Living in Asia - Why Everyone Should Give It a Go

LWe Out Here on 05/08/2023 - 21:27
Last edited 07/08/2023 - 10:23

So I'm creating this thread to have a discussion about the pros and cons of moving to Asia.

A bit of background about myself - 35yo Male, Born and raised in Sydney now residing in Vietnam for the past 6 months.

After 2 long years of covid cooped up inside Australia, I decided I had enough of the rat race in Sydney and made the plunge to move overseas to a different country. Why Vietnam? Cheap cost of living, abundance of teaching jobs, rapidly developing infrastructure and amenities, amazing food and people, to name a few.

Most of my friends thought I was crazy - leaving a comfortable life in Oz to move to a completely different way of living and culture. In Oz, I had a high paying job, friends/family, mortgage paid off. I still question certain aspects of my decision today, and appreciate the things we had like free healthcare and being able to buy things like fresh milk and pasta that wont cost an arm and a leg!

However, in my opinion, I've made the right decision. Life was very mundane in Australia, it was mostly work, go home, gym, eat, repeat. Multiply by 5. Then have a couple days off then do it again. Not saying it was all bad, but after 35 years, I had enough. Not withstanding the insane cost of living - bills galore and only going up and up as most of you reading can attest.

Fast forward to today, Vietnam offers me so much more. In the spirit of Ozbargain, I'll detail my semi frugal life here. Cheap cost of living, inflation here is barely felt. Eating out, travel, entertainment, gym, does not cost an arm and a leg here. Vietnamese street food is incredible and cheap, even some of the western food I've had here is better than back home. Cheap rent (im paying $250/month for a studio near the beach), gym ($25/month), food (varies but no more than $5 a day for 3 filling meals) etc.
People here are way happier than back in Sydney (angry people everywhere) on much less, life does not end after 9pm like in Sydney where everyone is inside watching Netflix, just happy to wander around seeing all the sights, sounds and smells (life does not stop here)! Sitting street side sampling all the tasty delicacies on plastic tables and chairs brings me so much joy.

So just wanted to keep this fairly short, I just wanted to give my perspective on why I made the decision to move out of Australia and maybe inspire some reading who may have the same thought. Cost of living is only getting worse in Oz, housing crisis, every damn thing going up. Happy to hear your thoughts.

Cheers

Travel Asia

closed Comments

- - stedmaster on 07/08/2023 - 16:47
    
    +1
    
    For the most part it is a joke.
    
    However correct me if I'm wrong but their version of a combo meal hangs roughly around $87,0000 VND which is about $5.50 AUD.
    
    A 3 Group Combo is 228,000 VND is about $15 AUD which appears to be their most expensive offering.
    
    Their biggest bucket has 6 pieces of chicken is 201,000 VND or $12 AUD
    
    Their Zinger burger is about $3.45 AUD
    
    Not sure how big the portions are or the quality, but even a 3 group combo is about as much as a large 3 piece box here for 1 person.
    
    If you buy a bunch of items for their standalone price, only then does it look more like an AUD KFC combo purchase, but its still consistently less.
    
    They don't have a 3 piece box with chips and mash, but even if you buy the 3 piece "Happy Meal" with a drink and add single items of chips, mash, and hash browns as well to make up for the bun here, its still only $8.80 AUD buying the happy meal as a combo price.
    
    This is going off their mobile website, on transaction screen it doesn't appear that VAT tax is added after, so I'm assuming these are all total prices.
    - Ti94 on 08/08/2023 - 12:23
      
      yes the price is just slightly less expensive, but the portion (chicken) is quite small compared to Aussie kfc. I took my brothers and cousins there couple of years ago for a KFC feast and 5 of us had a meal of roughly $70 alltogether, and we are not even full. So I think the price compared to Aus is on par, but consider the low wages in Vietnam it is actually a luxury option to go out for fast food there.
      - stedmaster on 08/08/2023 - 13:50
        
        @Ti94: I've looked up the following KFC locations in Vietnam to see the google reviews and customer photos of full meals, and it doesn't appear to be any different in regards to their chicken portion sizes, if anything it looks rather substantial, even their $2.90 AUD meals.
        
        KFC Phạm Văn Chiêu
        
        KFC Tan Son Nhi
        
        The following is a KFC Vietnam special which is 45,000 VND or $2.90 AUD not including the drink which would be about around $1.10 AUD.
        KFC Xo Viet Nghe Tinh
        
        Zingers basically look the same too
        KFN Hanoi
        
        If you scroll through at those rice dishes on plates on the last one, with salad and a piece of chicken and gravy, they're also 45,000 VND or $2.90 and you can pick and choose, if you opt to not have meat, its 0.64 cents AUD
        
        The calculation for the equivalent of a 3 piece box comparable to here would be close to 40% cheaper.
        
        If we go like for like the zinger is just over 50% cheaper.
        
        Ti94 on 09/08/2023 - 12:36
        
        @stedmaster: hmm that's certainly different from my experience visiting a store in Hanoi a few years ago. Maybe they did improve and lower the price.
  - dbui8743 on 10/08/2023 - 13:02
    
    +1
    
    second this, KFC in vietnam sucks. But who wants KFC in vietnam?
- tallkid123 on 07/08/2023 - 16:32
  
  I'm in Manila and I'm slowly working my way through all the fast food outlets.
  
  Jollibee last night (yuk!) and I'll probably try Popeyes on the weekend.
  - S7iCkSt3R on 07/08/2023 - 17:27
    
    Try the chicken sandwich from Jollibee, loved it when I visited Manila last year. Although, I agree, the chicken by itself wasn't anything special. The spaghetti was good though, palabok was ok. And the sweet pies, delicious.
    
    After watching American ads during NFL broadcasts I was super excited for Popeyes, but the chicken tenders I got were very dry. KFC Australia do them so much better.
    - ProlapsedHeinous on 07/08/2023 - 22:34
      
      kfc tenders are horrible. way too much salt. It never used to be like that though, when they were fatter.
    - tallkid123 on 08/08/2023 - 23:54
      
      I had it 2 nights ago.
      
      I did not like it. Wife was dying to eat Jollibee though. Her bowels weren't however though.
Dinhtran on 07/08/2023 - 14:57

+4
To keep this short, My decision is to live in Australia for the rest of my life and this is based on my personal experience and situation. I will definately travel there but won't live there.

I also want to share why I think this is a good decision:

Financial wise: if you are poor, Vietnam treats you like a piece of dog shit. Literally you are going to make around $6ph × 165 hours monthly = about $1k pm. Even Though the expenses are cheap compared to AUS but if you are just an ordinary dude, it will be >50% of your income. It will not be sustainable!!

Cultural wise: people are 'paper-ly' educated but acted like a kid over there. That why smart/rich people sent their kids overseas.

They are self-focused, ego driven and pay respects to the money. They don't respect to professional e.g. CPA, Doctor, Dentist, etc. Professional respects politicians and rich people. As a result, people don't have much passion about knowledge/research, they passion for money. So if you are academic/professional, you better off to live in developed countries.

Also, If you are not politicians or related, either you are humble (better be humble), or it is likely you will run into trouble every day. For example, covid rescued flights are being corrupted, hospitals have double standard, junk insurance is everywhere.

Food/Travel/Entertainment: People often find foods are delicious and cheap. But if you do the same thing everyday, I bet you find it boring. Is it still good if you read this way: cheap sex with HIV, cheap MFG toxic foods, cheap fake stuffs? For me health is not cheap, relationship is not cheap, art is not cheap.

Also don't looks at one side, The Asian countries have good foods, we do as well. I love d'affinor and all other cheese, steak, dried muscatel, nuts, salmon, seafoods, wine, bbq on weekend and a lot of good stuff here.
Aerith-Waifu on 07/08/2023 - 15:04

+9

Anyone can enjoy the country they are living in if they wage is 5 to 10 times the cost of living.

I would have a greater enjoyment in Perth if my pay is $500k a year

It really all down to money really
- OzBarAnon on 09/08/2023 - 01:07
  
  Much easier to enjoy things if you have no worries about money and can live big. Obviously certain things are limited to where you are (no amount of money is going to turn the Melbourne experience into what you can get with the technological megalopolises of somewhere like Shenzhen), but it's certainly easier to go out of your way to find enjoyable things to do with your time.
lonewolf on 07/08/2023 - 16:09

+4

Umm Having born in and lived in a few countries in Asia, There is no way i would recommend a dark skinned person to live there over living in Australia. I experience far less racism in Australia than i did over there.

If you are fair skinned and especially if you are of a similar race or the same race as the country in Asia you are going to reside in then most definitely you will enjoy it. I know lots of my asian friends especially vietnamese and some hong kong, taiwan friends initially move back for work etc but then are tempted to stay or in some cases have stayed. Others do almost a 6 months on and 6 months off.. If you are able to get paid reasonably well or even better get an ex-pats salaray over there then you will definitely love it there.

Just be prepared to learn some of the corruption tactics and how to work around them etc and if you are getting paid well, then they wont hold an issue for you.
- samfisher5986 on 08/08/2023 - 09:05
  
  Australia has the least racism in the world in my opinion.
  
  People only think differently because they don't understand that racism is experienced in many different forms all of which can be direct or indirect.
  - lonewolf on 08/08/2023 - 11:45
    
    +1
    
    Yes very true, And sometimes the indirect is much worse due to the psychological factors and how it beats you down as well as how you dont see it straight away so you cant just avoid that scenario. It can get into your head about you being inferior or not worthy based on your race.
- tallkid123 on 09/08/2023 - 00:00
  
  Umm Having born in and lived in a few countries in Asia, There is no way i would recommend a dark skinned person to live there over living in Australia. I experience far less racism in Australia than i did over there.
  
  I'm not white, more like a nice light brown skintone. I've been in Manila for a few days now and it's been fine so far since I've been here. The locals actually think I'm one of them despite me being literally twice their size. I open my mouth and then they usually get the hint.
  
  However, I think just being 6'4 and literally towering over most people here works to my advantage.
  - lonewolf on 09/08/2023 - 15:23
    
    Philippines doesnt have it as much as majority are tanned there anyway and have a lot more exposure to Americans / Veterans as well as have the whole spanish influence. Good place to live if you have a good job / money ,i had some friends who worked there and lived like a king but at the same time, not that safe. You have to be smart about it.
Herbse on 07/08/2023 - 18:03

+1

If any of this is even real, Looks like the OP decide to make a brag post on a burner account with zero intention to reply to anyone.
- jackspratt on 07/08/2023 - 23:05
  
  Very devious of him to lay down a smokescreen by making 30+ earlier comments on a variety of topics.
tessel on 07/08/2023 - 18:21

+2

6 months bro. You are still in honey moon phase. I spent 12 years in Taiwan and moved back to Australia. Yes, I miss plenty about Taiwan but here I am in Australia.
Lunarboogie on 07/08/2023 - 18:25

+3

Wow - so much shade. OP isn't claiming Vietnam is some mythical Shangri-la or better than Australia in all senses. He's simply making a decent case about the advantages of living overseas. To each their own. I've done the expat gig for my company a few times now, and plan to do more before I finish up, and I can vouch for the benefits of the exotic lifestyle in Asia. The dynamism, diversity and novelty is attractive. To say nothing of how cheap it can be. I can't see any downside, despite what the naysayers claim. There are good reasons why tens of thousands of westerners do it every year. So before folk attack OP, please understand that he's not Robinson Carusoe in what he's doing and that a decent lifestyle can be achieved when upping stumps and decamping to the topics.

It's not always about getting your pecker wet but if that's your thing, than good luck to you. Some of the comments on here look to be from pretty frustrated and angry males who may triee it and got burnt. Live and let live.
- samfisher5986 on 08/08/2023 - 09:10
  
  +1
  
  Why are you obscuring what is really just taking advantage of the unfair wage OP will be getting in comparison to everyone else who lives in Vietnam?
  
  A place is only truly nice to live in if you can get a normal person's working wage and enjoy it, which none of the expats can do.
  
  Anywhere in the world, even North Korea is great if you are rich in comparison.
Youi2018 on 07/08/2023 - 18:28

-3

Do you know where would be better then Vietnam? Thailand . Seems cheap enough and i reckon their food is better. Vietnamese food gets a NO from me
ganymede on 07/08/2023 - 19:38

+1

Have you asked why Vietnamese moved to Australia instead? Might give you a different perspective on what's "great".
- jackspratt on 07/08/2023 - 23:26
  
  Do they fall under the slur of "loser back home"?
- Brianqpr on 08/08/2023 - 09:29
  
  I believe a lot of it was due to a certain war that is reasonably well known.
congo on 07/08/2023 - 20:07

+2

I think the point of this post is to raise the issue of:
1. Cost of living in Australia is too expensive
2. Work life balance in Australia isn't great

Op has a fair point but I am not ready to move to Asia :-)

Which town(s)/cities is Australia would give the best work life balance and cheaper living expenses?
- samfisher5986 on 08/08/2023 - 09:12
  
  But the cost of living in Asia is also too expensive when compared to the people who live there.
  - congo on 08/08/2023 - 09:13
    
    Not if you have paid off your investment property in Oz.
    The rent in OZ is enough to support your retirement in Asia.
    
    But I would personally find a cheaper place in Oz to move to, if one exists.
    - samfisher5986 on 08/08/2023 - 09:14
      
      I assume you joke.. or else I would be asking how someone born in Asia is meant to have an investment property in Australia.
      - congo on 08/08/2023 - 09:16
        
        @samfisher5986: The cost of living in Asia is cheap for those earning foreign income.
        I never said that it was cheap for locals.
        
        samfisher5986 on 08/08/2023 - 09:18
        
        @congo: Yes, but the cost of living in Australia can also be very cheap for those earning foreign income for example US Dollars, especially as US wages can be much higher then Australia.
        
        congo on 08/08/2023 - 09:24
        
        @samfisher5986: Yes, but we earn AUD.
        So it is cheaper in Asia for us.
        
        samfisher5986 on 08/08/2023 - 09:34
        
        @congo: But also consider that if the majority of us moved to Asia for the same purpose, it would no longer be cheap, which there is already plenty of evidence for.
        
        congo on 08/08/2023 - 09:40
        
        @samfisher5986: A majority of us will NOT move to Asia. It isn't practical.
- p1 ama on 09/08/2023 - 21:18
  
  +2
  
  Work life balance in Australia isn't great
  
  I've worked in the US, Asia, the Middle East and Australia.
  
  By far, the work-life balance is the best in Australia. I wouldn't be surprised if we have some of the best work-life balance in the world. Combination of Aussies having a pretty slack and laid back attitude.
  
  Asia by far had the worst work-life balance. The Middle East is full of expats who either don't have families and are happy to work every living hour to make bank and get out of there ASAP. The US is actually similar to Australia, but basically everyone just works harder, there's less labour protections, and it's more cut throat.
  - May4th on 09/08/2023 - 22:25
    
    +2
    
    OP is comparing FT work paying off a mortgage vs living off passive income from a position of equity in a country with significantly cheaper living costs ie. working holiday. Of course the 'work life balance' is better..
    - congo on 09/08/2023 - 22:31
      
      Exactly, if I had to work in Vietnam and get paid a typical Viet dollar, NO WAY I am moving there.
      But if I am not working, then the passive income from Oz would go a lot further. Work life balance would be great because there would be little to no work.
airtime on 07/08/2023 - 20:16

+19
As balancing viewpoints from someone who has also lived in Viet Nam (for longer than OP) as a foreigner:

corruption and graft is everywhere

communist government will make you life very hard if you cross them / get in their bad books for any reason

no social services / support

if life was so rosy, why do you think there are so many beggers, in particular so many children begging / selling stuff instead of being in school?

no money = little to no health services, if you have a major health issue you are in trouble

life is cheap - there is a reason official road fatality statics are reported so low, the real numbers are too scary

ask a live-in servant how happy they are with their lot

Life as an ex-pat with money can be really good. But don't confuse that privileged position with the day-to-day real life of a local. Saw you mentioned renting. Why not try renting outside the ex-pat / tourist areas and see how you go :-) you will quickly learn how little freedom you actually have.

There are many great things about living in Viet Nam.

the night-time bustle of the cities

street food in the cities

learn Vietnamese and learn to sing in Karaoke in Vietnamese and you will have no shortage of friends ;-)

If you are single, have or are earning money, its good for a few years. Not many who can choose stay much longer beyond that. Hmm, wonder why.
- TiredKitty78 on 10/08/2023 - 17:46
  
  so many children begging
  
  Because they get kidnapped and put there by those blokes across the corner 'overseeing' them, and the 2 year old holding out bracelets for you to 'buy', or is that just Bali? 😠
  (No i'm kinda serious about this question)
yewman on 07/08/2023 - 22:20

-1

I don't get all the negativity about the guy making mild comments about dating prospects.
Prostitution is rife all over Asia, but everyone pretends to be prudish in public or risk getting attacked by the angry mob.
- TiredKitty78 on 10/08/2023 - 17:47
  
  Prostitution is rife
  
  Isn't it also extremely looked down upon, almost a black mark of shame?
kaleidoscope on 07/08/2023 - 22:25

yeah nah i left that place(asia not nam) for good. good luck 🤘
SupeNintendoChalmers on 08/08/2023 - 07:17

+5

Cheap cost of living, inflation here is barely felt

Have you thought that perhaps your presence, and the presence of other wealthy Westerners living there permanently causes inflation to rise higher than normal, in particular near the coast?
- Brianqpr on 08/08/2023 - 09:28
  
  Well yes, but it also builds the local economy, creates jobs etc. Everyone's property will be worth more over time, the sort of thing that's rabidly celebrated here.
- TiredKitty78 on 10/08/2023 - 17:48
  
  Have you thought that perhaps your presence, and the presence of other wealthy Westerners living there permanently causes inflation to rise higher than normal, in particular near the coast?
  
  For reference: Bali.
  
  Although that could be the manufacturing that moved over to Indonesia some decade or so ago? idk a lot about it.
Brianqpr on 08/08/2023 - 09:26

+5

Spot on about everyone being angry in Sydney. Can rarely drive for 5 mins from home without some idiot tailgating or pulling some other stupid impatient move.

A guy I used to work with (financial adviser) has set up a business about retiring to Asia and provides advice about what to expect in various countries in terms of lifestyle, cost, health care etc. Not sure if I'd ever do it but certainly food for thought as this country gets increasingly consumed by greed and an obsession with money and status.

I see comments about westerners being there not being a good thing. How is it any different to other nationalities making a life for themselves here? Or is multiculturalism only to be encouraged in "western" countries?
- samfisher5986 on 08/08/2023 - 09:35
  
  +1
  
  Have you ever driven in Asia?
  
  People might be less angry but there's a lot more people doing random impatient stupid things.
  - Brianqpr on 08/08/2023 - 10:48
    
    +1
    
    Agree but they just go with it and don't fire up all the time.
- congo on 08/08/2023 - 09:54
  
  +1
  
  Yes, a lot of angry/bitter drivers in Sydney.
  It's toxic.
- tallkid123 on 08/08/2023 - 23:32
  
  +1
  
  Spot on about everyone being angry in Sydney. Can rarely drive for 5 mins from home without some idiot tailgating or pulling some other stupid impatient move.
  
  I've only been in Manila for 5 days and I've had to recondition my survival instincts by crossing the street in the face of oncoming traffic.
  
  Also, driving in Manila is like dodge-em-cars between lanes with bikes just blasting past for good measure.
- p1 ama on 09/08/2023 - 21:22
  
  +1
  
  Spot on about everyone being angry in Sydney. Can rarely drive for 5 mins from home without some idiot tailgating or pulling some other stupid impatient move.
  
  If you're complaining about Sydney, things will be way worse in Asia. You'll have some random lunatic just zip up the wrong side of the road to skip the traffic or just ignore the traffic lights if it's convenient.
  
  Not sure if I'd ever do it but certainly food for thought as this country gets increasingly consumed by greed and an obsession with money and status.
  
  And people elsewhere in the world are not increasingly consumed by greed, and an obsession with money and status? Come on.
  
  I see comments about westerners being there not being a good thing. How is it any different to other nationalities making a life for themselves here? Or is multiculturalism only to be encouraged in "western" countries?
  
  It's not that Westerners being in Asia is not a good thing - obviously it's great for people to travel and integrate themselves into different cultures. The issue is to have a realistic expectation of where you intend to live so that you don't become disillusioned and feel like you've wasted your life when the rose-tinted glasses wear off.
  
  E.g. if you hate impatient drivers and people being materialistic, Asia is definitely not the place for you - much worse in both accounts.
- dbui8743 on 10/08/2023 - 10:11
  
  Vietnamese born and bred, and i drive both here and vietnam.
  
  Driving in vietnam drives me crazy, and that i come from small town not with a lot of traffic.
  
  Other than that, I do agree with the OP mostly.
ContinuousCustomer on 08/08/2023 - 09:49

+1

It’s a good experience, eventually the honeymoon period will be over and you’ll probably get back.
baldur on 08/08/2023 - 09:56

If you cant have a comfortable life in australia, probably you wouldn't have it anywhere.

Stop fooling yourself and other people.

Vietnam is so good which is why people risk their lives and land on Australia via boats journeying on endless oceans?
- TiredKitty78 on 10/08/2023 - 18:04
  
  +1
  
  Yeah, if i had 'comfortable' passive income - let's be real, you need probably at least $60k you quite conservatively withdraw comfortably. Otherwise you'll have no money for fun - eating out, rv/car camping, you'll instead be spending money to not be bored, using your time rather then thinking 'what do i want to do with my time?'
  
  Honestly, not sure i envy people who have enough passive income to 'use' these lesser economies to live the big life. Though i'd probably do the same thing.
  
  Or spend every third month there four times a year. But idk if being young and having $25k a year in passive income means i'd go live like a king somewhere. People forget, those places, price will eventually go up, especially if people are there do the same as you. Better to build up your money while young - though take plenty of vacations - so you don't end up poor in 30 years and finding it harder to live the lux life in vietnam/thailand/bali.
- dragonxx on 11/08/2023 - 00:06
  
  Vietnam is so good which is why people risk their lives and land on Australia via boats journeying on endless oceans?
  
  That's a story of 20-50 years ago, no more boats from Vietnam.
Hangryuman on 08/08/2023 - 10:07

yep - OP one post wonder - whether SlavOz reborn I don't know - but hey - enjoy what you can !
Tiredman on 08/08/2023 - 10:10

I'm retiring in Malaysia once the kids enter uni or maybe 6 months in Melbourne and 6 months in Malaysia. That will suit me fine.
FlyingMiffy on 08/08/2023 - 12:49

I think its always easier and better when you take money fron a higher economic environment to a lower one. It affords you to live life with luxuries that you otherwise cant afford. Live like a local and earn like a local and the experience will be different.
Look Up on 08/08/2023 - 14:26

Correct title is "Living in Vietnam - Why Everyone Should Give It a Go"

Cost of living is only getting worse in Oz, housing crisis, every damn thing going up.

Vietnam is currently booming because both the US and China are backing them

We will welcome you back to Australia with open arms when shit gets real
tomleonhart on 08/08/2023 - 16:21

I've recently moved back to Vietnam as well. Where do you live ? Ozbargain catch up in Saigon maybe ? lol
ttt888 on 08/08/2023 - 16:28

+3

Its good fun in the short term.. But 20 years down the track you will be way far behind financially if you ever choose to return to Australia.
bizarredeal on 08/08/2023 - 17:24

Happiness lies within you not in Vietnam. But you can be happy in Vietnam as well. Hope it goes well.
brad1-8tsi on 08/08/2023 - 17:29

Hey OP!
1) Did you speak any Vietnamese before you moved there? Do you speak enough now to have a conversation?

2) Whereabouts do you live and What is the nearest "big city"?

3) How do you fill in your day/week?
- dbui8743 on 10/08/2023 - 10:13
  
  If being able to speak vietnamese is your main concern to begin living me there, I dont think you should be too concerned.
  
  Vietnamese people are very pro-English (not proficient, just pro- lol), you can go about your life in big city without having to speak a single word of vietnamese if you choose to, people will accomodate you.
Mark1159 on 08/08/2023 - 23:09

-4

Kinda retired ex Melbourne and lived Vung Tau, Vietnam for 8 years 2012 - Covid.

Can vouch for most of what OP hopes for.

I worked Govt job with great super and part time rotations on ships/oil rigs/remote locations in jungle or desert from Kazakhstan to Angola.

Saved and invested prudently. Lucky me; boomer.
Share couple of Melbourne properties.
I joke I’m the only guy I know who’s exited family breakdown with a million dollar home.
My ex lives in the $4m one.

Anyway, much of what the OP observes is true.

In my case I’m blessed with good health, good income, good luck - born Australian.

My job was high pressure, requiring good health.

There are a few erroneous comments/assumptions here from people who haven’t lived this life.

I’m old enough to recall when Vietnam was a “time,” not a place.
The first thing you must learn about Vietnam is absolute respect for their people, culture and history.

I’ve read before the times of grainy b/w TV images of the French and “The American War” which graced our TV screens every night. Back to the times of warriors like Trung Hang Dao.
Never underestimate the Vietnamese - a proud people who have turned back the Thais, French, USA and the only country to inflict military defeat on Communist China.

So respect for everyone and their culture/history is paramount.

I like it cos it’s cheap to live, warm every day and the women, especially in traditional ao dai are stunning.

I call it the 30/30/20 rule.
$30 day to live.
30 C every day.
20 y o girlfriend.

Cost of living is cheap $250 week should see you housed and fed and living ok in Vung Tau. I am 4 mins walk to cinema, parks and gardens right down to the sea and shops/cafes nearby.

After a lifetime of renovating/rebuilding/new homes, my total household maintenance for the past twelve years has been to walk by my hotel receptionist’s desk, drop the keys and say “Hoang, AC toi khong tot”
“Hoang, my AC is not working.”

I go a long way in Vietnam with basic spoken Vietnamese. I will never read or write it, but it shows respect and less of an inclination to expect them to speak in my language.
Often I get “Mr Mark, please speak English, it’s much easier.”
Interestingly I’ve had some girls say they don’t want their boyfriend speaking Vietnamese because they can converse with other girls.

The aforementioned hotel room is in a family run affair who stored my goodies over non travel Covid.
$12 night - clean sheets, cold AC, good wifi and hot water. And a full size bath tub. I live in a Vietnamese precinct and if they order too much pizza, they send it up to my room.
Only junk food I eat in Vietnam.

When I first went to Vietnam, coming out of a broken marriage, I could not believe the women.
My first real girlfriend was a hairdresser and part time model.
I briefly returned to Australia during Tet New Year and things weren’t quite the same and we broke up.
My next girlfriend was not a model, but better looking. But, every second woman in Vietnam could be a model.
For much of the next decade, I felt as though I was living in a Graham Greene novel.

I see some guys there get suckered in by a Bar girl or massage girl from Mekong.

Girls I go out with have to be tall (I’m over 180 cm and tall guys look stupid with tiny girls. They’re outside my line of sight and they make a horrible crunching sound when I trample them, cos they’ve stood too close and they haven't registered in my field of vision.

Naturally it’s better they speak English but I managed two week vacation with one who spoke less English than my Vietnamese. Fine, no consent issues either.

My last girlfriend, everyone called “the movie star”
Doppelgänger for VN screen throb. At the cinema, VN people would stare, trying to see if it really was the screen siren. She was oblivious - I’d tell her she is beautiful and she’d reply, “no, not beautiful, not ugly - I am normal girl Vietnam”.
She is logistics executive with multinational in HCM, speaks three languages and earns a doctor’s salary.

I would show two photos to friends in Oz - Phuong’s, and the movie star.
“One of these is my girlfriend - guess which one”.
Most picked the actual starlet.

Any women I went out with had to tall, English speaking, educated and have a job. Don’t care if they’re pastrycook or pilot.

Having a job shows commitment and enterprise - mostly managed to avoid gold diggers.

I could write a book on the stories Asian women have told me about why they don’t like Asian men.
They’re bosses, fathers, brothers, ex boyfriends/husbands and colleagues.
Patriarchal society and not good for women, so someone who respects them and shows consideration, manners and listens is off to a good start.

I asked one girl what she liked about me and she replied I didn’t hit her.

My job required planning and adaptability - many commented on that trait, and one I carry through in all aspects of life.
My kids are successful - they liked that too.
Sometimes I was the first male they ever knew who didn’t drink or smoke. No drugs, daily run, daily swim, bi weekly gym.

I’d eat their foods, go to their festivals, meet their families, listen to their stories. Their hopes and their dreams.

Guys would come from Oz, be on the Tiger Beer, T shirt and stubbies, banging the street walkers and lament, “we can’t meet anyone like Phuong”

I like to sit and read in the park down by the beach. Before dawn, watch the fishermen venture in. Listen to Melbourne radio, “weather will be double figures by lunchtime and the Monash Freeway is backed up to Pakenham.”

So glad I’m out of Dan-Istan.

If I need to return to Melbourne- footy/family/medical there is nightly direct JetStar flight at 22:30.

I have full Australian private health insurance and full Travel insurance.

Not everyone is enamoured with my lifestyle. Family have visited and they see how much better my life is.
Some friends/neighbours/colleagues not so.
When they see you taking out a twenty something flight attendant, I get it.
I get it completely.
- plmko on 09/08/2023 - 00:10
  
  +15
  
  You mention female encounters so many times and ending your rant with people affirming your choice via an exposition of your newest fling really says alot about your state of mind.
  
  But I suppose in the context of your stage in life, you are happy then who is any one to judge.
- Hardlyworkin on 09/08/2023 - 00:21
  
  +9
  
  And flex of the year goes to ….
  - richmond12 on 09/08/2023 - 15:05
    
    Dam hope he had some videos to saviour the memories
- May4th on 09/08/2023 - 12:11
  
  +2
  
  cool story
  - Faithgrrl on 11/08/2023 - 11:28
    
    +1
    
    Bro
- echineon on 09/08/2023 - 17:17
  
  +9
  
  The tone deaf in this comment I wouldn't know where to start. I'm glad it works out for you but your last paragraph says it all about how your actual peers see you doesn't it.
- Ghost47 on 09/08/2023 - 17:58
  
  +12
  
  I call it the 30/30/20 rule.
  
  Doesn't even add up to 100% but going by the rest of your comment I can see a lot of loose screws.
- tallkid123 on 09/08/2023 - 19:29
  
  +10
  
  When they see you taking out a twenty something flight attendant, I get it.
  I get it completely.
  
  I've spoken to a few types like you in Asia in the past. Many of them being my dad's ex-colleagues.
  
  All divorced white men with borderline racial superiority tendencies as they just mindlessly plough their way through young local women of low socio-economic status.
  
  I'm in Manila right now and see it everytime I go to the mall.
  
  And then these guys start spouting that just because they live in these countries that they're compeletely in tune with the locals and have integrated perfectly (utter bullshit).
  
  OP and this guy above are all sad, broken individuals completely resigned to their fates.
  
  Once they get really old (and sick), the countdown to return home suddenly escalates regardless of how much they disparage Australia.
  - Ghost47 on 09/08/2023 - 19:51
    
    +3
    
    I'm in Manila right now and see it everytime I go to the mall.
    
    Reminds me of an article I read a while ago.
    
    Here's another one.
- Arealtur Kishman 69 on 09/08/2023 - 22:41
  
  +3
  
  Ah yes, just another person who failed at life in a western country and had to run off to a developing country to get what he feels he deserves.
  - Koolness on 11/08/2023 - 15:46
    
    +1
    
    Guy's the definition of a LBH, loser back home.
capslock janitor on 09/08/2023 - 00:43

did you scale down and transition to part-time yet back in aus thho ?
dfg555 on 09/08/2023 - 01:06

it's like rich people buying up housing market for business opportunities and then min maxing capital gains for passive wealth

just be "rich" 4Head

this post is dumb, pointless and already states the obvious that majority of well educated people should already know lol
baldur on 09/08/2023 - 07:08

+2

White man discovers far lands and exploits it. Nothing new. History repeats.
Morien on 09/08/2023 - 10:30

+2

Life was very mundane in Australia, it was mostly work, go home, gym, eat, repeat. Multiply by 5

This is something people seem to forget when they talk about moving to some SEA country. You’re not living in reality. This mundane life you describe IS the life of all the people where you are (maybe not the gym part). You aren’t in a wondrous place place with a wildly different lifestyle. You are cruising by in a privileged existence by virtue of being white. That’s it.

I’m glad you enjoy it, and you shouldn’t feel bad for being there, but don’t lose sight of this. You aren’t living in reality. The people there aren’t magically different than you, they are just people. They struggle like the rest of us. Now, it wouldn’t be fair for me to say you did this, because you didn’t, but whenever I hear some guy talk about how great some SEA country is, they lose sight of this. They say how friendly people are (because they don’t understand “face” culture), or how nice the girls are (because they don’t stick around to see the broken heart).

Edit: case in point, compliments of another commenter:

I call it the 30/30/20 rule.
$30 day to live.
30 C every day.
20 y o girlfriend.

Everyone should not try it. In fact, the more who do the worse life may become for the local population. The more locals are priced out of things as basic as transportation and housing.

Try to keep sight of this, especially in your dealings with local people. Be kind, and be humble.
Dack Smith on 09/08/2023 - 11:50

Don’t tell me that when you get sick and need a major operation you’d come back to Australia?

If you are committed to living in Asia then you gotta take it as a whole not cherry-pick stuff you want, which includes their healthcare

Don’t take your problems back there where many are doing it tough and still as taxpayers have to fork out for idiots returning from overseas

Bloody tosser
- jackspratt on 09/08/2023 - 11:58
  
  +1
  
  What utter nonsense.
  
  He is an Australian citizen, has paid and most likely still paying Australian taxes.
  
  Tosser indeed.
cupcake on 09/08/2023 - 14:27

-2

I wouldn't move to Vietnam. I wouldn't live there and I wouldn't retire there either.
It's hot and humid and there isn't enough English speakers.
It's not clean to my standard. The drinking water is smelly, it's too noisy and dust everywhere. Have you seen the crazy wiring?
A teaching job there only pays up to $50k a year. A public service job here pays twice as much.
There's good Vietnamese food in Sydney too you know.
I have to say though, that despite the hardships, the poverty and lack of education, the Vietnamese people are always smiling.
- dbui8743 on 10/08/2023 - 12:54
  
  50k over there goes a long way, much further than 100k in australia.
  
  And vietnamese food in australia, well, its nothing compared.
  
  Poverty and lack of education? you make me laugh
  - cupcake on 10/08/2023 - 14:59
    
    -1
    
    Well, enjoy your msg infused food being prepped on the floor then! (You make me laugh)
    - dbui8743 on 10/08/2023 - 15:43
      
      -1
      
      yep, for 32 years on and off, and still going strong.
      
      Like they dont use MSG here, good god. If you believe all the asian restaurants here are so clean, i got a bridge i need to sell to you.
    - Morien on 11/08/2023 - 12:17
      
      "Food prepared on the floor" ? By those SAVAGES, you mean?
      
      Far out… SMH…
RBZ10 on 09/08/2023 - 14:44

+2

This guy just sounds like the Ukrainian and Russians you get in China, moved there so they werent a 1-6/10. Everyone feels better about themselves when others are slaving for them and treating them like a king, enjoy the rich person syndrome while youre there then come back to reality when it goes pear shaped…. us westerners are very lucky to be able to play around and pick and choose like this when so many would give an arm and a leg just to support their family. All my mates from the UK did this live in asian and live like a king and plow all the girls, I dont see the point myself have to have pretty low standard of morals…
Nads2407 on 09/08/2023 - 18:14

My man been working since he was a baby.
Cave Fire on 09/08/2023 - 20:52

Well… We're on Ozbargain. So someone moving to "Asia" will now get things much cheaper. Was thinking about "high prices" now. Basically thought about holding off on buying things here and then literally get multiples of whatever you're buying in Asia. Only big cost is airfare and accommodation. Don't get the negativity almost like an messed up contest lol.
cauilfield on 09/08/2023 - 22:23

Might as well try cheap europe, like Hungary, Romania or Bulgaria?
Grunntt on 09/08/2023 - 23:32

+1

Posted on the 5th, has been online a number of times since, including 2hrs ago today - not one single response from the OP.

How the hell does that match with -

So I'm creating this thread to have a discussion about ….

I'd like to see these waste of space posts deleted if the OP does not take part in the discussion they supposedly wanted.
They are just another version of trolling as far as I'm concerned and should be treated as such.
- jackspratt on 10/08/2023 - 01:21
  
  -1
  
  They are just another version of trolling as far as I'm concerned……..
  
  He may have also taken the view - justifiably I believe - that he has been well and truly trolled in numerous replies.
  
  If that is the case, why would/should he bother responding?
  - May4th on 10/08/2023 - 07:05
    
    +2
    
    What? you mean the internet isn't just sunshine rainbow and lollipops and he didn't expect anything other than a communal hug and pats on the back for validation?
    - jackspratt on 10/08/2023 - 12:07
      
      This is just the 1st page - it gets worse.
      
      Cool story bro
      
      OP has issues with Having a female manager and Vaccines,
      
      Typical. OP gives off major sexpat vibes.
      
      That comment you linked sounds really creepy!
      
      It means op doesn't have much to offer here and is probably less than attractive
      
      come back and leach on the Australian system he probably isn't paying for right now being in vietnam and making little to no australian taxable income
      
      you sound like a typical Westerner who we used to call the "loser back home",
      
      More people need to be aware of "loser back home". I'm White and we also consider these guys who go to Asia seeking easy dating to be losers here at home. It's pathetic and disgusting. I'm sorry.
  - Grunntt on 10/08/2023 - 07:39
    
    +1
    
    He may have also taken the view - justifiably I believe - that he has been well and truly trolled in numerous replies.
    
    That's a cop out - they asked for a discussion then did not respond to any comment at all.
    They could quite easily ignore any comments that they believe were trolling and 'discuss' it, as they requested, with anyone else.
    
    Do people actually believe that a discussion is a bunch of people all agreeing with each other in a mass circle jerk?
    No-one is permitted to have a different opinion or call out someone who is obviously a troll?
  - larndis on 10/08/2023 - 09:10
    
    @jackspratt how were the replies trolling?
freekay on 10/08/2023 - 11:27

+2

lol. OP wrote a post and has totally ghosted any questions/responses. I agree with the first commenter: "cool story, bro"

Living in Asia - Why Everyone Should Give It a Go

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