Moving to Saigon

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May 4, 2012 - 5:52pm
#1
Charles Frazier (not verified)
Moving to Saigon

I am retiring soon from my Computer job and have been to Saigon before. What would I have to do to move there. I am a United States Citizien born here. Please advise as what I would have to do. I have no criminal past and have worked for 40 years in the IT industry. I have a retirement that would let me live comfortably. Im single and have no family.

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June 5, 2012 - 4:26pm
#2
Anonymous

Dear Mr Frazier,

welcome to Saigon, welcome to the young, open and peaceful city. I think with your background and retirement plan, going to work is just for relax. The most important is enjoy life.

For long term living here, you can offer a leasing apartment (500-1000USD/month) with full furnish or buy one (around 20-30USD/Sqare meter) may be suite for you. Live in Saigon, you can easily to travel to Vung Tau or Phan Thiet beach near by.

I'm now working for Intersky Vietnam, an international mover. If you have any question of moving just feel free to email me at [email protected] .

Welcome to Vietnam

Tuan

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May 15, 2012 - 2:15pm
#3
Anonymous

Hi Charles,
Nice you hearing that you're moving to Saigon for long staying.
Firstable, there're many job oppotunities for foreigners in Vietnam such as English teaching, IT manager (suit for you major).
Secondly, Vietnamese are friendly, open-mind and peaceful.
For last, the price at Vietnam is not expensive, easy for people who want a comfortable living.
About the long staying place, I can give you one suggestion: Bao Ngoc hotel at District 1, Saigon (Hochiminh City). This is brand-new hotel so everything is new, room are fully furnished and the price are reasonably cheap for Grand Opening month (May to June, 2012).
You can access hotel's website for more infomation: http://baongochotel.net. There is promotion for long staying foreigners, please contact directly: +84 126 468 7799, or chat via yahoo: dongquan1812 or skype: quan1812, so I can give you more detail.
Hope this can help you, Charles
Quan - Bao Ngoc Hotel.

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May 5, 2012 - 12:02am
#4
tomo

Hi Charles,
You're in luck. For American citizens it's pretty easy to live long-term in Vietnam. You must have a visa to enter the country. But then you can renew your tourist visa several times before you would have to make a "visa run" to Cambodia or another place overnight.

Getting a criminal background check only comes into play when you want to become a legitimate permanent resident with working privileges.

However, with a background in IT, I don't think you would want to work in the IT industry unless you were working for yourself. In that case, you can set up a business here and stay as the owner of that business.

Fortunately for foreigners, the Vietnamese government nominally supports the IT industry and it's one of the fields where foreigners may operate and fully own the company.

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About the author

Asian-American expat living in Vietnam over 3 years. I am involved in tech startups and do Drupal consulting. I choose to live in Saigon and Vietnam and I want to see the city and its people reach their true potential.

Where is Saigon?

It's not wrong to wonder where in the world Saigon is.

Saigon is the name of the city now officially known as Ho Chi Minh City. But most people who call Saigon home call their home Saigon and it's mostly tourists who I hear refer to it as Ho Chi Minh City (or Ho Chi Minh Ville for the French).

After the Vietnam/American War ended in 1975, many place names ceased to exist such as Saigon, South Vietnam, and plenty of street names.

Tu Do is now Dong Khoi, Thong Nhat is Le Duan. And Tan Son Nhut Airport is now Tan Son Nhat International Airport. Rue Paul Blanchy has been Hai Ba Trung since the 1950s.

Those who haven't seen Vietnam for decades will be confused not just by the geographical changes but the incredible amount of development and modernization that has since taken place.

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