Joseph (Andy)
@saigonmonkey
American expat in Vietnam
Forum posts
728
Contacts
19
About me
American
Lives in Ho Chi Minh City
Speaks English, Vietnamese (very limited)
Registration: 18 February 2011
Is the internet gateway broke again? by Budman1
It's been a problem all morning. Maybe it's my ISP (VNPT) down here in Can Tho.
Jaitch is likely right - the mobile (3G) carriers get their internet from the same sources as the terrestrial carriers, therefore are likely to be affected the same. I've noticed my 3G service is somewhat slower than before, which seems to bear ... Read More
Thanksgiving dinner
Buddha Bar on Thao Dien street in Q2 posted an ad on Facebook that they're serving Thanksgiving-style dinners every day until Nov. 30th. 350,000 per dinner. Read More
Misc. everyday life questions by cvco
1) Which is the predominant SIM card used, old standard size or new micro card? 2) Whats in the markets? Is there a variety of international foods or is the stock mainly Viet, Chinese brands? 3) Whats on TV on the standard, non-satellite channels ...
Yes, can turn right and go down toward the domestic terminal, but can also turn left and go to the end of the international terminal area where there is a legitimate (meaning they are real, name-brand taxis - not rip-offs) taxi stand with a queuing ... Read More
Vietnamese wife? by bta87
I realize this is a very subjective question, but are what are the experiences of the men on here that are married to VN brides? Question #2) What should I look out for. I've heard some real horor stories. Mind you I'm 63, have money and girls are ...
Is that how you got your name? ;)My wife gave me that name because I'm a very hairy (except my head, unfortunately) western guy. Read More
Vietnamese wife? by bta87
I realize this is a very subjective question, but are what are the experiences of the men on here that are married to VN brides? Question #2) What should I look out for. I've heard some real horor stories. Mind you I'm 63, have money and girls are ...
Dan, you're hilarious. For those not familiar with my terminology, it "monkey" as in the girls in those places climb all over the customers like the small monkeys people keep as pets. Read More
Vietnamese wife? by bta87
I realize this is a very subjective question, but are what are the experiences of the men on here that are married to VN brides? Question #2) What should I look out for. I've heard some real horor stories. Mind you I'm 63, have money and girls are ...
Anyone, especially in Viet Nam, would be crazy to propose to a girl they just met and slept with. And, as you can see, even a bar girl knows that. No one can say they know someone after a few days let alone love them. I know a woman who used to own ... Read More
Book a flight with Vietnamese Airlines from D1 by guest 87
Me and my girlfriend are taking a short break in October from the hectic life of Ho Chi Minh City! We are travelling to Phu Quoc but first we need to book our flights. Any recommendations on travel agents to use to make a booking? We live in ...
Just use Vietnam Airlines. vietnamairlines.com Read More
Looking for advice or opinions about a girlfriend. by robert_jpop
Hello everyone, I met a Vietnamese girl through an online dating website. I live in the US and I am 32 years old. She is 20. We started writing to each other towards the end of January of this year. After three weeks we lost touch with each other, ...
I agree with regard to online chatting that the short answers are not good. If she's online with someone she supposed to be interested in, she should take the time to give better replies. But with local texting on the phone, all bets are off. ... Read More
Seeking information on anonymous HIV testing centres in HCMC by janin
One of my expat friends wants to under HIV test but without revealing his passport or other details. Please post here details of local clinics hospitals, centres run by NGOs/international organisations etc which can perform a simple HIV test in ...
Most hospitals and clinics are not going to provide services to anyone without some form of ID. The results will be kept confidential anyway. I would be more worried about my employer or my insurance company finding out, and in order to ensure that ... Read More
Looking for advice or opinions about a girlfriend. by robert_jpop
Hello everyone, I met a Vietnamese girl through an online dating website. I live in the US and I am 32 years old. She is 20. We started writing to each other towards the end of January of this year. After three weeks we lost touch with each other, ...
Some don't provide anything when meeting. They claim they are waiting for marriage or until they get to know them better. Some do get closer just to bring them in deeper. It's also common for girls to give their phones to other girls or ... Read More
Looking for advice or opinions about a girlfriend. by robert_jpop
Hello everyone, I met a Vietnamese girl through an online dating website. I live in the US and I am 32 years old. She is 20. We started writing to each other towards the end of January of this year. After three weeks we lost touch with each other, ...
This is exactly where I'm coming from... And if she's doing all those things AND is young and sexy, well, that's just a bonus, isn't it? Dan is right - anyone who gives a girl money who is only young and sexy but otherwise does ... Read More
Looking for advice or opinions about a girlfriend. by robert_jpop
Hello everyone, I met a Vietnamese girl through an online dating website. I live in the US and I am 32 years old. She is 20. We started writing to each other towards the end of January of this year. After three weeks we lost touch with each other, ...
First of all, if you read all my posts, you'll see that my current wife isn't even Vietnamese - she's Chinese. Secondly, my point is we're all "paying for it", one way or another, one amount or another. Why not formalize ... Read More
Looking for advice or opinions about a girlfriend. by robert_jpop
Hello everyone, I met a Vietnamese girl through an online dating website. I live in the US and I am 32 years old. She is 20. We started writing to each other towards the end of January of this year. After three weeks we lost touch with each other, ...
Agree, I can't believe some of these guys. IMO it's an old guy paying "don't leave me sweetie" money. Turn it around......If you met a girl back home and she moved in with you , and you pay for everything. THEN she expected ... Read More
Looking for advice or opinions about a girlfriend. by robert_jpop
Hello everyone, I met a Vietnamese girl through an online dating website. I live in the US and I am 32 years old. She is 20. We started writing to each other towards the end of January of this year. After three weeks we lost touch with each other, ...
Glad we got all that clarified. As I said before, I'm not recommending any certain amount. Everyone is different, and I've known guys who allowed their girl as much as $3000 / month or more. Personally, I think that's crazy, given that ... Read More
Looking for advice or opinions about a girlfriend. by robert_jpop
Hello everyone, I met a Vietnamese girl through an online dating website. I live in the US and I am 32 years old. She is 20. We started writing to each other towards the end of January of this year. After three weeks we lost touch with each other, ...
aibiet: Unless your whole post is facetious, I'm going to assume you misunderstood mine. Allow me to clarify. In my relationship there are 3 "pots" of money - hers, mine, and OURS. Her monthly allowance goes in her pot, and she's ... Read More
Looking for advice or opinions about a girlfriend. by robert_jpop
Hello everyone, I met a Vietnamese girl through an online dating website. I live in the US and I am 32 years old. She is 20. We started writing to each other towards the end of January of this year. After three weeks we lost touch with each other, ...
Because this is an expat forum and there are no local Vietnamese men posting here (that I'm aware). Most western men want their wife/girlfriend to stay home and take care of the home and us. I'm speaking for guys like me, and am well aware ... Read More
Looking for advice or opinions about a girlfriend. by robert_jpop
Hello everyone, I met a Vietnamese girl through an online dating website. I live in the US and I am 32 years old. She is 20. We started writing to each other towards the end of January of this year. After three weeks we lost touch with each other, ...
Good add to my post, eodmatt. As you state, it's not foolproof - the man really needs to know and trust the girl before proposing this. That's why, as I said in my original post, it's amusing that a girl who hardly knows a man would ask ... Read More
Importing motorbike under 125cc from Thailand into Vietnam by GuestPoster204
Hey everybody! I've got into a situation.. Now need to move out of Thailand, and I think that the best place for me will be nowdays Vietnam) So I need to import my motorbike Honda Pcx 124cc.. Too many modifications made already and I care much ...
You're getting advice. We're all telling you it's going to cost you more than the bike is worth to get it into VN. You'll probably come out ahead if you just GIVE the bike away before you leave Thailand, then buy another one here. ... Read More
Looking for advice or opinions about a girlfriend. by robert_jpop
Hello everyone, I met a Vietnamese girl through an online dating website. I live in the US and I am 32 years old. She is 20. We started writing to each other towards the end of January of this year. After three weeks we lost touch with each other, ...
If you're talking to me, it's not manipulation if it's my idea - meaning I'm the one who suggests it first. Many of the young women here have no clue or concept of a budget. Putting one on a monthly allowance teaches them that ... Read More
Looking for advice or opinions about a girlfriend. by robert_jpop
Hello everyone, I met a Vietnamese girl through an online dating website. I live in the US and I am 32 years old. She is 20. We started writing to each other towards the end of January of this year. After three weeks we lost touch with each other, ...
It's indeed amusing that a girl would ask for a monthly allowance so early on, but it's actually not a bad idea in the long run. As has been said here numerous times, many VN women want a man who can "take care" of them and their ... Read More
Importing motorbike under 125cc from Thailand into Vietnam by GuestPoster204
Hey everybody! I've got into a situation.. Now need to move out of Thailand, and I think that the best place for me will be nowdays Vietnam) So I need to import my motorbike Honda Pcx 124cc.. Too many modifications made already and I care much ...
STN: Sell your bike in Thailand. Then take the money from that + all the money it'll cost you to bribe VN customs + pay the import tax anyway, and use it to buy another PCX and customize it here. You're wasting your time, energy, and good ... Read More
Keep those Headlights and Taillights Burning! by Jaitch
Over the past three weeks I have been stopped twice in HCM and three times outside HCM - twice during the day - for 'light' checks. I do about 3-4,000 kilometres a month. There is no language 'problem' (or escape) - one CGST operates ...
Jaitch, I'm with you on that, and when I had that devil eye installed, I had thoughts exactly as you describe - what's going to happen when I encounter one of the idiots going the wrong way? Is he going to mistake it for a tail light and ... Read More
Looking for advice or opinions about a girlfriend. by robert_jpop
Hello everyone, I met a Vietnamese girl through an online dating website. I live in the US and I am 32 years old. She is 20. We started writing to each other towards the end of January of this year. After three weeks we lost touch with each other, ...
Ngattt: Here's the problem with your post - As I'm sure you are a good person and a good VN lady, you probably also surround yourself with friends who are basically the same as you. So that's where you come from in the conversation, but ... Read More
Keep those Headlights and Taillights Burning! by Jaitch
Over the past three weeks I have been stopped twice in HCM and three times outside HCM - twice during the day - for 'light' checks. I do about 3-4,000 kilometres a month. There is no language 'problem' (or escape) - one CGST operates ...
Dejavu.dot's photo looks like my headlight. That's with the HID lamp off in the running light mode. Police from HCMC to Can Tho have no problem with it. (HID lamp on - the red "devil eye" changes to bright white.) Read More
Looking for advice or opinions about a girlfriend. by robert_jpop
Hello everyone, I met a Vietnamese girl through an online dating website. I live in the US and I am 32 years old. She is 20. We started writing to each other towards the end of January of this year. After three weeks we lost touch with each other, ...
Dan, I'm not a moderator, but you guys are off topic. And I'll settle it by saying I have many VN female friends who are fine with being called "em oi" by me because I know them well. Furthermore, because I'm a westerner, ... Read More
Looking for advice or opinions about a girlfriend. by robert_jpop
Hello everyone, I met a Vietnamese girl through an online dating website. I live in the US and I am 32 years old. She is 20. We started writing to each other towards the end of January of this year. After three weeks we lost touch with each other, ...
Mr. Two-post needs to come over to Vietnam and spend several months here, getting to know the ladies. Note I said ladies - not just one - many. Anyone who has never been to Vietnam and never had any experience with the women here will get eaten ... Read More
Video downloader/converter by Budman1
Is there a download for software on the net that downloads and converts a video file to a specific DVD/CD player. I have a SONY DAV DZ555K player. I've been trying for two days to download the movie "The Great Escape" and get it to ...
Hey Budman, I long ago gave up trying to burn downloaded movies to DVD. Even had a techie friend of mine try to do it for me, and he couldn't. The fact that you've been able to do a few and have them work is great. I've never had any ... Read More
Marital ransom..... Is it normal in VN? by Vagabondone
Just curious if it is common practice in Vietnam if when there is marital discourse that ransom is demanded as a condition of reconciliation? Have a friend who got sideways with his wife. She booted him to the curb. He is not allowed to return until ...
I thought she was your housekeeper, Ancient. Have I missed something over the past few months? :-) Read More
Getting married, but have doubts... by fredgo
Hi all, I am new to this site, so bear with me. To the point, I have finally met a woman in Viet Nam that I love truly. In fact, I just spent 3 months with her in Nam Dinh and at the end I asked her to marry me. She is divorced and 2 children ...
I'm seeing more and more with Samsung Galaxy S4 or S5. iPhones aren't the status symbol they were just a year or two ago. Read More
Is your Apartment Secure? Are you sure? by Jaitch
Many people assume their apartments are secure from intrusion. Delusional. New apartments have these latest fad - card and PIN access. Basic Locks =========== Most VNese outside doors use Euro-style locks. These are simple to spot as the lock ...
Totally agree. Especially the part about making friends with neighbors. I'm also friendly with my security staff and give them all red envelopes at Tet holiday. I'm probably the only tenant in the complex who does that, and I'm looked ... Read More
Is your Apartment Secure? Are you sure? by Jaitch
Many people assume their apartments are secure from intrusion. Delusional. New apartments have these latest fad - card and PIN access. Basic Locks =========== Most VNese outside doors use Euro-style locks. These are simple to spot as the lock ...
PhilRivera: What Jaitch has posted isn't for everyone - only those who seem not to be aware that the issues he outlines do exist here in Vietnam. I'm talking about those who sit in streetside cafes with their iPhone or iPad laying on the ... Read More
HELP !!!! Unable to locate Server....?
I was watching at the exact moment it happened Tuesday night, called my ISP guy, and he confirmed the AAG is broken AGAIN. I was gonna post on here to let everyone know, but then thought, why bother, everyone will figure it out soon enough, and ... Read More
Increased ATM charges by Budman1
I've been using Agri bank ATM's down here in Can Tho for quite awhile now because the limit per withdrawal is 3mil VND Vs while the other ATM's are still at 2mil VND per. In the past the charge has been about $1.43 for each and my bank hits me for ...
OK guys and gals, let's revisit this thread and share info about where the ATMs with the highest withdrawal limits are in HCMC. The one I've been using, an ANZ in Phu My Hung, has dropped its limit from 10 mill to 5 mill. Is there an ATM ... Read More
temp resident card but no longer working by tomas mac donncha
i got a resident card while working with a school in Saigon. i stopped working there a year ago to come back to the uk. i haven't been back to Vietnam since. but the card expires in July 2015. is it still valid? no one ever asked me to return ...
A Temporary Residence Card can be used, and works exactly the same as a visa. It's basically just a longer-term visa. Posters above who mentioned the school didn't take back the card or cancel the TRC because of the paperwork involved are ... Read More
My vietnamese GF is pregnant - how much it costs for pregnancy in HCMC by MarcusKS
Hi , I,m from Malaysia and my Vietnamese GF called me this morning that she is pregnant ! After she has a pregnancy test and yes she is ... I was so happy because we will have a baby soon . But i need some advise from expats . How much does it cost ...
Glad to see Jaitch is back to help bring credibility to this forum again. I don't always agree with everything he says, but at least none of it is total nonsense. Read More
Bicycles in HCMC
I ride my bicycle around HCMC only for exercise, and I'm usually soaked with sweat within 5-10 minutes. For that reason alone, I would avoid riding a bicycle to work, unless I could shower and change clothes after arriving there. It's just ... Read More
Trust with Landlord by ancientpathos
Monday I returned to my rental house after being gone for 2 days. One of my doors to the living room/garage was open, my bedroom door open and a laptop and cash taken from a locked desk. None of the landlord property taken. There are 2 flatscreen ...
The only places in VN you can truly feel secure are complexes guarded by security staff at every entrance, and that's only after you become friendly with the staff and give them beer and coffee money from time to time. I also give my guys red ... Read More
Don't bring cash from not-popular currencies, USD preferred by Anatta
Just want to let you know Vietnam is not a good place to exchange money if you have cash from currencies other than, say, USD, EUR, GBP,.. If you have cash from the popular currencies mentioned above, you get quite ok rate. The spread (i.e., the ...
Canadian is OK, and currency exchange in Vietnam today is much more stable and predictable than it was 2 years ago when Anatta and Jaitch first posted those comments above. Read More
Dry cough by tintinmiami2013
All, When I went to HCMC, Vietnam 3 months ago, I experienced a very "dry" cough for 2 weeks. I finally got rid of it once I returned to the States. Some locals told me it is due to the air pollution. Anybody else experienced this ...
I think it's a bug going around. I had it all last week. Had to take Robitussin every night before bed so I could sleep. I have a lot of allergies, so if it was because of something in the air, I don't think it would ever go away from me. ... Read More
what is true love with Vietnamese girl? by nnthuy154
I incidently read a story about a British man maried with a dirty Vietnamese girl. I fell very ashamed because I am Vietnamese too. You should agree that you may meet the good ones or the bad ones in every country, but especially the ones origined ...
Thanks, AP, for getting this thread back on topic. I totally agree with your comments above. My definition of love consists mostly of faithfulness. That is, being in a relationship where both partners are faithful to each other, whether there's ... Read More
what is true love with Vietnamese girl? by nnthuy154
I incidently read a story about a British man maried with a dirty Vietnamese girl. I fell very ashamed because I am Vietnamese too. You should agree that you may meet the good ones or the bad ones in every country, but especially the ones origined ...
I'm really bored today and haven't posted in awhile, so I'll add, for you guys reading this who haven't been to Vietnam before, that if you meet a girl working in a bar where many foreign guys go, and you're fat, old and ugly, ... Read More
Increased ATM charges by Budman1
I've been using Agri bank ATM's down here in Can Tho for quite awhile now because the limit per withdrawal is 3mil VND Vs while the other ATM's are still at 2mil VND per. In the past the charge has been about $1.43 for each and my bank hits me for ...
Which ANZ ATM do you use? If you read this entire thread you'll see that I and others have said the amounts of withdrawal vary by ATM location. It's possible that only the ATM you're using has changed, and you may still be able to get 10 ... Read More
Why are there any towels in washroom? by cowboyBob
One thing I hate after washing my hands in VN is there are no clean towels in washroom. Very few places have blowers or have one common dirty cloth towel use by everyone, other than that zilt for drying. Ends up flinging my hands in the air or ...
I've thought about this a lot over the years I've been here, and my speculation is cost and theft (and the cost associated with theft). Anytime there are paper products left in a public bathroom, you can bet they won't be there long. So the ... Read More
Please don't smell my baby. by jakejas
I have noticed that Vietnamese people have some odd infatuation with making my baby cry. The last incident happened when we dropped a friend off at her apartment. The baby (Kim) was in the backseat, and the friend went up real close to Kim while she ...
My baby has come in contact with many Vietnamese people and I've never seen or heard of this happening. Maybe it's because I live in Phu My Hung and the Vietnamese there are more aware that this is not acceptable behavior - I don't know. But we also ... Read More
Time to run away? by Jquinoq
:/ so, I met this girl 34 years old , started dating her ( seriously) within a week her family has me at a Buddha temple talking about wedding dates with a " master" . Omg. I just met her WTF is the family thinking after two week " marriage" her ...
If she's 34 and not just looking for money, you don't need to run away. You do need to have a serious talk with her, as the other posters here have said. I agree that the "pressure" is coming from the fact that she's 34, and that only. On the other ... Read More
My vietnamese girlfriend cannot stay at my house in vietnam overnight by enigma1981
Today i went to the local police station in da nang,cause i just renewed my visa,and the policeman told me they have right to check my house which i rented one month ago anytime even at mid-night?! And my vietnamese girlfriend cannot stay at my ...
This is absolutely true. First of all, whether or not it's illegal, a foreign male and foreign female can cohabitate here with no problems at all from the authorities. I and my wife are proof of that. We've lived in several different places before ... Read More
Domestic drinking water? How safe? by Dannytan
Hi All, I was told that the water supplied at my house is domestic drinking water, what is it? I presume that it is from the tap. If so how safe is it to drink. ciao' danny
For those of you who are paranoid about the water in HCMC, please read this thread from September 2012: https://www.expat.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=200174 Because I don't trust the delivery systems (i.e. the pipes, etc.), I always boil my water. ... Read More
Apartment Rental Limitation by titanium_arm
Hello Guys, I am new in HCMC, I am living in a Hotel now in Phu My Hung, I was looking to rent a room and my friends told me that there are some limitation for a foreigner to rent an apartment in VN. They said that I can only rent an apartment ...
Parmyd is correct. And as another poster said, you can rent with only a tourist visa. The reason you may have been told the information you questioned is the fact that some landlords do not want to rent to anyone who may not be in a long-term ... Read More
Coffee, how safe is it in Vietnam?
I only buy Trung Nguyen at Co-Op Mart, so I think I'm OK. Very seldom drink large quantities outside of my home. Read More
Stateside internet connection problem?
No problem for me either. But I have noticed the connection is not as stable now as it was before the "scheduled maintenance" they did on the AAG at the first of last month. At the end of February, my connection was rock-stable. Now, not so much. ... Read More
Internet slow down again by Budman1
Looks like the internet is going down the tubes again. Started late last night and now today it's next to worthless. Changed over to my 3G USB to see if that would speed it up. Nope. Is it just me? I'm using VNPT.
Vahaa, You obviously don't have a clue with regard to internet issues in Vietnam. Do you even live here? If your English wasn't so good, I would swear you work for one of the ISPs here. Read More
Why do some motor drivers don't look, before they go forward, Ahead? by spajcte
So today while i was driving, someone pulled right in front of me, so me trying to avoid to hit the person on the side, i slammed my brakes and skidded on the road, Hurting my Knee my elbow and braking my left side mirror. All i could see was his ...
My answer, if I was the VN minister of transport, would be to continue to segregate the motorbike and car/truck/bus traffic as much as possible, and that is beginning to happen with the construction of highways such as the Long Thanh expressway. ... Read More
Why are the speed limits so low in Vietnam? by I do believe
I already know some answers to my question but would be interested to hear others' views and experiences with the rules here and police. When I first came to Vietnam I was amused that the biggest bikes commonly available were 125 or 135; nowadays ...
If that's true, it's because the average Vietnamese auto/truck motorist doesn't know how to drive safely at 100+kph. My driver is as good as I've ever had (I've had at least 6 or 7 - I lost count) and he looked like he was challenged when we drove ... Read More
Social Security and my Vietnam address by lostvietdreamer
Hello, I could use some help. I just had my Social Security income stopped because they said I can not collect it if my address is in Vietnam. My Social Security is direct deposited into my US bank account. It is not sent to Vietnam. The reason I ...
Budman, even though you're right, I'm very paranoid about giving up my USA address. I'll always have one, somewhere in the US, just in case... Read More
Can someone put a stop on this add!! from (Alarva Cynthia) by spajcte
How many times... can someone post the same add... Over and Over...? it really gets annoying to see it that many times.. with no difference at all. Please stop that. Thank you
Yes... You can stop it. Look to the top right of the post box, just under the button "Subscribe". You'll see the word "Report". Click that and it lets the moderators know about the inappropriate posts. Read More
Why do some motor drivers don't look, before they go forward, Ahead? by spajcte
So today while i was driving, someone pulled right in front of me, so me trying to avoid to hit the person on the side, i slammed my brakes and skidded on the road, Hurting my Knee my elbow and braking my left side mirror. All i could see was his ...
@TPHCM - i wonder how long you have been driving in HCMC? The post by Ms Mae is exactly right and once you are aware of the 3 dimensional environment you are in, you will understand. All your time driving in America contributes to about 10% of the ... Read More
How long can a post stay active?
When someone PM's me here, I get an email notification. If you send someone a PM and they don't answer, then it's likely they've just lost interest in this blog, as I have over the past few months. But I'm still in Vietnam, and am available if I get ... Read More
Why are the speed limits so low in Vietnam? by I do believe
I already know some answers to my question but would be interested to hear others' views and experiences with the rules here and police. When I first came to Vietnam I was amused that the biggest bikes commonly available were 125 or 135; nowadays ...
Because Vietnam will never progress as a country into the 20th Century (yes, the rest of the developed world is in the 21st Century) until they build more restricted-access highways. It's the same reason bicycles and mopeds aren't allowed on ... Read More
Slow Internet by BradCanTho
Are you guys experience a slow down with internet speed in the last couple of days? Running speedtest.net, everything normal when hitting Vietnamese servers, but servers outside of Vietnam are at a stand still. Another undersea cable has been ...
Ahhh, a thread about the internet.... My wheelhouse... Yes folks, VN internet has a problem...AGAIN. Happened overnight between this past Saturday and Sunday. Either the AAG cable has been broken again, or they are doing some maintenance on it. I ... Read More
4weeks by Jquinoq
:par: four week into my my life here in HCM, I'm am ready to leave. I've had enough.....people are some what rude, staring, take advantage of foreigners and what get me most is the double price list for local and foreigners. Big mistake !!!!!!!
All I can say is "8 years". And plan to stay until I retire, or die, whichever comes first. And even my retirement relocation is open for discussion. It will depend on my health and the environment in HCMC at that time. Regardless, I don't think ... Read More
Why don't Vietnamese understand Vietnamese spoken by a foreigner? by I do believe
Having lived in Vietnam for 6 years and studied Vietnamese at the University of Social Sciences and Humanities it never ceases to amaze me that if I speak and pronounce a Vietnamese phrase perfectly to most Vietnamese, they don't understand me. ...
I've lived in VN for almost 8 years. I took 2 courses of Vietnamese at a local school. I tried my best to pronounce everything exactly the way I was taught, but was never understood. So I just gave up. I get by just fine with English, because most ... Read More
New car by Jquinoq
:/ any recommendation on an honest good new car dealership in HCM ?
Yes, this is still correct. However, for motorbikes, the nomenclature is slightly different: xx yyy NN zzz My plate number is 59-296 NN 461. 50-59 are for HCMC 296 is American 461 is orderly number, meaning apparently 460 foreigners registered their ... Read More
New car by Jquinoq
:/ any recommendation on an honest good new car dealership in HCM ?
Oh, Oh, Oh, Miss Anatta :D .... I'm sorry to have to tell you this, but you are wrong. You are talking about NG plates, not NN plates. I have NN plates on my motorbike. This has been discussed here on this forum before. NN simply means ... Read More
New car by Jquinoq
:/ any recommendation on an honest good new car dealership in HCM ?
I've seen several cars in Phu My Hung with NN plates, so there ARE foreigners owning/driving cars here. However I agree with the other posters that it's not worth the trouble to drive one. And it's possible that those cars I've seen with the NN ... Read More
First dates by Jquinoq
What are some impressive resturant to take a first date in HCM? Any other advice for first dates? :P
Yes, you would be correct, and I already told her so a few days ago! :D Read More
Buying a new motorbike by I do believe
I've been really happy with my Honda PCX for the last couple of years but want to get the latest greatest. Unfortunately they stopped manufacturing this model and its replacement is not getting good reviews. Anybody have any suggestions as to a ...
The problem with most of the Vietnamese motorbikes/euro-scooters is they are designed and sized for Vietnamese, which is too small for most Western men. I bought a Honda SH because it is designed in Europe for larger-sized people. But a VN-made SH ... Read More
Best place to meet a good woman by Jquinoq
I'm 50, retired....very shy, insecure ... :cool: any advise on where to meet a lady for serious relationship that may lead to more, nit just a one night stand..... :/
You say you're retired, so that makes my recommendation difficult, but I'll tell you anyway... My job requires that I come in contact with many very lovely office ladies in the companies where I work, and in the offices of companies who support my ... Read More
Do you consider seriousness at the first time starting a relationship? by phanbamboo
I had an interesting discussion with my friend about the differences in the way Vietnamese and Western/American people think when they start a relationship. It began with my story about the foreign guy who wanted to start relationship with a girl ...
I think Parmyd's talking about two different kinds of women - the pros, and the amateurs. I agree with him - the pros ARE cheap, compared to other places in the world. Read More
How safe it is on a late night? by Dannytan
Hi All, Last night after dinner and a cafe at HCMC center near Notre Dame church, decided to take a walk back to NTMK Dakao ward. I am thinking is it safe to walk on the street at about say 11.30 at night? Safe in the sense of robbery, snatch ...
If you're a big ole white guy like me, and not carrying any valuables other than a wallet, it's unlikely anyone will bother you. I've been out on the streets in district 1 alone at 2am and didn't feel unsafe. On the other hand, I've been physically ... Read More
Dating/Marrying Tips for Expats :/ by OBB
when first dating local women i didnt heed the sage advise of my local relatives and went off on my own. being arrogant and confident i thought i had nothing new to learn considering my advanced age. i was humbled. several posts have inspired ...
Cherry, if you don't agree with 3, 5, and 9, then you are a "Westernized" Vietnamese lady. (That's not a bad thing) Most of the local ladies follow the practices described in 3, 5, and 9. OBB: Good post. So good, that I can't think of anything else ... Read More
NFL Playoffs by lostvietdreamer
Hello, if I can find 8 or 10 people interested in watching the NFL playoffs I have a place to do it. They are on live at 1am but they show the replays starting at 6 or 7am. Best
If you would just go ahead and tell the place, maybe you'll have more than 8 or 10 people show up. Read More
2013 Honda Sh 150 Vietnamese Made? by bnvmri943
Good day! I m currently in the mist of looking for Honda Sh150 the imported Sh150 cost around USD30000 Its too much to pay for scooter. the same model cost USD4500 in the States. So I kept my options to the locally made. To be honest both are ...
No. It's actually my bike. It's on that website because of all the custom work I did to it. You can't buy one like that at the Honda shop. That one was the standard black/silver version before I had the extreme makeover done to it. The black/red ... Read More
2013 Honda Sh 150 Vietnamese Made? by bnvmri943
Good day! I m currently in the mist of looking for Honda Sh150 the imported Sh150 cost around USD30000 Its too much to pay for scooter. the same model cost USD4500 in the States. So I kept my options to the locally made. To be honest both are ...
^ Highly unlikely on all fronts. The 150 and 300 really aren't the same bikes. They look similar, but the 300 is NOT a 150 with a 300 engine installed in it. The architecture is different. The peripherals for the 300 engine are different. By the ... Read More
Paperwork by ancientpathos
I bought a used motorbike 2 months ago. Wanting to be legal, I soon found out that I could not register it. Decided to register it in my girlfriend name. She said she could not because she is from a different province than we live. Is this true for ...
Yes Ancient, the government wants to control the movement of its people, and making things like this difficult is one way to deter them from moving around inside the country too much. If your and Parmyd's girlfriends still lived in their hometowns ... Read More
Bringing second-hand laptop from the US to Vietnam by tranus
Hello All, How would I bring 5+ laptop from the US to HCM? I'd like to bring to upgrade some of my staff's laptops. Can I bring as many as I want, and just pay tax on them at customs at the airport at worst case? If so, what is the % tax? Having no ...
What Chris Fox said... Spread them around amongst your luggage and carry ons - don't have 5 laptops all together in one bag, and you'll have no problems. Read More
Anyone with experience bringing computer through custom? by sora1607
I'm planning to move back to Vietnam for a short while and I'm thinking about bringing my computer with me (by taking it apart and bringing over the pieces and then buy a case and put it together in Vietnam). Does anyone know how easy it is to do ...
Well, you just said the magic words in your post above - Viet Kieu. All bets are off for you. You're likely to get picked on, but maybe our friend Wild_1 will come along and shed some light on this. Meanwhile, take a look at this post from a (I ... Read More
Anyone with experience bringing computer through custom? by sora1607
I'm planning to move back to Vietnam for a short while and I'm thinking about bringing my computer with me (by taking it apart and bringing over the pieces and then buy a case and put it together in Vietnam). Does anyone know how easy it is to do ...
If you're talking about packing the motherboard, hardware cards, and hard drives in your luggage and then get a desktop case here to reassemble all of it after you get here - yes, you could do that, and may not have a problem with customs. Just be ... Read More
Big Mac is a comin to HCMC by bta87
For all you McDonald's lovers they are building a new store in HMC. It is on the Hanoi Highway not far from the Lotteria. It is at the circle that has the clock in the center.
Labor shouldn't be a problem in Vietnam. The McD's here will also have a drive-thru. I gotta go over there, just to see the logistics of that with motorbikes and the intercom system. It should be very entertaining! Read More
Registering a birth in Vietnam by David
Hi, About to have a baby or already had children? Let's share your experience about the paperworks for registering a birth in Vietnam. What are the formalities to obtain a birth certificate? What is the procedure to follow if both parents ...
I assume you're referring to one spouse being a foreigner, and the other Vietnamese. I can't answer your question, but will state for other readers of this thread that if husband and wife are of mixed nationality with neither being Vietnamese, ... Read More
Internet slow down again by Budman1
Looks like the internet is going down the tubes again. Started late last night and now today it's next to worthless. Changed over to my 3G USB to see if that would speed it up. Nope. Is it just me? I'm using VNPT.
Thanks Milkyhunnybunny. :) What I'm finding out, with this latest outage of the AAG, is that not all ISPs' backup systems are equal. Mine (SPT) SUCKS! They're too cheap to pay for a proper backup (even though they're getting plenty of money ... Read More
Internet slow down again by Budman1
Looks like the internet is going down the tubes again. Started late last night and now today it's next to worthless. Changed over to my 3G USB to see if that would speed it up. Nope. Is it just me? I'm using VNPT.
Who is your ISP, Milky? Read More
Internet slow down again by Budman1
Looks like the internet is going down the tubes again. Started late last night and now today it's next to worthless. Changed over to my 3G USB to see if that would speed it up. Nope. Is it just me? I'm using VNPT.
Already having a time with it. Only works well for about 5 hours in the early morning - say 4am to 9am. The rest of the day it's unwatchable. Fortunately, I have a DVR in the states so I can time-shift and watch sports events during that time. Have ... Read More
Internet slow down again by Budman1
Looks like the internet is going down the tubes again. Started late last night and now today it's next to worthless. Changed over to my 3G USB to see if that would speed it up. Nope. Is it just me? I'm using VNPT.
I know I'm late to the party here, but yes, it's a problem with the AAG undersea cable - AGAIN. Same ole same ole TIV. I'm sure every other country in Asia-Pacific connected to the AAG is OK. For some damn reason, VIETNAM can't seem to keep its leg ... Read More
Beware of bottled drinking water!! by charmavietnam
Just read a news about bottled drinking water which contains 'semen' in Perth, Australia :) I remember someone asked for semen donation in "An Phu Neighbors, a few month ago ! Anyway be careful with your bottled water!
If this occurred in Perth, Australia, why do we need to worry in Vietnam? How about posting something relevant to here, Charma, since we're here - not in Oz. Read More
Registering a birth in Vietnam by David
Hi, About to have a baby or already had children? Let's share your experience about the paperworks for registering a birth in Vietnam. What are the formalities to obtain a birth certificate? What is the procedure to follow if both parents ...
Add to that the processing time to get the Vietnamese birth certificate, which is REQUIRED by the US Consulate to register the birth of the baby and get the passport. It'll be at least a month. Then, add to that the queue time to get an APPOINTMENT ... Read More
Appointments at the US Consulate
They do the appointments to limit the total number of people who can come in on any given day. Even if you have an appointment, you still have to take a number and wait your turn, unless you are picking up a passport, in which case you can just go ... Read More
Gotta love crooked airport customs ppl lol by mikeymyke
Came into Tan Son Nhat airport in Saigon for my upcoming wedding and before I came, I searched the net, as well as the Canada and USA official govt websites, and all indicate u can bring $7000 max without declare. so i decide bring $7000 even. Now ...
Mikey, I'm not trying to intentionally give anyone bad advice here. Most everything I post is based on my own personal experience. Apparently, I do not look like the kind of guy who carries around more than $7000, so that's probably why I've never ... Read More
Gotta love crooked airport customs ppl lol by mikeymyke
Came into Tan Son Nhat airport in Saigon for my upcoming wedding and before I came, I searched the net, as well as the Canada and USA official govt websites, and all indicate u can bring $7000 max without declare. so i decide bring $7000 even. Now ...
Which is why I just would not declare anything. They're not going to search you for money. If you've got varying amounts stashed in different parts of your carry-ons, and the rest in your wallet, chances are slim that all of it would ever be found ... Read More
Electric bikes
I don't recommend buying one here. The quality is hit-and-miss, especially the batteries. You might get one with batteries that will last for one year, or one week. There are no guarantees. Read More
motos----*******Where to rent a CBR???******* by Hans.b
Hi! I've been living in SG for over 1 year renting a PCX for 2.5million per month but would really like to find a CBR, GSXR or R6. Can anyone help me? I've been all around Pham Ngu Lao and the only highline bikes a few places have are SH's but ...
So you've spent 30 million RENTING a motorbike for 1 year... You DO realize you could have bought a good one with that kind of money, don't you? You're not likely to find a place renting CBRs (over 175cc) until the government sorts out the A2 ... Read More
christmas bonus for nanny by Rany01
hi guys, can someone give me an advice, please? How much christmas bonus do you provide normally to your nanny? I know, it depends on their effort and performance. But in general? 20, 40 or 100% more ot top to her regular salary? Our nanny is ...
Agree with Wild_1. She's Filipino, so don't worry about Tet, and follow the advice of others here as far as amount for Christmas. Read More
Satellite equipment by Budman1
Has anybody seen stores that selling this type of equipment in Saigon? What I'm looking for is a 120cm dish and a Low Noise Block (LNB) Universal KU-Band, 10.7-11.8 GHz. I've tried to find them in here Can Tho with no luck. Would really appreciate ...
You might be surprised about that. I've found during my years here that internet service is usually BETTER when you're one of the only people actually using it (out in the sticks). I stayed at Howie's "Holiday Hotel" in Can Tho a few months ago and ... Read More