r/ChangeMyViewVN

(For foreigners in VN)

There is often a lot of poo-flinging towards expats living in "bubbles" (Thao Dien, Tay Ho etc) from those culturally-enriched hipsters living outside of them. Personally I see no problem with it and actually prefer it.

There's a reason why the bubbles are so popular among foreigners:

- They're far easier for us to settle in. More locals who are exposed to foreigners or who might know English. More other foreigners and more activities foreigners enjoy

- More foreigner-friendly landlords and housing agents who know how to have foreign tenants. You're less likely to deal with BS with them when it comes to registering you with the authorities etc

- More creature comforts, international shops/restaurants etc. Living off noodles and banh mi is fun in the beginning but it gets old

- Better behaved locals. Properties there are likely to have stricter building management so you won't have to deal with little Phuc and Ngan running up and down the corridor screaming while Bo sings karaoke at 2am in his underpants with the door open.

- More liveable. There are more walkable streets, parks and generally pleasant unban environments in the bubbles (And it's still easy enough to go into local districts but without living in the thick of it.)

Would I have a more "immersive" experience living in more local district? Honestly no. 99% of residents in Thao Dien are still local Viets who are actually easier to approach or befriend due to less language barriers and them being more used to foreigners. Locals in Binh Tan or Go Vap most likely won't accept a foreigner any further than surface level pleasantries.

In our countries, Vietnamese live in enclaves, whether in Melbourne's Sunshine or LA's Little Saigon. So do other ethnicities. It's human nature to want to be among people like ourselves. What's wrong with us doing the same?

And if I'm the one paying rent, who cares where I live? Poo-flinging the Thao Dien dwellers just seems more like cope from those who can't afford to live there than anything to do with being "more authentic". Sorry, not sorry.

I shared this on LinkedIn but would like to hear your perspective.

What is wrong with being in the comfort zone??

I do not see anything wrong with being in the comfort zone.

Work hard in junior school and go to senior school, they said. It didn't stop there; work hard so you can go to university, they continued. Still, it wasn't enough. If you work hard and get a master's, it won't be so bad... That wasn't enough either... Maybe after getting a job and finally being independent should lock it in, right????..... Well, guess what!.. That wasn't enough either... You still have to get married, get children, build a home, buy a car, grow in your career, maybe get a promotion. I mean.... the list doesn't end... It goes on and on.... Maybe old age will be your saving grace.

This really got me thinking.... How about you continue until you are most comfortable and stop there? What is the worst that could happen if you stopped at a point you felt most fulfilled?

The system has programmed us NOT to get fulfilled, and if you do... you get judged and given reasons why you should never be comfortable in your "zone".

Your peers will flaunt achievements you haven't attained yet, and you will feel left behind for some reason; something that did not really matter to you will become the next target. Movies and social media will show you that there is more you need to achieve; your family, friends, and society will require you to do more. The goal post is always moving. We have been conditioned to compare ourselves so that you can burst your own bubble of joy... Always looking into the next "big thing," even if it is not big to you.

This has kept people in a constant state of worry. Not living in the moment where it is potentially all that you need. Forgetting the blessing you currently have, and instead of staying calm in gratitude, we stay in chaos chasing vanity! In the process, we forget that the illusion of comfort we chase in the future is here with us now.

To see how true this is... Search yourself within and, with all honesty, try to figure out that one thing the world has applauded you so much for, but you did not see the sense in it. Let's do this social experiment and see how the world has influenced us to NOT be in our "comfort zones."

I would also like to know your thoughts about this; feel free to share in the comment section.