Job Discussion Forums

[Nerel]

Hi,

My partner and I are looking to move to Vietnam from May/June to teach English and are considering either HCMC or Hanoi.

How easy is it to get around in both of these? I've read particularly for Hanoi you have to drive a moped which I really am not keen on - I can drive a car but am nervous even driving here in the UK and my partner doesn't drive at all - will it make things difficult?

also any tips on whether Hanoi vs HCMC is better to work as a first time teacher would be great thank you - we're considering doing CELTA/TESOL courses in either of these and then staying on to find work - with Apollo or Cactus?

[1st Sgt Welsh]

Hi Nerel,

Motorbikes/scooters are very much part and parcel of living here and I only know one Westerner with a car. However he is a family man on a very good income (not a teacher) and he has a large house with garage etc.

I know plenty of people who don't drive here and they just rely on xeoms (motorbike taxis) and taxis. The xeoms are cheap but I think the taxis might become a bit too expensive to use all the time. However, if there is two of you sharing a cab then it should work out to be pretty much the same cost as a xeom.

One option may be to find a place close to work and you can just cycle or walk there every day. Also you can probably find a xeom driver you like and you can just use them as your regular guy. Usually the older drivers are more sensible and, trust me, they will be grateful for the consistent work.

Personally, I would give the motorbikes a go for a while and see how you like it. The traffic conditions take a bit of getting used to but it shouldn't take too long to get the hang of it. It is very easy to rent a scooter and, if you are in Saigon, I would recommend Chi's Cafe and, if you are in Hanoi, then see V.I.P. Bikes. Their contact details can be found on the Net.

However, like I said, I know many people who don't drive and they seem get along just fine . In regards to whether you should live in Hanoi/Ho Chi Minh City, it depends on the person. I definitely prefer Saigon but there is plenty of information about the two cities here. Never heard of Cactus but, likewise, there's heaps of information on Daves' about Apollo.

Welcome to the forum and good luck .

[ExpatLuke]

You would probably have to drive a motorbike everywhere in Vietnam. They have cars here, but they're very expensive. You can pick up a cheap used motorbike for around $300 or a new one for up to $1,500.

Or you could just stick to using the bus or taxi services, but you would lose a lot of your freedom of mobility.

[sigmoid]

Traffic in both cities is bad, but HCMC is particularly horrible. There are plenty of videos of it on the net. Have a look at a couple and see what you think.

If you do decide to drive, remember nearly everyone has an accident sooner or later, sometimes with quite serious results.

Of course, using a xe om is no guarantee of safety either.

The worst part is probably the exhaust fumes though...

[Dekadan]

After living in Saigon for a couple of years, I wouldn't want to drive a car in that traffic! In some places, the traffic is so dense and I'd be concerned about crushing someone.

I rode a motorcycle (they're very small bikes over there) and didn't have any serious accidents. If you were to go that route, I'd recommend spending a month or more using a xe om. As others mentioned, try to get a regular, older man as your driver. They're usually not as aggressive. You can get his phone number and just text him a brief message about location. Also make sure you negotiate prices ahead of time. It prevents misunderstandings later. Once you've done this for a while, you can get a feel for the way traffic works there. After you get the hang of it, then move on to your own bike. And drive slowly! Most of my issues came when I allowed my impatience to make me more aggressive. Arriving alive is much better than saving 5 minutes.

Good luck!

[I'm With Stupid]

You can always use a bicycle. They're also good for learning how the traffic works before you move onto a motorbike.

Cactus is just an agent btw. They will arrange things with Apollo or ILA for you, which are the two main CELTA providers in the country. From what I've heard, there's not much to choose between the two. Oh, and for the record, I did mine with ILA via Cactus and had no issues.