JC’s Road Trip – Vietnam Pt 1 – HCMC Saigon

Well for all the fans sick of seeing Thailand, here you go! Let’s get to a different SE Asian country, Vietnam. What does it cost and what is it like to live in Vietnam?
Can a category 1 RIPper (Retiree In Paradise) live well in Vietnam? Well I am off to find out. We will see what the upsides and downsides are to living in a Communist country. This video is a little intro and some comments.

For those not up to speed on Vietnam here is a little history and info. Its real name is the Socialist Republic of Vietnam and their motto is, "Independence – Freedom – Happiness". Vietnam is a socialist one party state with a population of about 92 million people.
Vietnam is bordered by China to the north, Laos to the northwest and Cambodia to the southwest.
Vietnam was part of Imperial China for over a millennium and the Indochina Peninsula was colonized by the French in the mid-19th century.
Vietnam had Japanese occupation in the 1940s, the Vietnamese fought French rule in the First Indochina War, eventually expelling the French in 1954. Thereafter, Vietnam was divided politically into two rival states, North and South Vietnam. Conflict between the two sides intensified, with heavy intervention from the United States, in what is known as the Vietnam War. The war ended with a North Vietnamese victory in 1975.
Vietnam was then unified under a communist government but remained impoverished and politically isolated. In 1986, the government initiated a series of economic and political reforms which began Vietnam's path towards integration into the world economy and as a result free enterprise is in full effect!

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[hsbc]

Good to see you made a change JC. Please keep us all informed as interested to see how Vietnam has changed over the years. Keep up the great work!

[Eatsleepbangkok]

Nice new intro, JC.

That Pho you were served looked delicious. Also seemed like an interesting conversation you had with the gentleman sitting at the table in the restaurant although it was sometimes a bit difficult to hear his replies. I am very much looking forward to watching your next videos in this series. Thanks a lot for your efforts.

[Mr-tlsg]

Excellent video J.C, especially your price comparisons. Saw your video before going to work, really picked me up - Thanks

[Oggiwara]

Nice to see you on the road again, JC! It's about 4 years since you where in Cambodia! Keep up the good work! :-)

[jbuzzy]

During your last video you said you were going to Vietnam soon but I had no idea it would be the very next video. I'm so excited to see you in Vietnam it is one of the countries I really want to visit. I always seem to go to Thailand on my vacations but I'm now starting to venture out and see new countries. I can't wait to see what you think of Vietnam it will be very interesting to hear your take on this great country. Oh, Nat did a great job filming; it's like she can read your mind now, good job.
Can't wait to see what's next.
Jon.

[thomashasenkam]

Hi Jc, thx for another nice starting adventure, i must sure say traffic look crazy.
You do quit good in calculation with big numbers :) Looking forward to see your next vidoes about vietnam and see if it would be a place for me to visit so far it seems a bit overvelming with traffic and venders but who knows it might be the area. see ya

[skguitardrums]

nice video JC, i like south east Asia culture and find it all interesting, only been to Thailand and love it there.
will be cool to see what you make of Vietnam.

[wayneteacher]

Thanks JC, I love your videos, and I"m 37, and nowhere near retirement, however, the information you provide is great.

[cooky]

Hi JC, just happened to come across your videos.. Great stuff man.. Subscribed.. Got a lot of catching up to do on your vids on my part.. Keep them rolling buddy.. Cheers

[leilahellier]

JC District 1 is a tourist area that's why its more expensive, that pho looks good great video JC can, t wait for part 2

[watchman]

JC,

You might want to check out some of Troy Nguyen's videos on Vietnam to get some ideas of where you might want to go. He's a young Vietnamese who speaks with an Aussie accent. He does very nice work while riding his motorcycle throughout the countryside and major cities.

[ilovetravel]

Thanks JC, very informative. I love your videos

[duvidl]

Glad you're checking-out Vietnam. Beautiful country - nice people. Easy to get visa via internet. When I arrived in HCMC around midnight, my bags went through the x-ray machine and there was nobody there checking! Amazing how experiences differ. Loved Nha Trang and Dalat is beautiful, but not much to do there. I've lived in Thailand for three years now. Better ammenities for Westerners in Thailand, but Vietnam is getting better all the time.

[karlmk]

jc your a living legend.we live in Tipperary Ireland and we all just love you here.your name is spoken about every wkend here buddy.we are in asia a few times a year must hook up someday with us. regards your friends kieran and liz.

JC, hope you will have a great time there. Vietnamese sandwich in Saigon is very good. There is one shop open from 3pm until 3am. Check it out if you have time. Not many street food like in Thailand. Massage there is good, different from a Thai traditional massage. No foot message since everyone there is on moped. The city is pretty clean. Enjoy. Eat a lot.

[garethquick]

I found Vietnam a bit cheaper than Thailand. Saigon is very western and you move north it's much cheaper. 30-40k per dish should be be max in a good restaurant. Traffic wont change though. Coffee is the best. Enjoy

[mooping]

Yeah !!!! On the road again. jeep the bids coming JC.

[DavidoverSea]

Nice video, it’s important in Vietnam to learn how to say “no thanks” and the venders will not bother you. Simply shake your hand in the air and say the Viet word for “thank you” and shake your head at the same time.

[ethics]

I agree. If you are still in Dalat, go see the crazy house if its still open. The botanical gardens are very nice too.

[VikingPreparedness]

Good vid, JC - thanks.  Great idea on hotel business card; thanks for the price comparisons,    Looking forward for views/impressions outside of main cities.  See Ya!