What It's Like Returning to the US After 7 Years in Vietnam 

It is common to see very few people walking around. Actually, it's strange to see people walking around the neighborhood.

i saw a few people jogging, but it was in the background

its happend in vietnam too~ but only in 'tết' holiday

Same here. I also think its too many cars. Especially the cost of living, people should be driving motorbikes and things more. We have too many lunatics in the west though

Yeah right. Got into a moped accident on the streets of Saigon and you will find out which country will have a "better” sense of community and "less" road rage. The police don't give a fck in VN unless you "buy" a trip to a hospital from the traffic cop in bleached orange uniforms

lol there's a lot of road rages in Vietnam every day

Facts

Vietnam is a social society while the US is an individualist society. As a vietnamese living in the US, I miss the days where we just go to grab drinks and street food right after work, EVERY single day.

I'm not ever going back.

Vietnam 🇻🇳2% obesity. USA 🇺🇲 42% obesity 😂. I think you part of 2%

I'll be visiting VN in October to see if I want to retire there. One thing nobody mentions is the 90-day visa and having to leave, fill it out, and come back. If you don't mind answering. Is it difficult? That's it. I am sure it's a bit of a pain, but some pain is worth it. Thank you in advance if you answer. And best of luck.

I married into the tribe in 2004. At the time, I could get a 6 month. That eventually morphed into a 5-year visa exemption. But you still needed to leave and enter every 6 months. Now, after 20 years, I have the 3 year Temporary Residence Card. But there is no need to leave and enter. Renewing doesn't require leaving. There's no route or reason for citizenship that I'm aware of.

@@rb368370 Thank you.

Why you came to US then ?

@thanhbarrett4965 Do you mean, why DID I come to the United States? It wasn't my choice. In 1971, I was 7 yo. And you?

​@@kizzik That explained why you think VN is more safe than the US. You never experienced how it was living under communist after it invated the South. Be grateful for your past.

@kathychu6006 We remember the past, live in the reality of the present, and hope for the future. Our large family in Vietnam has both Buddhist and Catholic. We have family members from both the North and the South. Who should we hate?

You probably spent way too much time watching the news, my friend. I'm Vietnam American myself. I lived in Texas for most of my life in America. It is way safer here then in Vietnam from my perspective. To everyone himself, if you are enjoyed life in Vietnam, then do what you feel right for you.

Do you know the population of VN? It is about 100 million people in a country the size of California. People have no choice but to pack like sardines.

@@GiangNguyen-mp8qfI was pretty over the whole communal street life thing in hanoi last time I had to stay there, streets are filthier than ever covered in garbage and compost with a constant smell of urine, absolutely disgusting

Fck VN traffic. Insane

​@@MrNixity There's poor waste management in Vietnam for sure and people keep tossing trash on the streets.

Vietnam has ghettos and rich areas. Saigon Phu My Hung/Crescent Lake is cleaner and more modern than most California cities. Same same Manila's Makati and BGC. Choose where you want to live.

No country is perfect or great and no government is perfect or great as well

Exactly how l feel, we live in Chiang Mai!

No country is perfect people in the USA is actually not as bad as people thinks they are and there are alot of people in the USA are happy and they give thanks for what they have as well just like alot of people in other countries are not thankful for what they have its just not a American problem

@@darryl.c7972 there are alot of people in the USA who is thankful for what they have just like there are alot of people in other countries who are not it's a problem all over the world the USA is actually not a bad country like people thinks it is and other countries are not perfect like people thinks they are and yes you can still find people in the USA who does care who is loving friendly welcoming helpful as well

@@John-fn2ln People in the US are the most talented people in the world. Problems is the illegal emigrants and gang and drug culture that is slowly destroying this beautiful country

I forgot to add the metric system is culture shock as well. Example: Weather they go by Celsius and in the US we go by Fahrenheit. Gas, we go by the gallon, in VN they go by liter. Weight they by kg. In the US we go by lbs. Traveling speed they go by km we go my mph. Height, they go by centimeters in the US we go by height and inches. All lastly, the traffic is chaos in Vietnam but they have no car accidents. Over here in SF there are stop lights on every block and there are road rages and accidents every day! Sometimes I think US is backwards and in other countries they got it right. Vietnamese people are very friendly compared to the people in the San Francisco Bay Area where I live all of my life.

Agree with making more money meaning more stress. However, as foreigners in Vietnam, you enjoy the safety , friendliness and many other apects the local Vietnamese do not. I will make a comment separately here on the topics.

You understand Vietnamese? Amazing.

​@@LinhHoaTranthank you for saying this. I notice a lot of expats are cut off from reality in whatever country they decide to move to. The expat bubble of carefree comfort is real. I'm currently retired in Manila, Philippines and because I know and interact with locals, I understand and have witnessed that they have many of the same issues we do in the West. Loneliness, depression, anger, frustration, financial stressors, crime, etc...... just like anywhere else in the world.

"they are more happy with a simpler lifestyle. " As an high tech engineer and vegan, you can save tons of money in the US if you cook for yourself and do not buy junks. I paid $100 for 1 year membership to play pickleball. Now I work part time and make much less money but stop buying junks such as clothes (I have 200+) then I can save some money. With the current saving rate I can buy 1 new car by cash every 2 years. But I put it in CDs, T bonds for bucket 1 emergency fund for 5 years, the IRA and stock options, dividend stocks for funds in bucket 2 for after 5+ years. Roth Ira and Rollover 401K, 401K in bucket 3 for more than 10 years. I bought Toyota hybrid in 2015 and paid cash and plan to replace it in 2035+. I changed oil every 5k and brake pad if necessary and other by learn from youtube. I knew 1 young guy with MS computer science got 250K salary in 2018 bought more than 1 M house in Silicon Valley and rented it out because he still live with his parent with free food & room and his only job to cut the grass and take the trash out (the same job when he was in high school)

That way in usa is force to have car. Ford say car is freedom As long as you can finance it

It may have to do with ignorance in regards to your surroundings. In the US you probably have a better sense of which areas are safe.

@@monkut 7 years in Thailand and I have yet to inadvertently enter someplace that felt dangerous. You have to watch out for Soi dogs though

I’m 17 years expatriate to Thailand. Lovely wife and family. 66, 2 pensions, 2800/month. Haven’t set foot on US soil since. No plans to return.

Here in Russia we have no "no go zone" )

If you think the US is overstimulating you've never been to Asia. What were you in Times square the whole time? The entire country is full of wide open spaces and the most friendly easy going people. Try making friends with French people...they're known for complaining for a reason.

This is one of the most ignorant comments I've read by someone who hasn't traveled much but thinks they have....

@@whodat9198 Why are you so insulted by someone else’s experience? There’s obviously much more going on with you. Angry much?

@sharonlahaye5803 I'm not insulted. I'm embarrassed by your ignorance spreading your minor isolated experience as general universal truths. You know very little about the US or the world by your comments. I'm glad narrow-minded people with your limited experience have left because you are impressed by medieval cultures that developed before electricity was discovered. 😂 We certainly don't need your arrogant ignorant type in the actual nice parts of the country. Thank you!

@@Pangcah88 exactly!

You should send a T- shirt to Tyler with the words “I Love HCM”. He will be pampered by the authorities more than ever.

as a 035 yr old I was looking for a serious GF and marriage partner, looking forward to sharing a nice home, car and making plenty of money, that would bring me happiness I thought, I only became a bill payer. we live in a consumer driven society causing a lot of anxiety and being anxious all the time. very little sense of community here in the suburbs of LA. neighbors don’t invite you over and vice versa...asian kids play soccer with the same, Hispanics play baseball and soccer with same , very little ethic mixing as if we are a different species.now the Internet and social media is making us more detached and is a source of new mental health concerns.we only think of tomorrow and you are not included. new social behavior is being practiced , noticed how we no longer go to the malls to buy like in the 90s? more items are being bought online! less interaction with humans, less people you meet and people are not easy to be friends with, always leary of you- like what is your intent? we are always in a state of constant change and finding a niche is key that you are comfortable with...you like core family values? that’s what is taught in the east and practiced. respecting parents, teacher’s, government...as the Asian sages taught. then the Nam, China, Laos, Taiwan is for you... ie. yah, my cousin’s want to get outta here too, they made money here and now want to GETFO....somewhere in Latin America is the destination...it has issues too. how will they sustain themselves I don’t know. over here you can at least stand on one leg,prices are high there too. finding a purpose in life after you are done with your career is a big plus, helping others help themselves is one endeavor. yah, I have gone down a rabbit hole and have come out of it and I’m going down into the vortex myself again a new reality awaits me...I’m alive and have choices something other folks don’t have at less developed countries. well dude, thanks for your thoughts because you made me think too ...kind regards, RG

No wonder you are not welcome by the merchants in the States.

Doesn’t matter to me I’m bald

Vietnam has the best barber shops in the world. Go to a nice, clean place, not the one in a shack. I am a difficult guy yet I always came out of the shops pleased with my new look, unlike what the hair cutters have been doing to me all of these years.

What are your thoughts on China compared to Vietnam and Japan? I’m in China now visiting the country for the 1st time since my wife is from here, and I really don’t wanna go back home to the US 😅, China feels so much more advanced and safer than US to me. I haven’t yet been to Vietnam or Japan

@@aidanschram9652 good question. Each country has their strengths and weaknesses. China in the tier one cities is a marvel of a well thought out integrated systems for payments and traveling in the city. The convenience of WeChat and Alipay cannot be overstated. In the states when I bring this up. People quickly dismiss it and say, we have Venmo. It’s the same. No it’s just not there yet. Cashless payments in the states are much more clunky. Sorry, it will get there. But it’s not there yet. Also Hello Bike and those of its kind coupled with an affordable metro and taxis make for a better way navigate large cities without a car. Salaries for an ESL teacher are extremely good if you have experience. Agreed. In the tier one cities China has a better infrastructure than the states right now. Shanghai, Beijing, Shenzhen, or Guangzhou definitely have overall safer cities and in spite of the complaints about the overreach of the surveillance state, it’s only helped me thus far in the couple legal disputes I’ve gotten into here. As for Japan. Osaka is just a cool city. Great food, wonderfully warm, fun people in that region. Convenient travel with the metro and accessible to Kyoto, Nara and Kobe. The metro is unfortunately cost prohibitively expensive. So are taxis. And salaries in Japan are not competitive with the cost of living. Living there was a nice life experience, but it’s not a place to build a future for me. There is also as a non tourist a palpable sense of overwhelming sadness that permeates the entire country. I could feel it every day in the older generations that still remember the economic miracle times of decades past. It haunts the country in ways big and small and eventually my ex and I had to leave. Vietnam for me has the best balance of lifestyle and convenience in terms of cost, culture and cuisine. I’m biased. I just love Vietnam and will happily spend the rest of my life there. Problems with Vietnam in bigger cities like Hanoi and Saigon include pollution, bad traffic, and a host of other minor annoying things. Motorbike accidents, routine flooding, getting electrocuted commonly enough by ungrounded wires and a non functioning post office. But the good so outweighs the bad for me. If you haven’t been I highly recommend it. Vietnamese people have big hearts, are extremely extroverted and welcoming and there’s a feeling of vitality and just an overall sense of optimism there that’s just so undeniable. I don’t understand the Vietnam Thailand debate, because for me there’s no competition . I like visiting Thailand, but it doesn’t feel like home and for me Vietnam did 3 days after I arrived in 2011 and still did after I left in 2018 and even more so coming back after Covid to visit in 2023. It can’t be overstated. It’s feeling thing. You either get it or you don’t. Doesn’t mean one place is better than another. They all have their strengths and weaknesses as I said. I also enjoy that Vietnam has a romanized alphabet and compared to Japan and China Vietnam in developed cities has a strong grasp of English, they might not think so, but on average the level of English in Vietnam is extraordinarily high. I don’t have the expectation that people should speak anything other than their mother tongue, but it’s a nice luxury to read a menu in both Vietnamese and English.

Wow, how interesting that you live in Vietnam, Japan, and China. Would be interesting to get your take the pro/con of the three.

@@leona1351 Happy to answer any questions. I will say this, all three have really strong points and negatives and one certainly isn't better than another. They're all very different in good and bad ways, happy to share any info you want.

I would say it is intense here in America because half of the population wants to use force against the other half. When people seek to use force to get what they want it creates a great deal of tension in society. It became more pronounced during the pandemic farce, and has only continued.

100%

exactly

Vietnam very much treats you like a transaction. And at least you can breathe fresh air outside of Vietnam.

When the Vietnamese see you, all they see is dollar signs. The price of goods goes up.

Kind of global issue now

@@GiangNguyen-mp8qf yet it’s still way cheaper than America.

@Warzonegaming4life yes, and that is why you and foreign corporations go there to take advantage of the cheap cost.

I've been single all my life, why do I want to ruin it. ;) Going to VN to see if I want to retire there. All I am looking for is, nice and friendly people, good food, and just walking and enjoying.

@@davidj7516 I suggest Saigon since is more pro American, Hanoi is pro China. People from Saigon do not like people from Hanoi just FYI.

Honking in Vietnam means Hey! I'm here. Watch out. In US or Canada, honking most of the time is WTF you're doing? Are you blind? Something like that.

Honking in US is equivalent to flipping a bird.

@@MrNamvo Totally!

@@thumtlnguyen3626 That's true...LOL! We been here for a month and love it!!!

I've thought about retiring in the Philippines, but for some reason, have stayed away. Maybe I listened to too much news.

Agreed. In Adelaide and same for Melbourne

Thanks so much!

thank you

Glad you enjoyed it!

You don't talk like you're from Maryland

@JJ-si4qh Born hour away from Washington DC. Grew up in sc. Nowadays everywhere is getting "fancy, non southern" accent. More like epic New York or California!

@JJ-si4qh US Marines went iraq, Ethiopia, Norway, Afghanistan. We have friends all around the world.

Hi, I can teach you Vietnamese by phone. I live in Vegas and have experience in both languages.I left Vietnam when I was 18.

I can also teach you Vietnamese, Chinese, and English, and Klingon language by phone and online hehehehe 😜😜😜👍👍👍💕💕💕‼️ love my awesome and beautiful China always 💕💕💕🇨🇳🇨🇳🇨🇳🇨🇳🇨🇳🇨🇳🇨🇳🇨🇳🇨🇳🇨🇳🇨🇳🇨🇳🇨🇳🇨🇳🇨🇳🇨🇳🇨🇳🇨🇳🇨🇳🇨🇳🇨🇳🇨🇳🇨🇳🇨🇳🇨🇳🇨🇳🇨🇳🇨🇳🇨🇳🇨🇳🇨🇳🇨🇳🇨🇳 love Vietnam 💕💕💕🇻🇳🇻🇳🇻🇳🇻🇳🇻🇳🇻🇳🇻🇳🇻🇳🇻🇳🇻🇳🇻🇳🇻🇳🇻🇳🇻🇳 love Russia 💕💕💕🇷🇺🇷🇺🇷🇺🇷🇺🇷🇺🇷🇺🇷🇺🇷🇺🇷🇺🇷🇺🇷🇺🇷🇺🇷🇺🇷🇺🇷🇺🇷🇺 and love Thailand💕💕💕🇹🇭🇹🇭🇹🇭🇹🇭🇹🇭🇹🇭🇹🇭🇹🇭🇹🇭🇹🇭.

I can also teach you Vietnamese, Chinese, and English, and Klingon language by phone and online hehehehe 😜😜😜👍👍👍💕💕💕‼️ love my awesome and beautiful China always 💕💕💕🇨🇳🇨🇳🇨🇳🇨🇳🇨🇳🇨🇳🇨🇳🇨🇳🇨🇳🇨🇳🇨🇳🇨🇳🇨🇳🇨🇳🇨🇳🇨🇳🇨🇳🇨🇳🇨🇳🇨🇳🇨🇳🇨🇳🇨🇳🇨🇳🇨🇳🇨🇳🇨🇳🇨🇳🇨🇳🇨🇳🇨🇳🇨🇳🇨🇳 love Vietnam 💕💕💕🇻🇳🇻🇳🇻🇳🇻🇳🇻🇳🇻🇳🇻🇳🇻🇳🇻🇳🇻🇳🇻🇳🇻🇳🇻🇳🇻🇳 love Russia 💕💕💕🇷🇺🇷🇺🇷🇺🇷🇺🇷🇺🇷🇺🇷🇺🇷🇺🇷🇺🇷🇺🇷🇺🇷🇺🇷🇺🇷🇺🇷🇺🇷🇺 and love Thailand💕💕💕🇹🇭🇹🇭🇹🇭🇹🇭🇹🇭🇹🇭🇹🇭🇹🇭🇹🇭🇹🇭.

I'll be visiting VN in October to see if I want to retire there. I'm using Google Translate and Duolingo to learn Vietnamese. It's working out okay. Some days I'm lazy though, you have to be diligent. Just try learning two sentences a day.

Interesting. There are many Vietnamese people in my city of Toronto, Canada. I love travelling to the U.S. and have many friends in there, but I would never want to live there. Division, lack of healthcare, and safety issues are the main reasons.

He will change his mind when he will be your age. Trust me.

@@skatingcanuck9837Do you mean that in the US there is no security and lack of healthcare? So why people from all over the world want to move to the US legally or illegally?

@@skatingcanuck9837noone shoots you in Vietnam 🤣

Hope you got along with the non native British and immigrants in London

Good luck. ;)

thanks Oranguthanh!

Yeah I love the Phillipines too. Really nice people

That's right, there's different strokes for different folks. It's a honest video post though. Great job

Question, please. Do you like Hanoi? Some might think because you lived there for 6 years it's great, but not always. Thank you for your time. I'm checking out VN in October to see if I want to retire there.

@@davidj7516 I do like Hanoi but the city is not very pedestrian friendly as the sidewalks are usually blocked and motorcycles follow no rules. But the people are super friendly and the weather is cooler and multi-seasonal.

@@scogginsscoggins Thank you very much.

awesome!

Different strokes for different folks, follow your heart

déjà vu :)

I'm 70 and Germany (Nuremberg/Zirndorf) is still the best place I have ever lived. I've lived in Australia, Maui, and several US states. Some of my best memories and best people.

thanks I really appreciate that

You can say the same about the texas and other states. Gets really humid and hot..

Not in Da Lat, Vietnam. Highlands area.

I used to think so also coming from the Pacific NW. I got used to it pretty fast. Just need to embrace swimming as a form of exercise.

If you don’t control the possession of guns in VN like in the US, you will be surprised that lots of bad people will chose VN as their Final Destination.

Agree 1000000000%

I think there's a lot of people happy in the US, it's usually men in the US that are not happy. My male friends who went to VN once wants to move there or have already moved there. My female friends who went to VN want to stay in the US. It's quite interesting really.

No it's just you. Perhaps you should check yourself into a mental hospital.

@Warzonegaming4life then take it or leave it. There is no obligation.

America is a very car suburbs environment so it’s hard to connect with people. You can connect with people if you’re in jail though since everyone there is lonely

it's a great place to live

It is great to live if you have the dollars, and you can leave anytime you want, like a vacation. But if you live there as a citizen earning the local currency, you will think differently. Why do you think people try to emmigrate VN every year? They go back to visit regularly, but they will not stay.

@@GiangNguyen-mp8qf What you say is true.... I could never live in VN and financially struggle... I am always giving to those in need in VN.

​@@GiangNguyen-mp8qf It's great to have choices of where to live. There are different strokes for different folks. We as Americans have more freedom to choose.

@danleinvegas then why are Americans opposed to other people's freedom to choose where to live here? Is that freedom only reserved for Americans?

Look into safety wings

Health care in USA is MEDICARE and totally unfit for anyone who knows other methods.

As a 70-year-old who is thinking about relocating to Vietnam and seeking health insurance as an expat, the process can be quite different compared to obtaining insurance in the USA, where coverage for pre-existing conditions cannot be denied. In many other countries, you might face challenges with pre-existing conditions, which can be a significant drawback if your health is not in good shape. Additionally, there is often a waiting period before coverage for specific issues begins, which can be particularly stressful if health problems arise within the first six months to a year of having your policy.

@@synovium I'm checking out VN in October to see if I want to retire there. I will be 70 in January but am pretty healthy (pickleball 4 nights a week). But for me, I'm a vet so my medical has been free all my life. It will be interesting to see what happens. Thanks for the info.

200%

You have the freedom to move to other places or States. Many people in other countries can't do that.

​​@@IVvOOvVI If you don't enjoy one State then you can move to another one. Where you live is Not as important as Who you live with. Stable finance and Relationship are very important.

Thanks to Biden.

Likewise

Funny thing is seven years ago it was not like this, Especially the economy.

Yes, everywhere in the world is Camelot.... as long as you have money from somewhere...not judging. But try to be poor in Asia.... try to get a job is Asia..... That's what I thought.

@@IVvOOvVI Did you vote dem!