D.Lovelee- The traffic is indeed terrible during the rush hours, which run quite long during the day. I try to combat this by being asleep all day and out all night

Motobikes- not sure what's wrong with them. I have one and enjoy it immensely. I buy four liters of gas and it lasts me a week or two of riding around the city. Granted often I'll drive someone else's newer bike around town.

Air pollution - yes it's bad. Air is much fresher at night though.

Touts- I had to look it up but yes, touts are annoying. A tout is any person who solicits business or employment in a persistent and annoying manner. They are here, especially in D1. It gets tiresome.

Backpackers- I like meeting backpackers from Ireland or England or South Africa, etc. Also, they are here on vacation and have no job so any night you want to party just go to the backpacker district and it will be going on like a weekend.

Clean Water- Yes you cannot drink water from the tap. This is standard in SE Asia, in addition to many other parts of the world. It's easy to buy cheap bottled water and it's important to remember to only drink bottled or filtered water.

Most places in HCM suffer power outages twice a month for an hour or two each time I was told when I got to the city. It's been my experience so far. But it's not been too disruptive for me personally.

I've had from very slow internet to very fast internet in the city. Find the right internet provider and you will have very fast internet.

Clean food - I've gotten sick eating seafood twice in my 3 months spent in Vietnam (though never in HCM). Still I continue to eat seafood because it's so damn delicious here.

I'm not trying to contradict your points, but just to add my input to your valid opinions.

I think Vietnam is better than Cambodia and PI. I don't hate Vietnam, it's just not the paradise many people claim it to be. You asked me what I didn't like about it which sets me up to look like a whining expat which I'm not. It's just a bit harder here than I expected and if I didn't have to work and could avoid the rush hours and peak times I think life here would be more enjoyable.

you can get the big kegs of water delivered for next to nothing. 50k for the original container and then 20k to swap it over if my memory serves me correctly. just phone the guy up when you are empty or close to empty and he will be round in no time to swap it over.

I usually order those 19L big bottles of water, no problems whatsoever.

I've never gotten sick with viet food so far, it happened to me twice in phuket though.

Yes I get M-Kitech water delivered to me. I haven't got sick from the food either. Sometimes I do have to wipe the ants off before I eat.

So Alpha, how is life in the country-side. After a month plus, you should have some things to say about it.

I dont live in the countryside, i stay in HCMC. Don is the one who went to live in Tay Ninh city.
I believe he made some kind of bet where he has to survive over there for 6 months, but he doesnt want to disclose the odds and amount of the bet until its finished.

Moneybookers locked my account.

Can anyone reco a sportsbook for an American in HCMC ?

This sounds spot on. I spent a month travelling the length of Vietnam recently, HCMC's backpackers' district 1 is awesome! Just sit next to the road in the tiny plastic chairs, grab a Beer Saigon and chat to the thousands of travellers. Much more enjoyable than Hanoi in my opinion.

anyone couch surfing me 1-2 nights if i come HCMC?

Ive been living in HCMC for 6 months now teaching english but i want to get back into playing poker. Ive tried getting money online now for weeks and it has been a pain the ass every step of the way. If someone is willing to transfer money on Stars for cash that would be huge. Dinner and beers on me.

If anyone is in town and wants to get together for some beers and to talk poker let me know.

Hey guys, I'll move from Thailand to HCM really soon I guess. Really enjoy the city when I went there for my Thai visa (btw PE just don't go there for your visa, they asked me for airplanes tickets (go and back) and they don't do multiple entry visa (so you gonna get only 3 months).)
Also, I'm gonna Breakup with my gf and like I'm staying at here house so it's time to find a new home ( and i'm start getting bored of Thailand).

I have few questions for you:
- I'm gonna stay at least 3 months probably 6. Can I get some internet box ? Or I will need to use a 3g stick?

- I'm gonna stay in a hotel the first week and go here and there to search an appartment. I read that some of you recommand D7 and I guess I will like there more than in D1/D3. Any other place where it's good to stay ? What can I expect for around 400/500$ PM in D7? Any good website for find it ?

- For the multiple entry visa I'll get 3 months? Cannot get more right ?

Thanks for your advise.

- I'm gonna stay at least 3 months probably 6. Can I get some internet box ? Or I will need to use a 3g stick?

What's an Internet box? Most any place you choose will have Internet installed or easily installable. You'll still want a 3g stick as back up as the Internet can be flaky and power outages are not infrequent.

- I'm gonna stay in a hotel the first week and go here and there to search an appartment. I read that some of you recommand D7 and I guess I will like there more than in D1/D3. Any other place where it's good to stay ? What can I expect for around 400/500$ PM in D7? Any good website for find it ?

D7, D2, and Binh Thanh districts will have some pretty good options at varying prices (Binh Thanh more pricey on average but closer to downtown). _UM (poster in this thread) can probably help you out. He has a real estate company. Shoot him a pm.

Additionally, I may be leaving my apartment in the very near future and if you'd be interested in moving into it, let me know. Some pics several pages back in this thread.

- For the multiple entry visa I'll get 3 months? Cannot get more right ?

When I first arrived here it was possible to get 6 months. Not sure if that is the case or not. Although if you get 3 months, you can renew at least twice without leaving the country.

haha I meant ADSL from viet internet access provider (call it like that in France thought it came from english).

I cannot send any PM but will ask a moderator. Anyway you can try to PM me for the photos/infos about your apartment (not sure if I can receive it either but lets try).

Thank you for your answer.

pretty sure u just need 10 posts to PM so go spam some thread

The multiple entry visa is just 3 months, but unlike Thailand you can renew it 2 more times without having to leave the country.

it's pretty cool that we can stay 9 months without living the contry. I get very bored when I switch from ED to tourist visa in thailand and had to leave the country every 3 months.

Feel bad about it but I get my 10 posts (hoping it's not 15 or more now)

hey people,

gonna have a dinner + party tomorrow (first jan.) I have booked a table at Sasa Café for 8 pm, local timezone, name: Valentine

With some fellow players we go there, every 2+2er is also highly welcomed.
contact me at: 01629090596

Sasa Café: https://www.dropbox.com/s/e5ovhjnd6pcijjs/DSC_0844.JPG
242 De Tham, dist 1, HCMC international, vietnamese, italian food, good, cheap beer with happy hour.

also we could meet tonight celebrating new year if you want

after dinner travern is planned with pool, and cheap drinks.

Sorry I missed it. I was in Nha Trang for New Years. I'd like to meet some other poker players in HCMC. Let me know if you guys want to get together another time soon.

Can someone tell me the best clubs to go to/ places to drink in HCMC on every different day of the week please? ty

Lush on Tuesday, Velvet on Wednesday, Bling or Alibi on Thurday, Cloud 9 on Friday and I believe the over rated HardRock Cefe has ladies night on Fri?

Cheers for that. Any input on the other 3 days?

The WORD magazine online will give you a comprehensive list

Where can one acquire this aforementioned word magazine that you speak of?

ldo