Advice for moving to Vietnam

[RoadWarrior371 484]

9 hours ago, JWRC said:

Vietnam has a significant trade in dogs, for human consumption, makes me sick thinking of it. You will never know what you are eating.

I would avoid eating hot dogs there, and watch your pets closely.

Edited September 23 by RoadWarrior371

[Ron jeremy 821]

3 hours ago, Jingthing said:

I'm no expert on Vietnam but I think there definitely are dog meat restaurants. The quite decent hotel I stayed at in Hanoi had it on their menu in three different dishes. 

Not calling BS but in the many years I have travelled, I have never encountered dog meat on any restaurant menu. therw are places where the locals may eat it, it is a different breed of dog bread for the meat, but as far as giving it to tourists unwillingly, I don't think so. 

I stick with chicken pork anyways.

hey maybe it's a delicacy. Hahaha

cant be much worse than Thai beef!

Edited September 23 by Ron jeremy

[keysersoze276 210]

Update from the OP- I thought I would give a little update on my progress since the thread has changed from advice on relocation to the morals of eating meat.  I stayed in Europe for three months instead of six, like I hinted at in the OP because I don't think my body can tolerate winter anymore. 

I just arrived in HCM a few days ago.  Applied online for an invitation letter for a one year METV for Vietnam (Unfortunately, only Americans can do this- single or multiple entry is offered).  Got the invitation letter, printed it.  Showed it to immigration upon arrival at the airport, paid the stamping fee and got one year within a few minutes.  Dropped off my bags and took a shower, went outside and just randomly walked around and found a bank.  Walked in like I own the place and opened an account with nothing more than my passport and visa (valid for at least 6 months) and gave them the minimum deposit or 50,000 VND or 2 USD or 65 baht.

Oh and by the way, must have visited 30+ countries by now.  Never ever had to show money or a bank statement, an outbound ticket, proof of accommodation, or any of the other <deleted> that we have to go through in Thailand.  The largest inconvenience I have ever had to endure is filling out an application, and most times I don't need to bother with that.

Everything has been ridiculously easy.  Food is cheaper and better here in my opinion.  Definitely the beer and coffee, no arguing that.  And I feel waaaaay more welcome.  Put's Thailand's self-proclaimed "Land of Smiles" slogan to shame!

Not all sunshine and roses though.  2nd night here I had the flu.  Stayed in my room all day, went out late to find some noodle soup.  The place was closed.  Pulled out my phone on a dark empty street and two guys on a motorcycle creeped up behind me.  No lights, quiet bike, didn't notice them until they were right next to me.  Guy on the back reached out and grabbed my phone in my hand.  Luckily I was sober and aware and gripped it and was able to pull it away.  That stuff happens all the time here and makes me sick.  So...next stop is Da Nang! Cheers!

 

p.s.  I did eat horse stew once in the mountains in Northern Vietnam.  Sorry I'm not sorry.  I was hungry.

Edited September 23 by keysersoze276

[sunnyboy2018 3,642]

On 8/24/2019 at 3:12 AM, BritManToo said:

If you're talking women of questionable virtue, then HCMC and Vung Tau are the places for you.

Don't think I managed a day in either of those places without some floozie suggesting I have a look at her room.

And what did it lead to? 

[emptypockets 2,948]

Always get a laugh out of these 'I choose a place' no you don't . You get a place that allows you to stay on their conditions. 

As many self important people are finding out.

[keysersoze276 210]

24 minutes ago, emptypockets said:

Always get a laugh out of these 'I choose a place' no you don't . You get a place that allows you to stay on their conditions. 

Who said that?  Try quoting the original text as I did here.

[sunnyboy2018 3,642]

11 hours ago, JWRC said:

Vietnam has a significant trade in dogs, for human consumption, makes me sick thinking of it. You will never know what you are eating.

This guy has the right idea about eating dogs.

[tutsiwarrior 2,448]

doggies goin' to market in rural Vietnam...didn't look like no special breed to me, just whatever strays were picked up along the way...

 

and then tutsi sez to a misbehaving niece 'if ye keep on upsetting yer mother she'll call the ugly man in the dirty pickup truck that collects naughty kids and they never see their parents again...' that got her to sit down and behave...

 

 

[keysersoze276 210]

Would you guys mind making a new thread about dogs in Vietnam please?  It's waaay off topic.  Thanks

 

[Hans007 65]

In many asian countries SOME people eat dogs..also in China, Taiwan...and South-Korea...so whats your point??

 

better educated Vietnamese people do NOT eat dog meat. Trust me. In the time we were in Vietnam is did NOT encounter any dog meat in restaurants or the likes. Hot dogs (spelled Hot Toc in Vietnam) are just sausages...there is NO dog meat inside!

 

Yes the street dogs in Thailand are a NUISANCE...they also attacked my GF and one dog bite her in the foot...not realy serious...but still she needed to go to hospital for rabies and tetanus shots. What  did the police???  OO well...NOTHING!!! The dog in fact was not a stray but smb property..he got under the fence and bite her on the public street...if this happend in Germany they would have killed the dog..for sure and the owner would got a fine.

 

BTW I like HORSE meat!!! I always buy it in nearby Belgium or Netherlands...for a special horse stew sauce over our French fries (Fritten)..its very tasty!!! Very nutricious...has low fat and much proteins!!!:-) Together with mayonaise its an unbeatable combo:-) Yummie!!

 

In Thailand fe they mistreat elefants...so that is a reason to avoid Thailand?`?? LOL

 

Come on guys...stay realistic...TIA.....This Is Asia..!!

 

Hans.

Edited September 28 by Hans007

[Ron jeremy 821]

Lets keep the dog replys in the kennel, as previously asked, to not sidetrack things again.

[tutsiwarrior 2,448]

5 hours ago, Hans007 said:

Hot dogs (spelled Hot Toc in Vietnam) are just sausages...there is NO dog meat inside!

 

Hans.

 

I believe that 'hot toc' means barber or hair cutting in Vietnamese...hairy meat balls, sweep up the clippings offa the floor of the shop and mix with ground meat (dog or otherwise) and spices...tasty wid noodles and a good broth...

 

 

Edited September 29 by tutsiwarrior

[bttao 13]

On 9/23/2019 at 3:55 PM, keysersoze276 said:

Update from the OP- I thought I would give a little update on my progress since the thread has changed from advice on relocation to the morals of eating meat.  I stayed in Europe for three months instead of six, like I hinted at in the OP because I don't think my body can tolerate winter anymore. 

I just arrived in HCM a few days ago.  Applied online for an invitation letter for a one year METV for Vietnam (Unfortunately, only Americans can do this- single or multiple entry is offered).  Got the invitation letter, printed it.  Showed it to immigration upon arrival at the airport, paid the stamping fee and got one year within a few minutes.  ........

 

 

...How did you get the 1 year Visa since you are not US citizen...

I can't believe they are that stupid at the airport...

They may cancel it when they discover it at 1 of the border runs that you must do every 90 days... or worse yet, they may accuse you of Fraud... and be barred from reentering the country for ever; or even throw you in jail...  Remember it is still a communist country after all

 

 

.

Edited September 30 by bttao

[sunnyboy2018 3,642]

On 9/23/2019 at 9:07 PM, emptypockets said:

Always get a laugh out of these 'I choose a place' no you don't . You get a place that allows you to stay on their conditions. 

As many self important people are finding out.

Within the parameters of places we are allowed to go, we choose, we select..from a list. Its nothing to do with self importance. There are dozens of places to select from. More to the point there are many places we would not want to go. The USA, most of Arabia, most of Africa. So yes we choose. And so fo you.

[keysersoze276 210]

6 hours ago, bttao said:

How did you get the 1 year Visa since you are not US citizen

I am a US citizen.  Wh do you think I'm not?