Job Discussion Forums

banksider · Joined: 30 Jun 2010 Posts: 6 Location: London/HCMC

Does anyone know how easy it is to get a credit card from the banks in Vietnam? Any banks easier than others? Have to be an official resident?

CThomas · Joined: 21 Oct 2009 Posts: 380 Location: HCMC, Vietnam

Credit cards here are essentially what debit cards are back home. You use up to what you have in reserve -- not actually "credit." A step up from an ATM card, but that's the deal nonetheless. From my experience, you'll need a bona-fide, stamped, job-contract thinga ma jig.

Kornan DeKobb · Joined: 24 Jan 2010 Posts: 242

I tried referring to credit cards when I was teaching the word splurge. No one knew what I was talking about.

isabel · Joined: 07 Mar 2003 Posts: 510 Location: God's green earth

I would imagine that you could get a real credit card through an international bank.

However, I really liked the system of have a "credit" card that was limited to the money you actually had. This saves a lot in charges and interest, yet it allows you the convenience of a card for things online, etc.

banksider · Joined: 30 Jun 2010 Posts: 6 Location: London/HCMC

Debit cards the norm then. It's just that the people at Saigon Lease have informed me that the usual deposit for a flat in HCMC is two months in advance. Even after DoSing at a summer school for two months I won't quite be able to cover that and the initial month's living expenses when I arrive. I'm guessing banks here really don't do overdrafts either then?

I'd just be very annoyed if I ended up living under a bridge soon after my arrival.

Kornan DeKobb · Joined: 24 Jan 2010 Posts: 242

So you are going to arrive and go straight into a flat? And you've never been here before? How do you know where you want to live? And without seeing the place first in person? I wouldn't trust pictures.

Arrive at a $10/night hotel with air con and internet. They have a fridge and there are a million places to eat cheaply in the backpacker area. They are just fine. Then look for where you want to live.

CThomas · Joined: 21 Oct 2009 Posts: 380 Location: HCMC, Vietnam

Yea, don't jump into an apartment or house yet. Get a cheap hotel and get a lay of the land, first. You'll be very glad you did.

banksider · Joined: 30 Jun 2010 Posts: 6 Location: London/HCMC

I'll be working at RMIT in D7, so am planning to get a flat there so I can walk to work as I am lazy. And like a morning stroll. Flats round there look great.

Still looks like I'm gonna have to wait for the salary to buffer in before I actually move anywhere now. It's gonna be bike-taxis everyday for me. . .

deadlift · Joined: 08 Jun 2010 Posts: 267

banksider · Joined: 30 Jun 2010 Posts: 6 Location: London/HCMC

Ah, now that is useful information. From everyone actually, so cheers.

This is veering dangerously off topic, but you all seem in the know so one last question is can you actually recommend or point me in the right direction of these ten dollar a night hotels? I am not at all fussy. As long as there is air con and net I'm good.

Cheers guys, and thank god for these forums, eh?

Kornan DeKobb · Joined: 24 Jan 2010 Posts: 242

The backpacker area is in D1 between Pham Ngu Lao and Bui Vien streets. There are a bunch of small streets connecting those two parallel roads, each little street having dozens of $10-15/night places and about as many cheap restaurants.

I don't know about the commute to D7 though. I'm guessing it is 15-20 min.