Nice new intro, JC. That Pho you were served looked delicious. Also seemed like an interesting conversation you had with the gentleman sitting at the table in the restaurant although it was sometimes a bit difficult to hear his replies. I am very much looking forward to watching your next videos in this series. Thanks a lot for your efforts.
To me, the gentleman seemed quite happy to talk - I think it was more a microphone issue. JC probably didn't plan to ask the guy - they just began talking spontaneously and then didn't have the mic properly set up.
Yea!!!!! During your last video you said you were going to Vietnam soon but I had no idea it would be the very next video. I'm so excited to see you in Vietnam it is one of the countries I really want to visit. I always seem to go to Thailand on my vacations but I'm now starting to venture out and see new countries. I can't wait to see what you think of Vietnam it will be very interesting to hear your take on this great country. Oh, Nat did a great job filming; it's like she can read your mind now, good job. Can't wait to see what's next. Jon.
Good vid, JC - thanks. Great idea on hotel business card; thanks for the price comparisons, Looking forward for views/impressions outside of main cities. See Ya!
Hi Jc, thx for another nice starting adventure, i must sure say traffic look crazy. You do quit good in calculation with big numbers :) Looking forward to see your next vidoes about vietnam and see if it would be a place for me to visit so far it seems a bit overvelming with traffic and venders but who knows it might be the area. see ya
JC, You might want to check out some of Troy Nguyen's videos on Vietnam to get some ideas of where you might want to go. He's a young Vietnamese who speaks with an Aussie accent. He does very nice work while riding his motorcycle throughout the countryside and major cities.
+frazierinasiar Actually as we walked out of district 1 the prices became more expensive not less. But I'm sure there are areas away from here that are much cheaper. In those places you probably don't see Westerners which is the way I prefer it actually. But my intention was not to stay in the big city because it's not where most older retirees would want to be staying. So I am out of here!
retirecheapjc Haha! Amen, JC. I've been there about 7 times but the last time was in 2011. I usually had a girlfriend when I was there and we would go to places where there weren't many white faces, so I'd pay less than in the area you were in. HCMC can be cheap but like most places in SE Asia you need a local for good guidance in that way. Happy Travels and thanks again for the vids!
Hi JC, just happened to come across your videos.. Great stuff man.. Subscribed.. Got a lot of catching up to do on your vids on my part.. Keep them rolling buddy.. Cheers
nice video JC, i like south east Asia culture and find it all interesting, only been to Thailand and love it there. will be cool to see what you make of Vietnam.
I would like to see DaNang again I was station there during the war its a port city where supplies were unloaded tons and tons of beer i drove forklifts i remember,
jc your a living legend.we live in Tipperary Ireland and we all just love you here.your name is spoken about every wkend here buddy.we are in asia a few times a year must hook up someday with us. regards your friends kieran and liz.
JC, hope you will have a great time there. Vietnamese sandwich in Saigon is very good. There is one shop open from 3pm until 3am. Check it out if you have time. Not many street food like in Thailand. Massage there is good, different from a Thai traditional massage. No foot message since everyone there is on moped. The city is pretty clean. Enjoy. Eat a lot.
Hey JC back to form. Something new at last!! Great to see you out of your comfort zone. Your just a little too accustomed and comfortable in Thailand now. Got the majority of the t shirts there. I haven't been to Vietnam either but from what I've seen on tv/internet it looks great. Of course only in certain areas just like Thailand or anywhere else. Hope you go to some little English speaking parts. One day I would love to go to Hoi an.
+Kevin Newell Will be going to Hoi An I think. Trust me after what I've witnessed so far in the two cities that I visited I will be happy to get back to my accustomed and comfortable Thailand.
+retirecheapjc Yeah, i have lived in Vietnam for 1.5 years and ready to leave a long time ago but the pay is better here than in Thailand. Still, looking at my options this year. Cant stand this country.
Glad you're checking-out Vietnam. Beautiful country - nice people. Easy to get visa via internet. When I arrived in HCMC around midnight, my bags went through the x-ray machine and there was nobody there checking! Amazing how experiences differ. Loved Nha Trang and Dalat is beautiful, but not much to do there. I've lived in Thailand for three years now. Better ammenities for Westerners in Thailand, but Vietnam is getting better all the time.
Awesome! JC is in Vietnam! From all the research and vids I've watched on YT about vn, I can tell that you are definitely in the tourist/backpacker area of Saigon. You will definitely want to venture out to experience the more local scene and local prices of things. (Funny how I feel like an expert on a lot of places in SE Asia from 4 years of YT vids and research and never being there, yet lol) But, I recognized that area, right away...Can't wait for all your vn vids and your take on it. Thanks, JC! Oh, just a suggestion....if you're bored and hanging out in your room, maybe take a look at Kyle Le's channel and Troy Nguyen's channel just to get some ideas...places to go, street food, nuances of vn and the culture, etc.
District one is the main tourist area. Check out the central market, great clothes well made & dirt cheap by Australian standards. Siagon river cruise not too good. I was in Vietnam a couple of years ago and liked it, I'm keen to hear your opinion. In the DaNang area check out the old Kymer temples at MySon, and the pretty touristy village of Ho An. Hue is worth a visit
Nice video, it’s important in Vietnam to learn how to say “no thanks” and the venders will not bother you. Simply shake your hand in the air and say the Viet word for “thank you” and shake your head at the same time.
I'm glad to see that you finally made it to Vietnam JC! You seem a little outside your comfort zone. I like it (ha ha)! I've been there seven times, and in many ways I prefer Vietnam to Thailand. Yes, District 1 can be a little more expensive, but it caters best to Western needs. Vietnam is a magical place. Thanks for all you do JC. Enjoy!
J.Z. Qui Nhon is on the central coast. I was there during the war. And have returned as a tourist. Nice beaches. Quiet town with few tourists. I am not sure why. I may go soon. Maybe you or a viewer might check it out. Robert Burnett.
I found Vietnam a bit cheaper than Thailand. Saigon is very western and expensive.......as you move north it's much cheaper. 30-40k per dish should be be max in a good restaurant. Traffic wont change though. Coffee is the best. Enjoy
Nice Vid JC brings back memories...wow I was there twenty years ago and I thought it was busy... god knows what it is like now..Yep, the exchange rate was 10,000 dong to the Aust $ back in the day.. seems like that has increased too, along with some prices... Take care...It will be interesting to see if Viet grows on you...Am enjoying the comparison.. I would remind you how to say no want.. to get rid of those pesty hawkers but .. hold on Khong muoi.. sorry mate if forget 555.. cum ern .. is thankyou... Bao new (how much).. baa baa baa or 333 beer... too much will make you baa babore.. stay safe...
The rent is high in District 1, hence the high menu prices, venture out a little bit further, and the prices goes down a lot. If the hawkers irritate you, just look away and say no once and once only, and if they persist, just keep shaking your head and ignore them, they'll move onto someone else, just don't stare into their face, it's not nice. Some restaurants have signs that say "no lotto ticker sellers allowed" because these people are everywhere.
Hi JC ! Thanks for the infos on your videos. I really enjoy watching them. My wife and I are going to Vietnam and Thailand this December and I wanted to film the countries with my drone. Is it possible to apply for a permit to fly and film with drones in both countries?
Yes in Thailand but you need to have insurance as well. Vietnam it's almost impossible. Having said that if you aren't in a city or a densely populated area I wouldn't worry about it. And same applies in VN if you get it through the airport screening upon arrival.
Hi JC Jetstar is a part of qantas we have them here in aus running local and international flights the budget qantus. How he hell do you cross the road there its crazy, the coffee is thatl lke old style thai? The honking reminds me of the phillipines and the harassment would drive me nuts good to see another country
Good to see your first impressions of Saigon. So you finally made it there JC. Good to see. About time I might add. You have landed yourself in the middle of backpacker central. An interesting area but hardly authentic Vietnam. The locals there cater to tourist needs. Unfortunately touts are a by-product of such a concentration of foreigners. I found a cafe in that area on a recent trip that touts avoided. They had a local clientele in the main. I would recommend checking out District 3 which abuts District 1 where you have lobbed. You can walk there or get a cheap taxi there or if you're feeling really brave get a moto taxi which is even cheaper still. I find them great after hours when the traffic has subsided. You should be able to get good street food for the equivalent of US$1 even in the upmarket parts of District 3. Get out of tourist central if you can. If you want to avoid touts go to the cbd area up the road where the Bitexco tower and opera house is located. Hope this has been of help and hope you enjoy Vietnam as much as I have.
+Doug M Yes I got out of the area where the touts were but then things got more expensive because the clientele were no longer backpackers. Now I am in the city of Dalat and the hawkers are just as bad or even worse.
JC The Vietnamese are different to Thais. More in your face as you now know from personal experience. On the plus side they have a great sense of humor if you give them a chance. Dalat is a tourist town catering to a lot of honeymooners apparently. So I guess they see them as easy pickings. Dalat is a weird place. Cool but picturesque with houses on steep roads. If you're heading to Nha Trang brace yourself for Russian tourists.
Great topic, JC. FYI for those flying from BKK to Vietnam. A couple of years back, my wife and I were not allowed to board an AirAsia flight from Don Mueng Airport to HCMC-Saigon because I did not purchase my Vietnam Visa in advance. We had a connection from a flight back from Chiang Mai and it screwed up the vacation plans-what a disappointment. I had read in LP that I could buy at the HCMC Airport for a premium payment. But, AirAsia said it was my fault, would not let us board and would not even offer credit towards another flight-even in Thailand. We lost over $500 in air fare charges (prepaid) and also, lost the cost of the first night's hotel. So, get your Vietnam VISA ahead of time. And IMO-consider flying ANY airline but the above-mentioned airline.
+Dean Phillips Yes you either have to get the visa in advance from the Embassy in Bangkok OR you can purchase online a pre-approval letter that once you print out it gets submitted upon arrival into Vietnam with your visa application and after about a 10 to 20 minute wait you are given the visa. When you show the airline agent this letter upon check in you are allowed to travel.
I buy the visa online...its called visa on arrival..This will be my 3rd trip to Vietnam and ive used this everytime.The first trip I didn't have the visa papers so the guy at the airport downloaded them from my phone.IOthwerwise we would have had the same experience you had...I actually like AirAsia the seats are more comfortable than that ANA flight we took from Tokyo.....
Things really changed. . around 12 years ago in Saigon traffic about same as Hua Hin now.. Don't recall anyone harassing or selling unless asked for, it must be exclusive to the high tourist areas... My favorite is the fresh Pate Baguette Sandwiches...
Omg JC this is great.. To see you as a first timer (like us!)! I wondering if many of the differences is due to the predominant Buddhist culture and manners from Thai? Think I would never drive or motorbike there. Too bad you can't just use plastic to pay like in US !
I wish I knew you were coming. You could have talked to me. I rent a house her,e been here a long time, lived a little in both countries, and study this stuff like a second degree. Would be interesting to talk to you about all this stuff.
I always use the business card trick. Works great with taxi drivers etc when you don't know where you are. As far as money goes I use the XE app to check all the numbers that of course works only if you have internet access. You should be prepared to do the math in your head in a pinch. Good tips though. Thanks JC. I'll be leaving Thailand for a visit to VN in July for the first time.
Only spent a week in Vietnam but very impressed. Quite clean thanks to street cleaners which seem to be everywhere. Few dogs which was nice. To be fair though you were comparing Thai street food or the cheap roadside shop prices to the relatively nice restaurant you were in. I found food prices just a little pricier, cheaper outside HCM, though you are right street food not so common. Taxis quite pricey.
+unclerusty2 Oh my God! I find this place to be only clean when the street sweepers and public workers have just passed by. The locals just throw everything on the ground for those people to clean up.
+retirecheapjc Yeah, 2 issues. It is only clean on rare occasion as you said, and even moreso, most foreigners only stay in d1 and the nearby districts, which is a business and tourist district. HCMC is very centralised though, so most of the money is in that 1 district and district 2 and 7, the newer ones for the wealthy people. But yeah, its still filthy even then. The vietnamese are definitely worse than the Thai people. Even the countryside in Vietnam is more filthy than Thailand, though sadly most of Asia is still too filthy, even Thailand. But at least Thailand has more trashcans everywhere.
+waltermh111 Jc, you are right, the Vietnamese are litterbugs. Walter, I was in a few districts in HCM, took a bus outside town to the tunnels, and was in Dalat, and in my estimation it was much cleaner than any comparably sized city in Thailand. Even the air was generally cleaner ...no old , out of tune vehicles belching enormous quantities of black smoke as in Thailand. I was there during Tet, so maybe it was cleaned up for the holidays and in the 8 days total I was there, didn't venture too far from the tourist areas. There was little traffic in HCM except for 1 day when it was packed, and the fumes walking down the sidewalk were almost unbearable. At any rate, I yield to your considerable experience there and will set my expectations accordingly should I return. ps. and I would love to return...to Hanoi and some small towns nearby.
+unclerusty2 In my opinion Thailand is much cleaner. And it was long ago when vehicles belched black smoke. Now they all tool around in SUVs and nice pickups.
+retirecheapjc Yes, due to their better economy (as far as the average person anyway), they can have newer motorcycles, vehicles, and take better care of them. Thailand is a cheaper cost of living for locals and yet Thailand minimum wage is around 9000+ baht a month, Vietnam minimum in HCMC is supposed to be around 3700 baht a month. Less in most cities. And even in HCMC, most people are making well under 15,000 a month while I know that from the studies I have seen, BKK average is over 30k It only stands to reason that the transportation would be better. And public transport in Thailand is far better and less polluting. But Da Lat might be special since its known for its hill city cool air and beauty.
JC, love the VLOG and am quite impressed with the quality, especially of the audio. Do you use a Bluetooth microphone? How do you suppress the wind noise?
I spoke with some guys last time I was in Thailand, about visiting Vietnam. And some of them said that it was a lot more corruption in Vietnam than in other SE asian countries. Don't know if anyone have some experience with that?
+BelieveNoGod I have seen none but then I don't do or try to do business in Vietnam and have flown under the radar. But I hear if you get a traffic ticket you don't even pay at the police station. There is another branch that takes the money. So that helps take the corruption out of that encounter.
+MrMeldarionx Yes we stayed in this area of district 1 but ventured out of it every day and the prices got more expensive even though the hawkers became less prevalent. I'm sure districts that are low-rent and low-priced but not having my own transportation we were limited and I didn't want to stay in the city for more than a few days. I'm not a big city person anyways.
District 1 in Saigon is tourist central but you can find cheap food there. The place you were in talking to that guy in De Tham is expensive,maybe 25% more on top but they used to sell big bottles of Saigon beer there for 10,000 dong which is about 15 baht.which is much cheaper than Thailand.There is a chain of fast food outlets in Vietnam called Lotteria(Japanese owned), they do nice meals in and pretty cheap as well. I found you can pay whatever price in Vietnam,depends where you place your butt really. Same beer that was costing 10,000 dong in that cafe was 25,000 dong in another restaurant not far away. So always check the prices. Try and go eat where you see loads of Vietnamese eating. If you headed up to the Chinese area you would not see any white people,they tend to hang around De Tham or the market and Bui Vien. The street bars in that area are well cheap as well, cheaper than Thailand. I found that if you are out of the tourist area, the banks will not change your money even though they have a big board in them with all the exchange rates on.You could have popped up to the Big C in Saigon and felt like you were backed in Thailand. If you go to Nah Trang then avoid the first two street by the beach as they are well over priced for food and everything mostly. LOL.. Have fun, Vietnam is a great place but needs more infrastructure. If you have been traveling on the buses, you already know that. Nice Vids..
The salespeople in Vietnam may be very good. We may have lost the war in Vietnam back then, but we are winning it now. This is evident by the fact that the English language and ways are valued by the Vietnamese people. They have developed a great many products that are wonderful, and developing businesses and trade with smaller countries is evoking change. Change may take place slowly, and when this happens it is likely to be permanent. There are a great many very beautiful places in Thailand and Vietnam which should be preserved for future generations. How can that be done? Wouldn't it be beautiful if the Thai and Vietnamese culture could be preserved. What things would be beautiful to keep? It isn't a surprise that so many of us are interested in taking breathtaking photos.
It is suspect in my opinion. We never drink the water and in Thailand the ice is safe now but not sure yet in all the water for the ice in Vietnam is filtered. But I haven't had a problem... YET!
I heard that in vietnam if you stay past 7 days in a city you have to register with the police. Forget that i wont register with the police lol Have you tried airbnb in vietnam?
retirecheapjc ok thanks. If i do airbnb or something similiar i guess id have to do it myself? I won't even bother registering at the police station if i would have to. Not worth the hassle. If i get stopped ill just say im blowing through town in a hotel.
retirecheapjc I forgot to mention that also Ireland, cyprus and Malta has traffic on the left, but all other countries in Europe has traffic on the right.
This is a great channel. I'm researching where to retire in Asia and seriously looking at Vietnam. I lived in Korea for a year in the military and loved it. I loved the Philipines too. I don't want to die a poor man in a wealthy nation. A value meal at McDonald's is $5 now. In Korea, you can have a high quality restaurant dinner for $5. Asia is a paradise, but most westerners don't know this because they've never been there. The only thing they know is what they see on tv. Europe has been invaded and America is headed in the wrong direction. I'm afraid many Europeans will flee to the US. Can't say that I blame them. That will cripple the US economy. I know that Asia has a booming economy now and they don't put up with all the stupidity that is going on here in the US. I can run an online business for income aside from my SS retirement. If the day ever comes that my SS runs out, hopefully I'll have enough online income to survive on. That's why I'm moving. Looking forward to your adventure in Vietnam, JC. I subscribed.
+retirecheapjc not true it just depends where you go and who you approach but Asia is a lot more friendly. My impressions are that Thai people are more friendly than the majority of Vietnamese but Philippines has without a doubt the warmest hearts and friendliest attitudes of all the Asian countries maybe in the world.
There are people in many countries that will take advantage of you if you let them. Every big city has scammers. I've been invited to homes of Filipino's time and time again and offered lunch/dinner and never been asked for anything. I've been traveling their for over 20 years. Of course some of the ladies there might try to scam you but again only if you let them. I've never been scammed by a thai except for a taxi driver the other people there don't really scam you because they don't bother talking to you. If you are a foreigner in Thailand you will always be just that and nothing more same with Vietnam. At least in the Philippines you can have a conversation in English with just about anyone. The downside is the Catholic religion and the super unhealthy food of the Filipinos. One thing that is common with all the countries if you have a relationship with one of them you will expected to shoulder the load and if you marry one then you marry the entire family $$$
+Tyler Traveller I don't think it is an issue of scammers present. They are everywhere in all countries. What I do concern myself about reporting is the numbers of them present in different cultures, cities, etc. As a RIPper hitting an age where recovering from a financial loss could be devastating, I feel they need to be living somewhere where this is at a minimum and so is the daily harassment by vendors and hawkers. The challenge is finding a balance between the the comforts and ease of living that more foreign influence creates versus becoming just another target in these areas.
Not good feedback. But judge fur yourself. I personally went to Chiang Mai after viewing all his vids. Went for 6 weeks. I went to the beautiful apartments addressed in his videos. The place I wanted and to make a final move was Never!!' 6 weeks in chi Maie is not for me. At all. Thi people are nice.
A little disappointed that in 24 minutes we didn't get to see anything of Ho Chi Minh, only the inside of a restaurant. And the only useful information we got in this 24 minutes was the price of three dishes. I couldn't make out what that senior chap was saying in the restaurant either. I feel that this video could have been edited down to about 2 minutes. I still enjoy your videos all the same JC, but I felt a bit short changed with this one.. Not your usual high standard.
Vietnam. Ok, I must get over this. Anyway, hey Vietnamese people, please stop pestering tourists! We're like anybody else. If we need, and price is good, we buy. It's that simple. I refuse to buy if you pester me. Good job JC.
+Mrs. Hemminger After what I've experienced in just one week you'll be hearing more about Thailand after this trip! Stay tuned and you'll find out why.
retirecheapjc LOL. No offense but I have no desire to ever visit thailand. Vietnam looks like it has a lot to offer from what research ive done so far (which is probably not the same stuff you want which is fine but i will enjoy your perspective regardless) I can't wait to make my first trip there in a few years :)
+Mrs. Hemminger vietnamese in general hate Americans and western foreigners. Thats what I read anyway. Because vietnamese are taught that all of their problems was caused by the Americans.
+Mrs. Hemminger That was old news and hasnt been true for at least 5 years. I live in HCMC Vietnam, have traveled all over, and dated a lot in my long time here. They dont really care about foreigners anymore unless they want to marry you so you will take care of them, or they want to practice English. Either way, they dont really know love. Its still about being provided for and many dont really need that as much these days so less chasing of foreigners these days except by the "bad girls"
wow last time i went to vietnam, was about 12 years ago, was dead cheap and very few tourists,, shame the tourists increase the prices,, as for the harrassing,, hanoi was the worst ever.. dont even stop to look around cause ur get steamed by people ..
Nice work as usual JC. Just a query for future reference. Does Google maps work there as the first thing I do when I visit a different country is buy a local sim card and use Google maps to get around . Would already have saved my hotel's location to my places and use my phone to guide me back to where i'm staying. Yes the food definitely is expensive compared to Thailand. I live in a very typical Thai village in Phuket and the locals definitely use their car horns here but as an announcement of their arrival at someone's house but I know what you mean. In Thailand I have never seen any road rage and people tooting their horns in anger . If people are driving crazy like most of the mini bus drivers here do you just out drive them, it's easy and if you like motorsport like me it's fun. Looking forward to your next video.
Nice new intro, JC.
That Pho you were served looked delicious. Also seemed like an interesting conversation you had with the gentleman sitting at the table in the restaurant although it was sometimes a bit difficult to hear his replies. I am very much looking forward to watching your next videos in this series. Thanks a lot for your efforts.
To me, the gentleman seemed quite happy to talk - I think it was more a microphone issue. JC probably didn't plan to ask the guy - they just began talking spontaneously and then didn't have the mic properly set up.
Good to see you made a change JC. Please keep us all informed as interested to see how Vietnam has changed over the years. Keep up the great work!
Yea!!!!! During your last video you said you were going to Vietnam soon but I had no idea it would be the very next video. I'm so excited to see you in Vietnam it is one of the countries I really want to visit. I always seem to go to Thailand on my vacations but I'm now starting to venture out and see new countries. I can't wait to see what you think of Vietnam it will be very interesting to hear your take on this great country. Oh, Nat did a great job filming; it's like she can read your mind now, good job.
Can't wait to see what's next.
Jon.
Excellent video J.C, especially your price comparisons. Saw your video before going to work, really picked me up - Thanks
Good vid, JC - thanks. Great idea on hotel business card; thanks for the price comparisons, Looking forward for views/impressions outside of main cities. See Ya!
+VikingPreparedness Lots coming. Stay tuned.
Nice to see you on the road again, JC! It's about 4 years since you where in Cambodia! Keep up the good work! :-)
Hi Jc, thx for another nice starting adventure, i must sure say traffic look crazy.
You do quit good in calculation with big numbers :) Looking forward to see your next vidoes about vietnam and see if it would be a place for me to visit so far it seems a bit overvelming with traffic and venders but who knows it might be the area. see ya
JC,
You might want to check out some of Troy Nguyen's videos on Vietnam to get some ideas of where you might want to go. He's a young Vietnamese who speaks with an Aussie accent. He does very nice work while riding his motorcycle throughout the countryside and major cities.
Thanks! You're in the backpacker section of HCMC. Prices will be a bit higher there as well as all the touts. Enjoy your trip!
+frazierinasiar Actually as we walked out of district 1 the prices became more expensive not less. But I'm sure there are areas away from here that are much cheaper. In those places you probably don't see Westerners which is the way I prefer it actually. But my intention was not to stay in the big city because it's not where most older retirees would want to be staying. So I am out of here!
retirecheapjc
Haha! Amen, JC. I've been there about 7 times but the last time was in 2011. I usually had a girlfriend when I was there and we would go to places where there weren't many white faces, so I'd pay less than in the area you were in. HCMC can be cheap but like most places in SE Asia you need a local for good guidance in that way. Happy Travels and thanks again for the vids!
Hi JC, just happened to come across your videos.. Great stuff man.. Subscribed.. Got a lot of catching up to do on your vids on my part.. Keep them rolling buddy.. Cheers
Got back 2 weeks ago from HCM City. one tip, Uber works great in HCM.
+Michael Sieber wow! - Uber is international?
+MrMongo321 International yes, but very poor service in Bangkok vs excellent service in Ho Chi Minh. That is all I am saying.
@@MrMongo321 They use Grab now. Uber sold their service to Grab after the Vietnamese government went after them for not paying taxes lol.
nice video JC, i like south east Asia culture and find it all interesting, only been to Thailand and love it there.
will be cool to see what you make of Vietnam.
I agree. If you are still in Dalat , go see the crazy house if its still open. The botanical gardens are very nice too.
I am really looking forward to your vietnam travel serie
I would like to see DaNang again I was station there during the war its a port city where supplies were unloaded tons and tons of beer i drove forklifts i remember,
+Ronald Armstrong You will be seeing it soon! Stay tuned.
Thanks JC, I love your videos, and I"m 37, and nowhere near retirement, however, the information you provide is great.
jc your a living legend.we live in Tipperary Ireland and we all just love you here.your name is spoken about every wkend here buddy.we are in asia a few times a year must hook up someday with us. regards your friends kieran and liz.
+kieran moloney Wow! Not sure if you are joking or not but looking forward to hooking up one day. Tell everybody I said Dia dhuit
JC, hope you will have a great time there. Vietnamese sandwich in Saigon is very good. There is one shop open from 3pm until 3am. Check it out if you have time. Not many street food like in Thailand. Massage there is good, different from a Thai traditional massage. No foot message since everyone there is on moped. The city is pretty clean. Enjoy. Eat a lot.
Hey JC back to form. Something new at last!!
Great to see you out of your comfort zone. Your just a little too accustomed and comfortable in Thailand now. Got the majority of the t shirts there.
I haven't been to Vietnam either but from what I've seen on tv/internet it looks great. Of course only in certain areas just like Thailand or anywhere else.
Hope you go to some little English speaking parts.
One day I would love to go to Hoi an.
+Kevin Newell Will be going to Hoi An I think. Trust me after what I've witnessed so far in the two cities that I visited I will be happy to get back to my accustomed and comfortable Thailand.
That would be better there I think.
+retirecheapjc Yeah, i have lived in Vietnam for 1.5 years and ready to leave a long time ago but the pay is better here than in Thailand. Still, looking at my options this year.
Cant stand this country.
Glad you're checking-out Vietnam. Beautiful country - nice people. Easy to get visa via internet. When I arrived in HCMC around midnight, my bags went through the x-ray machine and there was nobody there checking! Amazing how experiences differ. Loved Nha Trang and Dalat is beautiful, but not much to do there. I've lived in Thailand for three years now. Better ammenities for Westerners in Thailand, but Vietnam is getting better all the time.
JC District 1 is a tourist area that's why its more expensive, that pho looks good great video JC can,t wait for part 2
Awesome! JC is in Vietnam! From all the research and vids I've watched on YT about vn, I can tell that you are definitely in the tourist/backpacker area of Saigon. You will definitely want to venture out to experience the more local scene and local prices of things. (Funny how I feel like an expert on a lot of places in SE Asia from 4 years of YT vids and research and never being there, yet lol) But, I recognized that area, right away...Can't wait for all your vn vids and your take on it. Thanks, JC! Oh, just a suggestion....if you're bored and hanging out in your room, maybe take a look at Kyle Le's channel and Troy Nguyen's channel just to get some ideas...places to go, street food, nuances of vn and the culture, etc.
Thanks JC, very informative. I love your videos
Yeah !!!! On the road again. jeep the bids coming JC.
District one is the main tourist area. Check out the central market, great clothes well made & dirt cheap by Australian standards. Siagon river cruise not too good. I was in Vietnam a couple of years ago and liked it, I'm keen to hear your opinion. In the DaNang area check out the old Kymer temples at MySon, and the pretty touristy village of Ho An. Hue is worth a visit
Nice video, it’s important in Vietnam to learn how to say “no thanks” and the venders will not bother you. Simply shake your hand in the air and say the Viet word for “thank you” and shake your head at the same time.
I'm glad to see that you finally made it to Vietnam JC! You seem a little outside your comfort zone. I like it (ha ha)! I've been there seven times, and in many ways I prefer Vietnam to Thailand. Yes, District 1 can be a little more expensive, but it caters best to Western needs. Vietnam is a magical place. Thanks for all you do JC. Enjoy!
why is it a magical place ?
enjoy
I love your honesty!
J.Z. Qui Nhon is on the central coast. I was there during the war. And have returned as a tourist. Nice beaches. Quiet town with few tourists. I am not sure why. I may go soon. Maybe you or a viewer might check it out. Robert Burnett.
hope to see you go to Nha Trang and Da lat
I found Vietnam a bit cheaper than Thailand. Saigon is very western and expensive.......as you move north it's much cheaper. 30-40k per dish should be be max in a good restaurant. Traffic wont change though. Coffee is the best. Enjoy
Nice Vid JC brings back memories...wow I was there twenty years ago and I thought it was busy... god knows what it is like now..Yep, the exchange rate was 10,000 dong to the Aust $ back in the day.. seems like that has increased too, along with some prices... Take care...It will be interesting to see if Viet grows on you...Am enjoying the comparison.. I would remind you how to say no want.. to get rid of those pesty hawkers but .. hold on Khong muoi.. sorry mate if forget 555.. cum ern .. is thankyou... Bao new (how much).. baa baa baa or 333 beer... too much will make you baa babore.. stay safe...
The rent is high in District 1, hence the high menu prices, venture out a little bit further, and the prices goes down a lot. If the hawkers irritate you, just look away and say no once and once only, and if they persist, just keep shaking your head and ignore them, they'll move onto someone else, just don't stare into their face, it's not nice. Some restaurants have signs that say "no lotto ticker sellers allowed" because these people are everywhere.
Hi JC ! Thanks for the infos on your videos. I really enjoy watching them. My wife and I are going to Vietnam and Thailand this December and I wanted to film the countries with my drone. Is it possible to apply for a permit to fly and film with drones in both countries?
Yes in Thailand but you need to have insurance as well. Vietnam it's almost impossible.
Having said that if you aren't in a city or a densely populated area I wouldn't worry about it. And same applies in VN if you get it through the airport screening upon arrival.
@@EscapetoThailand Thank you!
Those prices are in district one, which is a tourist area. In other parts of the city Pho is 36000, and much better.
How was the Fuh?
Hi JC Jetstar is a part of qantas we have them here in aus running local and international flights the budget qantus. How he hell do you cross the road there its crazy, the coffee is thatl lke old style thai? The honking reminds me of the phillipines and the harassment would drive me nuts good to see another country
+crispernator Stay tuned much more to come and a few twists.
The coffee is the same, Robusta beans, but the brewing takes it to a whole other level.
Good to see your first impressions of Saigon. So you finally made it there JC. Good to see. About time I might add. You have landed yourself in the middle of backpacker central. An interesting area but hardly authentic Vietnam. The locals there cater to tourist needs. Unfortunately touts are a by-product of such a concentration of foreigners. I found a cafe in that area on a recent trip that touts avoided. They had a local clientele in the main. I would recommend checking out District 3 which abuts District 1 where you have lobbed. You can walk there or get a cheap taxi there or if you're feeling really brave get a moto taxi which is even cheaper still. I find them great after hours when the traffic has subsided. You should be able to get good street food for the equivalent of US$1 even in the upmarket parts of District 3. Get out of tourist central if you can. If you want to avoid touts go to the cbd area up the road where the Bitexco tower and opera house is located. Hope this has been of help and hope you enjoy Vietnam as much as I have.
+Doug M Yes I got out of the area where the touts were but then things got more expensive because the clientele were no longer backpackers. Now I am in the city of Dalat and the hawkers are just as bad or even worse.
JC The Vietnamese are different to Thais. More in your face as you now know from personal experience. On the plus side they have a great sense of humor if you give them a chance. Dalat is a tourist town catering to a lot of honeymooners apparently. So I guess they see them as easy pickings. Dalat is a weird place. Cool but picturesque with houses on steep roads. If you're heading to Nha Trang brace yourself for Russian tourists.
Great topic, JC.
FYI for those flying from BKK to Vietnam. A couple of years back, my wife and I were not allowed to board an AirAsia flight from Don Mueng Airport to HCMC-Saigon because I did not purchase my Vietnam Visa in advance. We had a connection from a flight back from Chiang Mai and it screwed up the vacation plans-what a disappointment. I had read in LP that I could buy at the HCMC Airport for a premium payment. But, AirAsia said it was my fault, would not let us board and would not even offer credit towards another flight-even in Thailand. We lost over $500 in air fare charges (prepaid) and also, lost the cost of the first night's hotel. So, get your Vietnam VISA ahead of time. And IMO-consider flying ANY airline but the above-mentioned airline.
+Dean Phillips Yes you either have to get the visa in advance from the Embassy in Bangkok OR you can purchase online a pre-approval letter that once you print out it gets submitted upon arrival into Vietnam with your visa application and after about a 10 to 20 minute wait you are given the visa. When you show the airline agent this letter upon check in you are allowed to travel.
I buy the visa online...its called visa on arrival..This will be my 3rd trip to Vietnam and ive used this everytime.The first trip I didn't have the visa papers so the guy at the airport downloaded them from my phone.IOthwerwise we would have had the same experience you had...I actually like AirAsia the seats are more comfortable than that ANA flight we took from Tokyo.....
retirecheapjc
Thank you for the upload!
Looking forward to going north .......:-)
WhenI go walking in a new city, I take a photo of the streetcorner where I turn. Taht way I can find my way back.
+Brian Max Great idea 💡
Things really changed. .
around 12 years ago in Saigon traffic about same as Hua Hin now..
Don't recall anyone harassing or selling unless asked for, it must be exclusive to the high tourist areas...
My favorite is the fresh
Pate Baguette Sandwiches...
Just one small piece of advice. ....
if there's no price. . be sure to ask first. .
their little more cunning than Thai....
+Jason Wilson
Thanks for saying we are cunning more than Thai people :))
louyht7 ..
Việc làm cho Thái Lan trông giống như nghiệp dư
Jason Wilson
haha that doesn't make any sense. google translate?
Yes... Google. ..
No wonder Vietnamese didn't understand me asking for a wife:)
Omg JC this is great.. To see you as a first timer (like us!)! I wondering if many of the differences is due to the predominant Buddhist culture and manners from Thai? Think I would never drive or motorbike there. Too bad you can't just use plastic to pay like in US !
I wish I knew you were coming. You could have talked to me. I rent a house her,e been here a long time, lived a little in both countries, and study this stuff like a second degree.
Would be interesting to talk to you about all this stuff.
Come get me !! I'll go!! :)
I always use the business card trick. Works great with taxi drivers etc when you don't know where you are. As far as money goes I use the XE app to check all the numbers that of course works only if you have internet access. You should be prepared to do the math in your head in a pinch. Good tips though. Thanks JC. I'll be leaving Thailand for a visit to VN in July for the first time.
Only spent a week in Vietnam but very impressed. Quite clean thanks to street cleaners which seem to be everywhere. Few dogs which was nice. To be fair though you were comparing Thai street food or the cheap roadside shop prices to the relatively nice restaurant you were in. I found food prices just a little pricier, cheaper outside HCM, though you are right street food not so common. Taxis quite pricey.
+unclerusty2 Oh my God! I find this place to be only clean when the street sweepers and public workers have just passed by. The locals just throw everything on the ground for those people to clean up.
+retirecheapjc Yeah, 2 issues.
It is only clean on rare occasion as you said, and even moreso, most foreigners only stay in d1 and the nearby districts, which is a business and tourist district. HCMC is very centralised though, so most of the money is in that 1 district and district 2 and 7, the newer ones for the wealthy people.
But yeah, its still filthy even then. The vietnamese are definitely worse than the Thai people.
Even the countryside in Vietnam is more filthy than Thailand, though sadly most of Asia is still too filthy, even Thailand. But at least Thailand has more trashcans everywhere.
+waltermh111 Jc, you are right, the Vietnamese are litterbugs.
Walter, I was in a few districts in HCM, took a bus outside town to the tunnels, and was in Dalat, and in my estimation it was much cleaner than any comparably sized city in Thailand. Even the air was generally cleaner ...no old , out of tune vehicles belching enormous quantities of black smoke as in Thailand. I was there during Tet, so maybe it was cleaned up for the holidays and in the 8 days total I was there, didn't venture too far from the tourist areas. There was little traffic in HCM except for 1 day when it was packed, and the fumes walking down the sidewalk were almost unbearable. At any rate, I yield to your considerable experience there and will set my expectations accordingly should I return.
ps. and I would love to return...to Hanoi and some small towns nearby.
+unclerusty2 In my opinion Thailand is much cleaner. And it was long ago when vehicles belched black smoke. Now they all tool around in SUVs and nice pickups.
+retirecheapjc Yes, due to their better economy (as far as the average person anyway), they can have newer motorcycles, vehicles, and take better care of them.
Thailand is a cheaper cost of living for locals and yet Thailand minimum wage is around 9000+ baht a month, Vietnam minimum in HCMC is supposed to be around 3700 baht a month. Less in most cities.
And even in HCMC, most people are making well under 15,000 a month while I know that from the studies I have seen, BKK average is over 30k
It only stands to reason that the transportation would be better.
And public transport in Thailand is far better and less polluting.
But Da Lat might be special since its known for its hill city cool air and beauty.
JC, love the VLOG and am quite impressed with the quality, especially of the audio. Do you use a Bluetooth microphone? How do you suppress the wind noise?
+Greg Kellogg Yes Greg it's Bluetooth. It has a little wind sock.
Mind sharing the brand?
I spoke with some guys last time I was in Thailand, about visiting Vietnam.
And some of them said that it was a lot more corruption in Vietnam than in other SE asian countries. Don't know if anyone have some experience with that?
+BelieveNoGod I have seen none but then I don't do or try to do business in Vietnam and have flown under the radar. But I hear if you get a traffic ticket you don't even pay at the police station. There is another branch that takes the money. So that helps take the corruption out of that encounter.
+retirecheapjc Ok, thanks.
Chicken cashew for 70 baht in Thailand??! Where? Most places in Chiang Mai are now greater than 100 baht for this dish
JC you are in a high tourist area. District 1 literally is the CBD of HCMC.
+MrMeldarionx Yes we stayed in this area of district 1 but ventured out of it every day and the prices got more expensive even though the hawkers became less prevalent. I'm sure districts that are low-rent and low-priced but not having my own transportation we were limited and I didn't want to stay in the city for more than a few days. I'm not a big city person anyways.
District 1 in Saigon is tourist central but you can find cheap food there. The place you were in talking to that guy in De Tham is expensive,maybe 25% more on top but they used to sell big bottles of Saigon beer there for 10,000 dong which is about 15 baht.which is much cheaper than Thailand.There is a chain of fast food outlets in Vietnam called Lotteria(Japanese owned), they do nice meals in and pretty cheap as well. I found you can pay whatever price in Vietnam,depends where you place your butt really. Same beer that was costing 10,000 dong in that cafe was 25,000 dong in another restaurant not far away. So always check the prices. Try and go eat where you see loads of Vietnamese eating. If you headed up to the Chinese area you would not see any white people,they tend to hang around De Tham or the market and Bui Vien. The street bars in that area are well cheap as well, cheaper than Thailand. I found that if you are out of the tourist area, the banks will not change your money even though they have a big board in them with all the exchange rates on.You could have popped up to the Big C in Saigon and felt like you were backed in Thailand. If you go to Nah Trang then avoid the first two street by the beach as they are well over priced for food and everything mostly. LOL.. Have fun, Vietnam is a great place but needs more infrastructure. If you have been traveling on the buses, you already know that. Nice Vids..
Pho has become so popular in the usa
The salespeople in Vietnam may be very good. We may have lost the war in Vietnam back then, but we are winning it now. This is evident by the fact that the English language and ways are valued by the Vietnamese people. They have developed a great many products that are wonderful, and developing businesses and trade with smaller countries is evoking change. Change may take place slowly, and when this happens it is likely to be permanent. There are a great many very beautiful places in Thailand and Vietnam which should be preserved for future generations. How can that be done? Wouldn't it be beautiful if the Thai and Vietnamese culture could be preserved. What things would be beautiful to keep? It isn't a surprise that so many of us are interested in taking breathtaking photos.
Is it OK nowadays to drink the local water? I see you drank the coconut shake which has ice. Maybe your body has acclimated to the water?
It is suspect in my opinion. We never drink the water and in Thailand the ice is safe now but not sure yet in all the water for the ice in Vietnam is filtered. But I haven't had a problem... YET!
I heard that in vietnam if you stay past 7 days in a city you have to register with the police. Forget that i wont register with the police lol
Have you tried airbnb in vietnam?
+Mrs. Hemminger No you don't have to register with police. The hotels do that for you.
retirecheapjc
ok thanks. If i do airbnb or something similiar i guess id have to do it myself? I won't even bother registering at the police station if i would have to. Not worth the hassle. If i get stopped ill just say im blowing through town in a hotel.
JC let me remind you, that in fact all countries in Europe are driving in the right side, only UK are driving in the left.
OK
retirecheapjc
I forgot to mention that also Ireland, cyprus and Malta has traffic on the left, but all other countries in Europe has traffic on the right.
Pho=25.000vnd or 35.000
Interesting! :)
I went to Vietnam once , but i went to Hanoi I think I made a mistake, there were many restaurants that served Dog.
Indian went to other country must die because they don't eat cow
Muslims should'nt go to the West becoz people eat pork there?
Good logic...
Nien Lieu The eat pork in most of Asia to, not just the West
To avoid further mistake, you should stay home and eat squirrels, horses, and rabbits.
How do the prices compare to cambodia (when you went 4 years ago)?
+Mrs. Hemminger
Probably more expensive than Cambodia and little bit cheaper than Thailand. I'm Vietnamese btw :)
I wasn't a big fan of Khmer food either.
sorry. meant JC. R.B.
This is a great channel. I'm researching where to retire in Asia and seriously looking at Vietnam. I lived in Korea for a year in the military and loved it. I loved the Philipines too. I don't want to die a poor man in a wealthy nation. A value meal at McDonald's is $5 now. In Korea, you can have a high quality restaurant dinner for $5. Asia is a paradise, but most westerners don't know this because they've never been there. The only thing they know is what they see on tv. Europe has been invaded and America is headed in the wrong direction. I'm afraid many Europeans will flee to the US. Can't say that I blame them. That will cripple the US economy. I know that Asia has a booming economy now and they don't put up with all the stupidity that is going on here in the US. I can run an online business for income aside from my SS retirement. If the day ever comes that my SS runs out, hopefully I'll have enough online income to survive on. That's why I'm moving. Looking forward to your adventure in Vietnam, JC. I subscribed.
In Korea, if their horn breaks they can not drive the car.
+Ricky Morgan That's funny Ricky :)
War! What is it good for?
Chicken (cat) soup with noodles, sounds yummy. Most Europeans think Americans are odd because we can strike up a conversation with anyone anywhere.
+Pfsif Nowadays in America if you strike up a conversation with a stranger they dial 911!
+retirecheapjc not true it just depends where you go and who you approach but Asia is a lot more friendly.
My impressions are that Thai people are more friendly than the majority of Vietnamese but Philippines has without a doubt the warmest hearts and friendliest attitudes of all the Asian countries maybe in the world.
+waltermh111 Yep. I don't have anything good to say about the country or people except for when I stayed in the more remote islands.
There are people in many countries that will take advantage of you if you let them. Every big city has scammers. I've been invited to homes of Filipino's time and time again and offered lunch/dinner and never been asked for anything. I've been traveling their for over 20 years. Of course some of the ladies there might try to scam you but again only if you let them. I've never been scammed by a thai except for a taxi driver the other people there don't really scam you because they don't bother talking to you. If you are a foreigner in Thailand you will always be just that and nothing more same with Vietnam. At least in the Philippines you can have a conversation in English with just about anyone. The downside is the Catholic religion and the super unhealthy food of the Filipinos. One thing that is common with all the countries if you have a relationship with one of them you will expected to shoulder the load and if you marry one then you marry the entire family $$$
+Tyler Traveller I don't think it is an issue of scammers present. They are everywhere in all countries. What I do concern myself about reporting is the numbers of them present in different cultures, cities, etc. As a RIPper hitting an age where recovering from a financial loss could be devastating, I feel they need to be living somewhere where this is at a minimum and so is the daily harassment by vendors and hawkers. The challenge is finding a balance between the the comforts and ease of living that more foreign influence creates versus becoming just another target in these areas.
Not good feedback.
But judge fur yourself.
I personally went to Chiang Mai after viewing all his vids.
Went for 6 weeks.
I went to the beautiful apartments addressed in his videos. The place I wanted and to make a final move was
Never!!'
6 weeks in chi Maie is not for me. At all. Thi people are nice.
A little disappointed that in 24 minutes we didn't get to see anything of Ho Chi Minh, only the inside of a restaurant. And the only useful information we got in this 24 minutes was the price of three dishes. I couldn't make out what that senior chap was saying in the restaurant either. I feel that this video could have been edited down to about 2 minutes. I still enjoy your videos all the same JC, but I felt a bit short changed with this one.. Not your usual high standard.
Vietnam. Ok, I must get over this.
Anyway, hey Vietnamese people, please stop pestering tourists! We're like anybody else. If we need, and price is good, we buy. It's that simple. I refuse to buy if you pester me.
Good job JC.
Doesn't hung in Thailand ?? You must be kidding JC, I was 2 years in Thailand they hung just from behind like crazy.
Accosted.
If you can't pronounce Vietnamese words, you can order Western food in french, they'll understand. Just Google sunny side up in French.
FInally vietnam. Just stay in vietnam sick of hearing about thailand LOL can't believe you never had the desire to go there all these years LOL
+Mrs. Hemminger After what I've experienced in just one week you'll be hearing more about Thailand after this trip! Stay tuned and you'll find out why.
retirecheapjc
LOL. No offense but I have no desire to ever visit thailand. Vietnam looks like it has a lot to offer from what research ive done so far (which is probably not the same stuff you want which is fine but i will enjoy your perspective regardless) I can't wait to make my first trip there in a few years :)
+Mrs. Hemminger vietnamese in general hate Americans and western foreigners. Thats what I read anyway. Because vietnamese are taught that all of their problems was caused by the Americans.
Keyframe5
ive heard the young women though these days online go crazy for foreigners. so the younger generation probably doesn't care too much.
+Mrs. Hemminger That was old news and hasnt been true for at least 5 years.
I live in HCMC Vietnam, have traveled all over, and dated a lot in my long time here.
They dont really care about foreigners anymore unless they want to marry you so you will take care of them, or they want to practice English. Either way, they dont really know love. Its still about being provided for and many dont really need that as much these days so less chasing of foreigners these days except by the "bad girls"
wow last time i went to vietnam, was about 12 years ago, was dead cheap and very few tourists,, shame the tourists increase the prices,, as for the harrassing,, hanoi was the worst ever.. dont even stop to look around cause ur get steamed by people ..
Nice work as usual JC. Just a query for future reference. Does Google maps work there as the first thing I do when I visit a different country is buy a local sim card and use Google maps to get around . Would already have saved my hotel's location to my places and use my phone to guide me back to where i'm staying.
Yes the food definitely is expensive compared to Thailand.
I live in a very typical Thai village in Phuket and the locals definitely use their car horns here but as an announcement of their arrival at someone's house but I know what you mean. In Thailand I have never seen any road rage and people tooting their horns in anger . If people are driving crazy like most of the mini bus drivers here do you just out drive them, it's easy and if you like motorsport like me it's fun.
Looking forward to your next video.
+Milena Secraa Google maps are always messing up and giving inaccurate information in both Thailand and Vietnam so I wouldn't rely on them.