Job Discussion Forums

[1st Sgt Welsh]

[haller_79]

I love Vietnam, I hate Vietnam, I'll never be the same again.

Does that sum it up or what?

[Jbhughes]

[quote=1st Sgt Welsh]
if I was a Vietnamese working seven days a week, 12 hours a day for $500 a year
[/quote]

Are there really people in VN getting paid 30000 for a 12-hour day? :O

[quote=1st Sgt Welsh]
I honestly hope that many Vietnamese don�t read Dave�s.
[/quote]

I hope that the people from this country that belie the others do read this (entire) forum and understand that there are many countries and people from those countries and that although there are differences, these differences can be celebrated, are interesting and often allow all of us to learn more about ourselves and each-other.

I'm not suggesting you disagree with my point, 1st Sgt Welsh, I'm simply making this point because I have 'miserable' tendencies and the aforementioned area is the main cause. I just take things day-by-day, overall this job and country are the right decision for me at the moment.

toiyeuthitmeo made a fun post recently with ways of dealing with VN - I forgot to add one:

-When you meet an older person, call yourself 'con' (no tone, vowel sounds like the 'a' in a strong 'was') and them 'bo' (up tone, vowel sounds like the 'o' in the English 'go') for a man and 'me' (dot tone, vowel sounds like air) for a woman.
-When you meet a younger person, flip this around - 'con' for them, 'bo' for you if you're a male, 'me' for you if you're a female.
-If they try to point out you're using them incorrectly, just say '<insert relevant pronoun for yourself> khong biet tieng viet nhieu' and smile.

[The Mad Hatter]

Well sure they make low wages here compared to foreigners but that doesnt excuse blatant overpricing.
Part of that whole low local wage numbers scenario can explain why prices are going up all the time. There is no risk in overcharging since they can afford to lose business. Its just as good to overcharge a few customers than give a lot more an average or decent price.

The subway sandwich footlong costs about 1/3 more here than in the states. You have to agree that just doesnt add up. It should be cheaper. But things seem to be targeted at the prototypical rich traveller. The thought seems to be- if foreigners can afford it- then they can pay more.
Prices are always climbing here beyond what the market will bear. One reason might be that the corrective forces aren't there like in other economies. Property owners own outright land already long since paid for at bargain rate and dont really pay tax. They dont need customers, they can just keep asking higher and higher prices. If the shop or business closes, they just raise the rent and wait for someone else to open another biz.

[just noel]

[spycatcher reincarnated]

The Mad Hatter wrote:

[1st Sgt Welsh]

[[email protected]]

1st Sgt Welsh makes a good point in both of his posts.

I was here in 2008 and was making $600 USD more than what I am now for less work. Would I like to make more, of course. Have things went down a bit? Yes, but I still can't complain because I still live quite comfortably and never really have to worry about paying my bills. This is not the case back at home in Canada where we are heavily taxed, things are getting more expensive, too many things to pay for, and you have little savings after your paycheck.

Every country has its advantages and disadvantages. I believe those who complain about Vietnam have their right to do so, but I don't think they have the right to totally smear Vietnam and says that it sucks. They also must be thankful to the country that allows them in to an easy job, by our standards, and get paid quite well for it. I think that if ESL teachers were paid the same as your average local, then none of you wouldn't bother coming here, but you did.

There's a great saying back in the west for the immigrants who came there fleeing their own country to start a better life in the new one, but yet still had something to complain about it, "If you don't like it here, then go back to your own country."

[sigmoid]

[The Mad Hatter]

So this is called "opportunity cost"? Economic terminology has a way of making anything sound reasonable or neutral. If it is price targeted for wealthy locals also, doesn't that just show that its endemic societal problem. Why should tennis shoes here cost double what they do in Germany?If theyre made here? Or a nice dinner at a restaurant? When labor cost and food is much lower. And why should Doc Martins made here cost almost double at home? Just because wealthy locals have a car why does that mean they should be charged up the wazzoo for tax? The excessiveness ends up denying everyone else the opportunity to purchase goods that are seen as hip or desirable. Why not say then that this justification for PD is also justifying an increased gap in income, since the whole profit just widens the income gap? Its already much wider here than reasonable.
But as teachers, if we provide a service which is able to draw a higher market rate than what locals can provide then that is what the price should be and there is no moral problem with that. But theres all the impositions on teachers income and earning ability. All the boom industry sprung up to corral us and tap off our incomes. regulations and many hands in the till at schools living off of foreign teacher's abilities. Thats understandable, but then to have one's income systematically factored in all over the place by an attitude that nice things from foreign countries must be VIP cost charged isnt helping anyone.

[The Mad Hatter]

[deadlift]

You speak for yourself, Madhatter. You may think that your experience is typical, but it's not, at least according to several posters here and the dozens of teachers I've met around town.

I like my work (obviously I'm a wet behind the ears youngster), which is a secure position (I must be totally naive to think that!), and I am pursuing professional development with the support of my employer (becoming a robot for them more like!).

I have many very good friends, both foreign and local (only after my money, I know). I have found the local people that I have gotten to know to be friendly and generous (they're probably setting me up).

I regularly save between $600-800 per month (because I live like a monk, no doubt). I live in a great house (at the mercy of a rapacious landlord of course) and have a long list of very good cafes, restaurants, and bars that I like to frequent (serving boiled meat and plain rice noodles, all of them). I regularly purchase tailored clothes (paying well above the market rate, because how can I possibly know the value of anything, anywhere?). I've never been asked for, let alone paid, 10k to park my motorbike.

Outside of tourist encounters and markets, I can't think of too many places that apply price discrimination. The supermarket, convenience stores, restaurants, bars, cafes, many clothing shops, most bookshops and stationery stores, the bike-wash, the majority of parking lots, some taxis, and even the kid that sells me chewing gum...

... all have clear and consistent fixed prices. In my experience.

[spycatcher reincarnated]

Various quotes from The Mad Hatter:

[snollygoster]

Isnt it a pity, that a country as beautiful as Vietnam is with its natural beauty, and its mostly friendly and welcoming people, is remembered so bitterly because of the over- the- top selfish acts of a few.

I have left Vietnam, and I say I will probably never return because of those few idiots who seem to hold the power and give an otherwise lovely place such a bad name. Sure those people are numbered in the thousands, but compared to a polulation of 84m they are the minority- Its just such a pity that their selfish acts and loud mouthes are the ones we notice the most-after all, they are the loudest and the most obnoxious.

Some people think I hate Vietnam- No I don't- but I DO hate the minority with the big mouth and the obnoxious manners who seem to dominate every social situation.

When Vietnam has grown up, I would love to take another look-It needs to get rid of the "bullies" that disgrace an otherwise lovely place.

[1st Sgt Welsh]