Job Discussion Forums

[cb400]

Hey all,

After almost 6 years in Hanoi I am thinking of making the Jump to the South. The insanity of the traffic, rude of the people and the weather is finally getting to me. Has anyone on here made the switch? I am not expecting huge changes but the Hanoian mindset is slowly wearing me thin.

I am just wondering how hard it will be to find another DOS position or should I just try the leap anyway?

Any ideas please? Anyone else make the switch and what do you think? anyone from HCMC move to Hanoi? what are you thoughts on that?


Cheers

[1st Sgt Welsh]

I "made the jump" for exactly the same reasons as you stated about a year ago and I've never once regretted the decision. I think there are quite a few other posters on Daves who have done it as well. Living in Saigon is just so much easier than Hanoi, but I'm sure you will find that out for yourself if you end up moving down here. In regards to finding a DOS position - sorry wouldn't have a clue. I wouldn't have thought it would be that much different from Hanoi, but other posters would probably be more knowledgeable about this than me.

[snollygoster]

Have made the jump both ways a couple of times. Last jump was out of Vietnam completely.
My last position in Vietnam was in Hanoi, and lets just say that the "charm" Hanoi once had was severly eroded by the maniac traffic, the filthy lakes with daipers floating around, the insanity of the people who had gotten even more rude and aggressive, the huge numbers of tatooed red-hair dyed "hero" drivers, the couldn't care less attitude of the 4 wheel drive people and BMW drivers who feel they own the road, and of course the poor weather.

To say the southerners- the "Nam Ky" are easier to get on with is an understatement, but there are also lots of crazy drivers, selfish BMW and SUV drivers, and the traffic is just as bad.

The food in the south is much more tasty-unlike the blotting paper taste of most "famous" dishes in the north, and there is an absence of dead cooked dogs staring you in the face at every corner.
The weather is much more "human" friendly, and there are lots more places "out of town" to go to visit, but the city of HCM is pretty devoid of cultural significance.
Not far away is the Mekong Delta which has a real captivating charm of its own-hot and steamy with a sultry attitude to match.
The chauvinist attitude of the northern males towards women is also less evident in the south.

Its a bit like moving from the village of the damned to Disneyland.

Jobs? Similar possibilities, but more of them in HCMC, (with more competition too). Generally, jobs in the south seem to be less stable than the ones in the north, and the pay is comparatively lower.

Overall, its my OPINION that the south has more to offer in the area of keeping you as near to sane as anyone who lives in Vietnam can get.

[mark_in_saigon]

I worked a bit out of the center of HN in Gia Lam and it was a lovely environment, but it was not at all like the center of HN. It was nicer than anyplace I have been in HCMC. I think there can be reasons for being in HCMC, but really, expecting a significant improvement in the things you mentioned may leave you disappointed. It is all relative. I think in either city, you have to be able to put up with some serious bs, and it just depends on where in particular you happen to work or live in the city. You might have a better life in HCMC, or worse. Same in HN. Traffic is plenty insane here, plenty of rude people, the weather is quite dreadful in its own way, and I liked the seasonal aspect of HN's weather compared to HCMC, to be honest. I would say you will find huge changes, but it will just be mostly the same bs, served on a different platter. I only know of one big reason to go from one location to the other that really amounts to much, and it is not any of the things you mentioned, and it is better not to discuss that here, we should all understand that pretty well already.

If you do enjoy the motorbike culture, you may like that more in HCMC, especially if you stay away from the center.

[cb400]

thanks everyone for the answers. I realize that there is not going to be a drastic change from Hanoi to Saigon, but Ii really need some change at the moment. Right now the only thing holding me back is this:

http://newhanoian.xemzi.com/en/listing/show/17216/Great-touring-sport-bike-Honda-CB400SF-Vtec-3-for-Sale

I am trying to sell it before I go but not having much luck. Should I just put it on the train and take it with me? Is it risky driving something with no papers down there?


That site is really popular in Hanoi but has no jobs in HCMC, may I ask how the best way to find work in the south is? That website has tons of jobs everyday for Hanoi but nothing for Saigon.

Thanks for any ideas,

[mark_in_saigon]

I am sure there are lots of folks driving without papers, but I would guess you would not want to do that unless you were willing to walk away from it. If a bike was half price, it may be a good bet. But there should also be some kind of upper limit. That bike should have a much better chance of being pulled over, just like they pull over the cars and flash bikes because it is assumed those drivers have money. I would not take the chance, but if you are going to anyway, not sure the odds are worse or better here. Cheap enough to send it down, assuming you don't need papers for that. I know of a guy who lost one recently just because his parking ticket got wet and became illegible, and he did not have the papers to prove ownership. Not a very comforting thought.

A bike that big is great for the west. I would love to have the horsepower, but the size, the cost and the worry of theft and all would put me out of the market. Even a lot of the modern scooters are really too big for driving here, and as more people get bikes and cars, it is just getting worse.

[cb400]

thanks guys. Lots of good feedback here. I am just trying to firm up a position before I leave. Will leave the bike in Hanoi for the time being and have a friend try to sell it for me. Hopefully I can find something soon,

Cheers

[CThomas]

A buddy of mine rode a 450 and 600 here for a few years and he told me that the police think that you're connected if you ride one of these and don't bother you. He didn't have a license. That said, it's a shame you don't have the papers and thus don't feel comfortable taking it with. That is a sweet bike. If I were you (which I'm not, I know), I'd take a week or so and ride it down here. In pretty much any situation -- parking to traffic violation, a few dong go a long way.

Get the job once you land. Hit the pavement. It should take you all of a morning to start getting offers. From there, start negotiating and networking for as long as you can stand it. saigonesl has a pretty good list up, though kind of dated, to get you started.

[cb400]

Hey CT,

Thanks for the info. I am most likely going to go down and hunt for work, leaving the bike here for a while. I have some friends I trust to sell it for me and look after it while I am in HCMC looking for work. Just waiting for my final pay and I am going to get a ticket.

If the bike doesnt sell in a month I will ship it down on the train (if I can ) or better ride it down.

Any suggestions on a good monthly rate in a hotel until settled?

PS. I think the saigonesl site might be down? Is it for good?

[CThomas]

$15/night for a hotel/guest house on bui vien (you can get them cheaper, but that's a normal price for a decent room, MAYBE w/ a balcony).

$300 and up for a room/month

That sucks about saigonesl. I wish I would have known. I'd have taken that over; pretty good site.

I have a map of schools that might help: http://saigonalive.blogspot.com/p/english-schools-in-saigon-ho-chi-minh.html

Dave's has some ads on for the bigger schools as well.

Other than that, land and start talking to people. You'll get a hang of it in about 20 minutes.

[LettersAthruZ]

[cb400]

Thanks for the map will check it out. Waiting for my visa and I will book a ticket. I have some friends that will look after the bike for me and if I can get it on the train without papers I will take it down later.

It would be great, if someone started a forum for Vietnam specific, the newhanoian site is huge up here, but the saigon version is dead. I would definitely contribute to that.

[CThomas]

Well, here's one that has had like 2 posters since forever. I like Dave's a lot, but for that stuff that just doesn't fit into this forum, take a gander.

http://saigonalive.blogspot.com/p/forum.html