Budget for moving to HCMC?

Pan_ wrote:

I realize this is not a black-and-white-answer, but I'll try and give my current details.

I'm a 24-year old male from northern Europe, looking to move to HCMC in the first quarter of 2014. Primarily I'm planning on getting a CELTA to have something to fall back on. My main, perhaps long-term, objective is to find a job within PR or marketing.

Overview:

- CELTA 1600$ (four weeks)
- Plane ticket is roughly 500$
- Visa-related costs 250$
- Housing 500$/month (plus two month deposit?)

Total: Roughly 3500$ upon arrival.

How much of a financial buffer do you seasoned veterans think I need? Is 10K enough, or should I plan for more? Or is it reasonable to go with less than that, if I enjoy a frugal life-style?

Greetings, 10k in dollars or euros is a nice buffer. You can check ajarn.com for deals on CELTA, TESOL prices. My TESOL  cost was $599 and it was 120 hours with 12 hours of classroom teaching students. HCMC is a nice place to live. I lived there for a year. It is cheaper to live in Da Nang and the pay is the same. In HCMC I was paying $200 a month in D3 plus $20 -30 for utilities. In Da Nang I have a large  place on the beach for $270. The weather is nicer here also. I am sure others have advice too.  Good luck...

Any input would be appreciated. Thanks!

Pan_ wrote:

I realize this is not a black-and-white-answer, but I'll try and give my current details.

I'm a 24-year old male from northern Europe, looking to move to HCMC in the first quarter of 2014. Primarily I'm planning on getting a CELTA to have something to fall back on. ....

Total: Roughly 3500$ upon arrival.

How much of a financial buffer do you seasoned veterans think I need? Is 10K enough, or should I plan for more? Or is it reasonable to go with less than that, if I enjoy a frugal life-style?


Any input would be appreciated. Thanks!

B&W answer
10K per year is reasonable - You should plan for more - NO it is not reasonable to go with less even if you enjoy a frugal life-style (because I'm reasonably making a ton of wild assumptions about you).

Here's the color answer
If you're a "white" male from Northern Europe, you are in good shape.  If you are a "black" male from Northern Europe, you'll have a hard time even with that CELTA.  Nobody talks about it but racism is a passively active in the language schools (what other reason do they ask for a photo to go with your CV?).  Same deal if you apply for a PR or marketing job.  If you're a white guy, you have value to the company. 

How long do you plan on staying in Việt Nam?  If you're frugal/penny pincher, you can stretch 10K across 6 years if you like, considering that the average Vietnamese makes around $1,500 a year.  If an Average Vietnamese can do it on $1500, a frugal European can do it.

However, chances are if you don't know the language, you'll end up hanging out in D1 area of HCMC where many Westerners hang out and where you can survive with just your English.  Then the prices escalates by 10 fold.  You'll need at least $1K a month.

This assumes the worst case scenario where you don't have a job, you get pickpocketed every month, and always get charged the foreigner premium wherever you go.

I think you can only bring in maximum $7000 in cash. So the rest you will have to find a way to slowly transfer into Vietnam.

khanh44 wrote:

I think you can only bring in maximum $7000 in cash. So the rest you will have to find a way to slowly transfer into Vietnam.

That's undeclared.  There is an unlimited amount you can bring in as long as you declare it to customs.  Then they quickly get on the phone to their crime lords and say "stupid foreigner just declared $1,000,000 in cash...he's wearing red and white shirt".  So out the airport you go and....

Your method is the smartest.

they won't 'out the airport you go' if you declare. More like they'll keep some for you and some for me.

You can "get away with" bringing more than $7000 in if you're smart about it and stuff various amounts in different parts of your carry-ons and in your pockets. Just don't have a big wad of cash all in one wallet or envelope, and you'll be fine.

khanh44 wrote:

they won't 'out the airport you go' if you declare. More like they'll keep some for you and some for me.

Yah probably give you a hard time until you "gift them" a few percentage.

saigonmonkey wrote:

You can "get away with" bringing more than $7000 in if you're smart about it and stuff various amounts in different parts of your carry-ons and in your pockets. Just don't have a big wad of cash all in one wallet or envelope, and you'll be fine.

True but with the "rampant crime" in HCMC starting at the airport, why bother when you can transfer your cash via the banks/electronic means?

I almost got robbed when I arrived at the airport (at midnight).  Some taxi driver was telling me he was VinaSun and took me to the parking lot.  I immediately noticed the logo on the door was NOT VinaSun and high-tailed it back to the public/lit area.

I've never had any problems bring in USD's over the limit. I just declare it and have customs stamp it. You'll need it declared anyway to deposit it in a bank, in less you plan on carrying it around with you or hiding it some where.

All expenses depends on your thrift

Saigon is an expensive place to live, it takes an hour to get from anywhere to anywhere.  You will have access to educated people and real conversation, but the tobacco pollution is so strong that you can get headaches and congestion without ever smelling a cigarette.  I wouldn't live there.

Living expenses ., nhà trợ and eating bình dân versus hotel or house rental and restaurants, big difference.

ChrisFox wrote:

Saigon is an expensive place to live

Well,I guess "Expensive" is a rather relative term... it may very well be more expensive than other places in Vietnam.

I live in Phuket, Thailand and Saigon is definitely cheaper than here!!!