larsay
French expat in Vietnam
Forum posts
55
About me
French
Lives in Hanoi
Registration: 13 January 2015
Recherche un VCR neut ou occasion
Je cherche un lecteur de vid茅os (VCR). Si vous en avez un 脿 vendre, merci me contacter Read More
New 90 Day Tourist Visa Starting October 2022? by nscprez
Love to get some feedback, rumors or facts about the Vietnamese government moving to a 90 day tourist Visa starting in October 2022.
Let's put it this way: the Immigrations zozos have always been doing everything they could to make the life of much-needed foreign tourists as hard, let's say "impossible", as possible. It looks like the Vi锚t Tourist authoritieshas no power ... Read More
Visa exemption by Guestposter822
This is good news, hopefully it will be for 180 days instead of 15 ...
No longer long stay tourist visas; it's 30 days period ! One wonders why now that the borders are wide open and the tourist industry desperately聽needs to recoup its huge covid losses; It must be known that the Vi锚t Immigration is an ... Read More
Can anything be done to a scammer? by IamCharlie
In 2021, I used a Saigon company for a business visa, spoke to other foreigners who used his services, and they were successful. That success did not follow onto me. He did not deliver as promised. Anyway, I have been waiting for months for a ...
NO authorities here will go after a scammer, except if you pay the police to do so; as for courts, against a Vi锚t, you will always be wrong. Read More
Rabid Dogs & Dog Bite-Related Fatalities in Vietnam by OceanBeach92107
"The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MoARD) has urged cities and provinces nationwide to set up teams to catch stray dogs in an attempt of curbing dog bite-related fatalities and better manage rabies among domestic dogs and cats..." ...
You can get excellent ruou anywhere. It is true that some (they are generally light greenish or brownish) tastes like medicine, and for a good reason, they are made with alcoohol and medecine plants. My favourite is the banana ruou Read More
Mattress sucks by yamcha
All the mattresses I've used here suck and are hard. I bought an all natural latex queen size Kymdan for 40 mil and it sucks too. People said it's the best sleeping experience you can get but I find it as hard as a rock but still better ...
nice mattresses in VN are pretty pricey!聽It is indispensable to shop around. Last year, I moved to an unfurnished聽 villa in Hanoi and had to shop around for mattresses; The firs shops I found were selling imported ones at atrocious prices ... Read More
Vietnam Reopening for Tourists, With Conditions by OceanBeach92107
The three phase plan for allowing tourists from certain countries to enter Vietnam is now becoming clearer. Tourists will be highly restricted to one of the 5 locales and designated hotels, restaurants and specific activities of their tour ...
For those who do not know yet, with between 500 and 1500 new covid cases a day and no deaths, there are no longer covid restriction to enter Vietnam, you just have to present a proof of vaccination. Everything is open except a few temples and ... Read More
Please advice me which car I should buy in Viet Nam by Sapphire Bui
Hello every one, I want to buy a new car for my family which have 4 or 5 seats and strong vehicle and nice form. I wonder which brand should I buy: Ford, Toyota, Mazda or Kia? Please kindly advice for me. I believe in your experiences. Thank you ...
The most popular SUV here are the Toyota Fortuner and the Ford Explorer, but they are very expensive ! I think it is better to buy one overseas and ship it here second hand. Read More
How cheap is cheap? by Havaianu
What is the cost of the following items, the cheapest price that the expats pay for. Rice, beef, coffee, sugar, milk, eggs, fish and cheese. It can be in pounds or kilos, USD or Vietnamese dong. Prices in Ha Noi or HCMC more important or any city in ...
Same feeling here ! Who cares about Hawai bums ? I flew to the Far East to get away from cop harassment (for miserable speed tickets and wrong parking), the drug scene, the complete selfishness, the crass materialism, and the racism. Vietnam is an ... Read More
Federal and State income tax for US citizen working abroad? by yroftherat
Hello, I am a 100% teleworking working for a U.S. firm. I plan to move to Vietnam to for several months (possibly years) while I still plan to work for the US firm. Am I exempt from paying Federal or State tax? I understand that I may have to pay ...
The main question is : what are you going to do in Vietnam? You cannot just stay there indefinitely on a tourist visa ; 3 months max, renewable in Vietnam once, and then, you have to go out to Cambodia, Laos or Thailand to get a new one. If it is to ... Read More
Vietnam , too severe policy for foreigners over bank account by youngor
Vietnam has too severe policy for foreigners to open account in bank in Vietnam,foreigners can only hold cash in hand,not allowed to make deposits in bank account.This policy will frighten foreigners to remit money from abroad to Vietnam, which is ...
I opened an account without any problem, and they gave me an ATM card. Curiously, if you want a debit or credit card, you have to open a second account. To my knowledge, visitors cannot open one. Read More
How cheap is cheap? by Havaianu
What is the cost of the following items, the cheapest price that the expats pay for. Rice, beef, coffee, sugar, milk, eggs, fish and cheese. It can be in pounds or kilos, USD or Vietnamese dong. Prices in Ha Noi or HCMC more important or any city in ...
Apart from cheese and fish, it costs less than the price of a pack of cigarettes in the Western World. Asians hate cheese, so there are only imported and very expensive (but local yoghourts are delicious). As for fish, it all depends on which one, ... Read More
Where to renew visa in Hoi An easily? by divedog49
I will be in Hoi an for one year , I will have a three month visa, what is the best way to renew with the least hassle . Thanks for any help
You can renew a 3-month visa in Vietnam itself only one time ; I am sure a Hoi An agency can take care of it (check with Pink Cloud), or Immigration in Danang ; after, you have to get out ; why not taking the Danang-SIEM REAP direct flight (with a ... Read More
Vietnamese driving license information by Havaianu
While I've read that only Vietnamese can get a driving license in Vietnam, this seems to be wrong according to a travel agency website. If you are a tourist's here is where to go Office of Traffic and Public Works 16 Cao Ba Quat st. Ha ...
"Don't know how to drive, period", would be more accurate !!!! Read More
Please advice me which car I should buy in Viet Nam by Sapphire Bui
Hello every one, I want to buy a new car for my family which have 4 or 5 seats and strong vehicle and nice form. I wonder which brand should I buy: Ford, Toyota, Mazda or Kia? Please kindly advice for me. I believe in your experiences. Thank you ...
I believe that, these days, it is the Koreans who make the best products in anything (to my knowledge, no car models have been recalled yet) , so I vote for a Kia Read More
Keeping up with the news in Vietnam by Priscilla
Hello everyone, Living in Vietnam provides countless occasions to browse local newspapers, listen to local radio stations or watch local TV shows. As everywhere else in the world, local media play a key role in informing the public. What are ...
Same media as everywhere ; newspapers, a lot of magazines, TV and radio. Everything is in Vietnamese, except a TV chain which has news in English in the evening, and 2 newspapers, Le Courrier du Vietnam and Vietnam News. All those media publish only ... Read More
Visa extension by Gphillips
I have a 90 day, multiple entry, C-1 visa for Vietnam. It is valid through 04 Feb. I need a one month extension to 04 Mar 2015. Unaware of the rule changes I went to the local travel agency for an extension on 06 Jan. No can do! Went to the ...
April 8 ? You better run to an agency who takes care of visas and it's going to cost you ! Other solution : get a new visa in Phnom Penh Read More
Where to get the B-Visa? Overseas or in Vietnam?
Some people work without permit etc; , on a 3-month tourist visa which they renewed regularly but, since 1 January, you have either to pay 200$ and more in Hanoi (less in Saigon) to renew it on the spot, or go out of the country. Not a solution ! Read More
Where to get the B-Visa? Overseas or in Vietnam?
Your employer gives you a work contract, thanks to which you can get a work permit valid for 3 years (with a lot of red tape to be signed by both you and the employer-and stamps every where possible), which establishes that you have the right to ... Read More
difference between HCMC and Saigon by khanh44
Hi, was just curious what's the difference between the HCMC and Saigon forum? Aren't they the same city? And can I make a suggestion for future expansion of this forum to have a Can Tho or mien tay forum section?
Well, HCMC for the viets from the North, and definitely not, but still Saigon, for those from the South. Living in Vietnam, I will not enter in a discussion about the reason why ...... PS 1975 is not the defeat of the Americans (they evacuated the ... Read More
Which place in Vietnam? by keyboardsmash
I arrived for my first time yesterday here in Saigon. I have 3 weeks here this trip. What's the best way to cover distance fast and comfortable? Can you kindly give example transport prices in dong or US dollars or GB pounds or thai baht, or ...
3 weeks just in the South ? It's like visiting Indonesia by staying just around Djakarta ! The Centre (Hue and Hoi An) is very nice and the North stunning. As for Nha Trang, coming to Vietnam to be in a big sea resort like you have anywhere else ... Read More
Visa extension by Gphillips
I have a 90 day, multiple entry, C-1 visa for Vietnam. It is valid through 04 Feb. I need a one month extension to 04 Mar 2015. Unaware of the rule changes I went to the local travel agency for an extension on 06 Jan. No can do! Went to the ...
This is now 3 months that visa extension is a mess like I have never seen anywhere including in Africa ! First (January 1), no visa extension unless you get out of the country (from Saigon, cheap and easy to go to Phnom Penh by bus, but for anywhere ... Read More
Where to get the B-Visa? Overseas or in Vietnam?
For 50$, I doubt very much. Anyway, to get a business visa, you need a work contract in Vietnamese, then a work permit, and then you get the business visa ! Takes a long time, with a bundle of red tape ; I even had to pass a medical check up which ... Read More
Foreigners permitted to buy houses in Vietnam by sapphiretruong0107
HANOI, HCMC 鈥� Foreign organizations and individuals can now easily buy houses in Vietnam as the National Assembly (NA) on November 25 officially passed the revised Housing Law. Under article 159 of the law, three groups of foreigners allowed ...
The law I prefer is the one prohibiting a foreign tourist to drive a car or a motorbike in Vietnam without a Viet driving license, which is given only to resident expats. ANYBODY can rent a motorbike ; neither the renters nor the police when they ... Read More
Visa extension by Gphillips
I have a 90 day, multiple entry, C-1 visa for Vietnam. It is valid through 04 Feb. I need a one month extension to 04 Mar 2015. Unaware of the rule changes I went to the local travel agency for an extension on 06 Jan. No can do! Went to the ...
It seems some people here mix Vietnam with Thailand or Cambodia ! There are much less dubious characters in Vietnam, which is not the right place if your trip consists in boozing and whoring ; most bars and discos close around 22:30 except in large ... Read More
Foreigners permitted to buy houses in Vietnam by sapphiretruong0107
HANOI, HCMC 鈥� Foreign organizations and individuals can now easily buy houses in Vietnam as the National Assembly (NA) on November 25 officially passed the revised Housing Law. Under article 159 of the law, three groups of foreigners allowed ...
Well, all the critics are talking about owning a house in towns built over flooding areas (Saigon, Hanoi etc.). What about houses in let's say Tam Coc or Dalat ? Personally, I would not mind at all buying one in Tam Coc, a magic area close to ... Read More
Area to live in Hanoi? by Pablo Raul
I'm an Irish guy moving to Hanoi for work. I've been to Hanoi before, but only as a tourist. Does anyone have any suggestions of where's a good place to live (or where's NOT a good area)? I'll be working in the Tay Ho area, but ...
Not easy to find in the Old Quarter, around Hoan Kiem ! Houses are small and generally completely occupied by a family and, if you find one, it is premium area so rentals are expensive (or horrible). Tay Ho is easier ; many young expats share ... Read More
Visa extension by Gphillips
I have a 90 day, multiple entry, C-1 visa for Vietnam. It is valid through 04 Feb. I need a one month extension to 04 Mar 2015. Unaware of the rule changes I went to the local travel agency for an extension on 06 Jan. No can do! Went to the ...
Let's put it that way ! Right now, it is a bloody mess ; last week, impossible to renew a visa in Vietnam ; since Monday, possible again, at least in Hanoi. If you are in Hanoi, you may contact the agency Oriental Bridge Travel, from which I got ... Read More
Visit Halong Bay by su1901
Hi all, We are coming for a family trip in December to Hanoi. We would also like to visit Halong Bay. Look forward to any advice or suggestions on that we must not miss in Hanoi/Halong Bay. Best Regards, Sumitha
A cruise in Halong Bay is not easy to organize. There are endless options, junks go from amazing to garbage, and scas abound. To start with, I would say that is it the only site in Vietnam that I know (and I know the country upside down since I ... Read More