Vietnam a country profile
Vietnam Profile
When viewed through the lens of its historic past, Vietnam may appear to
be a nation defined by sorrow and loss. But zoom in and take a closer
look and you will see one of Southeast Asia’s most soaring economies,
determined to become a developed nation by 2020. Although going through a
time of remarkable development, Vietnam is still a land of incredible
beauty and captivating culture. This is a country home to seven UNESCO
World Heritage Sites - seven others are on its pending list - and
amongst its population of 90 million are 54 distinct ethnic groups, each
with its own language, lifestyle, and cultural heritage.
With its rapid growth and colourful diversity, Vietnam attracts an
increasing number of travellers - more than six million visitors yearly -
and is constantly praised as one of the most interesting destinations
for expats due to its income opportunities and quality of life, not to
mention its endless charm. Even those who have been living in Vietnam
for years will tell you that every day is an adventure in this land of
the dragon people. So get ready to soak up the rich culture, and vivid
lifestyle whilst starting your own extraordinary journey.
Culture and Lifestyle
Internet With more than 31 million people online, Vietnam’s netizens are
rank 18th in the world’s internet user statistics. People love the
internet. Everywhere around the country you will see people constantly
checking their mobile devices for messages, emails, and social media
updates. Wi-Fi connections are all around, in shops, cafes, restaurants,
and hotels - and mostly free for guests. Cyber cafes and online gaming
parlours are also sprouting up in each and every neighbourhood,
especially in big cities. Getting connected is fairly easy in Vietnam,
although the speed leaves a lot to be desired. It is cheap, too, with
monthly broadband internet access costing around VND300,000, which is
lower than what is available in neighbouring countries.
Living in HCMC
At the moment Ho Chi Minh City is the envy of many cities, especially
those that are investing a considerable amount of effort to attract
outsiders. There is a tangible buzz here, a crackling, as if something
magnificent is in the making. Indeed, it seems that Saigon, on the
surface, simply stands back and casually watches as many of the globe’s
talented and adventurous souls set a direct course for this Pearl of the
Far East. And who can convincingly gainsay these foreigners’
trajectories? Living in Ho Chi Minh City is attractive. As world
economies buckle and strain, as workers and consumers walk an erratic,
quivering tightrope of jobs, salaries, benefits, disposable incomes, and
price fluctuations, Ho Chi Minh City appears a safer haven, a steadier
ground - ironic given the nation’s turbulent political and economic
history. Western standards, from health care to shopping and dining, are
improving rapidly, sometimes with unbelievable speed - good news for
those accustomed to a certain benchmark of comfortable living.
Getting around
Getting a Vietnamese Driving License
Vietnam does not recognise an International Driving Permit but residents
from other countries who live in Vietnam can obtain a Vietnamese
driving license. While some people would consider this a waste of time
and money as the process is lengthy and the bureaucracy can test your
patience, if you are caught without documentation your vehicle maybe be
impounded for a month or longer.
While most residents only need the A1 and B1 license, we have listed a complete list of the licenses available in Vietnam
Housing
Serviced Apartments Many incoming expatriates opt for serviced
apartments for the convenience of having a furnished place when moving
and also not having to worry about cleaning it. With the serviced
apartments are furnished apartments that provide a daily set of
amenities. While less expensive than hotel rooms, they tend to be more
expensive than normal apartment rentals. The level of amenities can
range from a weekly cleaning to fully paid utilities and twice a day
maid service. For many expatriates, serviced apartments offer the
convenience of a hotel with the homey, comfortable feeling of a
furnished apartment.
When looking at serviced apartments, make sure to establish what
amenities are provided in the property. Your landlord might have a
different idea of what cleaning a maid will do compared to you so it is
best to clear it up before signing the lease.
Utilities & Services
Electricity
Electricity is the most expensive of the utilities and the bill should
not be neglected as Ho Chi Minh City takes the payment of said bill very
seriously. It is likely that anyone that lives here probably has a
story to tell about being cut off - usually quite soon after arrival.
Bills are issued monthly by EVN-HCMC and have to be paid in person at
one of the addresses listed on the bill. If you are lucky, a bill
collector will come to your home the day after the bill is delivered,
which will save you a trip. If you live in an apartment, the security
team is usually helpful and will take care of the bill for you.
If you do not pay within five working days the power will be cut - but
this can be fixed on the same day it is cut if you get to the office
before it closes. You can also pay the bill via post office or bank
(there are approximately 20 banks which provide this service) or on the
internet (after first contracting this service through your bank).
Business
Procedure to start a business in Vietnam
Setting up a business in Vietnam can be daunting due to the lengthy,
convoluted reams of bureaucratic red tape involved. Even though there
are clearly defined steps for each procedure, due to the complexity of
the forms and applications, it is advisable to hire an experienced
lawyer to assist you. Also, keep in mind that under Vietnamese law, the
capital requirements for setting up a business will be different
depending on what type of business you plan to start.
In short, here are the procedures and estimated costs you will encounter
for setting up a business. It does look mildly intimidating, but no one
said going into business would be a moon cake walk!
Family
Having a Child
The thought of having a child in a developing country might be
nerve-inducing for many, but with the rising standard of maternity
healthcare in Ho Chi Minh City, expecting parents might scratch a trip
back home to give birth off their list.
It is not difficult to find a hospital with international facilities
standard with western trained doctors who speak English in the city.
Rates are competitive, and choices for prenatal to neonatal care are
vast.
Education
Education is an important issue for expatriates and Vietnamese alike,
and Ho Chi Minh City has a wide variety of first-rate international and
local schools.
For the expatriate community, education in Ho Chi Minh is generally only
necessary for a few years. Parents tend to choose a curriculum which
will be accepted world-wide so that their child may easily return to his
or her home country (i.e. US, UK, Australia, Japan, Korea) or travel to
any other country which accepts the chosen curriculum. Conversely, a
number of Vietnamese parents choose international schools for a variety
of reasons. The key motivation seems to be overseas universities which
require an international education, enhanced job prospects and career
paths, an international learning environment, interactive, open-form
learning, and the wide array of extra-curricular activities (art, music,
swimming, etc.) available.
Emergencies
Emergencies are of crucial concern to foreigners living in HCMC because
the typical Vietnamese response to urgency is very different from that
of a Westerner. This response, at turns both pragmatic and fatalistic,
can stem from Buddhist belief systems (what will be, will be - and is
meant to be). When accidents happen and emergency action is necessary,
it is better to be prepared for how others around you will possibly
respond than to face their actions (or inactions) with incredulity.
Going Out
Street Food
One of the pleasures of living and dining in HCMC is eating one’s way
through the street food scene. Throughout the city are small sidewalk
stalls, vendor carts, and plastic-chaired eateries that either serve a
range of local dishes or specialise in cooking a sole Vietnamese recipe
to perfection. In addition, there is a smattering of noble local takes
on the doner kebab sandwich, a popular Turkish/Mediterranean sandwich
stuffed with spit-roasted chicken and crushed sesame sauce. You will
come across the occasional hot dog vendor, too - but don’t expect
anything on par with an Oktoberfest bratwurst.
The vast majority of street food is, of course, Vietnamese. Many food
stalls prepare dishes from treasured recipes that are family heirlooms.
Busy venues and quick customer turnover usually indicate quality food,
but prices may also have an influence on how hectic an eatery is,
especially during lunch hours.
Leisure
After a few weeks of living in HCMC, residents may start to get the
feeling that there is not much to do on weekends. In reality, quite a
lot of things are happening. The key is to get to know people that do
things you’re interested in and where and when said things take place.
With such a diverse range of people and backgrounds that live and work
in HCMC, there is a plethora of clubs and societies which will ensure
that you will never be lonely or bored. Whether part of Vietnamese
origin or brought here by international residents, you can expect to see
everyone playing together which makes for a wonderful cultural mix.
Shopping
Generally, as a foreigner, chances are you might be charged 40-50% more
on any goods or services throughout the country (this rate tends to be
even higher in Ben Thanh Market, up to a solid 100% more). Having a
Vietnamese friend with you won’t help much, as the sales person will see
through the ruse and will charge you accordingly (yes, they are that
experienced). Rather than allow yourself to get upset or stressed out,
put some effort into finding the price of the product through friends or
online before buying. This way, you will only have to pay 10-15% more
in foreign tax (FT). If this is all too much effort for you, perhaps
this basic rule in bargaining will help: mentally decide how much you
are willing to pay for the product, suggest it allowed, and offer that
exact amount of money - this will not work quite as effectively if you
require change. As a last resort, pretend to leave without buying as
this will usually cause the vendor to call you back to agree on your
stated price. Even if you end up paying a little more than you initially
planned, you will be less disappointed as it will be worth it to you.
Discover Vietnam
Phu Quoc
This tear-shaped island in the Gulf of Thailand has been compared to Koh
Samui and Phuket before the tourist hordes invaded. Vietnam’s largest
island is surrounded by 40km of white sand beaches and turquoise seas.
The establishment of Phu Quoc National Park ensured that almost 70% of
the island would be environmentally protected. Pearls are harvested
locally and fish sauce is made on the island.
Major development plans, however, are in the works and Phu Quoc is
expected to be an increasingly popular destination, perhaps receiving
overflow tourists from Phuket and Bali as those destinations become
increasingly saturated with Russian and Chinese tourists. International
developers have plans to build more upmarket resorts, some with golf
courses. However, delays with land clearance and the provincial
government’s indecision regarding development mean that
commercialisation is slow to say the least - good news for local
consumers to enjoy the island’s laid back feel. Now is definitely the
time to go.
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