禁漫天堂

Well, if you're single and young, the provinces may be too boring for you. However, HCMC聽 is not much of an exciting city but does have a lot of insane traffic and dangerous air quality along with increasing urbanization with shrinking green spaces and destruction of heritage buildings. I lived there in 2004, 2007, and 2009 for relatively short periods and don't particularly have any fond memories of the place.聽

The one guy I know who still lives there spends most of his free time in bars (although he's not really a heavy drinker) or traveling outside the city.

Hi! I am moving to Vietnam next year to teach English. A prospective employer is giving me options as to where to work and live. Could you tell me a little about each region and what it would be like for an expat? I've done some research, but I'd like the view of an expat already there. I'm single, from the US, and 36. Here are the options:Binh Duong provinceDong Nai ProvinceMekong Delta area: Vinh Long province; Tay Ninh province, Tien Giang provinceHo Chi Minh CityLam Dong ProvinceSecond part of the question- I am on 2 common psychiatric medications. I've figured out how to get them in HCMC and Hanoi, and I'm bringing many months worth of meds with me, but would it be realistic to live outside of the city and still get them either locally or by travelling occasionally to the city occasionally?Thanks for the advice! - @jamesmrawl

Here's the same advice we give to others in those two disparate situations:

You really, REALLY need to come here first and personally experience both urban (foreigner friendly) and rural (a HUGE challenge for foreigners) culture & infrastructure before making any decisions about employment.

People who ask similar questions are almost always looking for validation of their plans, often made on impulse.

Which leads to your 2nd question...

You can't possibly know how many people come here motivated by illusions of a life in paradise but very quickly become disillusioned when they come face-to-face and nose-to-nose and ear-to-ear with real life on the ground in Vi峄噒 Nam.

I mention that because of your need to be routinely medicated for a psych condition; not to criticize you but to be honest in saying that you are most likely at high high risk for failure with your plans, especially given the presumed fact that you've never been here before.

As for your specific question you previously asked in June (but never followed up with replies) please realize this an anonymous forum unless you choose to identify yourself.

So if you could be straightforward with us and share the names of the medications you can get much better advice about refills here.

If you REALLY want valuable feedback from those who know, let us know your specific psychiatric challenges and you'll usually get much more accurate feedback to help you determine the wisdom of moving here to work, no matter which province you might choose.

The internet is full of places where many people will tell you that you should ignore my advice and go ahead and come here because everybody does it and no one ever has any problems.

So you can choose between instant validation and helpful criticism.

Good luck with your plans 馃檹

O.B.

@jamesmrawl

Hello. Your top priorities in the kind of life you want to live would make your location choice easier.

The availability of meds sometimes changes swiftly when a policy change occurs. As you know, some of those types of meds cannot be abruptly stopped. Research and create a backup plan in case this happens.

If you have additional questions in addition to the specific med one, please ask.

Best of luck.

Hi everyone. As to medications, I take clonazapam for anxiety (as needed which isn鈥檛 often), and for bi-polar I take bupropion and lamectal. Occasionally I take Ambien for sleep. Thoughts on availability? And any ideas on how much I can bring with me. I e heard several things.

Finally, my doc prescribed me a few antibiotics, and about 5 other things to bring as 鈥渏ust-in-case鈥�. Will it be an issue bringing 10-12 meds with me? The only narcotic or psychotropic drugs are mentioned above, all others are not. Thanks!!!!!

@jamesmrawl

@kevinodprobate

Hi guys. With reference to medication(s), here's a few links which might be helpful.

Clobazam prescription

Bringing 30 day supply of restricted medicine

(external link, Law Net Vietnam)

Bringing controlled prescription drugs over

@kevinodprobate

Hi. I've never had my medications checked via any entry into Vietnam.

@AlbertDifi

Me either and its a good thing because I have been known to combine things into one bottle.

@jayrozzetti23

Hi, thanks for the response. How would you say that compares to Hanoi?

@OceanBeach92107

Hi, thank you for your response. I apologize for not replying to my other post. I just forgot about it (but of course thats not a good excuse).

I know living in Vietnam will have its challenges which is why I am trying to get some views on different places. I lived on a small island in rural Philippines for 2 years in the Peace Corps so although its not the same country, I have a good idea of what its like to be alone in a vastly different foreign country. A difference there though was that Peace Corps got my meds for me.

I'm on wellbutrin (buproprion) and lamictal (lamotrogine) for bipolar. I've figured out how to get them in Hanoi and HCMC. I'm trying to get an idea of how realistic it would be to get back to the city every so often to get them if I were to live outside of the city. And then also figure out what each province is known for to make a choice between them.

@kevinodprobate

Hi, I too take lamictal and burproprion. In HCMC I contacted a practice at [link under review] and they can supply me.

@kevinodprobate

Here's more info:

Family Medical Practice - District 2 Medical Center

95 Thao Dien, Thao Dien Ward, Thu Duc City, HCMC

d2.reception@vietnammedicalpractice.com

T: +84 28 3744 2000 - F: +84 28 3822 7859

@kevinodprobate Here's more info: Family Medical Practice - District 2 Medical Center95 Thao Dien, Thao Dien Ward, Thu Duc City, HCMCd2.reception@vietnammedicalpractice.comT: +84 28 3744 2000 - F: +84 28 3822 7859 - @jamesmrawl

Hi again, guys. That's a well known go-to medical practice for foreigners in Saigon. Good reports from expat.com members over the years regarding their services and access.

There were two recurring concerns, however. One was the cost involved for the examination and issuance of the prescription. The examination by the physician is a prerequisite (mandatory) to receiving a prescription. The examination wasn't reported to be, shall we say, "economical".

The second concern reported was availability of the drug(s) prescribed by the practice. At least two members had reported (albeit a couple of years back) of their not being able to locate a pharmacy which stocked the drug(s) prescribed. If memory serves, the members were eventually able to fill their prescriptions through a hospital pharmacy (at what they considered elevated prices). Hopefully things have changed since then.

You might want to check with Family Medical on both these matters, just to be sure prior to arrival.

Good luck, and please do keep the forum updated on this. It is a common subject.

...I take clonazapam for anxiety (as needed which isn鈥檛 often), and for bi-polar I take bupropion and lamectal. Occasionally I take Ambien for sleep. Thoughts on availability?

Clonazepam (sometimes sold as Klonopin) is a Benzodiazepine Drug in the same class as Diazepam (Valium), Lorazepam (Ativan), Alprazolam (Xanax) and Midazolam (Versed)

These are controlled drugs that cannot be purchased over the counter in their verifiable form. we continue to get reports from people who are purchasing one or more of these drugs either on the street or at no name pharmacies or even at certain iffy stores that are the closest thing to what we call a head shop in the United States.

I repeatedly tell people that the best way to live long-term in Vietnam and continue receiving controlled medications is to go to an official hospital and apply for an intake examination in their outpatient clinic where you would most certainly be referred to a psychiatrist.

if the psychiatrist is convinced that your need for controlled medications -- also including the sedative/hypnotics Zolpidem (Ambien) -- meets acceptable government standards here, then they will have prescription power for you to receive your controlled medications ONLY in their hospital pharmacy.

Be very cautious when people tell you that they have been getting their controlled medications here for a long time without the need to go through a local hospital.

if you follow those people down that rabbit hole you risk two key things: The highly questionable quality of the off label copycat medications you buy AND violation of Vietnam laws concerning controlled medications.

You would also essentially be saying to yourself that you don't really need any professional medical oversight of your health care and you could fly solo.

And any ideas on how much I can bring with me. I e heard several things.

Both of those medications are officially listed as being prohibited for import into Vietnam.

However many people including myself will tell you that we have brought personal and legally prescribed controlled medications into Vietnam without ever having a problem.

I always give the same advice:

Carry all of your medications and your vitamin supplements in one individual carry-on bag (Red is a good color for this).

Limit the amount of any medication (especially controlled medications) to the amount needed for the length of your approved Visa stay.

All airlines will allow a free carry-on bag for medical supplies. Make sure all of the prescribed medications have current labels on their containers and unlike something that someone else said, do not mix them up within one bottle.

Do not put these in your checked baggage but instead allow this bag to be screened along with all of your other carry on items.

As for my own personal experience, I think it might be helpful that I generally fly a business or first class, so I'm screened in lines where perhaps the oversight isn't as tight as it might be if I were flying coach, but that's just a guess on my part.

Finally, my doc prescribed me a few antibiotics, and about 5 other things to bring as 鈥渏ust-in-case鈥�. Will it be an issue bringing 10-12 meds with me? The only narcotic or psychotropic drugs are mentioned above, all others are not. Thanks!!!!! - @kevinodprobate

Covered in my above reply, but I'd also say that some of the random checking that is done both outside Vietnam and when entering Vietnam can be affected by a person's appearance and actions, so dressing nicely and staying sober certainly can't hurt you.

Good luck!

O.B.

@OceanBeach92107
Hi, thank you for your response. I apologize for not replying to my other post. I just forgot about it (but of course thats not a good excuse).
I know living in Vietnam will have its challenges which is why I am trying to get some views on different places. I lived on a small island in rural Philippines for 2 years in the Peace Corps so although its not the same country, I have a good idea of what its like to be alone in a vastly different foreign country. A difference there though was that Peace Corps got my meds for me.

I'm on wellbutrin (buproprion) and lamictal (lamotrogine) for bipolar. I've figured out how to get them in Hanoi and HCMC. I'm trying to get an idea of how realistic it would be to get back to the city every so often to get them if I were to live outside of the city. And then also figure out what each province is known for to make a choice between them. - @jamesmrawl

Those medications are much less problematic than the controlled medications I previously discussed.

Your realistic ability to return to a major city may or may not be a problem depending upon the area you choose, but you wouldn't be the first person who had to set aside a day or an overnight to travel from where they were living in the boonies to a major city for resupply or higher quality health care.

There will be myriad ways for you to use transportation to get wherever you need to go: motorbike, taxi, private car through GRAB ride-sharing app, SUV packed with fellow travelers going your way, limousine vans and even the train if you are anywhere along that route.

Hospitals are not just located in major cities, and after you do an intake exam at a major hospital you can then have your care picked up by a local clinician outside of the major city, or at one of the smaller hospitals that dot he landscape in Vietnam.

You really have to figure out where you're going to be first and nobody can give you any blanket verifiable information without knowing exactly what place you'll choose to work

Good luck, and again I highly recommend that you don't sign a contract or make any specific plans until you come here physically.

O.B.

@jayrozzetti23
Hi, thanks for the response. How would you say that compares to Hanoi? - @jamesmrawl

I spent a month in Ha Noi around 2009 and wasn't particularly impressed. It has a somewhat more open feel than HCMC in the historic area with its lakes but the population, poor air quality and traffic are similar.

Another difference is that there is sort of a winter there where you have to wear a jacket, especially when travelling by motorbike. Also, the rainy season is longer/heavier with weeks of gray skies. The one guy I know who lives there said that is difficult to dry laundry and you have to watch out for mold in your apartment. Anyway, he's been there for a couple decades now after a number of years in HCMC, so he obviously prefers it.

Also, I think there are fewer teaching opportunities there.

I wish I could be more optimistic. If you search on the internet, I'm sure you can find some articles that claim it's a fantastic place.

Anyway, in contrast, here's a recent article about the air quality there:

Flee or fall ill: For many Hanoi residents pollution makes choices stark

Hi. Most of the replies regarding bringing certain scripts say that they have never had problems bring enough for a 90 day visa. I think that鈥檚 what I will do in hopes of skipping a dr appt. Worst case, will the amount exceeding the stated limits just be confiscated or might there be more severe reproductions? Please let me know!!!

Hi. Most of the replies regarding bringing certain scripts say that they have never had problems bring enough for a 90 day visa. I think that鈥檚 what I will do in hopes of skipping a dr appt. Worst case, will the amount exceeding the stated limits just be confiscated or might there be more severe reproductions? Please let me know!!! - @kevinodprobate

No you don't.

Just keep asking the same questions until enough people support what you'd like to happen instead of what the law says.

Just do what you've clearly already decided to do.

Maybe though, stop fooling yourself.

Good luck!

Hopefully you'll have the same luck experienced by many others.

馃幉馃幉 馃槈 馃幇

Thanks for the response. I鈥檝e actually only asked once, then possibly once more for clarification. Can you please clarify the 鈥渘o you don鈥檛鈥� part of your reply. No I don鈥檛 what? Thanks!!!