Job Discussion Forums

hedon · Joined: 20 Mar 2018 Posts: 5

Could anyone confirm or qualify an impression I am getting from google search results that both these cities suffer from problematic pollution that will be a problem for someone like me, namely someone who has mild allergic asthma?

In particular, I am thinking of applying for a job with ACET in either Hanoi or HCM City. The job seems a good match except for this. In the short term one I would be Ok but over a period of months I think I would gradually succumb to respiratory problems. Maybe living very close to work would minimise the problem, I don't know.

I was wondering if colleagues here might be able to comment.

AbeCross · Joined: 21 Jun 2012 Posts: 191

"As Southeast Asia’s fastest-growing economy, Vietnam is facing a pollution problem. The capital, Hanoi, enjoyed little more than one month of clean air last year, according to a January report by the Green Innovation and Development Centre."

From a Reuters article:

https://uk.reuters.com/article/vietnam-business-tax/vietnam-plans-to-hike-fuel-taxes-in-fight-against-pollution-debt-idUKL4N1RH21A

I believe Saigon is even more congested and polluted.

Mattingly · Joined: 03 Jul 2008 Posts: 249

voyagerksa · Joined: 29 Apr 2015 Posts: 140

It should be quite an experience for you. Biweekly visits to a doctor (wherever you find one) for your asthma, squat toilets (most likely not in your apt. though), people espousing the benefits of squat toilets, bad traffic, bad pay. I would go somewhere else really.

voyagerksa · Joined: 29 Apr 2015 Posts: 140

Today the pollution index was Moderate, around 88 or so, worse than Harbin. The pollution in Harbin is appalling.

sigmoid · Joined: 21 Jan 2003 Posts: 1276

Hà Nội has a population of approx. 8 million and HCMC's is 10 mil ++. Both cities are still in the process of constructing mass transit systems (subway/skytrain) and not only suffer from air pollution but also noise pollution, overcrowding, etc.

There are some charms to be found in both cities but personally, the longest I ever managed to stay in HCMC was a year and a third in 2007 – 08, compared to 12 years in Bangkok (not that I would really recommend BKK now). I spent a month in Hà Nội in 2010, which was sufficient.

Anyway, in my opinion, you should:

1) visit both cities and see if you have a preference, then plan to try one for 6 months to a year
2) Look into living and working somewhere else in Việt Nam
3) Consider other countries as a Plan B to fall back on if life in VN turns out to not be your cup of tea.

1st Sgt Welsh · Posted: Mon Apr 23, 2018 5:25 am Post subject:

EFL Educator · Joined: 17 Jul 2013 Posts: 988 Location: Cape Town

Pollution??? The biggest problem in Vietnam is POPULATION Pollution....too many people and too few resources! Shocked

sigmoid · Joined: 21 Jan 2003 Posts: 1276

World Rankings:

Population:

15th - Vietnam 93,700,000

Area:

66th - Vietnam 331,212 km2

Population density:

50th - Vietnam 283 ppl/km2

kingplaya4 · Joined: 09 Dec 2017 Posts: 11 Location: Nha Be

Work conditions aren't great here, if you are set on Vietnam, why not try the host of smaller cities that advertise for teachers? It's not near as bad as China, but the two cities would not be great for someone with asthma.