Korean Job Discussion Forums

trevorcollins · Joined: 02 Jul 2004

I haven't been there for close to 35 years now. Gotta say that back THEN I definitely would have preferred to spend time in Saigon rather than Hanoi. I'm thinking of going back soon. I think it would be fascinating to revisit.

jajdude · Joined: 18 Jan 2003

"trevorcollins"

Wow. Your name caught me for sure, as a guy from my hometown I've know since a young kid with the same name.

35 years? Guess it would be different now.

emailandrewnow · Joined: 31 Mar 2004 Location: Korea

HCMC vs Hanoi?? OK, my first question is obvious: You wanna go to a SE Asian country and spend your time in a CITY?????? Why not just hang around the dirtiest, noisiest part of Seoul you can find??? Beaches, dude, it's all about beaches...

I've been to Nam twice this year, about 2 and a half months total. A few days in HCMC to get some western food into me (much cheaper than Korea, around Pham Ngu Lao, the backpacker area), a couple of tours (mekong delta for 2 days on the first trip, cu chi tunnels for 1 day on the second trip...both fantastic), then off to PHU QUOC island, then...nowhere! That island was it for me, no need to go anywhere else, ever!!!!!!! Friendly people, cheap food and beer and hotel, and more beaches than you can shake a stick at! NO POLLUTUON!! NO NOISE! Stay as long as you can!! If you're not happy there, you won't be happy anywhere! PHU QUOC ROCKS!!! (But it's the rainy season there now; best wait til october..if you are going sooner, stay in the north of the country)

If you want a job in HCMC, there are INTERNATIONAL SCHOOLS where you can make a decent salary, otherwise it's third world wages in a regular english "hagwon" type thing. You might have $500 a month left after expenses -maybe less-, and you have to live in a really dirty, noisy, ratty city. The novelty would surely wear off FAST. Make your money in Korea and spend it in Nam, I reckon!!

jajdude · Joined: 18 Jan 2003

Thanks for the input ...andrew..

I guess I will figure it out whatever works for me. I just figure the big cities are where the oppurtunites are for getting a job. I'm not much into travelling or touring, though I enjoy learning about new cultures. And I'm sure there is much natural beauty, mostly outside cities, though I get the impression Hanoi is quite nice. I guess if I live in a city and it gets to me then I could take a day or two here and there and get out of the city. But a few years in Asia has led me to figure I prefer to be in a city most of the time. I am here to work. I'm not rich or here for vacation. If I had the money, obviously I'd do whatever..........

Just looking for a change right now. Will try to figure it out as I go.

desultude · Posted: Wed Jul 07, 2004 11:44 pm Post subject:

jajdude · Joined: 18 Jan 2003

Hey desultude,

Let us/me know all about your time there! Sounds like a good time.

($3-500 US in the bank each month? If life is good that sounds fine to me. Never did so well in Korea anyway. )

desultude · Posted: Thu Jul 08, 2004 7:06 pm Post subject:

jajdude · Joined: 18 Jan 2003

Thanks for the post des.....

My flight is booked for Friday. Saigon first....

kylehawkins2000 · Joined: 08 Apr 2003

I think that the North is much nicer. I found it much more relaxed. Halong Bay is beautiful.

I was there for two weeks a couple of years ago. I found it interesting because I was interested in the war/history related stuff. Life in the cities (Saigon and Hanoi) is pretty intense. Hanoi is better than Saigon in that respect though.

Vietnam is quite a bit worse than Thailand for scams/ripoffs/robberies. Soemtimes it seems like the vietnamese people have a big inferiority complex and just expect you to hand over your money because you are from a 'wealthy' country and they are not.

I had a mixed time there. It was an interesting trip but I doubt I'll ever return. Someone heading to the beaches would probably have a much different experience than me however. I stuck to the cities of Saigon, Hue, and Hanoi with trips out on the Mekong and Halong Bay.

buddy bradley · Joined: 24 Aug 2003 Location: The Beyond

Hey jajdude, can we have an update please? I'll be getting my one year business visa next week, so I'll be in HCMC in about two weeks.

jajdude · Joined: 18 Jan 2003

Not too much to say yet at around the 24 hour mark. We had heavy rain, apparently an hour or so each day -- thunderstorm season I guess. There are many many foreigners here. Food's good, lots of variety. One restaurant I ate at earlier had about 400 different meals on the menu. And it's pretty cheap, you could get by on $20 a day if you had to. Less if you know what you're doing I suppose. But lots of locals will be happy to take an extra bit of cash from the "rich" foreigner. Strange you start to think a dollar is a good bit of money.

I like the TV at the hotel. But my nerves are just recovering. Been a bit hopped up the past while. Well, you know my Korea posts weren't so cheerful lots of the time! I'm starting to relax here a bit. It's nice to reminded there is a world outside of small Korea.

Talk toy a later. Good luck. I did not know you could get a one year business visa without a company sponsor.

I can see why Tiger Beer would like it here. His name is evereywhere! Wink

skinhead · Joined: 11 Jun 2004

Good luck jaj. We'll be very interested to hear about developments.

Carla · Joined: 21 Nov 2008

Make sure you find out the price before you eat or drink everything. I have friends born and raised in Vietnam who have gotten scammed like that, but what can they do. They already ate everything that just so happens to be 10 times the normal price.