Job Discussion Forums

drpangloss · Joined: 21 Mar 2012 Posts: 25

Hey guys,

I'll be showing up in HCMC sometime around the second week of July. I need to buy some work clothes, and just clothes in general. Where's a good place to do that? I was thinking about getting some tailored clothes if it's financially reasonable. Also...is it hard to find big shoe sizes there?

Thanks,
-Sam

mark_in_saigon · Joined: 20 Sep 2009 Posts: 837

I highly recommend bringing all the shoes you will ever need if you are over size 10 1/2 U.S. Short sleeve shirts are fine here if you are not really large around the waist. Long sleeve will not work if you are taller. Pants are a problem if you are tall. Sizes are crazy, a 33 inch waist in the states requires a 38 waist here, you can eventually find pants, but it is some work. Larger shoes are the worst, maybe you can get anything you need in Thailand though, if that is an option for you. You may stumble onto the occasional 11 shoes here, they are rare, expensive and likely not going to be the style you seek. Fill your luggage allotment, you are gonna wish you had brought a few extra things that are hard to get here.

1st Sgt Welsh · Posted: Thu Jun 21, 2012 3:32 pm Post subject:

I concur with everything mark said, but I'd just add one more thing - underpants! I'm not sure of what your physique is like Sam but if you are bit on the large size bring plenty of undergarments. I wish I had more, but when it comes to this, they just don't seem to cater for the husky gentleman over here Embarassed

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drpangloss · Joined: 21 Mar 2012 Posts: 25

Thanks for the heads up guys, looks like I've got a few things to bring with me. I'm 6'1, 200 pounds and wear size 13 shoes so I may be screwed there for shoes and underpants. I do recall being able to find good big shoes in Thailand, but they were expensive.

How well does leather hold up in the humidity there? I've got a pair of boots I'll bring if they won't rot.

1st Sgt Welsh · Posted: Fri Jun 22, 2012 2:50 am Post subject:

I've got leather boots and shoes and haven't had any problems.

mark_in_saigon · Joined: 20 Sep 2009 Posts: 837

NO WAY are you gonna find 13's here. I rarely find 11's and when I do, they are rare, expensive and not what I seek. You should also think about the right size sandals, which you may find far more important to daily life than normal shoes. Even the cheap flip flops seem to end at about size 9 or 10. Crazy that they make shoes for the states here but cannot seem to hold some of the larger sizes here for the expats. There is a shoe factory over on the west side of the city round An Lac that sells to the public, maybe one could get larger sizes at a manufacturing facility with some work, but shoes are at the top of my list on problem purchases. Another important thing is to have your tech stuff sorted. You can buy things here, but if you are serious about your computers you will likely be disappointed with some aspects of what happens here, esp with OS reinstallation as well as getting specific odd devices. The list may be endless.

drpangloss · Joined: 21 Mar 2012 Posts: 25

This is a great little microcosm of how many things I don't know re: Vietnam.

So we've got shoes, underpants, computers...anything else I'd be hard-pressed to find there? My knowledge of Vietnamese is near zero beyond greetings, food and curse words.

skarper · Joined: 12 Oct 2006 Posts: 477

Underwear! I left the UK 9 years ago and have been in Korea, Japan and Vietnam ever since. Impossible to find comfortable underpants in any place.

I like support without being 'crushed' in that region. All my old underwear is worn to rags and I recently found some in Metro that are just about OK, but it is a quest.

Bring underwear, shoes and just a few changes of clothes to get you started. It is easy to get stuff made here though you do need an interpreter. Taking an example and saying - copy this - is perhaps the easiest way to get started...

The Mad Hatter · Joined: 16 May 2010 Posts: 165

Among the things I've brought back with me from my annual visits home:

shoe laces, a foot pump, shaving gel (expensive here), a multi-tool, Babyliss personal grooming set (nose hairs etc), potato masher, bumper packs of underwear and socks, quality shoes, electric toothbrushes for friends.

That's about it for the minute.

Anything else I'll post later.

Brighton Blade · Joined: 12 Oct 2010 Posts: 16

There was a place called Mr Bean's that I discovered a few days before I left HCMC. It's on CMT8 (close to the swimming pool/gym/tennis court complex) that sold some great stuff for reasonable prices. I didn't have time to try out the clothes but I picked up a designer ' factory test' backpack for a pittance to it's price in the UK.