I think one of the best way for new people coming in is try staying at Airnbn. Usually those host are excited to meet new foreigner and will answer any questions. Some would even give you free tour of the area.

I use telecombank and I have hsbc no fee since they are partner and can withdraw 10 mills each time.

Hi guys!

It's possible that in 2 or 3 months my GF and me move to Vietnam. Mainly, we are thinking in Hoi An, nha trang or Da Namg. But we are open to any city or country like Cambodia, even Thailand.
We are looking for beach, sun, a quiet place and a good oportunitty for to make a volunteering. And a internet for grind always is important xD

If you have any experience, opinion o whatever, tell me please.

Thanks

As far as beaches goes, you have quite a few places along the coast where you could end up. Or, like you mentioned, da nang and Nha trang being the most common ones. These cities are quiet for the size they are, but definitely not Ho ann, Vung Tau or Mui ne quiet, for instance. I do not know a ton about volunteering, but I imagine that you would want to be in bigger places... I know that you can teach English and get a place to stay in da nang, if that is your thing... GL. Send a pm if you have more questions about Nha Trang or da nang, 2 places where I spent 2 months +.

What's the visa situation in VN can you still extend tourist visa for infinite?

In 2015, you would get a tourist visa for 3 months and could extend it 3 times. I am looking in getting my first extension on Monday, so will post here. Nonetheless, my first agency was unsuccessful, as they told me that you can no longer extend a tourist visa in 2016 (only a business one).

To be continued...

I'm considering taking a ED visa for one year and than live a couple year on tourist visa. But if the situation have changed I see no reason to learn viet.

What's the difference between a tourist visa and business visa? If it's like in Cambodia than its no biggie.

Hows living in Nha trang vs Da Nang? I have visited da nang only and enjoyed it, but housing seems to be an issue. Finally, I have a 3 mo multi-entry visa, but I am in Thailand now, and will have the visa expire within a few days of arriving in Vietnam. Should I pay for a new multi-entry 3 mo visa before I arrive, or just get an extension right away?

I spent 2 months in both places and prefer da nang. Nha Trang was fun for its night life options though.

Extensions are ridiculously expensive when you go through an agency/police station (they take about 200% in fees), so I would just do the visa on flight arrival, which is about half of the 150$ an agency will charge you. FWIW, my gf got her extension through the school she is teaching and is only paying 70$ for a 1 year visa ( 50$ + 20$ in fees).

Thanks for your help! I like so much to live in Da Nang, look a nice city
But we still thinkg about our next destination. The price of the visa in Vietnam is very expensive and confused, our idea is to stay one year or more in the country that we move on and this it doesnt help us to decide.

Someone is living there for more than 6 months? How much is the visa for 12 months?
Thanks!!

For 12 months :

- 25 $, online application for a tourist visa 3 months single entry
- 30 $, the cost of your visa at airport
- 3 x 150 $, 3 x 3 months extension

= 505 $

You can extend a tourist visa max 3 times so after 3 extensions you have to do a visa run to have a new visa.

Between thailand and cambodia, vn is def the most expensive one.

There's pretty much no way you could stay in Thailand for a year for less than $500, so Vietnam is cheaper than Thailand (for visas).

Anybody here knows where to find steady home games in Saigon? I've been dying to play but couldn't find any. Playing online is just not as fun for me. Would really appreciate the info.

Your chance of finding a legit home game are slim because it illegal to gamble here. So you have to know the host pretty well for them to invite you. Then you have to deal with knowing Vietnamese in case they talk among each other(soft play,cheat). Mostly those game run because they love to brag about how rich they are while socializing. Don't see any incentive for them to invite pro or non business man.

http://www.thanhniennews.com/society...ted-58472.html

Yes, it is confusing indeed, as they changed the regulations for visas in 2015. This said, from the information I gathered talking to different agents, is that the standard 150$ for 3 tourist 3 months extension is largely inflated, so if you are keen on saving some monies, I would look into getting a 6 month or 1 year business visa, or perhaps you can do the extension yourself in Hanoi or HCMC... Can't really orient you more, as I didn't bother and simply got a 3 months tourist extension myself, as I will be leaving after that.

This said, when I come back, I will look into getting a business visa to save a few hundred. Also worthwhile mentioning, is if you can get someone else then a travel agent to do it for you, you will save some hefty fees.

Well, the da nang expat forums are slowly filling up with posters getting their 3 months extension refused on their tourist visa... Spoke to a couple that got theirs renewed no problem and mine is in the process and should be done by next weekend (will update then), this said, 2016 seems to be even harder on extensions then 2015 was. Not sure on whom they are bringing down the hammer on (specific nationalities or long time SEA dwellers...) or even it is a majority or minority of folks being refused, as the sample size is still too small. I would suggest for those having the intention of coming long term, to look into a business visa... Anyone else have recent info?

Is vn business visa like cambo or you actually need some kind of business?

Nowhere close to Cambodia : you cannot just show up at the airport, check a box, pass go and collect the monies Much more bureaucracy over here, meaning that while you do not need a business, you most likely have to go through an agency that will organize a letter for you for when you cross the border. Again, the visa situation is quite sensitive over here, even more so this year, meaning that it becomes case-sensitive.

Why are some peeps now being turned down while others can get a 3 months renewal? And this, through the same agent (Mr. Hung, in Hoi an, who is renewing certain people while informing others that they can only get an emergency 1 month extension ; I also got turned down from another agency that offered to me leave with a letter, return with a business visa for either 6 or 12 months)?

tl ; dr : look into it.

edit : anybody else have any info?

Visa situation in VN is very interesting, make me think twice before move long term over there.

I'm curious about the real reason foreigners has to pay a higher rent than
vietnamese?

The most obvious answer most people think of, including myself is
"They are greedy and want to make extra cash of the rich foreigners".

But they say that the reason is because the police will want extra
money if you have a foreigner staying in your apartment.

I spoke to a foreigner who lived here for a long time, don't remember
how many years but he said that's bull****.

If it's done the right way then the landlord just pays the standard tax
to the government which the number I don't remember maybe it's 10% or 20%.
Doesn't matter if it's foregeigner or vietnamese, you just pay tax on whatever
amount of money you are charging for your apartment in the contract.

But vietnamese say that you need some kind of special permit
to be able to rent out rooms to foreigners and it costs extra money.

Maybe it's true, I just want to know for certain what is real.

visa issues are the main reason I am hesitant to try to move to Vietnam, this is not encouraging. What are the Danang expat forums (or any vietnamese expat forum that is decent)?

Just got my 3 months extension as a Canadian ; my Filipina gf got denied hers. I guess a lot of it has to do with nationality... but I would nevertheless be wary, as some Europeans are being turned down as well... You can go through this da nang expat forum thread, just recently inaugurated in January :

http://www.expat.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=553564

I think the visa situation could change after a change in government in november

I would say visa in vietnam are getting easier not harder. They are opening up so that you don't need work permit. http://www.thanhniennews.com/society...ork-59311.html . you can always go out countries cross border to Cambodia and get back in with another 3 month.