What is life like as a foreigner in Vietnam?

Question

Life in Vietnam as an Expat: A Glimpse into the Foreigner's Perspective

Answer 1

It’s great and it sucks.

It’s great because it has a low cost of living, I get to do a job a love (teaching), and I have a great group of friends. It’s really nice to live such a relaxed lifestyle.

It sucks because a large number of Vietnamese are racist and they don’t even realize it. Most of the time it is hidden under the guise of colorism but some of them are blatantly racist. I was teaching a food delivery driver English for free because he could not afford lessons. When his family found out, instead of being grateful they said they were disgusted because I was black. I also grow weary of being called fat or having my appearance openly mocked.

Answer 2

For an average Foreigner in Vietnam, let’s say a tourist, life is full of fun. The weather could be very hot compared to your homeland. The language is. .very hard to understand and to learn. The custom is total different from home. But here are good points:.. delicious foods and cheap. I am a Vietnamese origin but I can not name them all in term of foods and fruits. Violence is rare due to stable political system and tough law except for some small scales of theft, burglars. People are friendly, young generation doesn’t care ab wars and eager to learn or contact with Foreigners. Be aware of scams sometimes. For Vietnamese, young females, I HAVE TO ADMIT that there are plenty of beautiful women, way different from my generation who grew up and endured war times. Beautiful sceneries.. Cops are rarely seen and it seems they don’t care ab you, except in need. That is all I can share in my perspectives. Thx for reading..

Answer 3

For a foriegner in Vietnam, every day is a holiday. Lovely people, cheap living, delicious food, super cheap draft beer (bia hoi), blow you away coffee, fresh seafood, good tailors and seamstresses for when you need new clothes, cheap flights to SE Asian countries, good beaches.

Suicidal drivers, low quality health services outside major cities, corruption, huge pollution problems in Saigon and Hanoi, astronomical international school fees.

Answer 4

Vietnam, a captivating country nestled in Southeast Asia, holds a unique allure for foreigners seeking new experiences and opportunities. From the bustling streets of Hanoi to the tranquil beauty of Ha Long Bay, this nation offers a tapestry of diverse cultures, tantalizing cuisine, and breathtaking landscapes. In this article, we delve into the intricacies of life as a foreigner in Vietnam, exploring both the challenges and the rewards that come with immersing oneself in this vibrant and dynamic society.

One of the first things that strikes foreigners in Vietnam is the warm and welcoming nature of its people. With their genuine smiles and hospitable demeanor, locals make it easy for expats to adapt and feel at home. This harmonious blend of cultures creates an enriching environment that fosters understanding and friendship between the Vietnamese and their international counterparts.

However, like any adventure, living in Vietnam as a foreigner does come

Answer 5

You have to be more specific to get a decent answer. There exists different types of foreigners. You are a foreigner, so what? Are you a rich one who has a pension ongoing; or are you wanting to come here to teach English or are you more a vagabond with zero savings and coming over to try your luck?

You are concerned how you will be ‘treated.. no problem, there are thousands of foreigners here.

Describe more about yourself before asking what is life like or going to be. What you possess goes far in life in way of perceptions down the road..

Its too broad a question for any meaningful response.

Answer 6

I enjoy living here. I am married to a Vietnamese lady and she has a large family and we are all close.

Answer 7

I’ve been living in Vietnam for a year plus and it’s not a bad place to live if you are middle class or above in the large cities. Lots of foreigners are teaching English and earning $15+ an hour, which is a lot of money in Vietnam. I realize that is way more than the average Vietnamese salary (around $300–500 a month in Saigon I believe). But a lot of these people would be earning a similar wage back in their home country, but the cost of living would be 2–10 times more. For instance, my Vietnam apartment would cost at least 4–5 times more in a large US city like NYC or SF. I spend $4 a month for 3.5 gb of data, in the US that would cost me at least $60 or more. I can get a nice meal for $2 if I wanted, even more expensive restaurants are only $5–12. Even a hole in the wall restaurant in the big US city is $10+ nowadays.

And people are very nice and genuine. Girls are very beautiful. The country’s economy is doing. People are hopeful and pleasant unlike in the US. The weather is always warm and you can easily travel to many nice beaches and cool areas around Vietnam and SE Asia.

It’s also safer than the US (no guns). If I get sick I can just go to the hospital or doctor and pay out of pocket and not worry about it being a huge bill whereas in the US even with insurance you could get an insane bill and go bankrupt.

I know that for poor Vietnamese life is not easy but life is not easy being poor in the US either since you don’t really have much of a safety net there unlike other rich nations. At least poor Vietnamese still have close family and their culture whereas Americans usually live isolated depressing lives.

And if you are educated or middle class or above in Vietnam life is not that bad honestly. Yeah there is traffic and pollution but that exists in most big cities. There is always good and bad. Vietnam is a nice place to live. Too many Vietnamese have this “grass is always greener” outlook and think the US or western countries are paradises. They aren’t which is why more and more people from western countries are moving to developing nations.

Answer 8

As a foreigner, you want to look and feel … different. Perhaps you are escaping the norms of your society

Perhaps you are running away to or running away from somebody.

Eventually, for me, after 4.5 years, I yearn for home.

You are searching for home.