Have been for 7 years haven't heard of anyone having problem from government for playing online poker.

I'm strongly considering moving to Vietnam at the end of the year to primarily grind online. I was looking specifically at Da Nang since it's near the beach and it's relatively cheaper than HCM City. If you had a rent budget of around $600 would you prefer Da Nang over HCM City?

Also, feel free to PM me if you're thinking about moving there or already have, would love to hear more!

Nha trang/danang would be your choice, hcm is way way more expensive.

If you are a single dude I would say Saigon > Da Nang. It's gonna be hard in Da Nang if you have a Viet gf to have her stay overnight at your apartment. For that Saigon is better, locals here are more open minded, nobody cares if you are not married and living together. Also for degenning Saigon > Da Nang.

When you move here I would advise you to rent via airbnb for a few months and see by yourself which cities / district you prefer then sign a long term lease when you are done exploring.

Saigon can be expensive to live like every city depending where you live. District 1 is the best but the more expensive too. Binh Thanh, District 3 or 10 are all good districts, close to d1 but the rent there are cheaper. For d1, if you are not cooking I would advise you to find an apartment close to Sense market, the food market there is by far the best place in Saigon to eat (quality and cost), you can find all the food that you want: Vietnamese, Chinese, Thai, Indian, Malaysian, etc.

Really appreciate the information! I am single but I'll be playing MTTs so I'll probably have a weird sleep schedule in order to play the large tourneys.

Do you have any recommendations of specific apartments around the Sense market area? I could always increase my budget if the place is nice. Also, I'd be a little worried about starting with airbnb's for a few months if Stars/other sites wouldn't approve my account without proof of residence. Do you think otherwise?

Lastly, is the 1 year visa for Americans still easily obtainable? Greatly appreciate all the help, thank you!

Just be aware that Vietnamese honk while they are driving like they breathe, it can be madness at daytime depending where you live. That's why you should go with airbnb at the beginning, also avoid living in front of main road even if you are on a high floor. Worst case scenario you can still switch to off peak hours, like many mtts pro do, smaller fields less variance.

I don't really have any recommendations for apartments close to Sense market, just try to rent in a small building ideally in a quiet alley. You can also join this group on FB "Housing in Saigon (Vietnam)"and ask for a serviced apartment for short term (3 months contract 1 month deposit) and see what people offer you. Usually rental price in d1 for a studio (long term contract) is around 400 usd to give you an idea. So I guess for your budget you could be able to have a modern and spacious studio with sofa if 3 months contract.

For how to get approved for Stars / others sites after relocating just do like most people, open a bank account here right after you arrived and ask for an English bank statement. Just need your passport and the address where you live, they don't ask for your rental lease, so if renting with airbnb you'll be fine. If you have problems finding a bank who is able to print one in English (not all banks do it) , just post here and I'll give you the banks branch who did it for me.

For the visa no idea because I am not American but worst case scenario there is the 1 year business visa.

I am looking at the 1 year business visa. It's multiple entry and not very expensive.

Thanks for the replies, so good to see this thread still going strong, after I’ve moved I think I will return seeing if people want to meet for social or poker disscussion but will see where I end up first, all the best and good luck out there!

This was all really helpful, thanks so much for the info everyone! I have til the end of the year to consider options between HCMC and DN but I'll definitely monitor this thread.

lol How did I missed this conversation asking if Vietnam girls has huge tits. Considering that it the trend now for young girls 18+ girls to get fake tits. Cost only like 4k for really nice one that can auto jiggle when it get eye contacts.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nTaX4reePfA If you ever been to a local clubs 99% are there to just do E and listen to this type of music

My penis moved while watching this video

As much as I appreciate having actual numbers (I guess letters in this case), I'm a bit skeptical on how applicable those stats are. A "b" or even an "a" cup on a 90 lb Vietnamese girl is way different than a "b" on some half European, half Amazonian girl.

From my experience, for their size, Vietnamese girls have rather large and rather nice boobs.

I am planning on traveling to Vietnam (Saigon) in July and the APT is running a series at the Pro Poker Club. I want to play in the tourneys but one thing that concerns me is safety. I've been to Vietnam several times and have some family there. I don't speak Vietnamese and don't travel around alone. Although Vietnam isn't as dangerous as some other countries I've visited, I do know people get things like bags, purses, phones, etc stolen while driving their bikes around.

My question is have any of you played at the Pro Poker Club?
Do you feel safe going in and leaving with money?
Since it's a tournament only place, the winners generally will leave with a fair amount of money. Do they have lock boxes there you can rent or get paid out in a check?

My general questions are purely for safety concerns as I know walking out of a casino in some countries is not the same as walking out of the Wynn in Las Vegas with 20k in my pocket. I can walk around the Rio at the WSOP with 10k in my pocket and know that half the people there probably have even more than me on them.

Any answers would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks.

I played in Vietnam and carried thousands around; never had a problem. Hardly any danger vibes. That being said, I'm often mistaken for a Vietnamese (am Asian).

Do play at the APT. The field is very soft.

One negative is that money is handled in Vietnamese dong so unless you have a bank account, you'll be carrying wads of cash (biggest note is 23USD equivalent)

I am going to HCM next week to get my tourist visa for thailand. Heard from a fellow poker pro that you can only pay for thai visa in USD, is this true? It is my first time and I am staying in district 1. Is there a good place to go party? Maybe have some fun with the girls?

For party, you'll find happiness in Bui Vien. For food you can check too the food court in Sense market, it's walking distance from Bui Vien.

I've been in Hanoi about a month. Will move in a week or two and considering my options. I want somewhere quieter and slower than Hanoi. Wherever I end up, I'll be for 1 or 2 months max, so it's not a huge problem if it's a "boring" place. I'm mostly considering Ha Long and Da Nang, only because of positive things I've heard. Most important for me will be:

- Easy place to drive motorbike (not confident enough to do it in Hanoi, for example)
- Good cost of living (probably available anywhere? for reference, I got a baller 2 bedroom place in Hanoi for $400/month off airbnb)
- Access to gym
- Nice beaches
- Girls would be nice but not super important. I'm talking about non-hookers, aged 20-35

Any suggestions based on the above?

Nha Trang would be my first recommendation, followed by Da nang.

edit : Hoi an is a pretty cool town as well located 20-30 minutes on a motorbike from Da nang, by the ocean. So there would be a possibility to have access to the city by living in between both etc. I still recommend Nha Trang though for beaches, women and a smaller city.

Trying to avoid making a sweeping statement here, have tried both nationalities and the Viet girls can be very wild and loud.

By the way, does anyone know if Ho Tram casino still runs NLHE cash games?

Does anyone know a fb / skype group to trade skrill / neteller for vnd?

https://forumserver.twoplustwo.com/s...postcount=5723

LOL he was right through all the up and down but I am still playing lhe after 7 years here

Since 2016

Anyway finally moving back to U.S next week. I came by myself with no relative and now leave with kids and wife. Going to miss playing morning till evening against U.S fishes. I will probably write a bunch of reflection on my time here once I taken care of moving etc. But anyway would like to get this thread going again me any questions. FYI I speak prefect vietnamese and gotten pretty deep in the local culture so anything sterotype about foreigner I have heard it all.

Hi

How do you deposit/withdraw from poker sites (poker stars, 888poker etc...) from Vietnam?

Neteller & Skrill are tightening their gambling-related transactions by not allowing non-gambling money to deposit for poker sites. Withdrawal from Neteller & Skrills takes forever and very costly (>10%).

Bank Wire seems not allowed as it's not considered a "legitimate" reason for foreign money transactions by Vietnamese banks.

I even think of opening an offshore bank accounts.

Anyone has experience on the issue? I can only consider online poker as a serious business if I may solve this.

There a bunch of Skype chat group that is Hard vouch only transfer among players/agent for all type. They all use intersite+ crytocurrency transfer. It probably one of the easiest time to move money around. However doubt the current environment will last forever so you might as well take advantage of it while it last. You could also married an Vietnamese woman and use that account to transfer bank and forth among other banks. The only bank in Vietnam that is hardcore crack down are bank that are super U.S regulated ex. HSBC.

Hey DonJuan,

I just moved to Nha Trang 6 months ago. Married a wife here. Will do the poker grind for the next 2 years here. Any advice? Maybe top 3 things that come to mind upon reflection of your experience?

I'm british looking to live in Vietnam for about 6months. Will i have to do a visa run every 3 months or does any one know if i can apply for a 6months visa?

thanks