Job Discussion Forums

astro · Posted: Fri Jan 27, 2006 11:10 pm Post subject: Ho Chi Minh or Hanoi?

Hello - I'm a 23 year old woman planning on going to teach english in Vietnam. I don`t have a degree (only a 2 year diploma in business) and am not super worried about making TONS of money (though it would be nice!)

I'm just curious as to where people would suggest I go. I'm trying to decide whether to go to Ho Chi Minh or to Hanoi? Any suggestions?? Or is there anywhere else that you would recommend?

Thanks!!

nkminh · Joined: 15 Sep 2003 Posts: 27 Location: HCM City

even though I was born and grew up in HN. It's just the easygoing lifestyle, the weather and the food/beer.
Minh

astro · Posted: Thu Mar 09, 2006 2:08 am Post subject: Still waiting for responses!

Hey - I`m still wondering as to which city people would recommend to a 23 year old female in terms of living and working! Could someone please give me some direction?

I`d like to check out the rural areas as well (preferably actually). Any suggestions for teaching out there would be very welcome and appreciated as well!!!

Thanks!
MG

angrysoba · Joined: 20 Jan 2006 Posts: 446 Location: Kansai, Japan

Hanoi

nkminh · Joined: 15 Sep 2003 Posts: 27 Location: HCM City

ESL_Professional · Joined: 20 Sep 2005 Posts: 7

Saigon!

foozle · Joined: 14 Feb 2008 Posts: 18

Hey everyone! This is my first post, but I hope I'll become a familiar face here as I'm moving to Vietnam in April! I can't wait!

However, i'm suffering from a Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh conundrum, so I'm bringing this topic back from the dead with the hope that you guys can help me out!

Hanoi is slightly more attractive at the moment, because I like big cities and I get the impression the pay is slightly better up there. But the most important thing for me is the nightlife! I enjoy visiting a decent club now and again, as well as hitting the bars too. I know there are loads of ex-pat places down in HCM, but how about places where the locals hang out? Whilst i'm sure i'll make plenty of ex-pat friends, I'd prefer to go to those type of places to practise my Vietnamese and make Vietnamese friends.

So if people could tell me about the club scene in both places, that'd be great! And please tell me which city you prefer and why! I'd love to hear the reasons why you chose either place.

Thanks for your help!

jestert79 · Joined: 24 Apr 2007 Posts: 44

Well, I've been in Hanoi for about 6 months, and I've not yet been to HCMC.

To meet locals I'd imagine you'd have to go to a bia hoi, where they congregate to acquire cheap beer. You can also meet random people who are just curious about you. I actually met a college student on a bus who invited me to speak at his "English club," and then we went and ate snails.

The nightlife here in Hanoi is pretty much all expats. Also, there's a police-enforced curfew around 11-12 at night, although several places manage to stay open despite this (BRIBE.) The locals don't tend to stay out late (correct me if I'm wrong.) There are apparently clubs, but I haven't really gone to them - I think recently a club got shot up by the mafia or something, but this is all hearsay.

If you want to read a bit about Hanoi, there's the website http://www.newhanoian.com.

I know some people who came up from HCMC, and have complained that everything stays open later there, and that transport like taxis, xe oms, etc. are a lot less predatory there.

Sorry I can't compare the two...

Teejay · Joined: 25 Jul 2007 Posts: 59

foozle · Joined: 14 Feb 2008 Posts: 18

Thanks for the info and website link, Jestert.

The site had some good info, though I think I'm going to go for HCM. Hanoi does seem like a much nicer place, but the night life is a big sticking point. I'd like to be sure that there'll be plenty of drinking holes and a few decent clubs to while the night away every so often, whether it be in the company of locals, or ultimately, with fellow ex-pats.

However, I'm going to take the first couple of weeks easy and I think I might hop on a plane to Hanoi just to make sure.

Can anyone tell me anything about catching a plane between the two? How much are the flights? How easy will they be to book considering I don't speak a jot of Vietnamese at the moment?

I also quite fancy the sleeper train too. Has anyone here used it before?

Tiger Beer · Joined: 08 Feb 2003 Posts: 778 Location: Hong Kong

Who am I to say just as a tourist.

But I did spend a month traveling throughout Vietnam, and I liked everywhere I went, but Hanoi captured me because of it's French Quarter, so I decided I would go back to Hanoi specifically for a month to really get to know as someone might if they were to live there.

I went back later for that month, and found it to have a much smaller feel and found I developed a strong daily routine that became tiring quite quickly. Because of that, I felt Saigon was the more dynamic city to be in long-term, and Hanoi was a gorgeous place to visit on a short-term basis.

Not sure if that helps, but that is my general feeling from a limited experience.

foozle · Joined: 14 Feb 2008 Posts: 18

Thanks for that, Tiger Beer.

I'm kinda thinking the same thing, which is why I booked my flight to HCM! I touch down on April 18th! I can't wait!

legaleagle · Joined: 08 Jul 2005 Posts: 59 Location: HCMC

I have been in VN for over four years and have lived in both cities. I would have to say that overall HCMC is much more dynamic. Hanoi is lovely if you wish to walk around lakes all day.

The locals are usually very nice in HCMC. They can be genuinely creepy in Hanoi.

The weather in HCMC is tropical and the sun shines and it is warm. The weather in Hanoi is like that in much of the west, it is only nice for a couple of months in the spring and again in the autumn, and summer is scorching and winter is freezing. I have never felt such bad weather as Hanoi, quite frankly.

I think pay rates are actually higher in Hanoi, and the market really appears to be booming. It is somewhat delayed from HCMC in my opinion, perhaps by two years or so.

Flights are easy, and travel agent will book you with a days notice. I believe a round trip is about 200USD and half for a one way.

I took the sleeper train and it was worth doing once. Give it a shot!

Good luck to you in your adventure.

Tiger Beer · Joined: 08 Feb 2003 Posts: 778 Location: Hong Kong

thomas123 · Joined: 10 Mar 2008 Posts: 26

I have spent a total of about 8 months in Vietnam, north and south. Hanoi is fun for a few days but has no lightlife. In fact, in recent months the authorities in Hanoi have imposed a 12pm curfew on drinking. The only good club, the New Century Club, has been closed down.

HCMC, on the other hand, has great night life. Apocalypse, Q-Bar, Lush, Vasco, etc. are great. Q-Bar is open until 3-4am on weekends. There's the Jazz Club on Le Loi street, with excellent live music every night. Then there's the Pham Ngu Lau area with numerous bars open nearly all night.

Another nice thing about HCMC is that you can rent an apartment outside of the chaos of the city and live in a much quieter mellow area. for abour 350 USD per month, you can rent a new fully furnished apt with A/C in district 7. I highly recommend it, as long as you have a motorbike to commute with. Its 15-20 minutes into the heart of the city.

I am planning to visit Vn two more times this year, in June and December. I hope to start teaching english there next year.