Looking for advice on relocating to HCMC with 7 year old son

You are taking a major lifestyle change and I presume your so is at the top of your priorities.

Your son is under 16 and therefore to fly the airline will require a court order giving you sole custody, or an affidavit from the child's mother agreeing you may take him out of your country of domicile. If the boys Mother is deceased you will have to prove that, too.

Next your son will need education. As a non-Vietnamese it means you will have to place him in one of these commercial international schools who have one thing in common. Money, BIG money and we are talking USD$10,000-20,000 per annum, and not the greatest quality either.

Accommodation, minimal facilities will likely set you back $400/month +++ (water, electricity, management fee, cable TV, InterNet). Landlords generally require a 2 month deposit PLUS first months rent. For a $400/month apartment that is a $1,200 hit. Search Craigs List VietNam for accommodation to get a handle on prices. Stay in a hotel until you figure out where you want to stay - they can be cheaper than apartments, even in Q1.

VNPT will provide Internet on credit, i.e. not prepaid. You should also get a VNPT prepaid 365 cell account which allows you to buy an amount of prepaid air time which is good for a year but you have to use the phone at least onnce a month. That's 365, remember it, their office is on Nguyen Du (pronounced win dzu) near the back of the Main Post Office which is opposite the cathedral. The InterNet office is in the same block.

Foe a complete list of job search engines go to: < http://www.livinginvietnam.com/index.ph … l?Itemid=0 >.

What you are proposing is called immigration. VietNam, like your home country has procedure for immigrants, except VietNam's are easier.

You should get a copy of the police criminal record for yourself, then apply for a visa for you and your son. Since your son has likely got his own passport, you will need a separate visa for him.

Do not mention working! Just apply for a tourist visa, they come in 30 and 90 day flavours.

The visas can be extended whilst you research your options. Get caught working and it's deportation time.

Teaching English is akin to the dish washing jobs in earlier times. Everyone claims to be able to teach English, just to make a buck.