Enjoyed your video and just subscribed to your channel. My daughter and I are moving to Vietnam in July and look forward to vlogging about our experience over the next year.
@@AudreyNguyenVlogs We're going to start with one year and see where it goes. We could end up staying longer. I have a job lined up but plan to work only part time to start. We'd love it if you checked in on our channel now and then. 😊
Hahaha I love the caption on Peanut! You should do it with Huy's facial expression too. And don't forget to add " DO NOT LEAVE YOUR WALLET IN THE CAR when boarding your plane!" 😁😅😂
Haha I laughed so much when I created that! I think I’ll do it more often because I was crying laughing hahaha and YES OMG!! That was bad!! My friend ended up going to my apartment and they let him in to get my car keys and get the wallet out from the car! Thank god!
Good tips. I'll add and elaborate on some. Make a list, that way you won't forget stuff. If it's your first time to a third world country, get immunized. There are clinics that specialize in health immunizations for travelers. It could be costly but may protect you from severe disease or reactions. Now the thing about food and water. Some people have already mentioned that the water is more of the reason for people getting sick. Good suggestions on insisting on bottled water, make sure the seal on the cap is not broken, i.e. it's not a fake bottle of local water. We even used bottled water to brush our teeth. Try not to swallow water in the shower. Ice is another hidden danger. Ice is made from the same tap water and may not be all that clean. Ice in big restaurants or foreign food chains (McDonald's, Starbucks, etc.) used filtered water (I was told). I didn't have any problem with those ice. Another hidden danger is in raw vegetables, i.e. lettuce, cabbage, bean sprouts, mints, etc. the kind that they put out for garnish. Even if they're washed, they're washed with the unfiltered, untreated water.
I think maybe you are overdoing things a bit. Vietnam isn’t a “third world country” any more. Colonial days are over. Common sense is all you need. Be careful when you ask for ice, you might get a surprise ;) Just eat and drink what Vietnamese are having.
One quick (and geographically specific) question -- with a rather long lead-up to it... If you happen to know... I've been to Thailand several times now over the last five years... ...over time, I've strived to not bring anything with me that I know I can get there. I do this for two reasons: 1) To travel as light as possible, and... 2) I like to contribute to the local economy. This year, I'm going for an extended stay in southern Thailand -- but am making a two week side-trip to Northern Vietnam toward the end of my stay in Thailand. ...oh, and BTW, I'm going to be there during Tet of all times, so certain businesses might not be open. Finally, to my question: Do you know of any particular items that would be readily available in Thailand (i.e., with 7-11's and pharmacies on about every block)... ...but might NOT be so readily available in say... Hanoi or Sa Pa or Ninh Binh, Cat Ba, Ha Giang, etc. ?
Just to echo on a point made by another comment, local Vietnamese water is likely the cause for what's causing the irritable stomach. Like you, I'm from US and I've been to VN three times. Every country... (and even every city within the US) has different water codes that regulates what is deemed to be acceptable for consumption. Foods like noodle soups in VN or something shouldn't cause much problems as the water is boiled and cooked, but say you eat out, often times they serve you some kind of tea or leave a pitcher of water on the table that you can use to refill. Well, I'd stay away from that and get bottled water. Street foods might be a cause of irritable stomach for the non-native people like us too.
I completely agree!! I was doing fine up until today. I had a watermelon juice in a restaurant and I’m pretty sure the water they used was “filtered” rather than boiled or bottled and that really killed me. I’m finally feeling better after going to the bathroom 4 times and taking my pepto but damn!! Now I’m only going to drink water from bottles and fresh coconut (no other juices).
Yeah, I don't trust 'filtered' water either... well... not I don't trust it, but I don't think they're going to filter it to the same/similar standards as EPA requires it over here and that might cause my tummy some trouble. Coconut juice is the bombbb! Hope you have fun in VN! I'm going for my 4th time this coming August! Where do you usually go in VN? Just Sài Gòn?
We usually stay in Saigon for the most part since that's where our family is but we try to take trips too. We went to Ha Long Bay this time and it was incredible! Can't wait to edit and share that vlog!
Yay can't wait to see it! My family is from southwest VN area. You should take a trip there!!! I find there's more things to do in the smaller cities than big ones like Saigon.
I'm a viet kieu in MD. Do I need a visa for a 5 week trip to VN? If so, where can I get it? How much does it cost? Do you know any websites you would recommend for transportation/places to stay like uber and airbnb?
You might be able to get the visa exemption, just google that and see if it works for you. As for details about the price and everything, I’m not sure. I think I paid $10 for my exemption! And for Uber in Vietnam they have something called Grab. For accommodations I think it’s called Homestay!
I'm going to Vietnam for the first time this year -- on a side-trip from Thailand, where I've been several times now. I found the 30-day on-line e-visa application process for Vietnam to be very easy and quick -- and not all that expensive. It was much easier than the 60-day tourist visa for Thailand. On your other question about websites or apps for transportation and lodging, I'm also very interested... ...I know of some for Thailand, but no clue for Vietnam -- and to add to the confusion, I'll be arriving during the Tet Celebration... So -- yeah -- following this post... 🤔
Good tips Audrey. In Canada, there is a maximum liquid size you can bring in the carry-on. Had my shampoo remove during checkin. What???No Peanut for #5?
I always check the shampoo! Not like I can use it in the plane anyway 😂 and no! No Peanut! But we keep checking on him from our camera! Just gave him treats about an hour ago! We miss him so much!
The universal rule for all liquid in carry-on is 100mL. I always put full-size shampoo bottles in my check bag. Only bring travel size items in your carry-on.
if you're the type that likes to eat and drink a lot of local food, then bring Cipro (in case of infectious diarrhea). When using a cellphone in VN, never use while riding a scooter, and don't take videos or pics with your cellphone while on a scooter, because thieves could snag it from your hands (and cause you to fall too). When using your phone on the sidewalk, try to stand near a wall and situate the cell phone against the wall (so that way the thieve can't snag it from you so easily, due to the wall blocking them)
ho chi minh city aka Saigon city where im born , my sister keep warning me like chau nguyen :) , I live in da nang with my parent ( im from Saigon not da nang ) and it pretty safe there I can play on my phone with out worry too much ( still have to be careful but not like in Saigon ) I can take my camera out to the street and take photo ( not in sai gon , my sister keep warning me everytime I come back for lunar new year , don't bring your camera out on the street or you gona get rob vv )
@D & X F I have travelled every where in VN, from Sapa all the way down to Phu Quoc. I have family and friends there, go back there 1-2 times/yr to ride bikes with my groups in all parts of VN. Been doing this for the last 15 years. Yes, thankfully VN is pretty safe in general, and it's rare that someone would get mugged, but in the big crowded city locations and street, it's always better to be safe than sorry. And I have witnessed a few scotter theives making a getaway in Saigon, 1 in Da nang, and my fiancee has 2 iphones snagged from her and she's a local there. Thief happens. But overall, VN is a safe country to travel like you said.
A small but powerful flashlight, some damn good pipe tobacco, a shaker bottle of Goldbond, a small tube of clotrimazole (jock itch), Pepto chewables & a travel-sized blisterpak of Immodium ID... ...well, truthfully, a re-sealable packet of diaperwipes is also helpful, but hey -- 'ya didn't hear it from ME. ...that would cost me at LEAST a couple punches out of my man-card.
