5 minutes ago, WonnabeBiker said:

After having visited a dozen times, I've now moved to a larger city in Central Vietnam. 

 

* Forget consideration for others. Through open doors at high rise condos, music gets BLASTED. OR kids playing football by the elevators after 9 pm. Or someone decides to burn organic waste next to a primary school. (Fumigating the school, I would expect to get fined a year'S salary AND do time for such conduct back home.

 

* The level of dishonesty is staggering. Rarely will people keep their word. I've met teachers who have been royally effed over by "centers" in polymorph ways. 

 

* Soft skills? Forget it! 

 

* Bring sauces and be very careful whom to give your dry cleaning. Had delicate suits ruined by greedy bastards doing MACHINE WASHING.

 

* There is an energy, a quest for life. And in business, they are hard and tough like ingrown toenails. 

 

Last weekend, I stayed at a aub $ 50 apartment with a kitchenette in a small town named HA TRUNG. The building looked ramshackle but was perfectly okay, if you like to be behind bars. 

 

Closing, you can get delicatessen delivered and buy a long-term VISA, if needed. (Hello Thailand, wake up)!

Please explain!

2 hours ago, Mahseer said:

Any other attractions in Ha Tinh aside from that fabulous sounding feast?

 

ye havta go there and see it...I worked and lived there for 18mos and it was the most scenic place I'd seen outside of California where I'm from...it's not on any tourist itinerary

 

it was a depressed agricultural place until it became an 'economic zone' and then they built a steel mill that released tons of toxic waste into the sea in 2016 resulting in the biggest disaster since the american war...the coastal fisheries are just starting to come back...a couple of years ago only the river fish was edible...

 

check it out from Vinh to the north to Dong Hoi to the south, there's a 3 star hotel (nice western accommodation for $43 per night incl a good breakfast buffet) in Ky Anh built to accommodate contractors that come to service the steel mill and the power station where I worked in 2010, things were a lot different back then...and the seafood is the best I've had anywhere...plenty of taxis and private cars/minivans with drivers around...

 

there is a little known but spectacular UN world heritage site and national park near Dong Hoi (in Quang Binh province adjacent to Ha Tinh to the south)...the approach thru a river valley is breathtaking...the main attraction are some caves but that's a lot of walking...prefer to drink beer and admire the view...Dong Hoi is a nice little town on a river with a nice promenade, destroyed twice by the french and the americans but rebuilt both times...good accommodation and eats available there as well

 

there are provincial airports in Vinh and Dong Hoi and there's a train stop in Ha Tinh

 

check it out...a bit of a hassle to get there but you won't be disappointed...

 

 

tutsiwarrior, I appreciate the reply and will put it on me list for next time, thanks. I enjoy trains here so looks straight forward getting there.

 

I'm in country now and just got into the mountain village of Sin Ho which is well worth a look if any interest in the ethnic folk that reside and just need to vacate before the Sapa folks get here for tomorrow's market. Pretty much got the town to myself today so happy days.

 

Enjoy

5 hours ago, WonnabeBiker said:

Last weekend, I stayed at a aub $ 50 apartment with a kitchenette in a small town named HA TRUNG. The building looked ramshackle but was perfectly okay, if you like to be behind bars. 

2 weeks back I was in a $10/night 4th floor room overlooking Highland coffee/September Park Saigon.

I had 4 large windows looking out over the busy road and a nightclub in the park opposite going until 3am.

Aircon worked perfectly once I rinsed the air filters covered 1/2 deep with dust in the shower.

And one night they evicted my Viet next room neighbour at 4am by throwing her stuff out the windows while her child screamed for an hour.

 

But it was never dull!

 

 

Edited April 27, 20197 yr by BritManToo

7 hours ago, 5633572526 said:

Seems like you were looking for reasons not to make the move and as in any country if that is what you were looking for you will find it.

I did state that it "wasnt such a bad thing" , that the town is geared up to accommodate back-packers and tourists , which is saying that that may be a good reason to move there

@ Olmate # 153, please elaborate and say what I should explain? The prevailing dishonesty? Want everyday examples? 

 

- Folks I regarded as well off friends have chosen to trade of their loyalty for a quick financial gain, however small. For example when too high a price for an Ipad was recommended as "a good deal". Or a restaurant I've eaten at a hundred times hiked up prices because one greedy bastard wanted to make some extra money off that foreigner.

 

Not getting paid is a major headache for teachers. The tricks vary. Fake "hirings" without a contract ever getting signed. Or they invent "weeks' training". => I've met desperate teachers who never saw a single Dong after weeks' of full-time work. ** Thailand does have wonderful Labour Courts. Vietnam? - - Hope someone will shed a light on what Vietnam does offer.

 

T.B.C. (Please bring your questions)

On 4/24/2019 at 7:22 PM, Mahseer said:

How about elsewhere in Vietnam? Hoi An down the road from Danang is far more laid back and consider Da Lat which has more of a temperate climate.

 

 

a few years ago I spent three weeks in Vietnam and went to Saigon and stayed two weeks in Da Lat. while I did like that a lot I found the weather very accommodating in December and the small town was very comfortable. 

but what everybody has said about the motorcycles is very true and I found it even more harrowing than crossing the streets here in Thailand. 

the infrastructure of the country is years behind Thailand and most of the roads are very poor and hard to navigate.

I found an apartment there with a long-term lease for $600 US dollars a month which is high compared to what I have in Thailand now. 

 

I didn't find the same variety of food there that I found here but what I really didn't like was the culture overall that serms so much different than Thailand. It is stiffer and more formal and I think the influence of the Catholic Church there has a lot to do with that. 

 

The first time I came to Thailand I was just passing through and I had a one-year visa to Vietnam and planed to stay in Da Lat for retirement. After only a few weeks in Thailand I knew where I was going to live and never actually made it to Vietnam at all and never used the visa.

 

 

 

 

 

15 hours ago, BritManToo said:

2 weeks back I was in a $10/night 4th floor room overlooking Highland coffee/September Park Saigon.

I had 4 large windows looking out over the busy road and a nightclub in the park opposite going until 3am.

Aircon worked perfectly once I rinsed the air filters covered 1/2 deep with dust in the shower.

And one night they evicted my Viet next room neighbour at 4am by throwing her stuff out the windows while her child screamed for an hour.

 

But it was never dull!

 

 

Hi

 

That makes you a District 1 fan, thought you would be.

I stayed very near you in the Liberty 3 Greenview, paid more than you you but totally satisfied with the facilities and location.

 

So many bars restaurants with a short stroll. Lively and fun.

Also used to stroll around September Park every day. Nice park.

On 4/26/2019 at 3:07 PM, Kwasaki said:

Communism is a political and economic system in which the major productive resources in a society—such as mines, factories, and farms—are owned by the public or the state, and wealth is divided among citizens equally or according to individual need.

You are of course joking?

On 4/24/2019 at 4:42 PM, GeKoSc said:

There are some additional differences to Thailand, the Vietnamese people are extremely nice, attentive and they welcome foreigner much more as the Thais do (at least in Pattaya :). I have visited a plenty of condos in DaNang in the price range of 300-400 USD and they are not as complete as those in Pattaya; no pool no GYM and bulky/heavy wooden furniture, often small windows (but you will find GYM places with pool in the city) or gardens where to rest....and the rent is about 30% higher than in Pattaya; most spaces start around 30 qm. I used to take a breakfast in the street (a delicious tasting egg/spices stuffed, fresh bread for less than 1/2 a dollar...As you mentioned it already the weakest point in Vietnam is the traffic...Personally I liked also Hanoi with so many lakes...Once when resting at the largest lake (Ho Hoan Kiem) I was asked frequently to be pictured with other tourists....if I would have asked for a dollar I would have collected 10 USD within an hour... however to walk in the "Old Quarter District" is chaotic and stressful if not used to it. Next time in Hanoi I would look for a hotel near the lake where traffic and noises are lesser and it would be easier to find a large supermarket....Unfortunately no long term visa were available during 2018 which will make it uncomfortable for those folks looking to settle down in this country...

i think the Vietnamese girls are generally friendlier than Thai girls when it comes to striking up a conversation.  some are stunners. they want to practice English and have a genuine interest in learning the language and about the world outside, unlike a lot of Thai's  Vietnam is clearly focus on the future.

e

33 minutes ago, toolpush said:

You are of course joking?

Not at all just one of the meanings of Communism another is a political theory derived from Karl Marx, advocating class war and leading to a society in which all property is publicly owned and each person works and is paid according to their abilities and needs.  

A bit like StarTrek. ????

On 4/26/2019 at 3:56 AM, KhunKenAP said:

Keep in mind Vietnam is a communist country. Rule can change overnight.

Not like Thailand then? politically stable ????

12 hours ago, Kwasaki said:

Not at all just one of the meanings of Communism another is a political theory derived from Karl Marx, advocating class war and leading to a society in which all property is publicly owned and each person works and is paid according to their abilities and needs.  

A bit like StarTrek. ????

Emphasis on theory.

On 4/27/2019 at 10:41 AM, Mahseer said:

tutsiwarrior, I appreciate the reply and will put it on me list for next time, thanks. I enjoy trains here so looks straight forward getting there.

 

I'm in country now and just got into the mountain village of Sin Ho which is well worth a look if any interest in the ethnic folk that reside and just need to vacate before the Sapa folks get here for tomorrow's market. Pretty much got the town to myself today so happy days.

 

Enjoy

Wonderful area, i have ridden up from Saigon two times to explore the mountains there.

4 hours ago, chrissables said:

Wonderful area, i have ridden up from Saigon two times to explore the mountains there.

Have you taken the road from Sin Ho to Tuan Giao? It's 150kms of curves with a tiny straight bit when you cross the river. Came that way yesterday in a pick up but far better suited to a bike. Amazing often single track road up and down mountain sides with great scenery thrown in.

 

Oh to be young again!

On 4/26/2019 at 1:56 PM, tideout said:

Not as developed in Vietnam as Thailand. One of the nice features of spending time in Thailand was the food court(s) in malls. Some very good food (and variety for a very reasonable price. You can even find chains or stores that are using chain signs with really mediocre food/beverages. In District 7 there are a couple of large malls but neither of them has what you'd call a food court like in Thai malls.

That did have a huge modern mall way down near the 5 th bridge crossing the river .

A huge supermarket where you could get food freshly made off the shelves and take it to an adjacent seating area and they had tills on the entrance , had some nice pizza and spaghetti 

19 hours ago, Jaggg88 said:

Not like Thailand then? politically stable ????

In todays time politics can change fast everywhere.... Why should they change in Vietnam? Do you belief that Vietnam will follow China?  

On 4/27/2019 at 8:32 AM, WonnabeBiker said:

After having visited a dozen times, I've now moved to a larger city in Central Vietnam. 

 

* Forget consideration for others. Through open doors at high rise condos, music gets BLASTED. OR kids playing football by the elevators after 9 pm. Or someone decides to burn organic waste next to a primary school. (Fumigating the school, I would expect to get fined a year'S salary AND do time for such conduct back home.

 

* The level of dishonesty is staggering. Rarely will people keep their word. I've met teachers who have been royally effed over by "centers" in polymorph ways. 

 

* Soft skills? Forget it! 

 

* Bring sauces and be very careful whom to give your dry cleaning. Had delicate suits ruined by greedy bastards doing MACHINE WASHING.

 

* There is an energy, a quest for life. And in business, they are hard and tough like ingrown toenails. 

 

Last weekend, I stayed at a aub $ 50 apartment with a kitchenette in a small town named HA TRUNG. The building looked ramshackle but was perfectly okay, if you like to be behind bars. 

 

Closing, you can get delicatessen delivered and buy a long-term VISA, if needed. (Hello Thailand, wake up)!

Explain long term Visa....

8 minutes ago, GeKoSc said:

Explain long term Visa....

over 3 months.

Just now, BritManToo said:

over 3 months.

fine...which are the requirements and steps to apply for this LT visa? 

1 minute ago, GeKoSc said:

fine...which are the requirements and steps to apply for this LT visa? 

$150 and an agent.

Edited April 29, 20197 yr by BritManToo

2 hours ago, GeKoSc said:

Explain long term Visa....

• 3 month single entry
• 6 month multi entry
• 1 Year multi entry

You can get them for tourism or business.  For tourism fees range from US35-55; For business prices range from US$ 130-550.  No BS red tape like in Thailand; basically fill  out the form, pay the fee, and you're good to go.  You can do it through an embassy but Vietnam also has very streamlined ways to do it at the airport or online before you arrive.

 

Here are some links tro explore for more information (not vouching for any them since I haven't really looked too deeply into this yet).

 

https://www.vietnam-evisa.org/apply-visa.html

https://vietnamvisa.govt.vn/vietnam-visa/visa-fees/

https://www.vietnam-visa.com/ (This one sounds the most reviewed and trusted by many people, but for some reason they don't list 1 year visas)

 

Edited April 29, 20197 yr by WaveHunter

Still hoping some knowledgable person can give me some idea of what to expect arriving and going through customs with personal belongings (all used and obviously only for personal use) like 32 inch computer monitor, bicycle ($3,000 racing bike), laptop, etc.

2 hours ago, WaveHunter said:

Still hoping some knowledgable person can give me some idea of what to expect arriving and going through customs with personal belongings (all used and obviously only for personal use) like 32 inch computer monitor, bicycle ($3,000 racing bike), laptop, etc.

from my understanding a few years ago all shipped personal belongings are taxed by customs 100% as if they were new and unused...most of the stuff that you bring in yer luggage should be OK...but as things continually change the 100% tax may not exist any longer...an associate wanted to ship a luxury motorbike (a big motoguzzi) from Malaysia in 2010 and was told that he'd havta pay the 100% tax...

 

they got shipping agents in VN like everywhere else, best to see what they say...

 

 

On 4/27/2019 at 10:06 AM, tutsiwarrior said:

 

ye havta go there and see it...I worked and lived there for 18mos and it was the most scenic place I'd seen outside of California where I'm from...it's not on any tourist itinerary

 

it was a depressed agricultural place until it became an 'economic zone' and then they built a steel mill that released tons of toxic waste into the sea in 2016 resulting in the biggest disaster since the american war...the coastal fisheries are just starting to come back...a couple of years ago only the river fish was edible...

 

check it out from Vinh to the north to Dong Hoi to the south, there's a 3 star hotel (nice western accommodation for $43 per night incl a good breakfast buffet) in Ky Anh built to accommodate contractors that come to service the steel mill and the power station where I worked in 2010, things were a lot different back then...and the seafood is the best I've had anywhere...plenty of taxis and private cars/minivans with drivers around...

 

there is a little known but spectacular UN world heritage site and national park near Dong Hoi (in Quang Binh province adjacent to Ha Tinh to the south)...the approach thru a river valley is breathtaking...the main attraction are some caves but that's a lot of walking...prefer to drink beer and admire the view...Dong Hoi is a nice little town on a river with a nice promenade, destroyed twice by the french and the americans but rebuilt both times...good accommodation and eats available there as well

 

there are provincial airports in Vinh and Dong Hoi and there's a train stop in Ha Tinh

 

check it out...a bit of a hassle to get there but you won't be disappointed...

 

 

Yeah vietnam i think is more scenic than thailand with the possible exception of the south around krabi... i like the fact it is a long way north to south with elevation rises similar to ca in that way and also i enjoy that you can get a nice road going most of the way along the coast and actually see some crashing waves backdropped by mountains...

1 hour ago, tlandtday said:

Yeah vietnam i think is more scenic than thailand with the possible exception of the south around krabi... i like the fact it is a long way north to south with elevation rises similar to ca in that way and also i enjoy that you can get a nice road going most of the way along the coast and actually see some crashing waves backdropped by mountains...

right at the border between Ha Tinh and Quang Binh provinces there are some mountains that crash into the sea like Big Sur in California...quite amazing and totally unexpected...some years ago when I was on my way to the Dong Hoi airport from Ky Anh I said wait a minute, wait a minute what did I just see??? then there are the little towns on rivers with brightly colored houses and etc...once in a daze I thought about getting a river barge converted to a houseboat and living there happily forever after with my shapely local wife in cone hat and shorts pulling in a fishing line with the day's meal off the stern, etc...wake up tutsi! yer outta vodka and cigarettes, ye want me to go to the shop and get ye some? nah, just take off what ye got on and slide in here next to me...mmm, all sweaty and fragrant...

 

Bogart and Hepburn in The African Queen...somewhere on the north central coast of Viet Nam...

 

 

17 hours ago, Mahseer said:

Have you taken the road from Sin Ho to Tuan Giao? It's 150kms of curves with a tiny straight bit when you cross the river. Came that way yesterday in a pick up but far better suited to a bike. Amazing often single track road up and down mountain sides with great scenery thrown in.

 

Oh to be young again!

Yes i have, wonderful views along that road! 

 

Tried for a second time last year, but due to a friend leaving his camera at at a rest stop we backtracked and ended up taking another route to Sapa.

 

I'm 58 and intend to ride there again. Now i have ridden about 23,000 km around all of the country. Trip repor below if interested ????

 

https://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/1050350-motorbike-travel-around-vietnamagain/

 

https://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/963199-motorbike-travel-around-vietnam/

 

 

On 4/24/2019 at 10:59 PM, Mahseer said:

Hoi An is certainly a major tourist attraction but for me would be a decent place to start if considering moving to Vietnam. Somewhere comfortable to give you time to find your feet before moving on to somewhere away from the tourist path if that's what you are looking for.

Agree. Pretty town (not flattened by US bombing) Great beaches, good people. nice restaurants and only a short way to Danang for air / train travel

27 minutes ago, chrissables said:

Yes i have, wonderful views along that road! 

 

Tried for a second time last year, but due to a friend leaving his camera at at a rest stop we backtracked and ended up taking another route to Sapa.

 

I'm 58 and intend to ride there again. Now i have ridden about 23,000 km around all of the country. Trip repor below if interested ????

 

https://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/1050350-motorbike-travel-around-vietnamagain/

 

https://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/963199-motorbike-travel-around-vietnam/

 

 

Great stuff. Ive got 10 years on you so maybe belong in the relative safety of a pick up but that road is 150kms of corners stitched together and certainly needs to be ridden not drove. 

 

Just hope folks that are considering moving to Vietnam, I am not one by the way but thoroughly enjoy visiting, get to see these parts of the country. Have made 3 trips to the northwest and it certainly impresses every time.

 

Safe travels.

On 4/28/2019 at 12:42 PM, Kwasaki said:

Not at all just one of the meanings of Communism another is a political theory derived from Karl Marx, advocating class war and leading to a society in which all property is publicly owned and each person works and is paid according to their abilities and needs.  

A bit like StarTrek. ????

Yep, like lots of political systems it sounds great on paper. The reality is often quite different.

Beyond that, political systems change with time, like all organisms hell-bent on maintaining themselves at the cost of those around them. 

They can morph into ghastly things totally unrecognizable from their highschool yearbook photos. Kinda like me.

I know of what I speak as I am American. Nuff said.