r/VietNam

Hey, expat living in Vietnam and Netflix works fine here but I'm struggling with everything else. HBO, Amazon Prime and Disney+ all seem to be unavailable or heavily restricted.

Is there any legal way to access them from here? Paid services, bundles, anything? Would rather not go the VPN route as HBO is blocking them if there's a proper option I'm missing.

Thanks!

Hey all, I’ve landed on Vietnam specifically the Cao Bang Loop for my birthday trip this October. I’ve got about 12–14 days total and I’m trying to figure out how to make the most of it.

I’m a 26F solo traveler and I’m definitely more into nature, hiking, adventure, scenery, and local experiences than nightlife or luxury. I want to base most of my time in the north, but I’m not sure what else realistically makes sense to pair with Cao Bang without turning the trip into constant transit.

If you had two weeks in Vietnam in October and Cao Bang was the main focus, what would you add? Also, if you did the loop with an easy rider, is there a company or specific driver you’d recommend?

Hi all, I'm 27 and from Australia. Recently, I've been thinking about moving back to Vietnam. I'm a citizen of both countries and have saved enough to sustain myself in Vietnam for several years, considering I don't need to pay rent. But one thing that has been stuck in my mind is the risk of it all. Moving back to VN means I would need to quit my job and take a career break. I know that if I quit, re-entering the job market would be extremely tough considering the progression of AI and all. On the other hand, I can't really find myself happy in Australia. I'd like to start a family, but the housing market is very tough, plus inflation. So moving to VN seems to be my most desirable path at the moment. To those who quit your job in your home country and moved back to VN, how did you find life there?

Hey everyone, I’m an international student joining RMIT Vietnam (Saigon South campus) this September and I had a few questions about accommodation and settling in.

Right now it’s May, so I’m trying to figure out what the normal timeline is for everything.
Main things I wanted to ask:

1. When do most students usually finalize long-term accommodation?
   Is it better to:

- lock something in before arriving, or
come to HCMC first, stay temporarily for a week or two, attend orientation, then apartment hunt in person?

2. How do people usually find roommates?
   Are Facebook groups/WhatsApp groups the main way?

And is it common to meet potential roommates during orientation itself?

3. Any general advice you wish you knew before moving to District 7 / Saigon South?

Lately I've been thinking moving to anywhere else. Vietnam is on the top of this crazy list. Learning the language, experiencing a different culture, tasting new flavours, and adapting overall to a non-western approach in life has been eating my mind.

I've been unemployed for almost a year now, last employer was Google as an IT Engineer, more specific as a Senior Linux Admin, Devops and those AI-affected shenanigans.

I don't want to ask any specific questions regarding income, bureaucracy and so on.

Mexico is pretty surreal too. Tourist experience is something I not enjoy. Local and actual ground experience is my desire here.

Let's generate discussion; I seek to bring myself, who I am and how I interact with the world. I may have a lot of questions, which sooner or later will be answered if I get my feet up there. But let us give everyone our personal points of view and experiences out here about how this could be a gigantic adventure.

Hi!

I’m planning a trip in northern Vietnam, for a total of 14 days.

My plan would be to spend 3 days in Hanoi; 4 days in Hagiang region, doing the famous " loop" and 2-3 days in Ninh Binh. I still have 3 days to fill and I would like your opinion about two possible options: a 3-day trek around Sapa or 3 days around Ba Be National Park.

I usually prefer authentic experiences over crowded tourist attractions. I enjoy trekking, mountain landscapes, local culture, homestays, street food, quiet villages and nature. I’m not interested in nightlife or very commercial places.

I also enjoy activities like kayaking or SUP, and I prefer slower backpacking-style travel with time to explore and relax rather than rushing between attractions.

At first I was considering Fansipan, but I’m worried it may feel too touristy. I think I would prefer quieter trails and more authentic villages.

can someone share his experience opinion of the matter?

Thank you!

Any Vietnamese dual citizens here successfully fix their US/Vietnam passport name mismatch? (first + middle name switched)

So I was born in Vietnam and my Vietnamese name is:

Pham A -> B

But on my US passport it became:

Pham B -> A

Basically my first and middle name got switched around during the immigration/naturalization process years ago.

At first it was mostly annoying for airline tickets and LotusMiles/SkyTeam stuff, but now I’m more concerned long-term with:
- legal documents
- banking
- taxes
- flights
- identity consistency

I’m leaning toward correcting the US side because I want to keep my original Vietnamese name order, but I honestly don’t know which country/process is easier.

So I wanted to ask:
- Has anyone here gone through the same thing?
- Did you fix the US passport or Vietnamese passport side?
- How difficult was the process?
- Did you need a court order in the US?
- Were you able to use both name variations under one identity/account before fixing it?
- Any issues with Vietnam Airlines, immigration, banks, or government paperwork?

Would really appreciate hearing from other Vietnamese-Americans / dual citizens who dealt with this 🙏

I just arrived back in my country today, and I wanted to share my experience at Tan Son Nhat International Airport.

I forgot to place my boarding pass inside my passport, so when I handed my passport to the immigration officer, he suddenly tossed it back toward the window between us and shouted, “Boarding pass.” After I gave him my boarding pass, everything seemed fine, but he threw my passport back again afterward. I stayed polite and complied because I’m only a tourist and I respect Vietnam, but I found the behavior rude and unprofessional.

After immigration, I proceeded to baggage inspection where my luggage was flagged by an officer. I was asked to step aside for a bag check. The officer asked if I had any cash with me, and I replied that I mainly use my credit card and was not carrying cash. He then asked to check my wallet to confirm. In the end, he did not inspect my baggage and cleared me immediately. Until now I'm unsure why he flagged me. I assume it's a bribery or what they call "coffee money"

Because of that experience, I personally felt uncomfortable and unsure about the situation. My advice to fellow travelers is to stay calm, remain respectful, and be cautious when dealing with unexpected requests during inspections.

PS: I love vietnam so much and I would come back a thousand times. I've met a lot of good people in HCMC. Even the banh mi vender became my friend and gifted me a fan because it was hot in the streets 😂. Also, good good fooood. It's just sad to end my vietnam trip like that.

Short summary of the video with timestamps

**Recruitment via Agencies:** Many companies use recruitment agencies to address the shortage of skilled labor. This often results in high costs for the trainees (up to €7,000 or more), which are frequently financed through loans taken out in their home countries (5:08 - 5:44).

**Lack of Quality and Fraud:** There are indications of unscrupulous agencies that forge language certificates or even offer fake employment contracts with non-existent positions, leaving those affected in a desperate financial situation (3:57 - 4:15, 9:28 - 10:06).

**Exploitation in Practice:** Some trainees are forced to work under miserable conditions, such as 14 hours a day without any days off, or live in unacceptable accommodation. Because they have to pay off high debts, they often do not dare to leave the company or return home, as this would mean a loss of face in their home country (6:08 - 6:47).

**Lack of Regulation:** The market for these placements is barely regulated, making it difficult to take action against those responsible, as many agencies are based in Vietnam (11:58 - 12:28).

Am planning to move to Vietnam but can’t find any information on this topic anywhere. I’ll be living in the country for more than 183 days so I’ll be considered a tax resident for sure.

However, I plan to start moving funds from my IRA to my Roth over time. If this is taxed at 35% that’s a huge difference. I understand that pensions and other retirement distributions are not taxed but not certain about Roth conversions.

What other expats have been doing this?