Job Discussion Forums

[sirenii]

I hope to attend the CELTA class at ILA - Hanoi in the next few months and teach in Vietnam right after my certification. (Thanks, all, for your posts - most helpful!) The fly in the ointment (perhaps), is that I won't give up my 4 lb. toy fox terrier and I'd like to bring my ancient chihuahua, too. Is it difficult to rent with well-behaved pets?

[mark_in_saigon]

but I have always felt moving here was only for someone who was pretty much unencumbered. One of my vn friends told me about how you have to really watch out for your dogs around some holiday, as some group eats them as part of their traditional celebratory meals. I think it was the christians at christmas, but I may have misunderstood the specific group and time. It can be great fun being here, but there are plenty of people you can grow close to, really good people. I think that is one of the main reasons for living here, to be close to others who are special, and different from the westerners. I personally would not come here needing to bring the people or creatures that I wanted to share my time with, unless it was a tourist thing.

[inky]

It won't be too difficult to rent a place with the dogs, but finding a place that's suitable (with easy access to the outdoors) would be a big problem. It will also take some time to find a place you're comfortable with, so that's a problem because you'll most likely be in a temporary situation which will be even more difficult, and it's not likely a guesthouse will accept the dogs. You should really pay attention to what Mark has written. Dogs can be a real burden here, walking them can be nightmarish, the air is really bad for them, and there are many reports of thefts of dogs, for ransom or worse. Also, you'll be trapped, it's difficult to find dog sitters if you want to get away for a weekend or longer.

Also, the CELTA is really intensive, for four weeks you are not going to have any time to help the dogs adjust, you won't see them for 8-10 hours a day for 4 weeks, and even weekends are going to be stressful and busy. If you've never been to Hanoi, you're going to be making your own adjustments, some of which will not be easy.

So, in theory you can do it; in reality I would strongly discourage you from bringing them with you. Isn't it possible to do the CELTA, start working, then arrange to have them shipped here once you've got things figured out?

[sirenii]

Mark and Inky, thank you. I do understand the virtue of arriving (and living, generally) unencumbered and appreciate your advice. I'm not even bringing my sig other as this is to be my adventure, my year following a dream, but the little (did I mention she's a three-legged rescue?) fox terrier is family and dependent in a whole 'nother way. The doddering chihuahua is going (on your advice) to a relative, but Teeter is going to have to work on her Vietnamese...I am giving up my macaws as it is. My dogs have been used to me working 50 hour work weeks and Teeter sometimes travels with me, so my only concerns at this point are the xtians (never trusted 'em!) and finding an apt. I swear to god no one in a guesthouse would even know I had a dog with me -- she's 4 lbs, quiet and travels well in a shoulder bag. Still, I'm taking your replies to heart and will think hard on workarounds. Glad I asked, tho, because now I can focus on other, more teaching-related and getting-out-of-dodge issues. Thanks again.

[inky]

I suggest (if you haven't already) that you get the address where the CELTA will be done, and begin searching for a guesthouse nearby. Since cleaning staff and others will have access to your room, you will have to make special arrangements with them. People generally like (or at least tolerate) dogs here, and they are often allowed into taxis and bars and sometimes into restaurants. You will be expected to clean up after your dog on the street, even while toddlers are urinating in the same spot, so bring some of those dog-poop bags, they'll come in handy.

What are xtians?

[sirenii]

Good idea, Inky. I believe the CELTA class will take place at Hanoi Towers, 49 Hai Ba Trung, which I'll confirm with them tomorrow and see what guesthouses they recommend. Checking into websites as well for the larger expat community in Vietnam to see about options for Teeter until I know where I'll be teaching and can find an apt. Her safety is a big concern to me and I'm still mulling over what you warned about. "Xtians" = "christians;" re: Mark's remark!

[Oh My God]

I'd really suggest you rethink the whole importing pets thing. Getting them in is fairly simple enough, a couple of bribes to the VN officers.

BUT getting them back home is a huge and exhaustive process. One of the issues is the 30 day isolation for observation at an approved facility. Check with US Customs before you leave.

[sirenii]

More good info, Oh. Thank you. You raise an important issue and I'll look into it. Not sure I'll be going back to the States any time soon, but leaving Vietnam with her for anywhere else will pose a different set of problems, guess.

[anubistaima]

It is NOT a problem taking your dogs out of Vietnam unless you're going to a place with strict quarantine laws (UK, Singapore, Norway). Unless you're from Hawaii, there are no quarantine laws in the US and you won't have any problems bringing your dogs back in. I moved to Vietnam with a dog and a cat and while living a Hanoi got another dog (he was being sold for meat at a market). The level of medical care for animals here is dismal (actually, dismal is a very generous word). When my older dog got sick with liver problems, I had to fly him to Thailand for an ultrasound. By the way, flying him out to Thailand and then back to Vietnam (after three days) was no problem at all. I had to get some paperwork done at the vet, but it wasn't that much of a pain.

All that said, you will have to be extremely vigilant here. They eat dogs. In areas where dogs are not eaten (the South of Vietnam), dogs are sometimes stolen for ransom or to breed them and then sell the puppies to other foreigners. Walking them is basically impossible because stray dogs here are vicious. My cocker spaniel was attacked twice when I was walking him on a leash. The second time he had to get stitches. I gave up trying to walk him and instead rented a house with a yard, so he has some outside time without being mangled to pieces. Again, Vietnam is not a dog-friendly place. If you're willing to work around the difficulties, your dogs will be fine. I wouldn't dream of leaving my dogs behind, so I understand you. If you need more information, please feel free to PM me.

Best of luck.

[mark_in_saigon]

from my place in Tan Binh, HCMC. I understand the Koreans really like em, and there is a Korean area close to the airport. You can get a lot of different things here, with money, I am sure you can get all the dog meat you want. Only Fido really knows where it all comes from. They have a very utilitarian attitude about animals here.

[anubistaima]

[CThomas]

I don't see anything about a 30-day quarantine.

http://www.foreignborn.com/visas_imm/entering_us/2bringyourpet.htm#dogs

Also, people typically won't eat a dog here that they know belongs to someone. The neighborhood, community, mentality, would make this very difficult for a person to do.

As for strays beating up your dog, that's a risk you take anywhere on earth. That said, there are not many strays here. There are some, but not many. At all.

Lastly, some airlines and companies offer special pet services. Google it and maybe you can find one to your liking. http://www.google.com.vn/#hl=en&source=hp&q=airline+pet+service&btnG=Google+Search&meta=&aq=f&oq=airline+pet+service&fp=5335d84f9d3a33a1

[CThomas]

[CThomas]

regarding my comment about the communities/neighborhoods, I spaced on the fact that this is about Hanoi. I don't know about the culture/neighborhoods there.

[mark_in_saigon]

"people typically won't eat a dog here that they know belongs to someone"

possibly true, but how often do they inquire where the meat came from? Parts is parts, anyway, no one is gonna say, "oh, this one was raised for eating, that one was stolen off the street." No one really asks, or cares. If you are a dog meat eater, you are just glad to find it.

I think that question is just for amusement, actually, I like seeing my western friends react to the subject. I don't really care for dog, so far, maybe if it was prepared properly I might like it more. It is not at the top of my list. I really think the issue that underlies all of this is, why would you do it, not eat one, but bring one over? Out of love for the dog? How many westerners WANT to live in Asia? 1%? So how many western dogs would want to live in Asia? Your dog loves you? So does your mother, does she want to live in Asia? If you love the dog, you should consider giving it away to a good home over there, This is a very difficult environment, we may be able to navigate it as people, but unless you are the ambassador or something, the environment you plunk Fido into is likely gonna be pretty sad, despite your best efforts. Your mileage can of course vary. I do see native dogs that seem happy enough, and they seem to understand what their boundaries are, they do not wander into the streets too much, or away from their areas. I think if you really want a dog, you should get one here, I would never bring one that has grown up the the states over, again, unless I was the ambassador. I feel pretty sorry for the animals I see, I guess it is better than being dead, but sometimes I am not so sure.