banging something every weekend when I need some more sleep, that makes me crazy 🤣
nonstop!
Good video bro, but I can’t agree with you about security and safety in Sai Gon. Have met few times thief’s trying steal bikes. My brother has been robbed in Sai Gon. So I think it’s not safely here as in Norway, but it’s still comfortable 😀 Nice video 👍🏼
I don't think anywhere is as safe as in Norway lol. Maybe Singapore.
I got pick pocket without knowing…
if u never see the crime in Saigon,its because u live in fany district (1 - 2 -3) or you not live here enough. They will rob you in middle of the day,EVEN THE TRASH CAN. Search the world "trộm thùng rác" you will see thousand video. And Saigonese we speak vietnamese and about 20%-30% can speak cantonese (include me) more than chinese that for sure
im Saigonese i live here 30 years. And plese guys,we refer to use the name SAIGON more than real name of this beautiul city
I guess I have just have a different perspective on what "a lot of crime" looks like.
Re 10:41 - According to the Air Quality Index (taken 18 June 2023, 11:39), Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, scored a (surprisingly good!) 41, on par with Singapore. (Unhealthy would be considered 101 and up.) So as long as you're not motorbiking, say, three hours a day, or working / jogging next to a busy street, you're good to go.
HCMC is raging hot sometimes, reflecting off miles and miles of concrete.
I lived on the southern coast...Vung Tau
breeze off the coast. cool people.
good expat bars
Do you have any updates thoughts (it you are still there)? I have the opportunity to live in either Saigon or Hanoi, can't decide
Not being fully accepted is not just a Vietnamese thing.
I live in the U.S. for 47 years, yet I sometimes still come across white and black Americans who told me I speak English well - WTF!
Great video! You are on point with most of your observations. However, I think you are missing the point about how open most Vietnamese treat foreigners. Learning how to speak Vietnamese goes a long way towards getting people to open up to you. Any way, keep up the great content.
Yeah people in the South tend to be more friendly than people from the North. It's interesting to hear you say Sai Gon is safe. We Hanoians say Sai Gon isn't safe. When I go to Sai Gon I always have to watch my phone (LOL). In Ha Noi, I don't worry too much - I always have my phone out. But in general, Viet Nam is a fairly safe country in terms of violent crimes. You may not be able to fit in easily here but there's virtually no hate crimes against you because of your race or skin color.
yeah I'm from New mexico the home of breaking bad, so yes, Vietnam as a whole is much much safer.
Well said, I am not sure about the North and the South, they're quite the same to me, but at least you don't need to worry about racism, and the Vietnamese are way too curious about the foreigner, like ”wow you look so different, can I touch your hair” 🤣
@@linhmeongunuong North Vietnamese can be friendly but only after getting to know you, so they're more reserved towards strangers than Southern's "happy goes lucky" attitude. The customer service level is much higher in the South, for example if you complain about food in a restaurant in Saigon they will try their best to please you. When you do the same thing in Hanoi, there is a good chance that something will be thrown at you 😅
Just an addition about noise: You guys might hear your neighbor singing karaoke at midnight.
Metering design so you define your measuring unit without dangerous hidden agenda
There's a club in our country as well, we just don't admit it.
Seriously considering moving my family there - do expats homeschool at all ?
I'm searching for a place to teach English where I can indeed have true integration. I want to be in the club. I spent 4 years living in Finland in which you cannot under any circumstance be in the club.
Well it’s a great place to be!
Perhaps Brazil?
I'm european and planing to move in Saigon this winter. I'm not planning to go back in Europe, my plans are to remain there. This video helped me alot. Thx :)
I like that you addressed the noise and pollution stuff as well as some of cultural barriers. I may have missed it but what did an average locally produced beer cost ?
75 cent a can (330ml)
Saigonese.... Is that a word...I like it.
Oky. Beautiful. Place
d😆eserve more viewers! love your videos man keep up the good work!
Appreciate it!
Cool content. Keep up with the good work!
One thing I disagree is that being able to speak a certain amount of English in America doesn't guarantee that you'd be seen as an American or someone in the club as you said.
I meant at least you can blend in better. In Vietnam there is no blending in, you're either Viet or not.
Thanks, very insightful video. Do you need a certificate to teach English there? Or will being an American good enough?
Siganeese people?
Love the positive feel, broke my heart to leave (due to covid), Saigon was my home... but will disagree on a couple of things...no homelessness or drugs? sounds like you mainly stay in Q1, Q2, Q3, Q7...obviously have never been to Q4, Q5, Q8, Go Vap, Tan Binh (I could go on)...Sure can't become a local (I've lived and worked in seven countries, goes the same anywhere) but learn a few expressions, hang out with Vietnamese where they do, accept them and their culture and go with it and they will take you to their hearts and treat you like family forever! Hoping I can return as soon as this is all over!
Of course they have their problems but compared to a US city the homelessness and drugs aren't even close to a problem
Hold up, who's speaking Spanish in Saigon? A filipino community? What's the history of Spanish in Saigon?
no my point was if you speak Spanish in a Spanish country your chance of fitting in is higher. I assume there is a small group of spanish speakers here, but not big.
Filipino speaks Tagalog not Spanish and the chance that any viet who speaks Spanish there is close to zero.
Saigon has the most pickpocket and scammers in Vietnam.
DALAT has the most friendly people I ve ever met in Vietnam...maybe on earth.
And Dalat has the best weather in the entire world...
That's what I want to hear...I'm interested in Dalat & Natrang
Such an informative video! Thanks a lot 👍🏻☺️
R elec. Mottos on the radar?
Watching from Alaska 😂😂😍😍😍 I’m VIETNAM ✌️✌️✌️
welcome to the channel!
Noise cancellation
Damn so good to live there bro 😁
I miss it!
Did you see any VC?
Thank you for this. I really want to visit and this video is filled with practical tips and pointers. Thank you. 😁
Glad it was helpful!
youtube recommended this video to me. amazing and helpful video for a Vietnamese like me to know more about how foreigners think about our country. subcribed your channel!
thanks for watching!
About the last con of the video, most of people can't understand how hard it is even for vietnamese people to learn Vietnamese language, it is very complicated because of the country's history, so when you see the Vietnamese reactions to your speaking they are actually accepting you as one of them, that's where the smiles , laughing come from from. It takes people all grade school to learn their own language and still difference between the 3 regions...and so much more to it then just this, you would need to know the culture too...so welcome to the club 😆
This is true. We are very welcoming to foreigners and become very excited if a person tries to speak vietnamese to us. It shows us you are willing to learn about our culture which is essentially the only thing you need to do to be one of us
I was in the taxi and my testicles were caught in the shoddy seat belt apparatus. Upon clicking the latch together testicle was pinched very hard.
I'm pondering your last con. As a Vietnamese person who has lived in the US most her life, I don't know that I 100% belong. And my English is excellent - if you spoke to me on the phone, you wouldn't know I wasn't born here. I think even in the US, ethnicity plays a big part. I mean, hello, black people oft times don't feel like they belong here. I think for me, I do fit in better because I have for the most part, assimilated to the language and culture. For you, being there 1 year and not really speaking the language, it's going to be different. It'll be the same as if you were a foreigner in the US and didn't speak the language or knew much about the culture after a year. Now try living somewhere 30-40 years and speaking fluently without an accent, you'll still be a bit exotic to the locals if you don't look 100% like the rest of the population, but you'll fit in better. Also, Vietnam hasn't seen a lot of foreigners until recently. I'm sure as they are exposed more in the next 20-50 years, things will change.
I think your last point in the biggest one. I'm just saying theres a much bigger divide between locals and foreigners here because its still very local and not diverse like bigger European countries or the US/Canada. I had the same feeling in Mexico, but atleast the cultural stuff is closer and easier to grasp. That was my main point.
If you live in America, you should speak English in public, not Vietnamese. If you live in Vietnam, you should learn to speak Vietnamese in public, not English.
Lots of viet kieus come back to Vietnam thinking that they are banana and expect Vietnam to speak English with their entitlement as Americans. No!
@@_-_-.-_-_ As you said, if you live in a certain country for any length of time, you should speak that language. If you are a tourist - Viet Kieu or not - then there shouldn't be expectations that you speak the language fluently. However, it behooves everyone to learn the basics before visiting a country. Point being, you singled out Viet Kieu with the expectation they automatically speak Vietnamese just because they were born ethnically Vietnamese. Unless they are living there for any length of time, then they should not be held to a higher standard than any other foreigner.
@@doodahgurlie you are right and that is fair.
I forget the younger generation are viet kieu too and some of them like my nephews and nieces do not speak Vietnamese. Bananas! Hahaha
Ok, I was referring to the idiots in their 40s, like my friends who think they are so awesome and high and mighty because they are from America. They speak English purposely as a show off.
Also you noticed I wrote "you should learn" if you live there.
By the way, I came to America when I was a kid. I speak both fluently. If you don't speak the language from your native country, it is more power to you to learn because it helps you understand the mindset and culture better.
When I speak English, I think like an American. When I speak Vietnamese, I think like a viet person and can relate to the culture.
Hi ,I lived in Saigon ( Ho Chi Minh) a few years ago and i am planning to go back once they reopened the border. Have the Vietnamese government implemented some restrictions ( Curfew , mandatory indoor masks, social distancing, 2m rules etc) ever since the pandemic started ?
depends on the city but very little restrictions since they've been very cautious the entire pandemic. They however can be harsh and quick to act if they need to, although, apart from a month in Danang and a few weeks in HCMC and Hanoi, nothing serious happened.
@@TalesFromTheRoad ok thanks for the infos :)
Great video, much love to ya! Moving to Vietnam in July! Thanks for the info!
As the saying goes that there are many ways to skin a cat, your point of view is just as valid as anyone. Yes, it's a cultural thing and you might feel that you are not part of the club but don't (and I am sure you are not) take it personally. Yes, air and noise pollution are bad but after all VN is still a developing country. This is the allure for most if not all non VN ppl: VN is straddling the fine line of past and present; VN is a gorgeous pastoral scene painting with sharply protruding buildings. There are pros and cons to all but if you like it, you like it. Thanks for liking my country but no hard feeling if you don't. Lastly, to add to your knowledge: Vietnamese is a language combination of the Chinese characters and the French alphabet. So Bon Voyage!
i just visited Saigon and to add to the cons, there are rats everywhere, rent can be quite high if you want to live in a good area in a nice place. International food can be found in import shops such as Annam and Nam An, but it is really expensive. For example, 200g of parmesan cheese will set you back £8 as opposed to £3.70 in London, and wages are different too. A big one too is the lack of green spaces. You can find them, but they are not abundant at any rate. The people totally amazed me though and I loved the live music scene.
I will move to Saigon shortly; can you recommend some places to study or take classes for Vietnamese language? And...if I ride an e-bike, can that work on the Saigon streets as well?
Please help if you can
Can foreigners own property?
Where is the best suburb to live?
What would be the cost of a small house with land?
You said that Ho Chi Minh City was incredibly cheap. But what are you comparing it to? A quick look on Expatistan and Numbeo showed that Oaxaca or Mérida Mexico were 17% or 18% less expensive than Ho Chi Minh City. Rent in Mexico was much lower, almost 50% lower.
I have nothing against living in Vietnam but I would always be more partial to the Latino culture, be it Portuguese or Spanish speaking since I speak those two languages. I wouldn't be able to live in a country where I couldn't speak the language. So far I have lived in Mexico, Brazil, Spain, and Portugal and I could always understand and speak to the locals. The heat would put me off too. Oaxaca or Querétaro, or Guadalajara Mexico would be great for the climate. Regarding acceptance by the local culture, Brazil would be ideal because of all the immigrants who went. I think Portugal is also very accepting of foreigners.
Good Video. Although I am visiting Saigon & Danang in June, I'm really hoping to spend time in Dalat/Na Trang when the 3-month Visa-On-Arrival (VOA) is brought back online. Does anyone have any words of wisdom about living in Dalat?
you could try vinhome apartment, they are consider luxurious and i saw a guy who did the monthly calculation, including all the relaxation and food, to a total under 1k usd per month. Totally Sound proof. As for being vietnamese, for me personally, if you love VN, live in VN, speak vietnamese, your vietnamese enough :) regardless of your skin color. cheers.
I've been cheking out the city & they do have a good bus system. Abt 22¢ a ride. They may even have metro card. Don't remember.
Another advantage is the climate. In a video uploaded by someone on RUclips I don't remember his name, you said that you live in Ho Chi Minh City but in fact you live in Serbia. So which is right and which is wrong?
Great video man! Do you recommend getting vaccines for different kind of diseases? For example, when I've been to Japan, I didn't get vaccinated for anything and haven't had any issues at all.
Great video mate, you're easy to listen to!
Thanks for watching mate!
I'm Vietnamese. I'm not rich but still live like a Queen in Saigon. Everything is cheap, convenient, people are so flexible and willing to do a lot of things. I love being served and receive good services so Vietnam is perfect for me. So good. Tomorrow gonna have some oil massage
Would really like to live there but the heat, upper 30's would render me a useless mess unfortunately.
Just curious, besides being a a vlogger, what job do you do in VN? :D
I tutor english and german online as well! Very good pay!
@@TalesFromTheRoad German, too? Cool!!! What company? I teach German as well.
Great video... Thank you. I'm moving there for a year at the end of this month.
I agree in evrything you say..
Whitout the traffic
I love the traffic and the sound of all motorbikes ;)
Great city . Been living in my youth . I am thinking of spending more time in Saigon .
I prefer a more countryside area, away from the city from the noise of constructing.
Fair and objective....
that's all I can do!
last con was very insightful. I think you may be a lot closer than you think.
Now you know how minorities feels in the USKKK
I view heavy rain as a plus. Bats down the pollution, in any city.
good dude, very informative. thks
A great run down of the pros and cons which make good sense. I have to agree with you on most of them that you have listed. I am from Kuala Lumpur and have visited Saigon many times over the years just before Covid-19 and I can agree with your views. Stay safe!
Please just don't take cigarettes from strangers, especially unregistered motorbike taxis.
don't know why I would do that!
Love the video and Vietnam and it’s people
Tha. Moving there next year.👍
Please how about schools for children I want to move to Vietnam with my 7 year old child. Thank you
There are lots of international schools around
Is it noisy everywhere! Or can District 7 or 3 (or any other option) be quieter and more peaceful to live?
Yes Saigon is pretty noisy in general. District 2 is a good option
Proud to be a Saigonese! Thanks, for sharing 👍🏻
I have relatives who live in Ho Chi Minh City and I've mused about moving over there for 6 months to experience new things and feel closer to my heritage.
Hopefully next year the pandemic will start to die down and Vietnam will allow international travellers to enter without any mandatory quarantine; I'll be booking my tickets straight away 😇
Definitely go!
@@TalesFromTheRoad I've been 3 times. I went earlier this year to experience traditional Tết for the first time and was meant to return in the summer for round 2 because my cousins really wanted me there but the pandemic happened 😔
It would be awesome if you knew the real name of the city, it is not Saigon, it is called Ho Chi Minh City. Since you live there i think it’s convenient to know that.
History is written by the victors my friend
People there still call it Saigon.
Do you speak Vietnamese fluently?
Not at all
Hey! I’m looking to move to Vietnam around begin october 2021. Im a Vietnamese person living in Belgium. I wanna be an English tutor too. Is it easy to survive there as one? Cause I wanna stay there for about a year.
very easy to survive, especially teaching!
@@TalesFromTheRoad Thanks for the reply! Is it easy to find people who want an English tutor? I would prefer that over teaching in a school so that i have more freedom to work on my own digital nomad skills too haha. Any tips on becoming a digital nomad too? I'm working on becoming a copywriter right now since it somewhat aligns with my current sales job(as a student).
@@danalmightyzzz I have a whole video about being a tutor online! Check out my page and it should be under the guides section!
How bad are the bugs/mosquitoes?
if you're away from the water, not bad at all!
Not any worse than the Southeastern US, or Alaska!!
great insight...thanks.
cheers!
This video is spot on!
I disagree with you on the last part. Though America is inclusive, there are many who don't feel included. I'm Asian American, born and raised - a lot of people from the South will never consider me American. I can extend this sentiment towards African Americans too, racism still exist in the US.
How easy is it to start a small business?
In Vietnam?
@@TalesFromTheRoad Yes in Vietnam , I was thinking of a car detailing service.
@@wrx111 I have no idea unfortunately!
Are you still in Vietnam?
I've left awhile ago!
How comes you left
Nice explanation about Saigon
Thanks for watching!
Nice propaghanda for the Commies
Hey Pierce,
How do you connect with the expat community? Any tips?
Cam Dao there’s big expat communities on Facebook. Or you could visit an expat bar in D1, D2 or D7. Its a good place to start
I looked, but most of those Facebook groups are promoting accommodations. I haven't been to Vietnam in 8 years, any bars youd recommend? Thanks in advance!
@@cameryn5413 Saigon is full of great bars. I guess it depends on what vibe you're looking for!