Spending a month in Vietnam - my random observations

[UserX]

How much is beachfront property going for?

Starting at ~$75K. $50K is still walking distance to the beach.

[sc281]

You'll have to get yourself a Viet Wife or someone you trust to buy it for you.

Round eye no own poportee here! You rent from me!

No wonder I was seeing rent prices only on the real estate listings....

Still, I'd rather rent and live an awesome single life than be married and own property.

MUUUCH cheaper in the long run, and no limit on how many viet wimmen love me long time

[sc281]

Starting at ~$75K. $50K is still walking distance to the beach.

Not bad at all for beachfront.

Low cost of living
Asians everywhere
Beach
Close to perfect.

[UserX]

A couple other things I forgot to mention...

- People here respect the fast lane better than anywhere else I have ever been. If you don't get over within 5 seconds (people almost always do) expect the horn, high beams, and someone 3" off your rear bumper. Or rear tire on your scooter.

- Men are king of the castle. And elders command the most respect, male or female. Very old fashioned in this sense, I love it.

- The bathroom layout in most homes is weird. Picture a 6'x6' shower with a toilet in it. They do not have sinks. You brush your teeth and spit on the floor. There is a sprayer like on our kitchen sinks to hose everything into the drain in the floor. This sucks because if someone just showered, and you gotta take a shit, your ass is sitting on a wet toilet seat.

- You must wear a helmet if you're over 12 years old. People ride scooters with new born babies held in their free arm. Of course the babies and kids that ride on the scooters are not wearing helmets, but their parents are. I don't get that.

- If you want a napkin with your meal, most places charge extra for them. The free "napkins" are post it notes, without the sticky stuff on them, just small pieces of paper.

[UserX]

Where are the pics? I'm fascinated by foreign countries and their lifestyles. Perhaps because I'm coming to the realization that long term survival may mean getting the fuck out of the good Ol US of A.

Here are some pics, hopefully this link works http://www.facebook.com/media/set/fb...9&l=003264e40c

[sc281]

Guess i need to start learning Vietnamese.

[CJ-95GT]

Not my cup of tea, but good luck to you. I've been to several asian countries and all their ghetto's redefine the word poor.

[BP]

You guys do realize the country is communist right? You can get most of the positives you've mentioned in the Yucatan or many of the Carribean countries.

Communism can be polished and might be attractive to lots of people but if you ever plan on being something other than hungry and poor it's not the best form of government. The best definition of communism is spreading misery amongst the masses.

I'm glad you are enjoying it, the country can be beautiful but the people aren't free to do as they please. The government might not be heavy handed where you are but if they ever decided they don't like something and try to protest the government is more likely to roll in with tanks and burn the city down than they are to listen and change.

[jdgregory84]

You guys do realize the country is communist right? You can get most of the positives you've mentioned in the Yucatan or many of the Carribean countries.

Communism can be polished and might be attractive to lots of people but if you ever plan on being something other than hungry and poor it's not the best form of government. The best definition of communism is spreading misery amongst the masses.

I'm glad you are enjoying it, the country can be beautiful but the people aren't free to do as they please. The government might not be heavy handed where you are but if they ever decided they don't like something and try to protest the government is more likely to roll in with tanks and burn the city down than they are to listen and change.

I'm sure that living there, and visiting there is completely different, just like with any foreign country. I've heard if you go on vacation in Cuba you're treated like a god.

[sc281]

Easy.

Live in a hotel $420-$600/m

Spending money $900/m to live the good life over there.

Live the good life for $1500/m


The plan

Have 3-400k saved up here, along with one or two rental properties, so you don't have to work.

Invest in relatively stable assets to derive income from... need 6-7% to maintain $1500/m lifestyle and pay for taxes on gains.

Rental income is extra.


Keep the majority here in the U.S with a little spending money on you, and live off credit cards over there.

Communism takes possessions from the people, so solving the problem by living in a hotel that you dont own and spending money with a credit card set to autopay out of your american bank account means that you have no assets for Communism to take.

Viola! The good life!!!

Now for some Viet women to get you in the mood.


except the 2nd from the left.... eesh.

[UserX]

You guys do realize the country is communist right? You can get most of the positives you've mentioned in the Yucatan or many of the Carribean countries.

Communism can be polished and might be attractive to lots of people but if you ever plan on being something other than hungry and poor it's not the best form of government. The best definition of communism is spreading misery amongst the masses.

I'm glad you are enjoying it, the country can be beautiful but the people aren't free to do as they please. The government might not be heavy handed where you are but if they ever decided they don't like something and try to protest the government is more likely to roll in with tanks and burn the city down than they are to listen and change.

I'm not gonna claim to know anything about living in a communist country, because I really have no clue what it's like long term. But from what I've seen here, the government is totally detached from the people, which can be good and bad.

The good part is I don't think people here pay shit for taxes... almost all business is conducted on the "street". It's cash only, no receipts. I know people are pocketing everything they earn. I've made only one purchase where I received a receipt and paid 10% tax, and that was because we went to a large supermarket to buy some "American" shit.

The bad part is if you're handicapped, elderly, or need anything from the government you're fucked. They just don't give a shit.

Don't plan on coming here and making any real money or for opportunity... you build your nest egg first and live off that.

And speaking out against the government or communism will get you in deep shit, they can lock you up and throw away the key. But I think if you don't fuck with them, they don't fuck with you, for the most part.

[BP]

And speaking out against the government or communism will get you in deep shit, they can lock you up and throw away the key. But I think if you don't fuck with them, they don't fuck with you, for the most part.

Actually they'll execute you and throw your entire family into a forced labor camp until they die. At least that's how China and North Korea do it.

[UserX]

Actually they'll execute you and throw your entire family into a forced labor camp until they die. At least that's how China and North Korea do it.

I don't think it's that hardcore here, but I really have no clue. I know my in-laws have lived here for generations, and never had anyone locked up or executed.

[UserX]

One more observation... I would be willing to bet that 80% of the male population smokes cigarettes. I have not seen a single female smoking.

Cigs are $.75 a pack, 1/10th of what they are back home.

[HarrisonTX]

One more observation... I would be willing to bet that 80% of the male population smokes cigarettes. I have not seen a single female smoking.

Cigs are $.75 a pack, 1/10th of what they are back home.

cigarettes are $7.50 a pack here? Jesus