avhexpat
American looking for information about Vietnam
Forum posts
37
About me
American
Registration: 14 December 2017
Help the poor by nick4946
I would like to make a contribution to help feed the poor in HCMC due to Covid. Does anyone know of a genuine organisation that I could donate to?
I don't know anything about #3 (Song Foundation) and #4 (Joy Foundation). Number 2 is one of the hundreds of youth groups that sprang up during Covid which I think is trustworthy. The other two are very good organisations, especially #6 (One ... Read More
Help the poor by nick4946
I would like to make a contribution to help feed the poor in HCMC due to Covid. Does anyone know of a genuine organisation that I could donate to?
I would like to make a contribution to help feed the poor in HCMC due to Covid. Does anyone know of a genuine organisation that I could donate to?Nick4946, I believe the following organizations are genuinely working to help the poor during this ... Read More
Can you live in HCM city with 500-600k asset and never have to work? by Clocky
I'm just tired of life in the US, it's too much with people fighting for everything (I know this is everywhere but in my HCOL it's worst than most places, the pace of life is just too fast). I plan to just bounce to Vietnam in a few ...
Hello Clocky, Whether 1.0k - 1.5k USD is livable depends on your lifestyle and the company you keep (I mean, are they into fine dining, drinking, expensive hobbies, etc.?). I hope the following data points of common essential expenses would be ... Read More
At my wit's end, a visa conundrum by avhexpat
Hello fellow expats, I came to VN on a work visa and was extended by my company last year. They handled everything and gave me new TRC card. All was good. This year is a different story. The company won't be able to extend my contract which ...
Thank you Ciambella. I appreciate your taking the time to provide a very detailed and informative response. Read More
At my wit's end, a visa conundrum by avhexpat
Hello fellow expats, I came to VN on a work visa and was extended by my company last year. They handled everything and gave me new TRC card. All was good. This year is a different story. The company won't be able to extend my contract which ...
I asked my lawyer years ago about this same situation and he said to just let it expire say nothing. The issue would be if your company contacts immigration and informs them. They could plead ignorance and say they forgot.Thank you colinoscapee. ... Read More
At my wit's end, a visa conundrum by avhexpat
Hello fellow expats, I came to VN on a work visa and was extended by my company last year. They handled everything and gave me new TRC card. All was good. This year is a different story. The company won't be able to extend my contract which ...
I didn't know that you could apply for the VEC without sending in your passport. This is great info, thank you Velocycling. Sad to hear that it can't be activate in-country though. If you can't use your VEC as mentioned above, are you ... Read More
At my wit's end, a visa conundrum by avhexpat
Hello fellow expats, I came to VN on a work visa and was extended by my company last year. They handled everything and gave me new TRC card. All was good. This year is a different story. The company won't be able to extend my contract which ...
My TRC was issued last Jan for 2 years (expiring Jan 2022). Sounds like the most convenient without my company having to do any paperwork on my behalf would be asking them to let me hanging on to the TRC until Jan 2022, and them not informing the ... Read More
At my wit's end, a visa conundrum by avhexpat
Hello fellow expats, I came to VN on a work visa and was extended by my company last year. They handled everything and gave me new TRC card. All was good. This year is a different story. The company won't be able to extend my contract which ...
I will definitely get a copy. I plan to retire here in the future, so this document will come in handy either now or down the road. I just hope that the Vietnamese registry system would still have my birth certificate given that I was born a long ... Read More
At my wit's end, a visa conundrum by avhexpat
Hello fellow expats, I came to VN on a work visa and was extended by my company last year. They handled everything and gave me new TRC card. All was good. This year is a different story. The company won't be able to extend my contract which ...
Fortunately, I have good relationship with my company. Within reasons, I can plead for a favor or two. One follow-up question please. To let my TRC run for one more year, is there any additional paperwork that my company will need to do on my behalf ... Read More
At my wit's end, a visa conundrum
Hello fellow expats, I came to VN on a work visa and was extended by my company last year. They handled everything and gave me new TRC card. All was good. This year is a different story. The company won't be able to extend my contract which ... Read More
colonoscopy by GuestPoster100620
Hi, has anyone done colonoscopy in HCM? Which hospital and costs please? Thanks
In my relative's case, she lost consciousness during the surgery. Read More
colonoscopy by GuestPoster100620
Hi, has anyone done colonoscopy in HCM? Which hospital and costs please? Thanks
A relative had it done at Victoria Healthcare (District 1) last month. The procedure costs $4,400,000 VND, medication is $163,000 VND. Came in at 7:30 am, given a pill to go under, all done and out of there around 11:00 am. Read More
Have we lost internet AGAIN?? by GuestPoster678
Is anyone having problems connecting to out of country servers? I can not connect to any US servers. Not sure where the server is for this site, but obviously I can connect to it.
@Ciambella, thanks for mention about the TP-Link device. I'll get one of those to relieve my phone from hotspot duty. One quick question, would you be able to check your data usage without having to remove the sim from the device to put it in ... Read More
Have we lost internet AGAIN?? by GuestPoster678
Is anyone having problems connecting to out of country servers? I can not connect to any US servers. Not sure where the server is for this site, but obviously I can connect to it.
I use mobifone post-paid for our family's data need. I pay 300K for 33GB of 4G data (HD300 plan). They also have 44GB for 400K, 55GB for 500K. On average, my family consumes about 30+ GB of data a month, so this plan is about right for us. My ... Read More
Good health insurance company in Vietnam by avhexpat
Hello everyone. I need to replace my health insurance from back home with one from Vietnam. I need a plan that would cover health service provided in other Asian countries (ie. Singapore, Thailand, etc.). Any good health insurance company that you ...
I ended up choosing Luma. Will post more info after filing the first claim. Read More
On the average what does it cost to eat per day ? by supertaper
On the average what does it cost to eat per day there that's breakfast lunch and dinner nothing fancy just normally trying to decide if three hundred a week will be enough cash to bring
Last week, I stayed near Tan My wet market in district 7. My favorite dish (broken rice with pork chop) costed me 35,000 VND (came with a bowl of soup, ice tea, wet nap, extra rice). At another restaurant near by, a vegetarian meal (com phan) costed ... Read More
Good health insurance company in Vietnam by avhexpat
Hello everyone. I need to replace my health insurance from back home with one from Vietnam. I need a plan that would cover health service provided in other Asian countries (ie. Singapore, Thailand, etc.). Any good health insurance company that you ...
@1312j, thanks for the tips. I'll check them out. So far, I found Liberty, but haven't checked out the full details. I hope I can buy directly from these companies. Read More
Good health insurance company in Vietnam
Hello everyone. I need to replace my health insurance from back home with one from Vietnam. I need a plan that would cover health service provided in other Asian countries (ie. Singapore, Thailand, etc.). Any good health insurance company that you ... Read More
Please help, my phone stuck on 2G by avhexpat
I just bought a viettel 4G package but the speed is very slow. The phone shows a 2G signal. Back in America, my phone (a ZTE Zmax Pro) had no problem with fast internet (4G/LTE). The guys at The Gioi Di Dong phone store tried their best, but still ...
I just changed the Access Point Names from "Viettel-wap-gprs 1" to "v-internet", still no luck. However, thanks to you, I now know why my phone can't use 4G in Vietnam, you had solved this mystery :) The missing band is the ... Read More
Please help, my phone stuck on 2G by avhexpat
I just bought a viettel 4G package but the speed is very slow. The phone shows a 2G signal. Back in America, my phone (a ZTE Zmax Pro) had no problem with fast internet (4G/LTE). The guys at The Gioi Di Dong phone store tried their best, but still ...
Hello Andy, my settings are as follow Data usage : "Mobile data" = ON Cellular network: "Data Roaming" = ON Cellular network > Access Point Names = Viettel-wap-gprs 1 Cellular network > Network operators = Viettel Cellular ... Read More
Please help, my phone stuck on 2G by avhexpat
I just bought a viettel 4G package but the speed is very slow. The phone shows a 2G signal. Back in America, my phone (a ZTE Zmax Pro) had no problem with fast internet (4G/LTE). The guys at The Gioi Di Dong phone store tried their best, but still ...
Thanks Andy, appreciate your help. I followed your suggestions, found the Settings path, but still no joy. Fortunately I heard free wifi is abundant throughout the city, so hopefully I can rely on the free wifi most of the time. Read More
Please help, my phone stuck on 2G
I just bought a viettel 4G package but the speed is very slow. The phone shows a 2G signal. Back in America, my phone (a ZTE Zmax Pro) had no problem with fast internet (4G/LTE). The guys at The Gioi Di Dong phone store tried their best, but still ... Read More
Degree cerificate. by Lore87
Hi all, I was speaking with different members about degree certificates and work permits and there looks to be different procedures depending on your country of origin. So my question is, any expat managed to get the work permit by simply taking ...
@THIGV, thanks for the info, wish I knew about the option to have the documents certified in VN. You're right, the cost is close to $100 per document (notary fee, CA Sec. of State authenticate fee is $21.50/document, VN embassy legalization ... Read More
Degree cerificate. by Lore87
Hi all, I was speaking with different members about degree certificates and work permits and there looks to be different procedures depending on your country of origin. So my question is, any expat managed to get the work permit by simply taking ...
I had to get my documents notarized in my home country (USA), then authenticated by California Secretary of State's office (my home state), then submitted to the VN embassy for legalization. The VN embassy charged me $70 USD to legalize the ... Read More
Moving to HCMC by StefanR
Hi I am finally moving to HCMC in around 5 weeks. While my room and job hunting continues I am also starting to pack my bags. I am not using any courier service, but will carry 3 suitcases and two hand luggage items with me. It should be hopefully ...
Reiterating what THIGV said in the above post: Kiwi shoe polish has been around in Vietnam since before I was born, and I'm an old woman. My brother taught me to use it when he gave me my first pair of Bata. In the shoe repair / polishing ... Read More
Moving to HCMC by StefanR
Hi I am finally moving to HCMC in around 5 weeks. While my room and job hunting continues I am also starting to pack my bags. I am not using any courier service, but will carry 3 suitcases and two hand luggage items with me. It should be hopefully ...
THIGV, thanks for this very helpful tip. Hope it'll be smooth going through custom. ... Readily available at any of the big supermarkets. You aren't going to live among the Montagnards are you? :cool: Ho Chi Minh is a big modern city ... Read More
degree and teaching certificate notarized by vietnam embassy by thayes1987
Do I now need to get my degree and teaching certificate notarized by Vietnamese embassy in the UK before arriving in VN to work?
Hello @thayes1987, My understanding of having a document notarized means that you sign a document in front of a notary public, "who is charged with verifying your identity as the signer, ensuring you sign under your own free will, and ... Read More
Moving to HCMC by StefanR
Hi I am finally moving to HCMC in around 5 weeks. While my room and job hunting continues I am also starting to pack my bags. I am not using any courier service, but will carry 3 suitcases and two hand luggage items with me. It should be hopefully ...
@StefanR, beside the excellent suggestions listed above from fellow expats, I would like to share with you a few additional items that I plan to bring with me for my upcoming move to Saigon, in case it helps - Network router (this is for getting ... Read More
cheap housing between 300-500usd by crag
where an i find cheap clean housing for around 300-500 usd
That's a great deal, thanks for sharing the data point. I will probably need to find a house in District 7 soon. Hopefully I can find some thing similar. Read More
Owning an apartment in and around Vung Tau by can80n
I've met brokers to buy an apartment to own as a U.S. citizen. I'm told I can buy to own but there's a five year provision that no one can properly translate to me and I don't quite understand what it means. Anyone know what I'm ...
I had the same thought and was about to choose either Citibank (for their Global Transfers service) or HSBC. However, after doing some searches on the internet and expat.com, Citibank and HSBC customer service doesn't really get high marks. The ... Read More
How to stay longer with a 5 year visa exemption by thunder_god
I have a 5 year visa exemption sticker on my passport which says I am allowed to stay in vietnam for up to 180 days. I was wondering if I were to leave the country for maybe 1-2 days and say go to Thailand or Hong Kong and get a stamp saying a left ...
The airline might deny you boarding. I have read of a couple ways to get around this issue 1. Purchase a bus ticket on-line to the nearest neighboring country (e.g. Cambodia, Lao) as proof of onward travel, or 2. Purchase a fully refundable ... Read More
Tough high school decision by avhexpat
Hello everyone, I plan to move from the U.S. (Orange County, California) to VN (Saigon) to be near my parents, whose health has been on the decline. Of all the decisions that I will have to make, none weigh on me more than choosing the right high ...
Hi Ciambella, thank you for taking the time to write up a very informative and extremely helpful post. I'm indebted to you for your kindness and sage advice. Hopefully when the time comes, we'll be able to find some good SAT prep courses ... Read More
Tough high school decision by avhexpat
Hello everyone, I plan to move from the U.S. (Orange County, California) to VN (Saigon) to be near my parents, whose health has been on the decline. Of all the decisions that I will have to make, none weigh on me more than choosing the right high ...
@bangkokjoe, thanks for the info, really appreciate it. Glad to hear about ISHMC, and that it is on a par with SSIS, I'll check them out. Regarding housing selection, my plan is to select a school first, then find housing near the school. Hope ... Read More
Tough high school decision by avhexpat
Hello everyone, I plan to move from the U.S. (Orange County, California) to VN (Saigon) to be near my parents, whose health has been on the decline. Of all the decisions that I will have to make, none weigh on me more than choosing the right high ...
Thanks for sharing your firsthand experience Zimgang. I'll be in town next month,... will definitely go see the campus when I get there. Much appreciated. Read More
Tough high school decision by avhexpat
Hello everyone, I plan to move from the U.S. (Orange County, California) to VN (Saigon) to be near my parents, whose health has been on the decline. Of all the decisions that I will have to make, none weigh on me more than choosing the right high ...
Thanks very much Allan. I'll look into Saigon Heritage Academy asap. If I couldn't find the address via Google, I'll pm you for it. Thanks again. Read More
Tough high school decision
Hello everyone, I plan to move from the U.S. (Orange County, California) to VN (Saigon) to be near my parents, whose health has been on the decline. Of all the decisions that I will have to make, none weigh on me more than choosing the right high ... Read More