Job Discussion Forums

ClaireMarie · Joined: 13 Sep 2009 Posts: 5

HI,

I'm moving to Hanoi in April to teach English. Do most new teachers lodge with other teachers or find their own apartments? I've been looking at the New Hanoian and it seems the average price of a room is 150-250 USD a month, and many are located in or around the Old Quarter which sounds ideal. Should I line up a place to stay before I leave or find one once I get there? I was thinking that sharing a place might also be a good way to meet people and get my footing.

Thanks,
Claire

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

Most people stay in a guest house for the first month or so. For $20-$30usd per night you can have safety, security, cleanliness and helpful advice. This gives you a base from which to explore the city and make an informed decision about where to live. Make your first priority securing a job, then you will know where you're working, which will help narrow down your housing decision. In addition to using a housing agent, your new school will also be a potential source of contacts and information, teachers often look for house mates through their schools.

I would definitely not agree to something without seeing it first-hand. Living in Hanoi isn't easy, and your personal space is perhaps more important in Hanoi than in many other places.

wasted_ace19 · Joined: 19 Nov 2009 Posts: 41

Am I missing something here Inky? $20-30 a NIGHT?! Why are you saying that- when you can clearly get hostel acomodation for so much less?

More like $5 a night. Go on hostelworld.com if you want to compare various places; then ask about long-term rates (a hostel manager would be mad not to give a cheaper rate for, say 25 nights.)

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

I would emphasize this: "you can have safety, security, cleanliness and helpful advice." Yes, there are cheaper places, but with the drop in price come potential risks and pitfalls. The extra money can buy peace of mind and an escape from the city at a very stressful time; many people find the noise, traffic and pollution to be overwhelming at first, and there isn't really a concentrated 'backpacker' area in Hanoi like there is in HCMC.

It is important for many new arrivals to have a pleasant home base for job and house-hunting. I know that many people have experience traveling and can 'rough it.' The person asking this question, however, claims to be new to all this, and spending a bit more for a pleasant environment on arrival can make a huge difference.

For a less-expensive hostel-type setting, there is one that I would recommend, Backpackers at 48 Ngo Huyen Street, they have very inexpensive dorm-style rooms with a pleasant environment.

ClaireMarie · Joined: 13 Sep 2009 Posts: 5

I found a guesthouse for $12 a night. it's called the Tung Trang--I think it will be perfect. It's more of a hotel than a hostel; I get my own room. According to the reviews it is clean and has a friendly staff. I do think a quiet place of my own to go back to will make all the difference the first couple weeks while I'm getting adjusted and job-hunting. Thanks Inky.

thomas123 · Joined: 10 Mar 2008 Posts: 26

good choice. I've stayed at the tung trang hotel on tam thuong street many times. It's an excellent guesthouse in a perfect location for exploring the old quarter. every evening many of the houses on tam thuong turn into miniature restaurants serving nem chua ran. Try it, its a good cheap meal. Later, head over to bao khanh street and enjoy a drink at the polite pub.

ClaireMarie · Joined: 13 Sep 2009 Posts: 5

Thanks for the tip, thomas! How long did you stay in Hanoi? Are there any parks within walking distance of the old quarter?

thomas123 · Joined: 10 Mar 2008 Posts: 26

my pleasure Claire. I've visited Hanoi numerous times since 2003, usually staying for a week or so each time. The old quarter is extremely dense, so there aren't parks there. The only exception is Lake Hoan Kiem, which is a very nice park but still a bit crowded. I went jogging around Lake Hoan Kiem once and spent the whole time dodging people.

Hanoi has quite a few beautiful parks, but you have to get outside the old quarter to find them. A walk around Lake Hoan Kiem is quite nice.

Have fun ! I may be moving to Hanoi in March or April, as I am currently negotiating a job (non-teaching) there.

mickeyrex · Joined: 03 Sep 2004 Posts: 65

Giving back a bit here. A lot of it is serendipity when it comes to finding lodging. For someone new, and the overwhelming feelings involved with being so, you need to secure a place anywhere for a week and then chat-up the locals. Hanoi is a bit different in regards to the "how much can I screw you for" factor; Hanoi being easier. Just need to find someone that can help you and you can find a (private) room in a VN house around $220. 24 access, kitchenette, hot/cold shower, A/C and laundry on premises for an extra $20. Biggest mistake people make is that they don't ask. If you get out of the old quarter(and please make a swift exit) it's limitless. I found my place 2 years ago by walking by a music store. Of course now I'm back in LoL. Best of luck to any trailblazer.

Porlestone · Joined: 24 Aug 2005 Posts: 95 Location: Asia

I would not recommend anyone pay $30 a night (as someone above did) unless they were stuck in a lonely street with suitcases at 2am in the morning, and I wouldn't wish that situation on anyone. I would not pay $20 a night unless it was only for a night or two tops so that I could get out and look for a place at $10. Then when I moved into that $10 a night place, I wouldn't sleep too well, knowing that I am being overcharged by about 100%, as the same mini-hotel rooms used to go for 80k to 120k a few years ago ($5 avg to 7 bucks at the time) or about 2mil for a month -- and they were really pleased to have your presence. They busted their behinds and kept their places looking fresh and clean. Now they sit around eating lobster and various exotic animals several nights a week, and complain about inflation.

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

Poorstone, why make comments like that? They serve no purpose, other than to confuse people and make them unnecessarily wary, or to serve as a way for you to whine about your own unhappiness. I did not 'recommend' paying $30 a night, I suggested a range of prices with the caveat that you would be buying peace of mind, cleanliness, security, and helpfulness, for the initial few weeks in Hanoi. Yes, there are cheaper places, but the lower prices come with potential risks for newcomers. Have prices gone up? Yes, as they have in New York and elsewhere (everywhere). My suggested $20-$30 price range for Hanoi may have been $10-$20 as recently as a year ago, and less than that a few years ago. Yes, you can still find less expensive places, but that's best done on the ground, safely ensconced in a $20/night room while you look, knowing that your laptop will be there when you return. $20/night for 2 weeks is $280, if you can't afford a splurge like that, then maybe you should rethink your plans.

wasted_ace19 · Joined: 19 Nov 2009 Posts: 41

There are surely places where you can drop your bags, without wandering around with everything on your back (very tiring, frustrating and like a big banner saying "rip me off"). in Bangkok I used an internet cafe that provided this service (no I didn't leave my most valuable things and no the owner wouldn't have run off with the bags). You'r probably looking at around $2 for 24 hours; could save you a fair bit. (OK, not at 3am)