Job Discussion Forums

junan70 · Joined: 16 Apr 2008 Posts: 47 Location: UK

Hiya

I'm newly arrived in Hanoi waiting for an Apollo contract to start. If anyone's is also tired of wandering from one air con cafe to another and fancies sharing a few cold ones let me know (PM me if poss)

Ta
Jo

vietraider · Joined: 15 Feb 2008 Posts: 1

I hope someone PMed you at least, but welcome to Vietnam. It's an incredibly boring place, so get yourself a local boyfriend/girlfriend until you tire of their family/money is everything mentality. I did a year in HCM, just make as much money as you can and move on. You probably disagree with everything I have said, but you wont in 6-8 months. It wears you down and you're probably very positive about the place so far. Dont mind the big smiles, you're a walking ATM, hence the smiles. All there is to do, is sit around drinkin coffee or beer and chasing women, which couldn't be described as an activity really, it is far too easy. Good Luck

BenE · Joined: 11 Oct 2008 Posts: 321

Vietraider...you are mostly right but there are other things to do if you really put your mind to it.

Btw. 7 months so I guess that puts me in a position to say that.

I'll meet up with you at some point. Come to R&R tavern tuesday evening for a pub quiz to get to know some more people.

inky · Joined: 05 Jan 2009 Posts: 283 Location: Hanoi

Vietraider... based on my lengthy experience in Vietnam I would say you are mostly wrong. You forgot to mention the satisfaction that comes with doing a good job teaching, or was teaching not your reason for coming here? It sounds like you made some very basic mistakes, getting involved in relationships without adequate language skills or cultural awareness, and having no interests beyond beer and coffee. A year in HCMC hardly qualifies you to know the streets, let alone the people. I'm sure you have found yourself in a far better place now.