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[sonbuenas2]

I'm coming to HCMC on 9/1 to do ILA's CELTA course and then stay in country to teach for at least a year. I don't have very much money saved - I'll prob bring about $3K with me - and am just looking for advice on how to live on the cheap until I get established, since I know this isn't a big cushion.

So, BEST case scenario I figure I'll need around $1,000 per month, and will have to get by for something like 2.5 months until I get the fist paycheck. (of course assuming I can even get a gig)

I know that's way too tight.

BUT... It's what I have and if it's possible to survive, I'm going to make it work.

So... for those of you who have some experience there, if you were an idiot like myself coming to VN with a only few bucks - what cost saving strategies would you employ?

Obviously eat as the majority of locals do, but beyond that - rent? If I'm willing to live a "spartan" existence (no AC, shared bath etc.) what can I expect to pay, and where should I look?

Where/what should I eat? Pho for every meal? What other major expenses am I forgeting?

This post was kind of long, sorry. ANY advice on a frugal lifestyle in VN will be extremely appreciated! Please share your wisdom!!

PS: I know it's all relative to what one's lifestyle is like... I am willing to do what it takes!! I just want to know what is possible, and perhaps more importantly, how.

Thank you all for reading this,

-Jason

[Kornan DeKobb]

Read the bad news about ILA in the sticky. Is it too late to switch to Apollo?

You can get a fan room in the backpacker area for $7. You can eat fine, if frugally, on $5. My problem is my sweet tooth which often pushes me over the $5 mark. So that's a minimum of $360/mo for room and board.

If you're a drinker I suppose you may go over, but then there is that 5000 dong beer place on Bui Vien. Finally to consider, presuming you're a guy, is how often you will feel like a "massa"(ge).

For me, $1,000 USD/mo would be double what I'd spend. You should be fine (especially if you go to Apollo!)

[mark_in_saigon]

I know a nice place in district 3 that charges $250 per month with electricity included, does have aircon, private baths, safe, furnished, cleaned, they take good care of their customers. Rooms are not very big, maybe 25 sq mtrs, some have balconies. No elevator, stairs only. If you look on Craigslist for housing, understand they are advertising to he high end of the expat scene, don't assume those prices you see are your only options.

Good lunch can be less than $1. Not just pho, but pho is good too. You can live on $500 a month just hanging out with a frugal girlfriend (there are some out there) and driving your trusty motorbike everywhere, what drives up the cost is booze, western meals, having multiple girlfriends (some individual ones can also be pretty costly), taxis, travel and desperate VN friends who need money. I am sure others have other expenses that they can list. Lot of our guys here smoke, but cigs are quite low, they say. I highly recommend buying a supercub and using that for your transportation. Nice ones are about $450. Trashy ones are less, a trashy one might be okay if it drives good, but I would splurge on that and get a nicer one.

[toiyeuthitmeo]

Keep in mind that the CELTA course is pretty hard, full time work, so there's one month right there where you won't (maybe shouldn't?) be spending much on the night life and socializing. After that, as the others have mentioned, you can get by on what you've got. A tip would be to look for employers that offer some kind of starting bonus, which will replenish your coffers as you get settled in to VN. Good luck!

[sonbuenas2]

Thanks for the quick and informative replies guys... Makes me feel a bit better