Site Search:
 
Get TEFL Certified & Start Your Adventure Today!
Teach English Abroad and Get Paid to see the World!
Job Discussion Forums Forum Index Job Discussion Forums
"The Internet's Meeting Place for ESL/EFL Students and Teachers from Around the World!"
 
 FAQFAQ   SearchSearch   MemberlistMemberlist   UsergroupsUsergroups   RegisterRegister 
 ProfileProfile   Log in to check your private messagesLog in to check your private messages   Log inLog in 

Vietnam Voted Best Place on Earth 2012!
Goto page 1, 2  Next
 
Post new topic   Reply to topic    Job Discussion Forums Forum Index -> Vietnam
View previous topic :: View next topic  
Author Message
imjustme



Joined: 26 Jan 2012
Posts: 28

PostPosted: Fri Jul 27, 2012 6:08 pm    Post subject: Vietnam Voted Best Place on Earth 2012! Reply with quote

It's been mooted on this forum that Vietnam is ESL's "best kept secret."

My own experience being extensive in East Asia but newbie in Vietnam (just arrived last week!), here goes:

The earnings-to-outgoings here in Vietnam cannot be bested. Prices are substantially lower than in China, across the board, but jobs will pay $15 to $25 an hour from day one (US dollars). I'm now looking at sharing a house--yes, a house--for which I will pay $225 a month, with full privacy, washing machine, bath, etc. Within easy walking distance is a supermarket supplying all my needs, while I pay under four dollars (US) for a restaurant meal, 50 cents for a pack of cigs, etc. Self-catering, I pay 50 cents US for a large baguette and one dollar for a tin of pate to go with it: if reduced to two dollars a day, I would not starve in Vietnam. That cannot be said of China, let alone Korea or Japan.

Local-born English teachers here really do speak English. In China, communicating with the local-borns could be difficult. Here, it's not. Gee, could that be because Chinese TV is 100% Chinese content, while Vietnamese TV delivers the world (NHK, Arirang, Deutsche Welle, Nat Geo, etc.)?

The French colonial heritage: thank God the French finally lost here, but Vietnamese queue up for baguettes and drink strong coffee. On a budget and liking Western food?: you will not starve here.

The climate? Ha, ha! Always bad in China. Rarely bad in Vietnam.

Legalities: here, perhaps uniquely, YOU OWN YOUR OWN VISA. Think about it. You want to quit a job, you just go. Korea and China both aim to make a slave of you. Thailand--no joy, from what I hear. Uniquely in my experience, I was granted a business visa to Vietnam, and while yes, I've got to look to renew or update it within three months, that's doable. WITHOUT the school I'm now working for. I am NOT their slave, ha ha!

Clincher #1: In China, I'd go to a restaurant, and the waitresses would stand round jeering "ting bu dong, ting bu dong!" My own boss even said "kan bu dong," refusing me a menu, that one occasion we went to lunch together, even though he knows I can read Chinese. What gives?

In Vietnam, in contrast: "What can I do for you, sir?" said in English.

Clincher #2: You go to work even for a state-run college, thinking it safe, and still the Chinese will rob you.

In Vietnam: too soon to tell, but I haven't been robbed yet.

I advise everyone reading, in summary, to give China a very wide berth and come south instead. You will NOT regret it!

I predict a rocking great future for Vietnam! On top of everything else, they use the Latin alphabet here! What's not to love about that?

In summary: if you want to enjoy life, there's Vietnam. Indonesia is also grand--lovely people there, though your pay will almost certainly be much lower. Thailand?: lots of smiles, ingenuous or otherwise. For experience of life, yes, Northeast Asia will certainly give you experience, and perhaps some earnings, but finally . . .

OMG!

IT'S VIETNAM!
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
ExpatLuke



Joined: 11 Feb 2012
Posts: 744

PostPosted: Fri Jul 27, 2012 8:10 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Vietnam, just like any country, has it's share of rude people and racism. As well as dishonest language centers that will try to rip you off

I've lived in both China and Vietnam, and I definitely prefer Vietnam, but it's more due to the laid back atmosphere than anything else.

I think Indonesia and Thailand would be great as well.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
skarper



Joined: 12 Oct 2006
Posts: 477

PostPosted: Fri Jul 27, 2012 11:22 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

I like it here too. But it is not paradise, just better than the alternatives I have and OK overall.

Beware the backlash when the honeymoon is over....
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
Oh My God



Joined: 31 Jan 2010
Posts: 273

PostPosted: Sat Jul 28, 2012 1:31 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

skarper wrote:

Beware the backlash when the honeymoon is over....
Judging from what you say about China, the "backlash" could be quite a ways out.

Welcome to our home!
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
isabel



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

PostPosted: Sat Jul 28, 2012 3:39 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

I've been here for a while now, and so far it is my best posting abroad (10 years).

It is not perfect- even the westerners forget the concept of ethics. No complaints about the weather and the food. Baguettes and good coffee!

I hope you still enjoy it a in year.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
bludevil96



Joined: 07 Aug 2006
Posts: 82

PostPosted: Mon Jul 30, 2012 7:39 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

I had a friend who was very similar to you in attitude, except that he was also a serviceman who did 2 tours here in the 60s. What a great attitude he had and took everything in stride. He just didn't let the little things bother him and just absolutely loved VN. I thought he was just going through a honeymoon with the country but after 2 yrs here, he was still the same guy. Unfortunately, he didn't take care of himself very well (pre-VN) and was too heavy for his height. Then, he had a heart attack and even though he lost a good amount of weight, it was too late to unclog his artery and died here as a result. Some people here might have met him. He passed on Dec 2010. God bless you Jay and thanks for making it better. RIP.

I sincerely hope that you're not going through a honeymoon and you're not trolling here just to tick some of these people off. My point is that, for some people, it's truly a heaven on earth here but it takes a change in attitude for a lot of us. Sometimes we need to remind ourselves that there are worse places to live and work in. I wish you the best of luck and hope that your positive attitude will rub off on people.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
mark_in_saigon



Joined: 20 Sep 2009
Posts: 837

PostPosted: Mon Jul 30, 2012 10:45 am    Post subject: positive attitudes Reply with quote

Let's not ignore that these posts which some of us are extolling for displaying positive attitudes are also trashing their previous homes. The other thread which had a very similar message referred to China as 1,000 times worse than VN, or some statement like that, and was lauded as a very positive post. This one talks about China treating teachers as slaves. What is positive about that?

Seems to me, we feel good about a post if it agrees with our own biases, then it is positive. If it goes against our biases, it is negative.

Maybe we should scratch our heads a little harder and understand at a deeper level. What we really should be looking at is reality. Reality is what it is. If it is negative, it is just reality, you know? It does not mean we are picking a fight, and if it is positive it does not mean we are cheer leading.

The reality seems to me to be filled with good and bad. One of the paradoxes of living here is the good is far better than back home and the worse is far worse. The challenge is to take advantage of the good, bypass as much of the bad as possible, and accept that which you cannot bypass. Based on how long westerners stay, it seems that for a lot of them, the bad outweighs the good. Maybe they are not able to access enough of the good, or some of the rewards do not fit their profiles so the big reward which is there for many of us is not there to counteract the bad.

I am very happy here, it works out very well for me, but I would never try to talk someone into coming over, and most of the folks I do see who turn up seem to change their plans and disappear rather quickly. Not all, but most. Not a negative observation, not positive either, just what seems to me to be a reflection of reality.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
inhanoi



Joined: 22 Oct 2011
Posts: 165

PostPosted: Tue Jul 31, 2012 1:18 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Reality is overdone.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
snollygoster



Joined: 04 Jun 2009
Posts: 478

PostPosted: Tue Jul 31, 2012 4:55 am    Post subject: Buddha said Reply with quote

A quote from a very famous philosopher:
"See things as they really are"
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
The Mad Hatter



Joined: 16 May 2010
Posts: 165

PostPosted: Tue Jul 31, 2012 6:24 am    Post subject: Re: Buddha said Reply with quote

snollygoster wrote:
A quote from a very famous philosopher:
"See things as they really are"


Bet you said that Snolly.

You're a legend!

Snolly rocks........ definately!
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
inhanoi



Joined: 22 Oct 2011
Posts: 165

PostPosted: Tue Jul 31, 2012 10:57 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Meaningless conversations with anonymous people who can create any character they want to be....... That's reality?
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
1st Sgt Welsh



Joined: 13 Dec 2010
Posts: 946
Location: Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei

PostPosted: Tue Jul 31, 2012 5:18 pm    Post subject: Re: Buddha said Reply with quote

snollygoster wrote:
A quote from a very famous philosopher:
"See things as they really are"


I suppose that's as good an explanation of what constitutes genuine wisdom as any. However, when we are discussing what is 'reality', I think we need to look closely at the source and acknowledge that, whilst something might not be 'true' in of itself, it is 'true' for certain people.

I'll give an example of something I'm sure we are all too familiar with considering that we live in Southeast Asia. Imagine some middle-aged, bald, obese, socially inept Westerner with an extremely attractive, young Asian girlfriend. In his mind, she is drawn to him because she loves him and because she thinks the local guys are lazy, immature, unfaithful, unromantic etc. He believes this because: a) he really wants to and b) this is what she has told him. The financial aspect of the relationship, as far he can see, is of very little consequence and, true or not, this is his 'reality'.

MOD EDIT

I'd be the last person to suggest that all opinions are equally valid and if someone makes an inaccurate claim here, by all means, they should be called on it. Nonetheless, I do sometimes think there is a tendency on internet forums, including this one, to be a little bit quick to belittle the sincerity of other posters who may have controversial opinions that others disagree with.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
scuba066



Joined: 03 Oct 2010
Posts: 34

PostPosted: Tue Jul 31, 2012 10:18 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Hmmmm, I am a middle-aged, bald, obese, socially inept Westerner. Vietnam is sounding kinda nice! Laughing
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
snollygoster



Joined: 04 Jun 2009
Posts: 478

PostPosted: Wed Aug 01, 2012 12:08 am    Post subject: QUOTE Reply with quote

Thanks mad hatter.
The quote is by the Buddha, (as headlined if you cared to look instead of jumping up to rubbish me blindly as you always seem to do)-not me.
I'm too busy feeding my obese, bald inept body with my wifes good food as she considers the financial gain of hanging out with me compared to being married to one of the local lads.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
1st Sgt Welsh



Joined: 13 Dec 2010
Posts: 946
Location: Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei

PostPosted: Wed Aug 01, 2012 3:34 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

scuba066 wrote:
Hmmmm, I am a middle-aged, bald, obese, socially inept Westerner. Vietnam is sounding kinda nice! Laughing


Yeah, come on over Smile. However, it's not so much a 'Vietnam thing' and it's pretty common throughout Southeast Asia, especially, IMHO, Thailand and the Philippines. It also goes on quite a bit, from what I hear, in China. In short, it's a 'reality' and if you have spent a bit of time in these parts, chances are you have seen it more than once and I just used it as a general example to illustrate the point I was making.

Maybe I should have picked something else and, personally, I could care less who consenting adults choose to spend their time with. It's none of my business and, besides, I'm the last person who should be giving relationship advice Embarassed.

Anyway I meant no offence and if certain people wish to take my example personally then I can't help that and that's not how my comment was intended. However, having said that, I can understand how people in relationships with a partner where there exists a fairly substantial age difference might be fed up with the stereo type. I certainly wasn't inferring that that my example is accurate in a 100% cases and if it doesn't apply to someone then that's great and good luck! However, I'm sure we can all agree, the example does often ring true and I've heard plenty of horror stories of besotted, delusional Westerners being literally taken to the cleaners by their local girlfriends Confused.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
Display posts from previous:   
Post new topic   Reply to topic    Job Discussion Forums Forum Index -> Vietnam All times are GMT
Goto page 1, 2  Next
Page 1 of 2

 
Jump to:  
You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot vote in polls in this forum


This page is maintained by the one and only Dave Sperling.
Contact Dave's ESL Cafe
Copyright © 2018 Dave Sperling. All Rights Reserved.

Powered by phpBB © 2001, 2002 phpBB Group

Teaching Jobs in China
Teaching Jobs in China