A WEBSITE FOR EXPATS, BY EXPATS

macintyre wrote:

that is simply not right. there is no 'blank box'.

what there should be, as there is on your message, is a Reply button on bottom right.

kind regards

macintyre

I'm not sure if it applies to your problem but you need to be properly logged in to see the reply options. Once you log in, you might want to refresh the whole website to see the options appear.

Uptownbruce wrote:

Julian - As dministrator I am guessing you know the expat world here prey well.

Do you have any suggestions, would you be willing to meet me anywhere in town foe some coffee?

Expat.com covers many countries in the world, Vietnam is only one of them.  Julien lives in Mauritius, more than 4000 air miles from Vietnam so a meeting with you is not going to happen. 

This site relies on local members and volunteers for their knowledge and expertise.  Your thread on the potential move to Hoi An has received a good number of responses from several members including yours truly, the local volunteer.  Even if the responses do not match your view and hope, I suggest that you stay active in that thread if you wish to garner more information and opinions on your dream city.

Moreover, as you're in Hoi An already for the next two weeks, why not using the time to walk all the streets in both the Old Town and the new area, talk to real estate agents, shop clerks, restaurant waitstaff, museum employees, cyclo and taxi drivers (#1 source on everything local), etc.  If you truly want to be part of the community and not being an outsider as you said on your thread, then begin to learn about the community from the locals right now while you're there instead of trying to make contact with Hoi An expats.  Many regular persons on the street would have something to share if you're only willing to talk and listen to them.

Ciambella wrote:

Moreover, as you're in Hoi An already for the next two weeks, why not using the time to walk all the streets in both the Old Town and the new area......

I admit to having only been to Hoi An once, in the evening and after dark, as a side trip from Da Nang.  As Ciambella wisely said, you should visit both sides of town. While the traditional architecture is charming,  I wonder if the old town is really the place to be if one wants to experience the elusive "real" Vietnam, whatever that is.     On the opposite end of the spectrum, neither is Q.1 in HCMC.  Some expats are better situated financially than others for roaming around the country taking in the sites.  Many need to get settled in with a job as soon as possible to make ends meet, but everyone should do as much travelling as they can afford.  Sadly, until relatively recently many locals have had a hard time finding the time or money to travel.  Amazingly my wife just took the train to her place of birth in Tan Hoa for the first time since reunification in 1975.  I guess what I am trying to say is simply try looking around as much as you can.  Minimally, take a trip to Da Nang if you haven't already and see if you can get as far as Hue.  If you appreciate architecture, you have to visit the Citadel.  The Forbidden City in Beijing was reputedly modeled after the Vietnamese architecture of the palaces in Hue in an interesting reversal of the usual cultural exchange.  If you are riding a motorbike, get off the main highway (sadly my wife gets needlessly nervous about doing so) take a few back roads and get a feeling for the agriculture of the region.  Most importantly enjoy yourself.