Living in Vietnam: AMA

[pugilistico]

After a month of already being here, I decided to live in Vietnam longer. I originally planned to leave earlier but I like it here a lot so I'm staying here until the end of the year at least.

I've been to Nam as a tourist for short trips a few times already and now I'm getting a better feel for the country. It's a weird mix of good and annoying, similar to other SEA countries but at the same time quite different in the little things.

I gotta say as of now, in terms of the culture and people Vietnam isn't my favorite place, but it's made up by the incredibly low cost of living, the best food in Asia, and a lot of cool expats.

 

[TribalDrumz]

Love you long time “

 

[DaleBoca]

I always find it suspect people decide to move to SE Asian countries.

 

[Cole train]

I could not choose which viet war film quote to post

 

[pugilistico]

I always find it suspect people decide to move to SE Asian countries.

Why so? It's super cheap, good quality of living, great food, etc.

 

[ferrisjso]

Communism is wonderful.

 

[Volador]

How many Saigon dimes have you scored?

 

[pugilistico]

Communism is wonderful.

It's a trip seeing the sickle and hammer flag flying right next to a starbucks or mcdonalds.

How many Saigon dimes have you scored?

Zero unless you count expats.

I could not choose which viet war film quote to post

Full Metal Jacket is my favorite.

 

[Darkavius]

1. Do you speak Vietnamese?
2. Why did you choose Vietnam over the other Asian countries such as Thailand or Cambodia?

Side note, you said the best food in Asia? I don't know maybe my taste buds are terrible but out of all the Asian cuisine Vietnamese surely can't be the best but maybe I'm missing something. Also, out of all the languages in Asia, Vietnamese may be the worst sounding of them all.

 

[pugilistico]

1. Do you speak Vietnamese?
2. Why did you choose Vietnam over the other Asian countries such as Thailand or Cambodia?

Side note, you said the best food in Asia? I don't know maybe my taste buds are terrible but out of all the Asian cuisine Vietnamese surely can't be the best but maybe I'm missing something. Also, out of all the languages in Asia, Vietnamese may be the worst sounding of them all.

1. No other than a few words, and honestly I don't plan on learning it. It is a horrible sounding language and they seem to love speaking really loud. Fuck tonal languages general.

2. I've been to both. I've lived in Thailand already and while it's my favorite country in Asia so far, I wanted a change. Vietnam beats Cambodia in so many regards. Cheaper, better food, more developed, easier to get around, more to do and see, bigger expat community, etc. It's also just easier because Cambodia only allows for a 30 day (tourist) visa while Vietnam allows up to 90 and they're considering upping it to 180 from what I hear.

It's the freshness and diversity and balance of flavors. Thai food is my 2nd favorite but sometimes the spices overpower everything else in the dish and it doesn't feel as diverse. Vietnam has different noodle dishes (and different kinds of noodles), and bread dishes, and rice dishes. They use more fresh herbs and the spices are usually on the side unlike in Thai food.

 

[Kowboy On Sherdog]

What do you get for $10?

 

[humperdoo]

Have ladyboys come at you yet?

 

[Darkavius]

Why so? It's super cheap, good quality of living, great food, etc.

I can't speak for him but I've always heard about sex trafficking and things with minors that always bothered me when talking about Southeast Asia. I've also found it interesting that as many people in the west are open as they are about drugs that Southeast Asia would not be the best place to be since they have some hardcore drug laws, even for simple stuff like weed.

 

[ObsoleteSoul]

Going there next year. The digital nomad community is supposed to be really nice, so hoping it will be a good time.

Where are you at there?

 

[DaleBoca]

Why so? It's super cheap, good quality of living, great food, etc.

Because it is well documented a lot of creepy middle-age westerners move out there for things that are not mentioned in what you posted.

 

[ObsoleteSoul]

Because it is well documented a lot of creepy middle-age westerners move out there for things that are not mentioned in what you posted.

lot of creepy middle age westerners everywhere.

That stuff is easily avoided. The pros far outweigh the cons. Though I’ve yet to fully move to a SEA country full time, but I will. Besides the heat, you can live great on not a lot of money.

 

[pugilistico]

Have ladyboys come at you yet?

That's Thailand, and yes they come up to everyone.

I can't speak for him but I've always heard about sex trafficking and things with minors that always bothered me when talking about Southeast Asia. I've also found it interesting that as many people in the west are open as they are about drugs that Southeast Asia would not be the best place to be since they have some hardcore drug laws, even for simple stuff like weed.

Yes that is a sad and horrible thing that is happening. But unless you're in those kinds of places, you don't really see it happening. I've heard that in Pattaya you can see old western dudes with literal children but I didn't see anything like that but I also avoid places like Pattaya.

With drugs, it depends. Because it's so corrupt here it's quite easy to get drugs and if you get caught, I think you can get lucky or unlucky depending on if they want to make an example out of you or if they want bribe money. I've done quite a few different drugs but I only buy from "trusted" sources and I'm quite careful about how and where I take them. Doing molly at a jungle rave in the middle of nowhere with a bunch of European backpackers is probably more safe than snorting coke in a bathroom at a club full of locals maybe not.

Weed is functionally legal in Thailand. In Vietnam it's not, but the general rule seems to be that the cops won't bother you as long as you're not causing trouble.

Because it is well documented a lot of creepy middle-age westerners move out there for things that are not mentioned in what you posted.

I have no reason to mention it because I'm not a creepy middle aged western man and I'm not involved in sex trafficking at any level. It's a world that I'm a complete stranger to.

 

[Spounman]

Is the Pho in Vietnam better than the Pho in America?

 

[pugilistico]

Going there next year. The digital nomad community is supposed to be really nice, so hoping it will be a good time.

Where are you at there?

It's smaller than Thailand or Bali, but because of that it seems more tight-knit. Feels more like a community, at least here in the Da Nang/Hoi An area. The drawback is that because it's so small, everyone knows everyone and dating feels like I'm shitting where I eat.

lot of creepy middle age westerners everywhere.

That stuff is easily avoided. The pros far outweigh the cons. Though I’ve yet to fully move to a SEA country full time, but I will. Besides the heat, you can live great on not a lot of money.

The heat sucks balls though. Man does it get hot here.

There are creepy middle aged dudes everywhere, right. It's real easy to live here and forget that the prostitution/sex trafficking world exists sometimes.

 

[Natural Order]

Does Charlie, in fact, surf?