*camera issues and audio in this one sry; smash the thumbs up so we can upgrade here at BTH production :) GET MY VIETNAM SURVIVAL GUIDE 👉bvcco.gumroad.com/l/vnsurvival
I've been searching for ages for someone who creates content about moving to Vietnam and the experiences of other Viet Kieus. So whenever you post a video, I drop everything and click on it. It's amazing to see the diversity of people you interview and the different experiences they share.
The Far Right is really rising in Netherland, Germany, France and everywhere in Europe. It's just a matter of time. As an immigrant, we never know when such forces start paying "real attention" to us... (maybe not us, but our children, and grandchildren...)
When making a decision to move to a country like Vietnam it is not always about income and growth possibilities. It is at least as much a matter of lifestyle and culture and that is all subjective. I am an American born and raised in NYC. I met a Vietnamese refugee there in 1976 and where we were married in 1977. I became quickly fascinated with things Vietnamese. We came first to Vietnam in 1988. We moved to Saigon full time in 1995 where we remain. Now retired and 70 years old I can say that I am never bored.
I found this interview quite fascinating. Her parents had moved to Denmark; she was born in Denmark. Her husband is a Dane; she's 29 years old, had 3 kids, and got an MBA degree. Remember getting an MBA requires lots of time, money and effort. She is young, well educated and confident. She has a Vietnamese name, and she can speak and understand Vietnamese. It's quite fascinating isn't?
@@inotoni6148 I firmly believed it requires certain criteria for the degree qualification because according to UpgradAbroad report, there were only 63,000 MBA students in Demark in 2022, which accounted for over 1% of the Danish population of roughly 6 million.
@@nikkirosenbek5471 I guess when its free it's not so valued. And the socialism seems like it covers so many needs that you don't have to hustle so hard.
My relative moved back to Vietnam, but not 100%. He still has homes in the US. He went back and forth when necessary. He already retired but with a comfortable nest egg and is financially comfortable. And that is his only formula: Have enough income to retire in Vietnam without worry, but don't risk everything there. Mai is a courageous and energetic young mother of three, and wish her the best. But she is not any different from many Westerners and Americans who take "the road less traveled". It can lead to something good, or even if it is a dead-end, it is not the end of the world as she can still go back to Denmark again. But nothing ventured, nothing gained. The father of her 3 kids must take a man's ultimate responsibility in life: to ensure the children's success and happiness. So, she should not be alone on that. Remember her parents' generation: they escaped Vietnam in rickety boats with children without much food and water, bobbling in pitch black sea not knowing where it might end up. Yet, many made it and made it well. Whatever she is on right now, is still far far better than those rickety boats, and she certainly has the same courage as the previous generation. I wish her family the best.
my daughters checked in a 4 stars hotel in Saigon, the receptionist talked to her in Vietnamese n commented (no smile/unfriendly voice)...viet kieu mới ra nước ngoài được vài năm mà đã quên cách nói tiếng Việt . My daughter showed her Australian passport n said we all born in Australia. She smiled n talk to my daughters in English (with a much friendly voice/ her attitude has changed 360 degrees)
I love your contents. I grew up in San Francisco and have lived there for nearly 35 years. I recently moved to Portland Oregon for almost 8 years now. I took my family to Vietnam in February for the first time. They loved it. We are actually planning on moving to Vietnam in few years when my kids are little older. I’m glad to see more Vietnamese folks trying to learn about their roots
Great interview, glad to see other Vietnamese people share similar stories/situations. My wife, daughter, and I moved to vietnam (from California) last year and can identify a lot with your stories.
Came to America in 1994 and became a U.S. citizen in 2000. I am currently living in Hawaii and am now in my 40s. America is no longer the place to be for a better life because I have realized that a "better life" does not have to consist of having a nice car, a high-paying job, or owning a house. The American way of life is currently very toxic and unhealthy.
How are Vietnamese with other SEA people? There is violent history with some of Vietnam's neighbors. But how about the ones not connected, like Indo/Malay/Philippines?
When I retire, I want to live a few month here and there; VN is one of them. Until then, I'm working toward saving toward that retirement and visit VN here and there. See you VN next year!
Love all your videos. Very informative. Currently living in riverside, ca. Flying into saigon July 31st. I'm hoping one day, I'll catch the bug and able to move to Vietnam. Life changing move but im sure it's so worth.
I believe many people are moving to the country side or their initial residence .. Saigon , Dalat and big cities are becoming westernize and congested … price cost varies away from tourist locations , create a flat (most modern house with marble floor > US house)
She made a very poor choice to move to VN with 3 little kids (still in Elementary school). She got MBA degree in Denmark, however, as she said, her job wasn't relate to her degree, if so, how can she make 3000 USD/month? MBA degree is considered Master degree in business, she should be able to get a job that can support herself and her family with this degree without government assistance, move back to Denmark .. your kids need education and future, not interesting or fantasy objective at this point.
Life is not all about money, its about the journey in life and appreciate what you have with hapiness and enjoy life. As you can hear they moved back for their kids to know their roots, so what makes you decide whether its a good or bad choice? 🤣🤣🤦🏾♂️🤦🏾♂️🤡🤡🤡🤡
Very brave person, I admire her determination, and wish to raise her kids in Vietnam culture. Wish her every success - I'm confident she will do great. Seems like she might be working under a gig contract basis working remotely for a US company - a great step - but reckon (and hope I am wrong) she does not get many benefits (contribution to pension, healthcare, paid vacation). Hopefully she can develop relationships where a Vietnamese company will see the value in her, hire her locally in Vietnam with a good work condition, or hire her to work in Denmark / Europe for its international expansion. Or find a US company wishing to move their operations from China to Vietnam - as an example, suggest contacting Apple HQ in the US to apply for position in the US with the ultimate goal to be based in Vietnam or to work straightaway in Vietnam. Good luck, hoping for the best for you.
kudos for another good interview! Speaking English in restaurants ensures better service, while using Vietnamese at local markets can help you secure better deals! Smart advice. Constant moving can be hard on some kids. Especially introvert kids that need time to find close knit friends. But 3000 USD per month for international school tuition? Wow. Just wow.....
My cousin in Vietnam is sending her kids overseas to go to college. His high school tuition at an international school in Saigon is more than his college tuition here in America. They are saving money by sending their kid overseas for college. That just sounds nuts to me :)
@@tuan2uNo doubt that many US universities annual tuitions are less than 36,000 USD per year. These Vietnamese International schools are definitely for the rich, perhaps the very rich. 1st quarter 2024 Vietnam average yearly salary is around 4000 USD.
I'm about to attempt English teaching in SEA. They pay ok money, its shocking. Someone with no experience like me can start at $1500/month. On SEA living expenses, that is a good entry level job. Hella better than $4K/month in California. And experienced teacher can make $2.5K or more. SEA pays the same as Japan and Korea! So that's why the tuition costs so damn much at the high level international schools. They are paying top dollar for foreign teachers.
I’m American, my wife is Vietnamese, we have two kids, live in Texas, and I dream of packing up and moving to Vietnam. There’s so much to love there, but it’s so hard to take the leap.
You can day dream. You can visit. Don't pack up and move to Vietnam permanently. The grass always looked greener across the pond. Greetings from California 🇺🇸 A former boat person 1979.
Visit first then decide…. Southeast Asia is not a bad place if you’re sitting on a lot of cash…. And if you don’t have any school age children…. Btw, educational system there is not good at all….
My friend. Pack up and leave. Go for extended vacation and ease your ways in. Kids adapt very fast. Give him exposure to East and West. As an fyi, the next 50 years, economic growth will come from the East. This includes Asia, Middle East, and Africa
Hi, I’ve really been enjoying your interviews. Can you find more families that have moved back to VN to interview? It’s been weighing a lot on my mind and I don’t know how to feel dragging small kids along and leaving our family and everything we’ve ever known.
I did it with 3 kids but to Brasil and with an income ( not have to be large ) or renting out an apartment or something like that where you can receive a cash flow it’s totally worth it…don’t wait until the kids are older, what can happen is they won’t be able to get out or adapt to changes anymore!! My kids are super happy and take it all as an adventure and they speak 5 languages fluent because of us taking the chances to move every where…Better live your dream now and now wait for the future because someone can die, anything can happen to change your dream…everything Ofcourse with planning and logic but it’s very possible and if you are waiting to try it I always say to go for it!!
I understand all the attractions of moving to VN. But as a boat person, I can’t bring myself to move back there knowing all the risks we took and the struggles we had to get to the US.
Time flies by and life is too short. Nobody lives forever. Live your life to the fullest, and you won't regret later. Those who cling to the past, will be left behind. Holding your grudge will hurt you and your children. My family had lost everything after 1975, and we have come back visiting Vietnam several times since 2012. Planning to live in Vietnam eventually, we are now saving some money to buy a house or apartment there. There's a Vietnamese saying, "Lá rụng về cội".
@@nguyenhoanganh4586 understood. I have a very comfortable life in the States now, making a very good living and living life to the fullest. I’ll go back to visit. Just don’t want to move back there. 🤷🏻♀️ I don’t hold grudges. My past experiences just enriched my life and shaped me to be a strong person.
Lots of people move back to vietnam to escape the rat race and because they couldn't make it in their home country and think it is an easier way out by moving a low cost of living country and getting a teaching job.
@@danadoan If you don’t want to, you don't have to move back there. Living in Vietnam is just a preference. It's all up to you. Visiting Vietnam is enough. At least you see in person the place where you/your parents were born (nơi chôn nhau cắt rốn) has changed rapidly positively.
So much about her situation is worrying. They chose to move as a family of 5 without enough funds. Pulled their kids from school for 8 months. Very unstable. I hope they return to the giving arms of Denmark soon.
Brave move to considering moving to Vietnam with only 8k in savings and 3 kid's, no job. Also rather interesting how she got a job into company's/field totally unrelated to her degree. I wonder what her husband does for loving , great interview despite the background noise 😂
Yes most people wouldn't make the move with kids. I commend her and her husband for going for it. The kids will benefit from learning Vietnamese and experiencing a different environment. If both can make 3k/month they should be able to save a good amount.
@@DevineOne the best things you can give your kids are definitely education and international travels They did a good job not choosing an international school as it's outrageously expensive and the quality is not much different than bilingual.
@@z-jd2icWell educated? I don’t know the education system there. In US, a lot of my Vietnamese friends think MBA was a good idea. They got the degree and stuck in the same job, which is working as bank teller which required zero degree and not high pay.
Saigon for sure is more exciting than Denmark and would be good if you are single but with three kids it could get expensive. Once the kids get older they can’t go to public school and you are looking at 30 grand US for a decent private school so she will be looking at 90,000 USD a year to put her kids in school For sure they will be heading back To Denmark then
@@DevineOne Yes public schools are good in Vietnam but they are only for Vietnamese not foreigners and her kids were born in Denmark. They have International school Ho Chi Minh , British International school , American International school ,Canadian International School ,Australian international school for Expat kids and on average you are looking at 30,000 USD a year per kid with some as high as 50 grand .
@@kevbrown1867 some years ago now there was a Italian bloke who moved to Vietnam with his kids. HIs kids went to Vietnamese schools no problem. They were fluent in no time. His daughter is Andrea.
That was an interesting interview. I like her accent. I've thought of moving back to Vietnam and working for my company. I would then work from afternoon to midnight to cover the office hours. I wonder how Mai does it or does her remote job not require her to work during office hours in the US?
She's not a US citizen so they can't require her to work in a US office physically. There are a TON of jobs available under US/UK/AU companies available to foreigners online. And they pay dollars. They are saving tons of money versus hiring Westerners at full salaries and paying extra taxes.
So nice of Denmark wow! They gave them free money even without PR status and a FREE MBA! Does Vietnam offer this too? You see how we can look at The west as expensive but when we see all the extra costs for things like a good education, we re evaluate whether or not the grass is greener; and that all depends on your situation.
Moving and living abroad is expensive. This girl is almost 30 and has no assets or savings - coupled with 3 kids. That's living life on the edge. Good luck!
@malkov0001 That's because she lived in a country where about 50% of income goes to taxes. However the government provides a lot of services like child care, health care. and more to make life manageable that the US.
Hey, it might us understand your interviews better if you provide context. We still don't know about thos woman. Is her husband Vietnamese? How did her husband and her come up with the idea to move? Her thought process, final conclusion and action to move to VN. Also, how do you find all these people to interview in Saigon?
@@mosqutio88 Her husband understands Vietnamese comes out near the end of the video. It never explicitly says he's Vietnamese Dutch like her. You assumed that.
@@TinNongTheGioi-ex9es Son, do you have a problem with comprehending English? Exactly when are you going to move to communist Vitnam for good? Which foreign citizenship are you holding? Are you going to renounce your foreign citizenship when you return to live in communist Vitnam for good?
This girl may or may not be happy with her move to VN. However, the difference with her is that she can move back to Denmark anytime, unlike the rest of the Viets, who are stuck in VN.
Tran, I think you missed the point. The more mobile you are, the more opportunities that you have to find happiness. If Denmark goes to war with Russia, she and her family can move to Vietnam and they would fit in. Most people in Denamrk can't. Same thing in Vietnam when it goes to war with China. She can just move back to Denmark. But most Viets can't.
@@longnguyendotcom Long. You are correct and very wise. She has options. And can fit into both societies. Believe it or not, that’s a privilege that most people don’t have. So she should be proud.
Yes, you are right. I'm a dual citizen of US and Philippines. People think I'm crazy for moving to the Philippines. They don't consider that if I don't like it, I can just leave. And the ASEAN passport gets me into any ASEAN country without issues. I can just live the rest of my life jumping around the world with the two passports. I'm thinking about sticking it out in Korea for 5 years for a 3rd passport.
For a person who was born and raised in Denmark, when you speak English you have a Vietnamese accent like you were born in Vietnam. You should have a Danish accent.
As Vietnamese born who grow up in US and also a mother, what she doing is living on the edge while having 3 kids! No saving and with risky investment. Unstable or no job. Even though her partner is not discussed here, it looks like he is same mindset. She will be back to Denmark to get government assistance after her adventure while risking her kids growth development years everywhere.
I'm glad I'm not the only one who say that. NFT with 8K saving isn't enough for most 1st world country. VN is one of the few places where she can get by.
You could tell she’s still very naive…. Why would wealthy Vietnamese want their children to be educated in America or other developed countries? She grew up with government support …. I’m sure her Plan B will be going back to Denmark and get welfare checks just like when she was growing up in Denmark….
scary to move to VN with kids.... in my opinion, VN is good for retiree people who have stable retirement income.... I am not sure VN is a good country for kids....because there are no opportunities there for jobs or education advance.....
I did the same.. it's not a cracked up as they make it out to be.. 4.5 years in VN. sold everything. Been there done that. Society there is backwards. get used to it, play along, or go home.
I just remembered the story of brother ex's parents who moved back to Vietnam decades ago, retired comfortably with their social sec. income and investment, savings. Then, after a number of years, they moved back to the US for the comfort life of a modern society. They had their fix of familiy/social/cultural reconnection needs. Ultimately, they passed away in the US.
What an amazing range of experiences you document on this channel. Thank you so much! Also, putting money into NFTs was hard for me to hear. Hopefully he r husband doesn't want to double down and figures out it's Bitcoin only.
I do like the new direction you take with your vlog, and I love her outfit :) (Is it not very polite to keep asking people about their finances, salaries, etc. I wonder.)
What is the income tax situation for these expat? Do they need to pay any tax to Vietnam or home country? Like she said she makes 3k. If she needs to pay Vietnam tax, that will be 2k net right?
I know Thailand just passed a law taxing foreign incomes. Not sure about Vietnam. I doubt it, though. I don't think Denmark taxes foreign incomes, either. That 3K may be all in pocket. Filipinos working for foreign companies online keep all their pay, I know that much.
Denmark is the second happiest country in the world for the sixth year in the row. How do you come up with the idea that leaving Demark to Việt Nam for living.
It is WAY MORE EXPENSIVE to live in Denmark, that is if you're Danish with a decent job, but as this lady figured out, you can get massive support from the Danish govt which is why migrants have been streaming across the Danish borders for years; it's probably one of the biggest ($$$) welfare states in the world and that of course make the taxes there sky-high.
Well, they make this big step, but realise later that this feels different than a holiday. Than when they apply for work for a local VN company, they discover that the salary is different than in EU.. duh... seems they have too Western expectations and not prepared well before they take the step. I am born in Indonesia, raise and worked in EU and back to live in Indonesia again with my wife and kids, so I know we were taking about. Unfortunately I am not a native bahasa Indonesia speaker... I have not that luck but ya, adapt the new life environment and feels home finally.
Wow amazing. All these ppl is not regular ppl. Either u have jobs or income that outside of vietnam or RU-vidrs or you just got a chunk of money and yes Vietnam is amazing when you have money. Well you do you. My dad is a boat ppl 1975 we in the usa looking back has not changed don’t be fools by the outside look
You speak of experience or how you know that for a fact to tell? Going to school in Vietnam you learn english very early, which you don’t do in Denmark, seems very advantage for me. 🤦🏾♂️
Congrats. You might be the first human being on planet Earth to move a a family of 5 from one of the best countries in the World to live in to Vietnam. I wish you best of luck.
I don't understand why moving to Vietnam is a better choice. Even if things are cheaper in Vietnam, you're not making the amount of money as you would in Vietnam. Unless I am wrong !!!! In the US, if you're not making enough, then you would apply and get assistance from the county/state/federal, but Vietnam doesn't have that and even if they do, don't you have to be a citizen in Vietnam? What are you going to do if your young kids get really sick?
This girl has an MBA and her husband probably Denmark. They know exactly what they are doing. This channel interview doesn't tell viewers the whole story.
@@hanoiian4883 I know it is cheaper than the US, but only for those that can pay? In the US, we treat first, then worry about the bill later, whether you can pay it or not. Why so many people want the American Dream and will do anything to come here? Maybe I've watched too many fake news, sorry about that
@@hanoiian4883What is readier? You meant to say better?? Cheaper yes, but only fools would believe VN has better medical system than the US. Vietnamese always like to believe they’re the best in everything…..
For someone who grew up here in DK your accent when speaking English is really like that of a Chinese Vietnamese. Explains a lot when you may have been here all your life but was raised as a Vietnamese all throughout.
I was born in Denmark and I don’t agree with this. Just cause she doesn’t speak with a thick Danish accent, it does not make it sound Chinese at all. Wth
@@foodmmh Wth, selv! I personally know many Chinese Vietnamese people worldwide and majority sound like her. it's my opinion based on familiarity. Not a negative thing at all. I don't think you being born in DK has any correlation to how much you can argue this point. And most likely you don't know that many Chinese Viets to have made this comment.
It' SHAMEFUL and so sad that foreigners (especially with white skin) get better treatment in VN, some establishments even refuse the service if you are Vietnamese. I got the same impression when I went back there. Just sad.
@@yongdeng1813 her mother doesn't speak Danish, so she has to speak Vietnamese pretty much all of her life. It's hard to loose the accent when you speak the language all the time. Most kids with Vietnamese parents speak a mixture of two different languages in their homes, but sound like she speaks only Vietnamese when home in her mom's house
@@tuan2u seems like u know her, if thats the case then it explains it. I was just curious thats all cuz i grew up with viets in nyc and that accent is very viet-like
Age 29 and only saved up $8k? Does not appear to be a net contributor to Denmark….. Also, why do you always ask your guests if they have been harassed back in their home country?
Having 3 kids will drain your saving. She's well educated and I assume her husband also is. Not having a lot of money doesn't mean you're a burden to society.
@@z-jd2icShe indicated her family got subsidized housing…..Her MBA was paid for by the government ….And she’s now living in VN, not repaying back to her home country….
What an ignorant comment. She had 3 kids while studying. Which is a normal thing to do in Denmark since you get paid maternity leave. The government encourage you to do so and it’s easier to get a job afterwards, since the workplace won’t have to worry about the woman leaving for maternity leave once she’s hired.
playing with cryptos is very dangerous. You need to have a heart of stone. Winning and losing $40K in a day is typical. Been there too many times to the point I became immuned! Most importantly is to learn the mistakes so you don't make them over and over.
Very interesting! All people I know, who have an MBA degree, they all have a very well paying job in the western countries. Some of them makes more than $250,000 USD. Wondering why can you not find a job in western world?
There are a lot people with MBA who makes that much and more. But a lot are very unhappy with their job. They would rather do something that pays much less and be happy with their life. I think for some people who don't have a MBA and don't make that much like yourself would not understand.
@@longnguyendotcom It is very childish to state that "I think for some people who don't have a MBA and don't make that much like yourself would not understand " since you don't know who you are talking to. Very childish!
@@banlaai1437 I am not sure why you think it's childish. You assumed all MBS should be looking for jobs that pay over $250,000. But some MBAs care more about getting happiness and satisfaction from their jobs than just money.
The median salary of someone with a MBA in the U.S is $126k. It's the few that make $250k+/year. Unless you see their paychecks and not what's parking in their driveways, there is no way you can know what people make. Many people look rich or present a rich lifestyle but are living paycheck to paycheck. I think that if she could find a job that pays her $250k/year, she wouldn't be moving to Vietnam.
For communist propaganda: Communist Vietnam is so wonderful, paradise on earth. Capitalistic and democratic Western countries are hell holes on earth. Got it?
VN is not the place to go back with kids to live. Recent visits, unless ones living in rich quarters or area, the places are dirty all over the places, corruption, air quality, humid/hot, and all that.....never mind
