Job Discussion Forums

[shanewarne]

i actually really like living in vietnam.

[inky]

Me too. I've been here for a number of years, and I can't imagine not being here. The people in general are wonderful, and the students are almost universally fantastic.

[BenE]

Cheers guys. There's certainly a lot of people ready to give advice about how bad it is and how you should be ready to run home. It's nice to read from some people who actually enjoy living in Vietnam.

I don't mean any offence to those who criticise the place. It's made me more aware of what to expect in certain situations as first. I don't expect to be going to a utopia.

[sammie08]

Wow, I am really getting more and more confused I think, almost like watching cable news: opinions are either 100% for or 100% against the issue at hand.

How is it that so many people say Vietnamese are wonderful and so many say that every Vietnamese out there is slimy? How can so many people loathe Saigon/Hanoi and so many adore them?

I appreciate any info out there, this comment is not directed toward anyone, but is more of a general observation. . . Like Ben, I'm going in a couple weeks. . . but man O man, the more I read, the less I know what to expect!

Other than, maybe, that I will either hate or love it

[BenE]

Well the opinions look better than those on the China forum. It seemed there that everyone had a horror story to tell. Here the stories are a bit more realistic as to things that can happen to you.

Let's just hope we're not the ones with issues to complain about in a few months.

[bradley]

I live in China and I'm happy. I think that the unhappy ones are just much more vocal...or are looking for trouble.

[lost_gypsy]

Hi all,

I will hit Saigon in early/mid summer. I have not been there, but did five years straight in mainland China.

What I found, and what I notice in this forum too, is there is seldom a gray area--it's thin if there is one. You either

1) LOVE Vietnam or hate it
2) LOVE China or hate it

In China, (I am only guessing on this comparison) there are more expats who jumped at the chance of raised income by working abroad for an international company (a manufacturer let's say, or some conglomerate like Seimens or Bombardier). THOSE are the people that normally biatch and moan. As for teachers there, it's the ones that either didn't do enough initial research (i.e. none what so ever on their school, the city of choice, China in general) or they are fresh out of school and have super western withdraw.

I am looking very forward to Vietnam, picking up the language and enjoying at least a year there.

[bradley]

Or are not qualified or don't actually enjoy teaching.

You are right that there are many businessmen who dislike China but I was only referring to the teachers here.

Anyway, I'm always happy to read that there are actually some happy teachers somehwere in the world.