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[Andy123]

I have my ticket and the boxes have been shipped out. I have lived in Asia for more than 9 plus years with a majority of that time in Vietnam. It is time to leave. Most of the "old timers" I know have left, plan to leave and some unfortunately must stay but want to leave but they have no where to go i.e. no real credentials, money, legal problems, etc.

I arrived during the "Golden Years" and enjoyed a standard of living working as a teacher that most successful businessman enjoy. It was heaven. I will miss the food, my motorbikes, 95% of my students and my Viet friends. I never lived in the "foreign" areas and most of my friends were Viets. I wanted to live the "real" Vietnam and I did.

Vietnam has changed much and its westernization/globalization has taken the charm out of this wonderful country. The notoriety and respect for foreigners is gone.

All of my foreign and Viet friends admit that there now exists an open bias, aggressive and rudeness towards foreigners. What surprises me is how open and aggressive it has become. My friends and I have experienced far too many episodes on a daily or weekly basis over the last two years. Please let me repeat that all my Viet friends also agree and are genuinely embarrassed when they witness or hear of these episodes. They have stopped saying long ago "this is Viet Nam you must accept."

I have worked for several "real" international schools, large prestigious language schools and some real scum holes and in the past I was paid well, treated with the utmost professional respect, experienced excellent Viet staff interaction and truly was grateful for such treatment.

The last couple of years most of my contracts have not always been honored, money is often skimmed from pay checks and noticeable open hostility between Viet staff/ management and teachers. I sometimes wonder if many of these managers have a soul or are former members of Pol Pot.

Bi-weekly trips to the supermarkets are nightmares. My friends and I agree that it has become some sort of power game to have some Viets go out of their way to cause problems to assert their power when there are no real issues. This is Vietnam and a foreigner will always loose the fight. I understand that but there appears to be no sense of fair play or wanting of "repeat business".

Regarding pollution and traffic I do not need to say anything. Just four weeks ago I literally saw another young man loose his life after a truck hit him. Honestly, I lost count of the dead bodies and have become callous to it. Granted traffic accidents are much higher in many western countries but the "in your face" and the "that could have been me" has become too much.

Over the last year and a half I know of several people who experienced physical attacks and/or robberies. In all fairness some probably deserved it but the frequency of these incidents is clearly up.

Life is too short to live with such daily conflicts. The thrill is over. Time to plan for a real future.

I wish I could say I will miss Sai Gon but what I will miss are my Viet friends.

[just noel]

[bobpen]

Excellent post. Have been in Asia for a little over 8 years, about 4 1/2 of those in VN. At present not in Vietnam, in a neighboring country. Left VN about two years ago.

Interesting you use the term "golden years," was just thinking of that a week or so back when I was reviewing my passport. Actually in my view I never thought Vietnam was great, even early on it always had a hectic, rough side to it, but back then ('05, for example), schools needed teachers, and when you strode up to the front lobby in a nice shirt and tie, staff often stopped what they were doing and gleamed over to greet you. Even while I didn't think it an easy life before, there was always one nice thing throughout the day to make a person feel good inside -- someone holding a door open, or a walk through a supermarket with people glancing over looking intrigued. There was still a bit of appreciation and simpleness to it.

You mentioned missing Vietnam (or not missing it). Several months after I'd left I perhaps got one or two quick pangs to revisit, but other than that, nothing. Don't miss the mess, the in your face greed, and so on. There are perhaps about a dozen students that I miss and it's too bad I'll never see them again, but actually for all the others, not at all.

That's also another good sub-topic brought up -- after being in Asia for years, there isn't much to go back home to. Perhaps it's a bit of a warning to newer folks. If you're just doing 6 months or a year, it shouldn't be a major problem. But longer than that, and you risk burning the bridge behind you.

[sigmoid]

[bludevil96]

Andy123,

I wish you much luck and many of your students will look back and remember who you are. It sounded like your candle has burned out and I'm glad you see it that way. I think you enjoyed being a novelty and expects special treatment because you're a foreigner. If the rudeness exists only toward foreigners then you might have a point. However, that's not the case and from my experience in 4.5 years, we get it less than the natives.

[snollygoster]

After 9 years I also moved to another country. Missed a lot about Vietnam, the good the bad and the ugly.
Recently returned for a holiday and got back into the old familiar feel again pretty quickly. Was favourably impressed by a few of the new bells and whistles however, especially the fast turnaround at the new airport in Saigon. Same stern faces on the Immigration folks however- same old statue faces.
Sad to see my lovely big dog I gave to a neighbour who admired him so much for his bravery was turned into butcher shop material-yes by the trusted neighbour who obviously admired him for more than his bravery, loyalty etc. Lost 2 good friends and a lot of faith in the Mr Average Viet.

Overall however, it was easy to settle in to the familiar ways and appreciate the locals. Felt like coming home in a way. Thinkling about that possibility now.