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LifeIsABeach
03-26-18, 05:03
Something that is needed in this blog.

People can live on usd $1000.00 / month comfortably while Vietnam is changing with a lot of new construction going on in many cities.

Here are some links to look into.

http://www.expatexchange.com/slide/5021/119/Vietnam/Expats-in-Vietnam-5-Best-Places-to-Retire-in-Vietnam/1/

http://alittleadrift.com/cost-of-living/vietnam/

http://www.e-vietnamvisa.com/visa-type.html

https://www.justlanded.com/english/Vietnam/Vietnam-Guide/Visas-Permits/Vietnam-visa-types

There is a lot more information on the internet and would like to hear from expats already living there.

For Americans, there are 1 year Tourist visa which requires re-entry every 90 days.

There is also a 1 year Business Visa which does not require re-entry. There are some travel agents that can process the Business visa without a sponsor.

Enjoy.

Wander Luster
03-31-18, 16:20
I'm sure there are quite a lot of members living here. I live here most of the year. Whatdaya want to know?

LifeIsABeach
04-04-18, 03:41
I'm sure there are quite a lot of members living here. I live here most of the year. Whatdaya want to know?Thank you. I have seen mixed reviews on Health Care costs and quality offered even on the Expats blogs. Do you have any information that can be shared so that people like now looking at the cost basis to live in Vietnam? I have just returned from Vietnam and am zoning on Da Nang.

David Cohen
04-04-18, 04:45
Thank you. I have seen mixed reviews on Health Care costs and quality offered even on the Expats blogs. Do you have any information that can be shared so that people like now looking at the cost basis to live in Vietnam? I have just returned from Vietnam and am zoning on Da Nang.I will give you some of the insight here:

Health care cost is low if you are the citizen, you have the health insurance which you buy very cheap yearly, but the quality of the public hospitals (covered by the Government health insurance) is very bad, the hospitals are all too crowded, its very common to see 4 patients on the same single bed. I visited one of my friends in St Paul hospital in Hanoi, and I will never go back there.

To get better treatment you will likely have to go to private hospitals such as: VIN MEC, Viet Phap Hospitals, which will cost a lot of money. But if you have good travel insurance I think it covers this hospitals as well.

I have never have to used my travel insurance so I don't know.

LifeIsABeach
04-05-18, 01:50
I will give you some of the insight here:

Health care cost is low if you are the citizen, you have the health insurance which you buy very cheap yearly, but the quality of the public hospitals (covered by the Government health insurance) is very bad, the hospitals are all too crowded, its very common to see 4 patients on the same single bed. I visited one of my friends in St Paul hospital in Hanoi, and I will never go back there.
To get better treatment you will likely have to go to private hospitals such as: VIN MEC, Viet Phap Hospitals, which will cost a lot of money. But if you have good travel insurance I think it covers this hospitals as well. I have never have to used my travel insurance so I don't know.I am thinking long term. Da Nang could be my retirement home. Hence, something permanent. I am doing some research on this at the moment and will report here. I understand that the Vietnam Government is shaping their healthcare as Thailand's model But they are spending very little money. Next, Western insurers are in Vietnam but been told that they are a bunch of thieves, which we know already!

WiseHustler
04-06-18, 09:53
Thanks for the insights David, could you please lend a few best options when it comes to which insurance partner to opt for?


I will give you some of the insight here:

Health care cost is low if you are the citizen, you have the health insurance which you buy very cheap yearly, but the quality of the public hospitals (covered by the Government health insurance) is very bad, the hospitals are all too crowded, its very common to see 4 patients on the same single bed. I visited one of my friends in St Paul hospital in Hanoi, and I will never go back there.

To get better treatment you will likely have to go to private hospitals such as: VIN MEC, Viet Phap Hospitals, which will cost a lot of money. But if you have good travel insurance I think it covers this hospitals as well.

I have never have to used my travel insurance so I don't know.

David Cohen
04-07-18, 03:56
Thanks for the insights David, could you please lend a few best options when it comes to which insurance partner to opt for?I don't know the local ones from Vietnam because I never bought from them. I alway buy my travel insurance with Canadian companies like RBC or TD insurance.

SCanyon
09-11-18, 13:14
I read a couple of years back that an American in Vietnam would not be able to receive their Social Security or other government payments while in-country. Is this true?

I've seen some videos on YouTube and I'm stunned by how modern and clean Saigon and the Nang are today. I had considered relocation to the Philippines but it is still very much the third world country it was when I was there in 1970. Vietnam, however, has seemingly flourished since my last visit, rifle in hand.

SCanyon.

Amanut
09-12-18, 19:37
SCanyon, I am far from an expert. I was going to go back to the Philippines this year, but a couple years ago my daughter and I toured Vietnam for a month. I was not interested in Vietnam, but she bought me my ticket so I could not refuse. She flew from Australia and I from Canada. For a month we took planes, trains and automobiles from Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh City. On all counts I felt the infrastructure was superior to the Philippines. Although I initially had no interest in going to Vietnam, I have decided to go back instead of going to the Philippines on this trip. Partially because I enjoyed the places a father and daughter go, but there are other places I would like to visit or revisit. Hotel rooms are nicer and less expensive, and meals are better than Filipino food. We stayed on the edge of the back packers districts. Where backpackers stay English is not a major issue. Trip Advisor was our bible while we were there with our bookings made through their site.

If you shot any Russians don't go to the Nang. You will want to get your rifle out again. From my point of view they are loud, rude, crude, socially unacceptable, and like to get drunk and fight. Their women moreso. LOL.

So without without me being in tow of my daughter I am going back in ten days for five weeks. I am not into bars and bar girls so I have used different dating sites. My thoughts so far are that compared to Filipinas, Vietnamese women are more reserved and in chatting and like to play the long game coyly giving ideas of they are open to over time. Unlike many mongers, my preference is to more mature ladies so they have been my focus. There seem to be some interesting options for me when I land. Last night one of the more discrete mature Vietnamese ladies suddenly gave me a bit of a surprise teaser display on Skype. When I land in ten days my theories will be tested LOL.

Buy a membership and PM me if you want more, but those are some of my thoughts. As I said I am far from being an expert.

Captain Solo
09-12-18, 20:39
To make contacts with good-looking, nice, sweet, educated, classy, moral, cultured women with responsible positions in Vietnam, you should contact the cultural attache at the US Embassy in Hanoi or US Consulate in Saigon for invitations to the many local cultural events.

You should find many eligible women with education, class and culture, English-speaking, who understand American culture somewhat and know how to maintain good, fun, loving relationships. I happened to know an old Army general who married an uneducated Viet country woman, who turned into a huge disaster back in the US.

If you just want short-term flings, the Dalat Pho Cafe on NTMK in district 3 is a cool place to hang out with dozens women, in their 30's, may be 40's, in street clothes, not bad looking, sitting quietly with friends at their tables, waiting for some guys to strike up conversation. These women tend to be very basic, not the type who can discuss socio-economic-historic-philosophical issues in any language. Vietnamese women are very shy and conservative, but if they find you attractive they will engage in sex after a few dates.

Please keep in touch with me. I will be in VN at year end when the weather cools down. Would be happy to share some info over cold beers.

Wander Luster
09-15-18, 14:24
To make contacts with good-looking, nice, sweet, educated, classy, moral, cultured women with responsible positions in Vietnam, you should contact the cultural attache at the US Embassy in Hanoi or US Consulate in Saigon for invitations to the many local cultural events..Interesting, I never thought of that. Great idea. Do usually go there to find out what's going on, or is most of it on their website?

WL.

Captain Solo
09-15-18, 16:31
To Wander Luster.

The consular people receive lots of invitations. I don't know how they deal with them. I got invited by friends. You should visit the embassy or consular and ask.

The Vietnamese workers there would know the major events and have many good contacts with local women. I found many teachers, doctors, professors, business executives, lawyers and of course the beautiful actresses, singers, entertainers.

LifeIsABeach
09-26-18, 05:03
I read a couple of years back that an American in Vietnam would not be able to receive their Social Security or other government payments while in-country. Is this true?
I've seen some videos on YouTube and I'm stunned by how modern and clean Saigon and the Nang are today. I had considered relocation to the Philippines but it is still very much the third world country it was when I was there in 1970. Vietnam, however, has seemingly flourished since my last visit, rifle in hand. SCanyon.Contact the SSN dept in USA about this as this affects me and I will also be contacting them now. I am just gearing up to move to Vietnam as I fond it to be a lot better them Thai and Phillipines. Mongering is not in your face here and requires work. But to retire, I want more than just mongering. I want a calm and peaceful and cheap destination. I found them in Vietnam. Yes, Japan, Singapore and Korea are good but expensive for a retiree. Indonesia requires a sponsor even for a retiree. Long term visa for American has a lifetime visa for only 1 year and you have to renew it each year. Phillipines has a lifetime visa but I found that that the minute you walk out from your apt / condo, you enter chaos zone. No infrastructure, tons of people begging, bad food etc. Phillipines as a whole is a Shit hole country as Prez Trump would put it! lol

SSN benefits: If you cannot have your benefits sent to a Viet bank, alternative would be to have it sent to your existing American bank like Charles Schwab and I can use the ATM in Vietnam to get the money with NO fees. I am also looking at credit cards with NO Foreign transaction fees that I can use.

You will hear a lot more from me as we go along as I also need a lot of information before I more. My Specialist just told me I have both my shoulders screwed up from my last Asia trip and it would be minimum 6 months before I can leave. I also live close to an area in USA which has the highest Viet population in USA and I will pay a visit to some of the establishments that deal with migration.

LifeIsABeach
09-26-18, 05:13
If you shot any Russians don't go to the Nang. You will want to get your rifle out again. From my point of view they are loud, rude, crude, socially unacceptable, and like to get drunk and fight. Their women moreso. LOL. You are quite right about the Russians behavior I saw in Thailand and also Vietnam. I saw them smoking between meals, throw thrash everywhere and drink heavily. BUT, you got the city wrong. You will not find many Russians in the Da Nang. It's just not their type of city, thank goodness.

You will find them in Nha Trang, a beach city with menus in restaurants in Russian! I had to get the waiters to translate the menus for me to order! Stay away from Nha Trang, a dirty city with motor bikes parked every where, trash everywhere etc. Da Nang is not for every one. I's not Saigon. It's calm and peaceful with clean streets and nice people. Places close early.

Dg8787
09-26-18, 05:47
I read a couple of years back that an American in Vietnam would not be able to receive their Social Security or other government payments while in-country. Is this true?

I've seen some videos on YouTube and I'm stunned by how modern and clean Saigon and the Nang are today. I had considered relocation to the Philippines but it is still very much the third world country it was when I was there in 1970. Vietnam, however, has seemingly flourished since my last visit, rifle in hand.

SCanyon.There are many countries that you can not direct your SS money to. There really isn't a need to open a foreign bank account.

1. You can send send money to yourself via Western Union or many other money sending places direct from SS direct deposit bank using an online account.

2. You can pay your credit cards online from your SS direct deposit bank. You can using your online banking to pay any bills from anywhere in the world using WiFi.

3. Online banking is the way to go.

Dragonfly22
02-25-20, 06:08
My SSI is deposited in my US bank, I transfer it to my VietNam Bank via PayPal or Xoom. Very easy and reliable. $2. 99 7 pto $9999.00. Opening a VN bank account was no problem. You just cannot deposit money directly, only transfer. Was harder setting up the transfer in USA. Usually takes about 10-15 minutes. To clear.

Amanut
03-31-20, 00:40
You are quite right about the Russians behavior I saw in Thailand and also Vietnam. I saw them smoking between meals, throw thrash everywhere and drink heavily. BUT, you got the city wrong. You will not find many Russians in the Da Nang. It's just not their type of city, thank goodness.

You will find them in Nha Trang, a beach city with menus in restaurants in Russian! I had to get the waiters to translate the menus for me to order! Stay away from Nha Trang, a dirty city with motor bikes parked every where, trash everywhere etc. Da Nang is not for every one. I's not Saigon. It's calm and peaceful with clean streets and nice people. Places close early.

I have been going through some old posts and realized I did not respond to your's. I don't know why I always get the two places mixed up. You are absolutely correct in your assessment of Nha Trang. You forgot to mention the drunk Russians on motorbikes blocking the intersections in all directions giving the finger to anyone trying to go around them. Da Nang on the other hand is a great city. Relaxed and laid back. Good food and good people. Nha Trang on the other hand not so much. A woman who I see lives in Nha Trang. She bitches constantly about the Chinese in Nha Trang and we echo each others feelings about the Russians. When we meet, I do not go anywhere near Nha Trang now. You commented on needing someone to translate a menu. In the past I tried to book numerous tours through local travel agencies there and had to repeatedly walk away because they could not speak English and very rudely showed they had no interest in trying to communicate with anyone but Russians. Rude, rude, rude. Da Nang on the other hand has none of language issues plus it is only about twenty minutes from Hoi An. Hoi An has always been one of my favorite places to visit in Vietnam although I think Hoi An may soon be replaced by Vung Tau. What a great scenic relaxed fishing village to spend time in.