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Hello all. My name is Stu and I have been living in Siem Reap (SR), Cambodia  for the past few years but it's time to make the move to Vietnam which will be in February next year........all going to plan.
I have thought about living in Saigon but the cost of living in regard to accommodation will see me down in Vung Tau which is not a bad thing as SR is a long way from any beaches.
Looking forward to coming back to Vietnam  instead of "transiting through" 5 or 6 times a year and with one mate recently retired down on the coast to Vungers and another moving from Thailand to live there I think it will be a good time.
Looking forward to it and once settled in I will get more involved with the expat community.
Have a great Christmas,
Stu

Bhutna wrote:

Hello all. My name is Stu and I have been living in Siem Reap (SR), Cambodia  for the past few years but it's time to make the move to Vietnam which will be in February next year........all going to plan.
I have thought about living in Saigon but the cost of living in regard to accommodation will see me down in Vung Tau which is not a bad thing as SR is a long way from any beaches.
Looking forward to coming back to Vietnam  instead of "transiting through" 5 or 6 times a year and with one mate recently retired down on the coast to Vungers and another moving from Thailand to live there I think it will be a good time.
Looking forward to it and once settled in I will get more involved with the expat community.
Have a great Christmas,
Stu

Hopefully you will enjoy it here in Vũng Tàu.

On Facebook, search for Vung Tau Expats and you'll find a few groups.

Bhutna wrote:

with one mate recently retired down on the coast to Vungers and another moving from Thailand to live there I think it will be a good time.

Vungers?

If that’s a nickname for Vũng Tàu, I think we should retire it effective immediately because it sounds absolutely nasty.

Ciambella wrote:

Bhutna wrote:

with one mate recently retired down on the coast to Vungers and another moving from Thailand to live there I think it will be a good time.

Vungers?

If that’s a nickname for Vũng Tau, I think we should retire it effective immediately because it sounds absolutely nasty.

At the very least, give it a thread all it's own.

Ciambella wrote:

Bhutna wrote:

with one mate recently retired down on the coast to Vungers and another moving from Thailand to live there I think it will be a good time.

Vungers?

If that’s a nickname for Vũng Tau, I think we should retire it effective immediately because it sounds absolutely nasty.

Yeah, for some reason there are expats who call it "vungers", horrible name, sounds like a genital disease.

The name "Vungers" came about primarily from the Australian and New Zealand troops who were based there during the war. In fact there is a good collection of photos and news paper clippings of the various ANZAC contingents who were based there or visited while on R&R available at the local military history museum which is recommended.
Each to their own of course in regard to what you call the city.

Bhutna wrote:

The name "Vungers" came about primarily from the Australian and New Zealand troops who were based there during the war. In fact there is a good collection of photos and news paper clippings of the various ANZAC contingents who were based there or visited while on R&R available at the local military history museum which is recommended.
Each to their own of course in regard to what you call the city.

The vets I can understand using it, but I hear people much younger use the same term. It's like using the word"Nam", okay for vets, but doesn't need to be used by the average expat.

Bhutna wrote:

Each to their own of course in regard to what you call the city.

Not if the name you use to call the city / country is offensive to the citizens of that city / country.

colinoscapee wrote:

The vets I can understand using it, but I hear people much younger use the same term. It's like using the word"Nam", okay for vets, but doesn't need to be used by the average expat.

Thank you for bringing up that particular problem, precisely the issue that has been bugging me and countless Vietnamese for decades.

I had lived through the war and lost a few people whom I dearly loved in it.  I had great empathy for the young men who left their homes and their families to come across thousands of miles fighting in a civil war that had nothing to do with their worlds and their freedom.  For their misfortune, whatever they called this country and however they felt about the people during the miserable time they were here, IMO they had the rights to do so, if only to vent their anger.

To everyone else who only knows about Vietnam War from history books or archived media, let me tell you this, in bold so you can hear me loud and clear: 

The name of this country is Vietnam. Not Nam.  Please do not use an outdated nickname just because you think it would make you sound cool.  It doesn't.  It only makes you look like a wanna be, one who eagerly comes into a game that ended perhaps even before you were born.  It makes you sound like an idiot.  It also doesn't endear you to the locals.  They may not react to what you say, but believe me, they dislike you intensely for saying it.  They may even decide to cheat you just to get back at the disrespect way you address their country.  Yes, those Vietnamese people, they're sneaky, so watch your language. 

Ciambella wrote:

The name of this country is Vietnam.  Not Nam.

To my ears "The Nam" is even worse.  I suppose it could be translated to "The South," although I don't think that most who use the phrase realize that. 

I don't know if I have ever said so here but my service during the war was active but remote.  I worked in the HQ of an MI unit that actively targeted all of Southeast Asia.  There were two cohorts in our unit.  First (and only) one termers like myself and rather senior NCOs and officers, mostly Majors and up.  Almost all of the senior cohort had served in Vietnam and many had served in Korea in 1952.  I was generally aware that the term Nam was common with soldiers but I never heard the term mentioned in our unit, only Vietnam.  Also all official communications used the name Vietnam.  I expect that this may be because of the relatively advanced age of this group (maybe average of 40) and maybe because as intelligence operatives, many of them had worked in close association with ARVN troops, embedded with Special Forces units, and with Vietnamese civilians.  These people did not say "Nam."

Well I'm glad that was sorted and is duly noted for future consideration.
Please note that I did not use the word (name?) Nam at any stage. That was used more so by American troops than Australian and New Zealanders I was told by mates of mine who served in Vietnam.

Perhaps as OceanBeach92107 mentioned this could be a new thread as this one is supposedly where new members can introduce themselves.

Hello everyone ,

My name is WALID Toumiat , i came two vietnam couple of years ago from Algeria . i used to be an ESL teacher at some english centers and kindergartens during my first experience here then i moved to hospitality field which  is also wonderful . Vietnam is really a wonderful country which let u feel home including  also safety , cheap living expenses , the good status of expats , and freedom . However , there are also some inconvenients same as in everywhere in this world . I wish all the best for this country and i send all my salutations for the expats here .

Xin Chao 

I'm Bruce.  I'm staying in Phan Rang for awhile.  Going to use this as my base to explore the coastal areas from here north, as well as get to know Nha Trang somewhat.  I'm definitely hoping to chat with some people who know these areas well.  My goal is essentially to move here near the beach and perhaps start a small English school or at least do some private tutoring, as well as do a lot of writing and sea kayaking (or perhaps even get a small sailboat).  I love the sea, and also I expect some prime fishing opportunites, and it would be cool to do some snorkeling, etc. etc.

I'm from California and have always loved the sea.

I taught English in South Korea for many years but I have to say that I like this country (already) waaaayyyyy more...

Anyways, Happy New Year!

tc

Bruce

Bruce_M wrote:

... and sea kayaking (or perhaps even get a small sailboat). ...

Please get a sailboat.    I just think the ocean and rivers would look beautiful with sailboats.  The idea might catch on. Too bad I have yet to see one sailboat in Vietnam, but I haven't been to that many cities. And I was heartened last week to see a big Florida-style motorboat in Thao Dien.

Artist renderings for new condo developments are so beautiful - and fake. There always show boat docks and pleasure boats in the Saigon canals. These two are in District 8. The last district to have recreational boat docks!

Bruce_M wrote:

Xin Chao 

I'm Bruce.  I'm staying in Phan Rang for awhile.  Going to use this as my base to explore the coastal areas from here north, as well as get to know Nha Trang somewhat.  I'm definitely hoping to chat with some people who know these areas well.  My goal is essentially to move here near the beach and perhaps start a small English school or at least do some private tutoring, as well as do a lot of writing and sea kayaking (or perhaps even get a small sailboat).  I love the sea, and also I expect some prime fishing opportunites, and it would be cool to do some snorkeling, etc. etc.

I'm from California and have always loved the sea.

I taught English in South Korea for many years but I have to say that I like this country (already) waaaayyyyy more...

Anyways, Happy New Year!

tc

Bruce

There is a beautiful coastal road from Phan Rang to Cam Ranh. The water along the coast is crystal clear and there is very little development.

I suspect getting even a plastic kayak here either won't be cheap or won't be easy (or both)...let me see how that goes..

DogChild wrote:

Senbonzakura wrote:

Hi, would be opening a school for kids. 

Nice, I plan on teaching english for a couple years then starting a restaurant or bar type establishment in Vietnam 😊

Great idea, thats my plan too     I'll do english teaching until I can find the right people and location to open my own personal business.

Hi... How are you?

Hope everything well for everyone in this beautiful country. I have been travelling in out of Vietnam for certain period already.

Looking for potential job opportunities or even business.

Tommyooi wrote:

Hi... How are you?

Hope everything well for everyone in this beautiful country. I have been travelling in out of Vietnam for certain period already.

Looking for potential job opportunities or even business.

I see you already took out a job ad:

expat. com/en/jobs/asia/vietnam/saigon/100-marketing/486240-marketing-manager.html

Good luck!

Hi, my name is Tin.  I'm looking to move to Vietnam in about 3 years.  I'm looking for tips on how to become an Expat

Hi everyone,
my name is Kevin from Germany and I will move to VN in summer this year, togehter with my vietnamese wife.
Thanks to my in-laws we can move much more easily than most expats, even buy a nice flat in smart city, Hanoi.
My wife has already more than enough good job offers and I hope I can find something fitting for me, too.

Hi Kevin
What you have built is fantastic and hope I can do the same, I have only being to vietnam once last Oct/Nov 2019 and found the culture and environment and the beauty of women quite attractive to make plans.
Good luck
John

Hi,

I invite you to follow this topic on this new thread:
/forum/viewtopic.php?id=880570

Thanks!