Job Discussion Forums

sebcat · Joined: 02 Jun 2011 Posts: 3

Hi everyone,

I'm new to this forum. Am moving to Can Tho pretty soon after many years in Japan. I know next to nothing about Vietnam, but have read enough on this board to scare the willies outta me. Ok--it's not that bad as I know SEA very well and love it. Still, any insights about Can Tho and life in the delta or pre-arrival advice would be much appreciated. Thanks.

Jbhughes · Joined: 01 Jul 2010 Posts: 254

These threads are quite useful:

http://forums.eslcafe.com/job/viewtopic.php?t=84483&highlight=tho

http://forums.eslcafe.com/job/viewtopic.php?t=82678&highlight=tho

I found them by using the 'search' function and typing 'Can Tho' followed by selecting 'search for all terms.' There were some other threads that came up too, although they're a bit dated now perhaps.

toiyeuthitmeo · Joined: 21 May 2010 Posts: 213

Here's what I know...

Can Tho is about 4-6 hours by bus from Saigon. It has an airport but as of now no direct flights to Hanoi or Saigon, however you can go to Con Dao Island and Phu Quoc Island on a short flight.

The city proper is not too big. I traveled it extensively, and didn't see any English schools, curiously.

The rivers around Can Tho are scenic, and an afternoon boat tour is a great way to relax and snap some photos.

There is very little by way of Western nightlife and food. The tourist drag on the river has some Western food and is usually packed with backpackers / holiday-makers. Despite it being touristy, there are some nice restaurants and nice strolls to be had.

Outside of this riverfront, and the streets running to it, I rarely saw other Westerners about.

There are several discos of the deafening-thumping-trance music variety.

The city shuts down early, it's actually a bit tricky to find a corner store, a bite to eat, even a taxi after midnight.

I could not imagine living there. I think I'd get bored. Not even a single (Western-style) bar, pub, tavern in town.

If you are hoping for the "full Vietnamese experience" e.g. not having a big expat social scene, not enjoying a burger or a roast too often, not watching the footy with other English speakers...it will be a good place. I've been around for a handful of years so I do need those things now and then Smile

The Mekong region itself... can be photogenic (rice paddies and rivers) or nasty (dusty, dangerous roads, run-down, drab towns, muddy beaches). It is slightly lagging in infrastructure and development. People can be very friendly. Life is a bit more simple and poor. There's not much desirable (well-paid, well-run) teaching work to be found.

mark_in_saigon · Joined: 20 Sep 2009 Posts: 837

yes, there does not seem to be a lot of info out there on this area. toiyeuthitmeo gave a pretty good rundown. If the gentleman (whose threads were linked) who was moving over could follow up with his experiences, that would be great. I am supposed to be going there in the next week for several days. If you have some specific questions, let me know, I may have some time to kill over there, and I do not like just hanging around the hotel room. I will be in some of the schools there.

Anyone coming over should sure think about what he cannot get here that he may wish he had brought. If your shoe size is fairly large, shoes can be the biggest issue. Size 11 or larger (American sizing) for men is very problematic, bordering on unobtainable. Other clothing items are not so bad, but you may still wish you had brought over your own styles of sox or underwear or who knows what. Tech stuff can be the same story. I always bring an extra laptop or two, and a decent small form factor desktop is not a bad idea either. Hard to find good prices on these items, and they do not know how to set them up properly as well. Better to bring this stuff over.

Beautiful Loser · Joined: 29 May 2011 Posts: 80

I made a trip there last month and liked the city. The only drawback I experienced was a tendency by the locals to overcharge whitey.

Good luck if you're going to work at a school with the initials PC.

sebcat · Joined: 02 Jun 2011 Posts: 3

Thank you all so much for your informative responses. Mark, I'm surprised about the tech issue. I was going to pick up a monitor once I got there but am now thinking petrhaps I should buy it first. Beautiful loser...I guess the overcharging is fairly epidemic (at least that's what I've heard)--what's up with PC???!!!(Please, if you've got any red flags--tell me). Thanks to toiyeuthitmeo for the info and to JB for those links to the earlier threads.

Beautiful Loser · Joined: 29 May 2011 Posts: 80

DNK · Joined: 22 Jan 2007 Posts: 236 Location: the South

Took a motorbike out there from HCM for a few days. Seemed like a really boring place to live, and I'm not sure I'd call it scenic, although there are nice views to be had (on the river on on the bridges). It also rained constantly, and by southern Vietnamese standards at that. Sun rises -> drizzle starts -> rain pours down at random times -> sun sets -> night ensues -> drizzles lets up for a bit -> drizzle begins again for a bit -> drizzle stops once you are asleep.

The city has an odd mixture of small town bordering on farmland and HCM clusterf-k, which is really amazing that they managed to pull that off Smile

Also, I there actually ARE some foods that shouldn't have sugar in them...

Beautiful Loser · Joined: 29 May 2011 Posts: 80

mark_in_saigon · Joined: 20 Sep 2009 Posts: 837

VN has some kind of luxury tax, so lots of things are more expensive here than they would be in the west. I think laptops are really hit with this. I am not sure what all they ding you on, in the past, Iphones were a huge deal to them, they would constantly bug you to bring one over so they could get it cheaper, some folks used that as a way to finance their trips. But to me, the biggest issue is having your systems set up properly. Whatever tricks you use in the west with your computers, you are gonna be on your own here. I downgrade my systems to XP, I partition my drives keeping data separate from operating systems, and I back up my operating systems as one file to a separate partition and/or drive. Very easy to get viruses here. Anyway, if your system gets screwed up here, don't expect to find a VN who can properly manage this for you. So to me, having systems properly set up and having built in recovery processes are quite important, as you are likely not going to be able to get that done properly by local labor (or if you are, let everyone know who does this, it would be rather surprising to find someone who could). Another good plan is to have a server running in the west that you can back up to, and have your important data already on it. Also nice to be able to surf with it, as they block your access to some things over here.

chim35 · Joined: 25 Jun 2010 Posts: 35

I stayed in Can Tho for several months a year or so ago , and there are burgers available there, I'm sure they have a Lotteria or two in the shopping malls. And I think there is at least one western oriented restaurant along the riverfront.

Restaurants for the natives are much cheaper than in HCMC.

I bought a low-end Acer computer for a friend there and when I got back to HCMC I was surprised to see the same computer selling for much more money.

They have a great supermarket, Maximark, and also a not-so great one, Co-Op Mart. (I find the selection at Co-op Mart very poor, while Maximark has zillions of local brands that you never see at Co-op Mart). They also have a Metro superstore with tons of stuff and variety.

There is a nightlife street but it's not at the riverfront, it's a kilometer or so away. I forget the name of it but it's full of clubs, discos and karaokes.

Can Tho has a reputation among VNese for having beautiful women.

Worst thing about Can Tho is mosquitoes are plentiful. I spent most nights killing them in my bathroom so they wouldn't bother me while I slept.

sebcat · Joined: 02 Jun 2011 Posts: 3

Thanks again everyone,

Mark--Man...the tech situation is way more Amish than I guessed and requires a lot more prep than I thought. Thaqnks for the heads up. Chim, great post and good to hear about the supermarkets etc--damn mosquitoes!!! Guess I'll just have to buy a net or something when I get there. Beautilful L--if the managers got his head on right that's nuff for me--most directors are difficult and I can't go wishing for the moon (but thanks for the heads up too). DNK--yeah, I read about the rain somewhere else--sounds horrible but it must get better in the dry season (if there is such in the delta???). Anyway, thank you all for improving the hazy picture I have of how to prep and what awaits me. Much appreciated.

Oh My God · Joined: 31 Jan 2010 Posts: 273

Beautiful Loser · Joined: 29 May 2011 Posts: 80

VictoriaHo · Joined: 07 Jul 2011 Posts: 2

Hey Sebcat.
I am living in Can Tho now and the others gave a pretty good overview of life here. Where will you be working?
Sometimes its frustrating not being able to find people to communicate with but its also rewarding as well. You get more culture here than you would in big cities like HCM or Hanoi.
It is what you make of it. You will need to find a way to get around the city though so maybe pick up a bike while you're here.
Anyway, feel free to contact me when you get here.
Best of luck,
Vicky